The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-10-01
BARBERS'HYGIENIC RULES.
New York Would Diminish Danger
of Infection With Disease.

| Some of the BARRIERS in this city are
inclined to rebel against the enforce
ment of the health board rules govern
ing the hygiene of their shops. That
| there should be no reason or excuse for
such a stand is obvious enough. There
| is no argument against cleanliness, no
matter how much extra time, trouble
or expense is incurred in enforcing it.
When there is an extra danger of pro-
pa eating disease by the neglect of such
hygienic precautions there should be no
regulation too stringent and too sweep
ing to compass the end indicated.
The ease with which skin affections
| of the most loathSome character have
been spread by the razor, brush and
comb has been often enough comment
ed upon by medical specialists. There
| is relation of cause and effect in the
spread of such eruptions which is be-
yond question a demonstrated fact.
BARRIERS itch, for instance, is a striking
example in point, and SO are many of
the other cutaneous ailments that are
apt to be looked upon as innocent in
character merely because they are so
common. Whatever opposing BARRIERS
may have to say on the question Will
not, however, have any effect upon the
public mind in persuading it to change
it's views on the value OF aSepslS as
safeguard against skin and scalp dis
eases.
The best of all reasons for the en-
forcement of the new regulations is
that they can be so easily carried out
In fact, they should appeal to our ton
serial artists even on common etnlcdl
grounds. It is merely applying the
surgical rule of action to men VINO use
surgical instruments. The cardlnal
PRINCIPLES of aseptic contact must De
comprised in clean hands, clean 1nslruo
ments and clean wounds. To secure
these conditions the health board IN
sists that certain simple rules OF easy
fulfllrnent shall apply to the thousands
of BARRIERS who otherwise from meEe
carelessness might spread disease
emoner their innocent and unsuspecting
customers. The only surprise is that
such measures have not been adopted
long ago. ,.,,
Tt is only necessary to consider now
conta zion may be spread by the usual
implements of the barber to appreciate
the full force of the argument for the
new law Nothing Is more dangerous
to a scratch or wound of the face IMAM
said of comb. brush, scissors or clipper.
The only safety is sterilization eacn
time after using one of these win my
water and soap always at-hand ana
clean towels in plenty there should De
no excuse for peglectipg> these opYleou .ls
nrecal1tions The. powder puff because
If is never absolutely clean and can
never be rendered so. is very properly
abolished. ~
The alum stick so commonly used to
check bleeding or to quicker plnples
always carries the coagulated remains
of the former application directly to
the abrasion of the next victim NO
more active and ready method OF DIS
ease propagation can be imagined II
alum must be used at all it should pc
in it's powdered form, as thus 1t can
be applied but once at a time on
given Individual =
The sterilization of the clipper is
most important for the reason that IN
lection is more apt to Turk between its
compact and inaccessible blades than
even in the joints of the ordinary scls-
sors.s And what. pray, is the objection
to the washing of the hands OF the bar
Der before and after each shave or hair
cut? Even his own safety should APP
peal to him. aside from the courtesy
and protection he owes to his customer.
A clean towel ror each sitter is not by
any means a hardship or beyond the
means of the cheapest SHOP
Altogether, then. the public will be
prepared to indorse this recent move
rnent of the health department and
will doubtless claim its rights in indf-
vidual instances in ways that will not
be misunderstood. The customer can
thus choose for himself the man who
is careful. clean and safe. Even as a
matter of business with the BARRIERS the
movement will have a most salutary
and far reaching int1uence.-New York
=