The record-union., 1898-03-05
A sTERILIzED BARBER SHOP.
So That Disease Germs Shall Not
Reach the Customer.

While investigators have been work.
ing to isolate the germ which causes
badness, practical preventive of the
ravages of this and other germs COM
mon to barber shops has been put into
operation by Baltimore barber at
the iEstigation of young physician
DR.. Bernard Barrow, a young grad
uate Of the Maryland University, con-
ceivcd the plan of the aseptic shop,
and his ideas have been carried out in
its establishment under his daily su-
pervision. Sterilization is the basis of
the plan, and the object is that none
but sterile objects shall touch the skin
of customers of the barber chairs. Thus
are germs killed by heat, and the shop
becomes aseptic-free from living
germs.
When q customer is TO be shaved he
reclines in the chair and is enveloped
in a gown" as the BARRIERS call it, The
barber then washes his hands with soap
and water, and after rinSing them, dips
them in chemical solution to neutral
ize any germs which may be lurking
about his finger tips or nails. Previ-
ously he has trimmed his nails short
and has buttoned closely around his
wrists the sleeves of his working
jacket.
Sterilized towels come from the dry
heat sterilizer in punches of ten in
a linen cloth. One of these is pulled
out from the bundle by the aseptic
hands of the barber and deftly tucked
about the neck of the customer. Lath-
er rubbed up in a steriiized cup, with
a sterilized brush, is applied, and a
sterilized razor is used to scrape off
the growth of beard.
The freshly shaven face is washed
and dried with steriliZed towels, and
powder is applied by dipping a steril
lied towel into the powder and then
busting it on the face. This does away
with the germ breeding powder puff.
Sterilized brushes and combs are
used. so that nothing comes in contact
with the customer except it has pre-
viously been through the sterilizer. All
the implements have aluminium han
dies, so that they are not affected by
heat. They are furnished in numbers,
so that as fast as one thing is used it
is forwarded to the sterilizer, and does
not touch another customer until it's
possible burden of germs has been re-
moved.
Back in a corner of the shop are two
copper sterilizers heated by electricity
and in charge of young man clad in
a spotless and steriized apron. As the
cups, brushes, razors and combs come
from use they are put on a marble-top
table, from which they go to the ster-
iliZer. Each razor is stropped before
it is sterilized, so that it is then in
readiness for instant use after remain
ing the specified time within the hot
precincts of the sterilized boiler.
For hair-cutting a sterilized gown is
used, ard strip of sterilized cotton is
laid about the customers neck within
his collar.
Another innovation in the shop is the
use of electric 'annunciators. In front
Of each of the twelve chairs is a little
box, in which is kept sterilized shaving
paper. Metal checks of various denom-
nations hang on the front of the
box. When the barber has finished
with d customer he removes a check of
the desired amount. In taking the
check from its hook an electrical con-
nection is made and a bell sounds. At
the same time a number corresponding
to that Of the chair just vacated drops
upon the face of an annunciator placed
over the cashiers desk An electric
fog horn blows and gives notice to
waiting customers, instead of the IA
miliar cry Of Next i"-Baltimor Sun