The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-10-08
DANGER in BARBER SHOPS
THE STATE BOARD OF HEALTH
CALLS ATTENTION TO 1T.
Some Sanitary Rules by Which Ton
serial Artists Can Increase
Their Clientele.

The State Board of Health has prepared
formidable report on the lack of sanitation
in the apparatus in use in barber shops.
Conditions undreamed of by the public at
large are suggested by the forthcoming re-
port which will be ready for distribution
In few days. DR.. ]. N. Hurry. in his pre-
iiminary statement on general conditions in
barber shops, says:
Beyond all doubt any one who patronizes
a barber or hair-dresser, whose establish
ment is open to all corners, runs great risk
or becoming infected with disease, from the
razor, shaving brush, scissors clippers
comb or hair-brush having been previously
used on sick person or even on a corpse.
Inat the chance of contagion is much less
when the establishment is we'll kept most
7 willingly admit: the danger Of infection is
minimized in first-class establishments we
also concede, but the truth nevertheless
obiges US to declare this: At the present
moment, in the State of Indiana, there is
net q single barber hair dresser who can
honestly say that his instruments are abb
solGtely, completely and scientifically safe
in regard TO the possibility of conveying in
Should barber or hair-dresser. recogniz-
ing the danger of transmitting, by the use
OF his instruments, certain infections or
mentioned one Of the most terrible and at
the same time perhaps most frequently met
Win WIN dsteeaset; be willing to take the necss-
customers guarantee of the most minute
Cleanliness conscfentiously carried out he
may rest assured of an immense increase of
his clientele, as the people are now
thoroughly aroused to the necessity of taxi
ing preventive measures against contagious
disease in all FORMS
The body of the report is as follows:
whereas diseases of the skin and scalp
may be prcpagated by the instruments and
hands of BARRIERS and hair-dressers, the
board, after having carefully examined into
the various suggestions made to date to
prevent such danger, and also into the dis
uynf oh hoe foil Cd fhofr aIfa1-
ton. recommends the following measures:
ITO encourage customers to have each his
etc. and to make it obligatory in the case
OF sick customers. Ii is also advisable, in
the interest of the barber himself. to attend
SICK customers at their own homes.
DISINFECTING THE TOOLS.
Distinction of razors, combs and clip
pers-(As the processes of disinfection here
after described may sometimes spoil tor
toise shell, celluloid, horn combs or razor
handles, metallic combs and razor handles
should be used in preference)
Immersion, imm e5iStely after use, in an
enamelled or galvanized sheet-iron dish con-
tanning either: A solution of carbonate Of
potash Il per cent?, which does not spoil the
edge of razors; or soapy water (soapy
water preserves steel instruments from rust,
provided, however, they be completely. COW
cred by the water.) Boil the solution of car
Donate of potash or the soapy water in
which the instruments have been placed for
fifteen minutes by putting jet of gas or a
coal-oil lamp under the dish. 1t must not
be forgotten that by dsjointing the scissors
and clippers their disinfection and cleansing
is better effected. Scissors which are very
easily taken to pieces found on the
market; and with regard TO clippers lhe
preference should be given to models which
ments nas asoho fopWed BY anon n
Simultaneous proceSS) and the immersion in
solutions of corrosive sublimate or carDohc
acid, which processes have been recon-
mended, are now abandoned as they are apt
to spoil the Instruments
"Dicinfection of Brushes-Deposit brushes
or gratings in small closet or case which
closes Theoretically and in which is kept
saucer constantly filled with solution CT
formaine Zone ounce for every cubic foot
, of the closet) The brushes are diSinfected
after two hours exposure to the fumes of
formaline but they may without incon-
venience, be left in the closet all the time
they are not in use. They should be cleaned
every evening with bran, clay, etc. The
way to obviate the necessity of disimfecting
brushes is to dispense with their use. Even
when the brush is perfectly disinrecJed
great number of customers would prefer
the hair-dresser not to use 1t at all, or at
least that he should use it only after con-
.Purifcation of the Shaving Brush-The
shaving brush can be also dispensed with,
as instead one can use a ball of cottonwood
using. In any case the shaving brush
should never be used before the brstles
''Puri1cation of the Hands-Before passing
from one customer to another the barber or
hair-dresser must wash his nands, using
soap and nail brush, carbolic soap to be
''The powder-puff will be replaced by a
ball of wadding, thrown away Immediately
after being used, or still better by powder
blower.
the flow of blood will be reduced To small
pieces, so that each piece be used for one
customer only. Calcined alum, a powder
which can be applied on COTTONWOOD, which
wards, is much preferred by most people.
CARE OF THE LINEN.
'Linen-Only strictly clean linen towels,
wrappers, peignoirs. etc. will be used for
each customer. If freshly Numbered
wrapper cannot be supplied for each Gus
toner discard it and use simply a clean
towel. The customer will prefer having his
own hair fall on his clothes than to have
around his neck wrapper which has only
heen shaken since the last customer had 1T
Cleaning the Head after Cutting the Hair
If the scalp is not washed use only the
comb to clean the head The use of a stiff
brush to clean the roots of the hair fol-
lowed by the use of a soft brush or buster
on the scalp and face is to say the least
very disagreeable to most customers. I'M
mediately after cutting the hair sprinkle
the floor with wet sawduSt and use a me-
chanical broom. The contents of the bucket
should be burnt every evening.
Razor Straps-The only way to disinfect
them would be to expose them to the fumes
of Formaldehyde (Formalinel; but as this
is not a very conveniens method one must
avoid communicating them. To this end
they should only be used for razors which
have been previously disinfected, and, there
fore the barber should never stop shaving
a customer to strap the razor he is actually
using.
s'The use in common of the same vaseline
rot should also be avoided IT is better not
TO use any vaseline unless the hair-dresser
is prepared to use a Spatua to take the
vaseline out of the pot or bottle. being care
full not to apply directly said spatula to his
contaminated hands.
FINALLY sponges should never be seen IN
shaving or hair-dressing parlors Although
they may be disinfected In a solution OF
bichloride of mercury Ga 1.0O0th solution),
they will always be looked upon as sus-
picious and disagreeable by refined GUS