PH
When renowned surgeon William Stewart Halsted first asked the Goodyear Rubber Company to make a thin pair of rubber gloves in the winter of 1889-1890, he had no intention of using them to protect his patients against infection. Instead, he only wanted to protect his love interest's gentle hands from the harsh chemicals she was exposed to as his assistant in the operating room.
Despite being one of America's most prominent advocates for Joseph Lister's antiseptic surgical protocols, the John Hopkins doctor saw little advantage to wearing rubber gloves beyond protecting his nurse Caroline Hampton's skin from mercuric chloride. She evidently appreciated the gesture, because the two were quickly engaged and married shortly after Halsted presented her with his invention.
While the gloves grew in popularity among surgeons for their ability to protect their own skin, it wasn't until much later that they were recognized for their hygienic properties during operations.
(c) Ranker
