Abstract: Processing machine for processing imagewise exposed silver halide photographic elements, which comprises a plurality of water processing units including at least one water washing unit and a further drying unit, wherein the water washing unit includes a bactericidal tablet dispenser. The bactericidal tablet dispenser is in the form of an elongated container loaded with a stack of superimposed discrete bactericidal tablets, the bottom portion of said container for the tablets having small circulation openings. The bottom portion of said container is put into contact with the water of the washing unit of the processor, whereupon water is circulated into said bottom portion of the container and the bottommost bactericidal tablet of the stack of tablets may be gradually dissolved into the washing water. As said bottom tablet dissolves into the washing water, the tablet which is located just above the dissolved one will fall down along the dispenser due to gravity.