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The foregoing are the only places where the trade is at present under some
description of hygienic supervision, but that the question is engaging the
attention of other Governments is shown from the accompanying notes
relating to the several countries referred to.
Austria.—A barber or hairdresser must show proof of qualification
(Befahigungs-Nachweis), and produce certificates of apprenticeship, and
as an assistant (Gehilfe). The advisability of subjecting these trades to
hygienic control has been under consideration for some time past, but no
practical steps have yet been taken in the matter.
Canada.—In the Twenty-second Annual Report of the Provincial
Board of Health of the Province of Ontario, Canada, for the year 1903,
the details are given of some excellent work in connection with the
Hygiene of Barbers' Shops that has been carried out in the Colony. The
Standing Committee on Epidemics having been instructed to secure a
thoroughly satisfactory settlement of the hygiene of barbers' shops,
drafted some regulations and submitted them to the Board. These were
subsequently forwarded for the consideration of the Barbers' Protective
Association of Toronto, who in returning them informed the Board of
Health that "from the standpoint of the majority of their members these
"regulations should become law instead of recommendations, and asked the
"Board to use their influence to that end."
The Board of Health, with a view of ascertaining the best mode of
disinfecting cutting instruments and tools used in a barber's trade,
directed a number of experiments to be carried out, and having considered
such criticism of the Toronto Barbers' Association as appeared to
be valuable and worthy of adoption, as well as the experiments in disinfection,
submitted the following amended regulations to the Board for
adoption:—
1. A barber should be clean and neat in his person and dress, should use
the bath regularly, and be particular in maintaining a healthful condition of
the mouth and hands.
2. No person suffering from any disease of the skin, scalp or hair should
act as a barber, nor should anyone suffering from consumption, or any
disease commonly known as contagious, serve in this capacity.
3. If diphtheria, scarlet fever, small-pox, measles, or any other contagious
disease should occur in the family of a barber, or among his friends or
acquaintances, he should not nurse or visit the patients, nor in any way come
in contact with them, and if any disease should appear in his own dwelling
or boarding-house, he should temporarily change his residence.
4. Persons suffering from any disease of the skin, scalp, or hair, or from
consumption, or persons who have recently recovered from diphtheria,
small-pox, scarlet fever, or other contagious disease, should not visit any
barber's shop or parlour, but should be attended by the barber or hairdresser
at their own homes. All instruments used on such patients should be
carefully disinfected after such use.