View report page

152
require the purification of the material either before or after
preparation.
"The better and whiter kinds of flock are washed and dried
again before use, but the dark varieties undergo no such cleaning.
"The rags or old cloths ought to be stoved before use, and the
resultant flock should be thoroughly washed, preferably with some
disinfectant. A good and useful bedding would then be obtained at a
very slightly increased cost, but practically safe from a health point
of view.
"Unless some such treatment is adopted, the consequences in
the event of an epidemic are difficult to estimate, but they are bound
to be very serious."
The Hackney Public Health Committee recommended—
(a) That a copy of the Public Analyst's report be forwarded to
the Local Government Board, pointing out the desirability of flock
being subjected to some process of disinfection and cleansing before
it is used for pillows, mattresses, &c.
(b) That a copy of the Public Analyst's report be forwarded to
each Metropolitan Borough Council, asking them to make similar
representations to the Local Government Board.
The Public Health and Housing Committee were of opinion it is
desirable action should be taken to compel disinfection and cleansing of
flock before being used for bedding purposes, and recommended the
Council to concur in this opinion, and representations on the subject be
made to the Local Government Board.
The following letter was received from the Local Government
Board: —
Local Government Board,
Whitehall, S.W.,
6th November, 1906.
Sir,
I am directed by the Local Government Board to advert to your
letter of the 22nd ult. with respect to the disinfection and cleansing
of flock before it is used for the manufacture of bedding, &c., and I
am to state that the question of the conditions under which the trade