The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-09-12

Novel Plan for Preventing the Trans
mission of Disease.
Baltimore Sun.


1t has remained for Baltimore to take the
lead in another direction and establish an
aseptic barber shop. Ever since the study
of the germ theory of the cause of diseases
barber shops have been looked upon as
sources of transmission of disease germs
from an affected person 10 one free from
ailments. Even with the best precautions
as to cleanliness as practiced in first-class
tonsorial establishments, there is danger
of disease germs lurking in towel or brush
or razor or scissors, or even on the hngerS
of wielders of razor and shears.
When these and other facts in connection
with the preventable dangers in barber
shops were presented to the attention OF
Mr.. Emile Cage, he appreciated their I'M
portance and made up his mind TO JON
in an effort, aided by scientific methods and
equipment, to reduce the danger of disease
and contagion in the shops controlled by
him. These will, Oct. l. be opened as the
first aseptic barber shops in America. Ihe
change can be brought about only by an al
most complete change of equipment, ana
this Will be made during the intervening
time.
II Will seem almost like a step backward
to the times when BARRIERS also practiced
minor surgery in their profession. First the
surroundings will be such that water VIII
not injure them. RaZors and brushes Will
have aluminium handles as free from joints
and creVtces as possible, ana VIII be IN Dup
licate that set may be boiled IN
sterilizing apparatus while the other set is
in use. Towels too. will be SteriliZed by the
hundreds by the simplest and most effective
method of hot air, and nothing Will pc
allowed to come into contact with man
possible with care equal to that exercised
by a surgeon for capital operation
The. BARRIERS themselves will be bare
armed to the elbow, so that no soiled
sleeves will be dragged over the faces Be
side each man will stand bowl OF anti
SEPTIC fluid. When he has finished with
one customer in the chair and next comes
for his turn the barber will plunge both
hands into the fluid to thoroughly remove
or kill any possible infection, after having
first scrubbed his hands in soap and water
and finsed off the soap.
After lather has been rubbed foamy
from steriliZed soap in a sterilized cup and
the sterilized razor blade has been deftly
drawn over the scrub of beard, the barber
will be ready with sterlized towels to wash
and dry his customers face. Then, instead
of busting on powder with pun, in the
fleecy depths of which millions OF germs
may be breeding sterilized napkin or the
end of a sterilized towel is to be powdered
and this transferred to the clean-shaven
face. Except in the case of Individual
combs and brushes these articles for gem
eral use will be of such material that they
may be confined in the sterilized ovens
without injury to themselves, but with
ASeptic means free from living germs
of disease, fermentation or putrefaction,"
tenances was conceived by Dr. Bernard
Barrow. DR.. Barrow is a native of Virginia,
but is a recent graduate Of the University
ef so@e barber s6ops sen
orally ended by the author de-
ploring the condition, but not suggesting
a remedy on account of the supposed
nonprogressive ideas of the wieders of the
razors. To DIR. Barrow came the practical
idea of finding a progressive barber and
putting into execution his remedy for the
existing evil. This did not take him long.
In conversation last night regarding this
departure in barbering methods DR.. Bar
row outlined some of the dangers which
may be unconsciously encountered in a bar
Der shop. Probably the most commonly
known disease received in this way" said
he, lis BARRIERS itch, which is form of
ringworm. To the unprofessonal eye this
malady is recognizable when developed. but
not when ii is incipient. However, it is
quite as liable for infection at this time
when the barber may think it only a pim-
pie. A form of eczema is also commune
cable through the implements used in bar
Der shops. Lupus or tuberculosis of the
skin may also be transmitted in the bar
ber's chair, | believe. Erysipelas is an
other disease with serious results which
may be communicated in this way. Infec-
ton in the face of this disease may be ex-
tremely dangerous from the facility with
which its germs may be transmitted to the
BRAIN
Dr. Barrow will act as a general super
visor of the steriZing processes to be car
ried on in the aseptic shop. and will make
daily inspections to see that the proper
methods are carried out He will report the
result of his experiments in the medical
journals, with the probability that the first
Baltimore aseptic barber shop will be copied
in other cities.