Thread: Anthrax from Shaving Brushes: 1925 Article

Ever wonder why vintage shaving brushes are often marked "Sterilized"? I found an article from an American public health medical journal circa 1925 which was pretty chilling. An excerpt is below, and here is the link to the full article, which goes into US military cases of shaving brush induced anthrax during WW1:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/arti...0032-0054a.pdf

440 THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH
ANTHRAX FROM SHAVING BRUSHES
THE DANGER from shaving brushes infected with anthrax spores has once
more been painfully called to our attention by the sad death of Professor
Ellermann of the University of Copenhagen. On December 17, 1924, a small
spot appeared on his left cheek. It was soon followed by considerable edema,
but without marked general symptoms. An examination of his shaving brush
showed that it was dyed Chinese horsehair, made to imitate badger, and from
the hair anthrax was isolated. The diagnosis was clear, and in spite of the
injection of anthrax serum, Professor Ellermann died on December 24.

It got even more scary...here is a link and the first 150 words of a 1921 Journal of the American Medical Association article on cutaneous anthrax from "infested" shaving brushes. I just bought a nice vintage horsehair (NOS) brush with a long wooden handle, but now am going to soak it in Barbicide before using it.

J Am Med Assoc -- Excerpt: OCCURRENCE OF VIRULENT ANTHRAX BACILLI IN CHEAP SHAVING BRUSHES, December 31, 1921, SYMMERS and CADY 77 (27): 2120

Vol. 77 No. 27, December 31, OCCURRENCE OF VIRULENT ANTHRAX BACILLI IN CHEAP SHAVING BRUSHES
DOUGLAS SYMMERS, M.D.; D. W. CADY, M.D.

J Am Med Assoc. 1921;77(27):2120-2121.
In the six years elapsing between October, 1915, and November, 1921, thirty-six cases of cutaneous anthrax were admitted to the isolation pavilion of Bellevue Hospital and, of this number, ten, or approximately 28 per cent., followed the use of shaving brushes. During a period of one year and nine months ending Oct. 1, 1920, thirty-four cases of cutaneous anthrax were reported to the New York Department of Health and, of this number, seventeen, or 50 per cent., were traceable to shaving brushes.1 From these figures it appears not only that infested shaving brushes are to be incriminated as carriers of anthrax in an astonishing percentage of cases, but also that this method of conveyance is becoming increasingly common.
A patient recently presented himself at Bellevue Hospital with an extensive area of swelling in the region of the chin surrounding a large, centrally placed, brownish eschar. The lesion lacked the . . .

This indeed is the reason why horsehair fell out of favor for shaving brushes.

Anthrax is not easy to kill, and it's not just the bacteria you have to worry about. The spore is incredibly resistant. It can live in arid areas for years. Outbreaks in animals frequently occur after rainfall in arid areas causing sporulation.

I searched the manufacturer information on Barbacide and they make no claim regarding Bacillus anthracis. I emailed CDC and they sent me this link:

CDC - Inactivation of Bacillus anthracis Spores

Sounds to me like gamma radiation is the way to go. Chlorox would probably trash the brush.

just how could I convince a research facility to irradiate my shaving brush....

What's the current death rate worldwide per annum for Anthrax infection from shaving brushes?

This might give an increase in the use of synthetic brushes?
What do you think?

Originally Posted by welshwizard

What's the current death rate worldwide per annum for Anthrax infection from shaving brushes?

Pretty low I'd imagine - no reference to shaving brushes here:
CBRNE - Anthrax Infection: eMedicine Emergency Medicine

Very interesting thread but I think it was limited to the 1920's no? Also, how many people go out of their way to purposely buy chinese brushes?

I found reference to only 22 cases in the United States since 2001, and have attached an excellent link to look at the disease, with prevalence and histology including photographs. The issue for me is that I have an antique horsehair shaving brush that I would like to use. The question is whether Barbicide is an adequate disinfectant, if anthrax spores are present in the brush. From my military experience as an operating room technician, the only three ways to kill anthrax are: steam autoclave, gas sterilization with ethylene oxide gas, or gamma radiation. I have no access to any of these. So, should I use the brush?

CBRNE - Anthrax Infection: eMedicine Emergency Medicine

Originally Posted by Croaker

I found reference to only 22 cases in the United States since 2001, and have attached an excellent link to look at the disease, with prevalence and histology including photographs. The issue for me is that I have an antique horsehair shaving brush that I would like to use. The question is whether Barbicide is an adequate disinfectant, if anthrax spores are present in the brush. From my military experience as an operating room technician, the only three ways to kill anthrax are: steam autoclave, gas sterilization with ethylene oxide gas, or gamma radiation. I have no access to any of these. So, should I use the brush?

CBRNE - Anthrax Infection: eMedicine Emergency Medicine

When I was in veterinary private practice we used ethylene oxide to sterilize items that can't be steam sterilized. Might ask your vet if they'd be willing to sterilize it for you. Multiple items can be individually package and sterilized simultaneously. Just a thought...