This is a story of how love inspired the creation of the world’s first medical gloves!
This is a story of how love inspired the creation of the world’s first medical gloves! In the late 19th century nearly half all all patients who underwent surgical procedures died of sepsis (severe infection), largely because surgeons didn’t wash their hands between patients, or wear gloves, which caused cross-contamination. Disease and sickness were spread from one patient to the next leading to a higher number of people dying from infection than war. In 1889, Caroline Hampton was appointed chief scrub nurse in Dr. William Halsted’s operating room. However, she began to experience painful inflammatory contact dermatitis (allergic rash) affecting her hands, making it increasingly difficult to perform her duties as an operative nurse. The reason for this rash was repeated and prolonged usage of mercuric chloride, phenol and other acids used in the pre-surgery hand wash solution. Halsted, now in throws of love with his nurse, had to find a solution of protecting his lover’s hand...