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When were gloves introduced into the hospital? Glove use can be traced back to the first published article dating 1758 when a surgical glove made from the cecum of a sheep was used during an obstetric procedure. In 1890, in an effort to protect the hands of his nurse from harsh chemicals used during surgery, Dr. William Halsted introduced the first rubber glove for clinical use. For many years, surgical gloves were washed, mended, powdered, sterilized and reused. It was not until the 1960s that the first disposable natural rubber latex gloves were available for general use.