|
|
|
History of the Profession Some of the early principle duties of the Barber as far back as the 12th century included Bloodletting, tooth pulling, cauterization, as well as Shaving & Hair cutting. For centuries after Christ the majority of the people were uneducated and unable to read or write. Of the most educated people were the Priest & Monks, who were forced into the role of physicians in that time. Bloodletting was a widely used method to cure most ills. The clergy enlisted the Barbers to assist them with the bloodletting and many of the minor medical needs of the people. Barbers continued in their role as assistants to the Physician-Clergy through the 12th century. At the council of Tours in 1163, the clergy were forbidden to draw blood or act as physicians or surgeons on the grounds that it was sacrilegious for ministers of God to draw blood from the human body. Barbers took over the work relinquished by the physicians-clergy and the era of the Barber-Surgeon began. The connection between Barbering & Surgery continued for more than 6 centuries. Barbers embraced dentistry as well. The Barber profession reached its pinnacle during this time. In the middle of the13th century the 1st school ever known for the systematic instruction of Barbers in the practice of surgery was founded in Paris. The oldest Barber organization in the world, still known in England as the "Worshipful Company of Barbers" was established in 1308. As the science of medicine, surgery, & dentistry advanced the Barber became less capable of performing the triple functions of the Barber-Surgeon-Dentist. Surgeons wanted to be separated entirely from the Barbers and petitioned Parliament to sever the ancient relationship of the Barber & Surgeon and mandate that each profession adhere strictly to its own provinces. May 2, 1745, by act of Parliament, the alliance between Barber & Surgeons was dissolved. Toward the end of the 18th century Barbers of Europe had completely relinquished their right to perform any of the operations of surgery & dentistry. The Barber-Surgeons Hall still stands in London today. (Monkwell Square, Wood Street, London EC2Y 5BL)
...a lil history on the origin of the Pole.
The origin of the Barber Pole dates back to the days when bloodletting was the primary service in the profession. The original pole had a brass basin at the top representing the vessel in which the leeches were kept, and also the basin that received the blood. The pole itself represents the staff the patient held onto during the procedure. The stripes represented the bandages. These are recognized as the true colors of the Barber emblem RED, for the blood soiled ones used in service WHITE, for the clean & sanitized ones before the service Bandages were hung out on a pole to dry after washing. As the bandages blew in the wind, they would twist in a spiral pattern similar to the stripes in the modern day Barber pole. Red, white, and blue are widely used in America due in part to the fact that the national flag uses these colors. Another interpretation of these Barber pole colors is that the red represents arterial blood, blue is symbolic of venous blood and white depicts the sanitized bandage.
|
|
Services Schedule Shop Location Mission a few recognizable clients & examples of meticulous grooming
|
