The Ballad of the Glove

This is a inspiring story which goes on to prove that Science can spring from love.As we celebrate World Hand Hygiene Week,I tell you the story of an 18th Century Romance which gave the world its first Surgical Glove. My humble tribute to the Father of American Surgery.

The Glove that William and Caroline gave the world that day,still shields the hands that heal & pray.

Where safety, science ,love combined, heal the body ,soul and mind.

Their love,mind and passion did prove, that Science too can spring from its groove

This story dates back to the late 18th century when a spirited young American girl joined the nursing profession much against the wishes of her elders. After completing her graduation from Mt Sinai Hospital, she joined the newly opened John Hopkins Hospital in 1889. Very soon she became the head nurse of the operation theatre and began assisting its chief surgeon. The eccentric Surgeon insisted that all OT staff should strictly sterilize their hands with soap water followed by potassium permanganate, followed by hot oxalic acid bath & mercury chloride compound. This sterilization routine proved difficult for the lady assistant as she developed painful eczematous dermatitis. The problem became so severe that she expressed her intent to resign on medical grounds.The Chief surgeon did not want to lose this unusually efficient & attractive assistant. He made a plaster cast of her hands and approached the Good Year Rubber company to design a thin rubber glove for his assistant. Very soon the gloves were ready and became an instant hit. The contended surgeon went for a vacation. On rejoining ,he was surprised to see that most of the OT staff was using similar surgical gloves. A resident   working under the chief made an interesting observation. He found that use of gloves not only protected surgical team but also saved patients’ lives by dramatically reducing infection rate. He undertook a scientific study and conclusively proved this fact in 1899. Thus began the era of use of surgical gloves with a sound scientific backing.The lady withdrew her resignation and soon became indispensable for the surgeon not only in the operation theater but also in the theater of his life. On 4 June 1890 they got married. The surgeon went on to change the landscape of surgical practice forever. He was well known for his eccentricities. He once operated on his mother for gall stones on her kitchen table at 2 AM and cured her after removing 7 gall stones. In another instance he transfused his own blood to his sister and operated on her while she lay exsanguinating following child birth. He went to introduce newer surgical procedures during his surgical carrier. He introduced world to topical and regional anesthesia by trying morphine on himself first.

No prizes for guessing. This gifted Surgeon, hero of this story was William Stewart Halstead, who is considered Father of surgery in America. His skilled operating room sweetheart was Caroline Hampton who went on to become Mrs. Caroline Halstead. His principles of asepsis and passion for science gave medical fraternity the indispensable glove which went to become a game changer in preventing infections globally.