The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1918-12-03
INFECTION FROM
SHAVING-BRUsHES

New shaving should be
thoroly and CAREFUL washed in hot
soapy water before use. The bristles
OF such brushes may come from in
fected animals and anthrax spores
have been known to be transmitted
thus to the human users. The pop
ular myth that infection of this kind
Is OF German origin is not only i'm
probable, but unnecessary, but the
war is doubtless one of the remote
causes, as it is responsible for a lack
OF care in importing animal products
and in treating them thoroly with
antiseptics. The remedy lies in
separate disinfection by the user.
and this would apply not only to
shaving-brushes, but to all other i'm
plements made of bristles or hair.
Leather Is presumably cleaned by
the various processes to which 1t is
subjected in tanning. Says a writer
in American Medicine New York;:
Anthrax in its Industrial forms
primarily results from the handling
OF hides, hair, and carcasses of in
fected animals. According to Public
Health Reports, the surgeon-general
OF the army has reported the occur
renee of several cases of anthrax due
to infected shaving-brushe The
experience of England indicates that
a. number of victims of malignant
pustule have originated thru the use
OF new shaving brushes, the bristles
or which have been found to contain
the highly resistant anthrax spores.
Some of the infected brushes, accord
ing to all accounts, were made from
hair which had presumably been dis
infected in accordance with all re-
quirements.
Anthrax, generally a disease Of
such as horses, cattle, and
sheep, does not posses high degree
OF virulence for human beings. but
nevertheless t he occurrence of any
disease of this character is sufficient |
for drawing attention to the |
of the effective sterliza-
ton of hides and hair previous to
and use by human be-
Lngs. Hog bristles apparently are
comparatively free from anthrax,
even when emanating from countries
where infected horsehair is common.
rhe great demand for brush ma
;eria land the difficulties in securing
In adequate quantity from the usual
rade channels possibly have led to
letting down of the preventive
measures in old establishments and
he exhibition of carelessness on the
,art of new manufacturers less
amiliar with the inherent dangers
rising from imperfectly disinfected
lorse-hair The anthrax spores are
tightly resistant to sunlight and dry
less and require boiling for at least
wo hours in order to destroy them,
# an hour in the autoclave at 22O
egree F.
1.-THE hOrse-hair which appears to
e the source of greatest danger has
ONE from China and Siberia and is
t gray or yellowish color, and the
initiation badger hair.
AS partical measure Of protec-
ion, thru and repeated washings in :.
ot, soapy water appear to secure
he mechanical removal of the dang
rOus infective material, and in con- :
new shaving brushes should
OF be used without this preliminary z
peration of cleansing. Even with
lis precaution the danger of infec-
on is not entirely removed, as
nthrax bacilli or spores may be
'und on the ends Of the hair i'm Il Il
edded in the handle. The only GER : !.
lin measure of protection for the
laver is the elimination of the in
'ctiOn previous to the manufacturer
shaving brushes.
The serious and high mortality-t =,
Ute of anthrax are sufficient reasons !,
n protecting not merely those y
hose occupations require the handl "
g of potentially infective material, u
1t also those who unwittingly =
AXE. use Of shaving brushes as part u
their routine Of cleanliness. There
virtually no sound excuse for the ..
ansference of malignant pustule to "
villains or soldiers thru shaving