History of Gloves

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How a few multi-disciplinary thinkers saved people by the millions

In the beginning of the 19th century, microorganisms were unknown to the world. Science was unable to explain why people got ill or why open wounds often caused fatal infections. It was assumed that some kind of “bad air” caused infections and any other explanation was swiftly disregarded as non-scientific assumption. Hospital bed linens were not changed after the patients left and surgical instruments were not cleaned after use. Medical operations utilizing anesthesia were just starting to be commonplace, which meant major pain and trauma relief to the patients. Pathological procedures were done without any protection whatsoever and a little cut through the skin or small droplets of infectious material in an open wound or orifice could already lead to the death of the investigating physician.

The history of gloves begins with the first trials of aseptic routines mid-19th century, strongly propagated by, among others, the famous British physician Joseph Lister, who developed the aseptic system with Carbolic Acid (today known as “Phenol”) to clean hands, instruments and surfaces. The process was continuously improved, especially after the discoveries of the famous French chemist Louis Pasteur, whose name is immortalized in the word “pasteurization” to honor the breakthrough in bacteriology and microbiology. Lister and Pasteur exchanged ideas during most of their careers and in the later part of their lives even became friends.