Surgical Gloves 1890 – A Step Toward Preventing Infection

Before the rise of antiseptic techniques and an understanding of the importance of cleanliness in patient care, surgeons used bare hands and sometimes wore only a protective apron resembling a butcher's apron. Many physicians took pride in the blood, tissue fragments and pus that accumulated on their aprons, wearing them as badges of honor.

In 1865, the British surgeon Joseph Lister dramatically reduced postoperative infections by using carbolic acid (now called phenol) to sterilize wounds and surgical instruments.

In 1890, the American surgeon William Halsted noticed that his assistant Caroline Hampton's hands were severely irritated by repeated washing with carbolic acid and other harsh substances. He contacted the Goodrich Rubber Company to request samples of plastic gloves that could be sterilized after use. Thus, Halsted became the first person to use sterilized gloves. Hampton's skin gradually improved after she began wearing gloves. Shortly afterward, Halsted and Hampton married.

Today, medical gloves are routinely used to prevent the spread of infection between patients and healthcare workers. These gloves are made from latex, vinyl and other materials. 

Lycopodium powder and talc were used to make gloves easier to put on and remove. However, after both materials were shown to be harmful when they contaminated surgical wounds, cornstarch became the most widely used material from the 1970s onward. Many gloves today are powder-free. Although latex provides fine control and tactile sensitivity, it is not preferred by people with latex allergies.

Before Halsted, physicians had tried various materials, from gloves made of sheep intestines (1758) to thick rubber gloves (in the 1840s), but these did not meet the delicate requirements of surgery. In 1844, Goodyear developed vulcanization (chemical modification) methods that made lighter, more flexible forms of rubber possible.

Historical Figures Mentioned in the Article: Joseph Lister (1827–1912), William Stewart Halsted (1852–1922)

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