While not all disposable gloves are made out of rubber, you have probably heard people refer to them as “rubber gloves”. This is not surprising when you think that the first surgical-type gloves made, were indeed made out of rubber
We’ve got Dr.William Stewart Halsted to thank for rubber gloves! In 1889, his Head Operating Nurse and wife-to-be, Caroline Hampton, developed dermatitis from the harsh hand disinfectants used prior to surgery. Dr. Halsted turned to the Goodyear Rubber Company to manufacture thin rubber gloves that could be used for hand protection. ( William Stewart Halsted, Retrieved May 20th 2009 from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Stewart_Halsted)
Latex rubber gloves are made of a natural rubber protein derived from the rubber tree. Neatly-lined groups of rubber trees are “tapped”-or cut- and their sap collected in containers. This sap is then mixed with chemicals in an elaborate manufacturing process, to produce what nowadays are more commonly known as Latex Gloves.
Latex gloves take the shape of the hands extremely well, making it easy to manipulate small objects. This is why they are found across all industries, from medical to food service, manufacturing and industrial.
In more recent years, however, there has been growing concern with individuals experiencing sensitivity to latex. As a result, a second generation of gloves has been developed to cater to the needs of these people.
Do you know what the second generation of gloves is? Stay tuned to find out!
Sincerely Yours,
The Ammex Glover
