Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-05-27
MR.. Boards FATE
MEDICAL WHISPERS MAY BE CON.
DEMNEDs BY IOWA STATE
BOARD OF HEALTH.
1t Isn't Favored Here = Local PhysI
clans Say 1t Is An Invaluable Part
of Their Stock in Trade ~ chinchiI.
las Said to Carry Germs.

Those whiskers, whether of the Van
Dyke variety or Of the lace curtain
style; that mustache so carefully nur-
tured by young physicians in this city
to give them an appearance of age,
and perhaps even the superintendent
growth of eyebrows will have to dis
appear before the scythe of the barber
If the recommendation of DR.. J. F.
Kennedy, secretary of the state board
of health. is carried out.
DR.. Kennedy in a. current issue of the
Health Bulletin indicates that the state
board of health is about to take action
depriving all physicians of their
whiskers for sanitary reasons and he
intimates that If this is not sufficient
state law may be enacted compelling
doctors to part with their jo-joes. He
says the whiskers carry germs.
AS a result of the proposed action OF
the state board local physicians who
have been carefully nurturing sparse
ly scattered chinchillas, are painting
them black as token of MORNINGS
They are clinging to them like the pro-
verbal grim death, and declare DR..
Kennedy has no right to NEEDLE with
things hirsute.
The papers all over the country are
greatly interested in the theory of DR.
Kennedy, and columns have been
printed Interviews with physicians
have been published and 1t is generally
believed that the statement of Dr.
Kennedy that whiskers carry disease
germs, is absolutely true. In fact, Of
tumwa physicians agree to this, but re-
fuse to carve.
Hard on the Graduates.
But the physicians who will suffer
most are those who were just given
their diplomas, and who are now
searching for place to hang out their
shingles. They had scarcely gotten
away from the banquet table when
they made resolution that the best
thing they could do was to grow a
bunch of mutton chops. a nice Van
Dyke or sideburns.
The crops had been scarcely started
when news of the recommendation
from DR.. Kennedy arrived. But a re-
volt is apt to follow, and the recent
graduates declare that they will not
follow the order.
do you think would part with that
growth ?" said one student as he care
fully and angrily ran his fingers
through beard that might have been
seen at a distance of ten feet with the
aid Of Lick observatory telescope.
mo sir" he added, II am relying on
those whiskers to secure location for
me, and won't part with them. I'll
move out of the state first. Why,
whiskers can't do any damage"
4 No one who had seen the whiskers In
question would have doubted his state
ment. 1t is the long flowing variety
which DR.. Kennedy has In mind partic'
ularly the kind on which a Kansas
wind could play tune and in which
microbes would light by the myriad
However, the recommendation does
not except any variety, even the favor
tie Van Dyke.
Advices from all parts of the state
are to the effect that BARRIERS are
working overtime, in spite of union
rules. Ottumwa physicians, however
are still clinging to their whiskers and
declare they will until the wind be-
comes too strong.
Carry Disease Germs.
DR.. Kennedy is quoted as saying:
"Whtskers may be ornamental. but
They should not be worn by doctors
They carry disease germs" 1t is a
question whether the former part OF
the statement is true in all cases. al
though it is becoming extremely diff
cult for BARRIERS to make people believe
it.
1t has been even stated that the
members of the Iowa State Medical
society at the Des Moines Meeting
passed resolution against anyone tell.
ing them that they could not wear
whiskers. 1t has even been said that
a resolution favoring the whisker crop
ping law was presented. This, how,
ever, is denied by Ottumwa physicians
who attended the meeting.
The papers al lover the country are
greatly interested in the theory of Dr.
Kennedy, and columns have been
printed. Interviews with physicians
have been published and it is generally
believed that the statement of DR..
Kennedy that whiskers carry disease
germs is absolutely true. In fact OF
tumwa physicians agree to this, but re.
fuse to carve.