more fully described with reference to fig1 turning to fig1 there is illustrated in schematic form an exemplary process line 10 which demonstrates an embodiment of the method of treating fibrous web materials fibrous web material 20 is shown being transported through process line 10 fibrous web material 20 may desirably be a thermoplastic nonwoven web material or laminate material including thermoplastic nonwoven web materials such as for example spunbonded materials bonded carded webs high loft spunbond and through air dried nonwovens spunbond meltblown spunbond u201c sms u201d laminates or spunbond film spunbond u201c sfs u201d laminates as shown in fig1 fibrous web material 20 is topically treated at treatment station 30 treatment station 30 may desirably be one or more means of applying topical treatment as are known in the art such as for example a brush treater spray treater foam treater or as shown a saturation treater such as a dip and squeeze bath for the purpose of describing the advantages of the invention fig1 and process line 10 will be described with reference to fibrous web material 20 being a nonwoven barrier laminate material such as for example a spunbond meltblown spunbond laminate or u201c sms u201d laminate material which may be produced in accordance with u s pat no 4 041 203 to brock et al incorporated herein by reference in its entirety because of their liquid barrier properties sms laminate materials are highly suitable as protective fabrics and are used as or as part of surgical suite wear such as patient drapes and surgical gowns.