1. An investigation has been carried out, with, a view to determining (a) whether articles liable to damage by steam can be disinfected and/or disinfested in a standard steam pressure disinfector by the action of dry heat and/or gaseous disinfectants; (b) the economic practicability of the method.

2. Lice and bugs can be thus easily destroyed in loosely suspended articles by dry heat at 55°C. acting for 30 min., the total time occupied being one to one and a half hours, depending on the size of the charge.

3. Infective material (non-sporing organisms), including tuberculous sputum, in loose articles, can be disinfected by penetration of dry heat at 50°C. followed by formaldehyde, 5 per cent, (approximately), allowed to act for one hour, the total time not exceeding two and a half hours. Organisms, other than tuberculous sputum, can be disinfected by exposure for 30 min.

4.(a) Rubber, leather, imitation leather, furs, silks and woollens are not injured by this method.

(b) Blood-stains are fixed by the action of the formaldehyde, but not by dry heat alone.

5. The method is not suited for the disinfection of large bulky articles containing much entangled air.

6. Infective material cannot be rendered sterile, and lice are not killed, by exposure to formaldehyde, 7 per cent. (approximately), for one hour at room temperature.

7. It required an exposure of four hours at room temperature to a concentration of sulphur dioxide beginning at 4 per cent. and falling to 0·75 percent., in order to kill lice and bugs and to sterilise B. typhosus in exposed situations; but even this was ineffective where such were embedded in a piece of flock mattress.

8. Contact with dry heat at 55°C. for one hour cannot be relied upon to sterilise infective material.