Friends of Fred the adventurous snake will recall that he had an accident in the first book when he first ventured out onto the street.
"He thought the stripey barber pole was another snake, but, oh my soul, he dashed across with never a glance, into the path of an ambulance".
Whilst recovering from his injury in hospital, Fred wanted to know more about barber's poles. Why do they look like snakes?
I am indebted to Wikipedia for Information about the origin of the barbers’ pole (slightly shortened for your comfort- the except, not the pole).
One theory is that it started serendipitously when post-treatment blood-streaked bandages wrapped themselves around the pole on which they were hung out to dry.
During medieval times, the pole had a brass basin at the top (where the leeches were kept) and bottom (to receive the blood). The pole itself represents the staff that the patient gripped during the procedure to encourage blood flow. In Holland the surgeons used the colored stripes to indicate that they were prepared to bleed their patients (red), set bones or pull teeth (white), or give a shave if nothing more urgent was needed (blue).
After the formation of the Barber Surgeons Company in England (in 1590), a statute required the barber to use a red and white pole, and the surgeon to use a red pole. In France, surgeons used a red pole. Blue often appears on poles in the United States, possibly as a homage to its national colors. Note also that, as usual, the US pole rotates in a different direction. Another interpretation is that red represents arterial blood, blue is symbolic of venous blood, and white depicts the bandage.
Glad we have got that all squared away….
What happened to Fred-Fred I hear you cry? You will be pleased to know that he survived his close shave (sic). He got mended with a special thread that the doctor wanted, that is found only under large rhinos! Who will get it?
"Volunteers please give your names. Suddenly I thought of James, who enjoys, so one supposes, hunting fierce rhi-nos-cer-oses"
Jim did it, saved the day and Fred...well done!
As he fell asleep, I heard Fred say "It's been a very trying day. Tomorrow, when I'm on the road, I won't forget my crossing code. And, nor will you, that's my advice, lest you spell your name like Fred-Fred twice".