THE CONTROL OF LAUNDRIES SIR, — It is a pity that your
correspondent Dr. R. L. Kitching did not take the trouble to make full enquiries before writing to you on the subject of infection through laundries. Had he done so, he would have found that under the Public Health Acts there are various provisions relating to the cleansing, disinfecting of premises, clothing, etc. For example, under Section 152 of the Public Health Act, 1936, the public are not allowed to send infected linen to a laundry until it has been thoroughly disinfected to the satisfaction of the medical officer of health. With regard to the protection of the workers, your correspondent is evidently not aware that under Section 11 of the Factories Act, 1937, the Minister has the power to require medical supervision in certain circumstances ; for example, where he has reason to believe that cases of illness which have occurred may be due to conditions of work. There has never been any need to exercise these powers in the case of laundries as the industry is one of the healthiest in the country. With regard to the attitude of the Ministry of Health, it may interest your correspondent to know that some years ago, when smallpox was prevalent in some parts of the country, the Ministry considered that the spread of the disease by linen was almost negligible, and there never was any suggestion that the laundries in the infected areas should be closed.—Yours faithfully, D. K. ROLLIT (General Secretary, Institution of British Laundries, Limited). 16-17 Lancaster Gate, W. 2.
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