1925: Anthrax Infected Shaving-Brushes

[Grumpy Old Git]

Bizarre letter from the British Medical Journal, March 1925, regarding the death of one Professor Ellermann via an Anthrax-infected brush.

Who would have thought that a badger brush could be dangerous?

Original article is here: Digitization of the British Medical Journal (1857-1996) (http://www.jstor.org/pss/25444580)

It seems it was a bad brush from China... (http://books.google.com/books?id=tasSFldVjQEC&lpg=PA70&ots=nRFj719mBT&dq=%22Professor%20Ellerman%22%20death%20by%20anthr ax&pg=PA70#v=onepage&q=%22Professor%20Ellerman%22%20death%20by%20anthra x&f=false)

[mmack66]

I think the horse hair brushes were susceptible to this. Probably why a lot of those old brushes are marked as sterilized.

[rdeakle]

I think the horse hair brushes were susceptible to this. Probably why a lot of those old brushes are marked as sanitized.

That is indeed the case. Horsehair is a carrier of anthrax, and brushes made from horse hair had to be sterlized so you didn't die from it.

[DunEdinRanger]

How safe are modern horse hair brushes?

[Miles]

I believe this article signified the beginning of the end for Anthrax Brand Shaving Brushes.