[William Stewart Halsted--110 years of the use of surgical gloves].

Introduction: William Stewart Halsted was born in New York in 1852 and is generally regarded as the most innovative and influential surgeon the United States has produced.

Contributions To Surgery: The number and magnitude of Halsted's contributions to surgery are staggering. They range from the development of a surgical procedure for breast cancer, to the introduction of rubber gloves in the operating room.