THE BARBER'S CHAIR

Press, Volume LX, Issue 11511, 18 February 1903, Page 7

THE BARBER'S CHAIR

The Board of Health of tlie city of Toronto has issued regulations for barbers with regard to patiente suffering from contagious ekin diseases, and the Hairdressers' Association of tlie same place has agreed to accept Luese. It cannot be said (remarks the "Hospital") that they are all that i» required, but they are a step in the right direction. Customers suffering from any such diseases are to be attended .it their own homes, and the razors and scissors used for them are always to be sterilised. That is good so far as it goes, but who in a barber—now that he has parted company -with ttho surgeon—that he should recognise when a customer Ls or is not suffering from a contagious skin disease? Would it not be safer, as well as simpler, and less offensive to tho susceptibilittfs of the- client,* to treat every customer as a potential sufferer? Let the razors, the scissors, and tho comb be sterilised after each operation. If a brush is used, let it bo newly washed, and let a clean antimocaesor be placed on the back of the cbivir before a new customer is asked to lay his head upon it. Even if ttiese improvements cost a little money for the purchase of extra utensils, we think the man who dared to start this innovation would reap his reward when people realised tlie risks from which he saved them, and before long public opinion would bring all respectable barbers up to the same standard of cleanliness.