"I am inclined to think that Harry's sickness was caused by the condition of the kitchen. We are apt to overlook these things in the multiplicity of our work."
"What is the best way to clean it, by washing?"
"That is necessary, of course, but it is impossible, even by a liberal use of hot water and soap, to remove many of the poisonous germs. Some good disinfectant should be used."
"Have we anything which could be used for the purpose?"
"There is nothing better than charcoal. Common wood charcoal has the capacity of purifying and rendering odorless almost all impurities."
"In what way does charcoal do this?"
"When charcoal is crushed up finely its remarkable porosity enables it to absorb an enormous quantity of gases, and when so absorbed it condenses them, in which condition they are harmless, or they are retained in the charcoal."
"But how about the impure liquids?"
"Its affinity for sour and stinking liquids is so great that two tablespoonfuls of charcoal will purify a pint of the foulest sewage; it will also, in that quantity, absorb 100 cubic inches of gaseous ammonia."
"Have we anything else that can be used?"