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tamination. Organic matter such as is used in the preparation would
naturally yield high figures when washed in the manner described,
and I want to be sure that the ' filthy rags ' are actually used uncleaned
for the flock.
"Sufficient cause has been found to justify further investigations,
as the results are certainly disquieting, and very probably a serious
source of the spread of disease is to be found in the flock bed and
mattress so commonly in use among the poor."
Mr. Taylor had an opportunity of visiting a flock manufactory, and of
seeing in actual operation the process of converting rags into " Flock,"
and reported:—
"The process is extremely simple and devoid of sanitary precautions.
" The old rags of every description, but consisting largely of old
clothing in the most filthy condition, stinking horribly, are received
at the factory in bundles, and, without any preliminary treatment,
are placed in a machine which tears the cloth to pieces, rejecting the
buttons and metallic substances; the shredded cloth then passes
under cover to a revolving ' Devil,' where the long teeth further break
up the cloth and where by a current of air, exhausted through a
flue into a settling chamber, the dust is removed.
"Owing to the friction, a certain amount of heat is evolved, so
that, in addition to being freed from dust, the ' flock,' which the
material has now become, is dried, and leaves the machine free from
odour. This is the whole process, no attempt is made to cleanse the
material beyond the agitation in a current of air, and although this
removes the foul odour, it cannot remove the filth with which much
of the cloth is impregnated, and which only awaits favourable conditions
of moisture and warmth to prove a kind of hot-bed.
"The flock which we saw made was being packed for delivery
to certain large firms whose names were mentioned, to be used by
them for bedding manufacture.
"The revolting condition of the old clothing going into the
machine, and the absence of all attempts at sterilization, were the
noticeable features of the manufacture.
"It is very evident that the use of flock thus prepared is a
serious danger to public health, and steps are urgently needed to