The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-05-31
DANGERS IN THE LAUNDRY.
A Compliment to the Leading Laun-
dry in Lackawnunn County.

Inc IOllOWlng article appeared III lne
last issue Of the American Journal OF
Health. which is authority on matters
of sanitation and hyglena:
AS "a journal devoted TO the protec-
tion of health through the dissemna-
tlon Of sanitary and hygenic truths, we
have, from time to time, called at
tention to the great dangers that lurk
in public laundries where the same are
not conducted upon the strictest prln-
ciples of cleanliness. To many, doubt
less, it may seem strange, but it is
fact that the average laundry Is not
always synonymous with real cleanli-
ness, and the scientific investigator
finds much to condemn in the lack Of
sanitary requirements prevailing at
such establishments. Reference is not
had to the dlthy Chinese laundrics, the
methods of which are so disgusting,
the surroundings so detrimental to
health, and the process crude to an eX-
treme. No one who regards dccency
of person should patronizc such dens,
either out of sentiment or sympathy,
| or for any other reasons.
"But even the laundries claiming to
| he of the best class, and which cater
| to refined patronage, do not always
| observe hygicnic conditions, conec-
| qucntly the health of patrons is inn
| periled in many ways. often the re-
| strctions Of space prevent proper dry
| ing, and frequently the water used is
! so germ-la that the seeds Of disease
are planted to propagate in the future
| ana bring many ills in their train.
| Then, again, the mechanical methods
| employed are not such as will remove
| all Objectionable matter, and the goods,
| while appearing clean, are not so IN
! reality, and are more dangerous to
| health than was the case before they
! were washed. Sometimes the chemical
| aids are questionable. and there cling
! to the garments minute particles of
! irritating and dangerous compounds
which produce distressing skin diseases
ana frequently cases Of blood poison
ing.
In this connection the editorial man
acement of this journal has for several
! weeks conducted a thorough and i'm
/ partial investigation of laundries in
| Pennsylvania, for the purpose of as
| certaining how far the dangerous cle-
ments in question prevail in such es-
! adjustments, and without desiring TO
unduly alarm the public, but with a
clear understanding of our duty in the
matter we do not hesitate to cay that
our search revealed the fact that hut
| few laundries in the state Of Ponnsyl-
| vania pay proper attention to the re-
| quirements of sanitation and hygiene
| Not many were found to be above
severe criticism i'm this respect. One,
however, we would single out for un-
| stinted praise. Reference is had to the
| "Lackawanna Laundry" of Scranton,
| A. l.. Warman, proprietor. which, from
a sanitary standpoint, is indeed an
| ideal laundry. The "Lackawanna
| Laundry" uses water which is entirely
| free from micro, organisms and foreign
matter which contaminates the water
ordinarily employed.
Furthermore, the processes utilized
for the cleansing of garments being OF
the most approved sanitary construc-
| tiOn, and no dangerous or delcterious
| chemicals being used, the clothes
are thoroughly and healthfully
| cleaned, and are not left impregnated
with either acid, dust or stubborn bac-
terra which adhere in spite of ord-
nary methods. Those who have euf-
fered from skin irritations incident to
the particles of such matter clinging
to their undertaking when washed
by poorly equipped and irresponsible
! concerns, will be delighted with the
! soothing contact of the sup"rlatiVely
clean garments returned by the Lack
| awanna Laundry"
This article was not written for the
purpose of glOrifying the laundry we
! have mentioned, nor to detract from
the reputation of any similar concern
but the rigid investigation, secretly
conducted by editorial representatives
of this journal, and the microsCopica
examinations made of various gar.
ments returned from several laundries
in Scranton (Which examinations were
conducted under the trained care OF
scientific experts connected with the
meteorological and analytical depart.
ments of this publication), having dem,
onstrated the unqucstionablc superior.
ity Of the processes employed by the
"LackaWanna Laundry" we cannot bu
call the attention of readers to the
facts as we find them, and show tn,
decided advantages of the "Lackawan,
ma Laundry" offered to those who re,
gard their own health and the health
Of their families as a matter of the
highest Importance. Any benefit this
laundry may receive from this editor
ial endorsement is purely incidental. a.
we are not particularly interested il
its success, and make this report solely
in the interests of readers who natur
ally look to this journal for unbiased
information upon all matters pertain
ing to health a, II. Gray, NJ. d.