The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-11-02

There assembled IN Philadelphia last
week the American Public Health Asso-
ciation and we have been much INTEREST,"
ed In reading some OF the papers that
were read on the question OF public san
,tation. one OF these was Z paper from
DR.. A. w. Suffer. Of Herkmer, \. y,
ON the Barber Shop as a Menace to the
Public Health"
Al the outset he said that in his
opinion the time has arrived when the
attention Of public health trustees should
be called to that part of present hygiene
which applies 10 the barber shop. This
question. he says, has recently been
taken up in Paris ana an order has been
promulgated requiring that specific rules
of disinfection shall be observed in all
shops.
These directions include the use of only
metal combs in order that they can be
easily fsterillzed, and that, as far as
possible. all instruments shall be of met
al; that they. razors. clippers, scissors.
combs. etc. shall be subjected TO heat
Oh lNV dtHlttr t'HAAh ei'tN htA'A' e''+' '-''NH
use; that tho shaving brushes must be
washed before and after use In boiling
water. and the hands Of the BARRIERS
thoroughly cleansed before passing from
one customer to another. They are re-
quired to use sterilzed towels and pull
verizers in place Of the common powder
puffs, and the hair that is removed is to
be disinfected and promptly taken from
the room. Chemical solutions are also
prescribed for obvious purposes.
As for himself. Or. Suffer said that he
had long since ceased to shave at public
barber shops. and gave as his reason for
shaking them that on one occasion man
whose face was covered with eruptions
and who was suffering from disgusting
disease came TO the doctors Office TO be
treated. Not long after the patient was
dismissed he went into a barber shop,
and as the chair was occupied he sat
down 10 await his turn. As the occu-
pant Was about 10 arise, however, he
was staItiea 20 discover in him the very
patient for whom he had prescribed an
hour ago. lie made some excuse and
quit the shop and has since worn a long
and comely beard. When he goes in 10
have his hair cut he carries his own
utensils ana has the reputation among
BARRIERS. he said. Of being the champion
crank OF the town.
The doctor calls special attention 10 the
danger Of infection from using the same
razors, shears. powder puffs. alum, and
even sponges on the various patrons who
go into the shop from day to day. In
his opinion II is absolutely impossible.
no matter now good may be the BARRIERS
intention, properly to cleanse and s:er-
lie any OF the Instruments employed
without consuming an amount OF time
and material which would render such
an effort impraoticable. Hence he thinks
tina. nothing short OF such compulsory
regulations as have been adopted by the
Paris authorities would be effective. lie
thinks that local administration OF this
character should be made TO apply to
every barber shop and system Of in
spection that would enforce the rules.
This would seem to DO a hardship on
BARRIERS, but We are of opinion that it
would be 10 their advantage. There is
no doubt that many people like Or. Suit
er eschewed barber shops because OF the
fear OF catching ssme skin disease, but IL
these people knew that precautions were
taken to prevent contamination. their
objections TO barber shops would be re-
moved. ana consequently the patronage
Of the shops would be increased.
The doctor made no recommendation
however. as to the protection OF a sur
sering public against that two-edged
sbarberous" instrument-the tongue.
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