ANTHRAX DANGER

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10540, 17 March 1920, Page 5

ANTHRAX DANGER

JAPANESE SHAVING-BRUSHES

IMPORTATION PROHIBITED

The Public Health Department has received information that consignments of shaving-brushes recently received in Great Britain from Japan have been found to be infected with anthrax. A similar condition has been found among shaving-brushos imported into. Australia, and their import has been prohibited in both countries as a result. The importation _of Japa- • neso shaving-brushes into this Dominion was also recently prohibited 1 by Order-in-Council. Brushes had preously been received in New Zealand from Japan, but no cases of anthrax have been notified in the Dominion. As the. goods received in New Zealand were distributed before the fact was known of .infection having occurred in other countries, the Publio Health Department considers it desirable that all consignments of shaving-brushes of Japanese origin should bo disinfected, and has notified importing firms accordingly. A WISE PRECAUTION.

As nil effective precaution any person who has any doubt as to the origin of a new shaving-brush is advised to adopt the following procedure:—Thoroughly wash the brush with soap and ho? water, and then immerse it.for one hour in a disinfecting solution composed of two tablespoonfuls of formalin in half a 'pint of water. Tho formalin solution should bo at a temperature of 110 degrees. Fahr. Care should bo taken not to allow the brush to come in contact with tho hands before disinfection.