Essay Sample on Industrial Revolution: Medical Gloves and Semi-Trucks

Introduction

The period 1865-1900 in America witnessed intensive industrial developments and urbanization (Barton, 2018). Technological innovation, growth of the economy, the development of large-scale agriculture, and the expansion of the federal government were rampant during the era. I feel that the two most important innovations or inventions at the time were medical gloves and semi-truck, which have profound uses in the world today. Primarily, this paper analyzes what the two innovations, semi-truck, and medical gloves, did, how they changed lives, and why I consider them essential for the period.

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In contemporary medicine, the thought of conducting surgery without wearing medical or surgical gloves is absurd since the use of medical gloves aid in preventing transmissions in theatres and when attending to patients. Before the late 1800s, however, doctors and physicians did not use gloves when treating patients (Barton, 2018). A majority of the mortality rate during surgery resulted from infections since surgeons did not wash their hands or practice hygiene practices when conducting medical surgery on patients. The high rate of mortality during and after an operation prompted John Lister to encourage the use of carbolic acid to sterile hands and surgical instruments during surgeries. However, continued use of the acid led to contact dermatitis that affected Hampton, a nurse who worked for William Stewart, a founding professor of John Hopkins Hospital. The acid hurt Hampton's hands during surgery hence prompting Stewart to visit a rubber manufacturing plant where he had the first medical gloves made. The first medical gloves were invented in the year 1889 (Barton, 2018).

Accordingly, most surgeons and medical practitioners would wear medical gloves during their daily practices and particularly when handling patients. I consider medical gloves as one of the essential innovations at the time. The surgical gloves had a role to play in reducing the overall mortality rates that resulted due to infections. In addition to that, doctors would protect themselves when treating patients and indulge in any procedure since the gloves would prevent them from contracting any diseases when handling patients. Thus, this improved medical outcomes and treatments. I think that the gloves are essential, particularly in the world today when new infectious viruses and diseases as on the rise. One would hardly imagine a world without medical gloves in this era of coronavirus infections. Besides, the medical gloves assisted medical personnel significantly in the 20th century after the discovery of HIV/AIDS, which would be transmitted through skin contact is both a patient and medical staff had an open wound. Primarily, this shows that gloves helped in reducing infections of communicable and transmittable diseases. As such, they transformed the medical field significantly. As Barton (2018) indicated, surgical glove influenced the safety of surgery and helped in saving many lives.

Another essential invention of 1865-1900 in America was a semi-truck. According to Brady (2014), Alexander Winton invented the truck in the year 1898 and sold the first truck in 1899 (Brady, 2014). Importantly, Winton ventured in a business of horseless carriage in the year 1896 that sold its first 22 cars in the year 1898 (Brady, 2014). The high demand for vehicles prompted the need for a device or technology that would help in delivering cars to buyers. In addition to that, most people interested in purchasing the products lived in different parts of the country. Transporting commodities became a significant challenge for the corporation. Such difficulties lured Winton to manufacturing semi-truck that would handle deliveries. By the year 1899, Winton would manufacture semi-trucks for use by his company and other car manufacturers; hence the truck gained in popularity (Brady, 2014).

Importantly, a semi-truck or trailer is a freight trailer attached to a truck tractor. Winton's invention changed the invention industry since manufacturers would produce bulk commodities without any worry about how the products would be transported to end-users. Before the design of the trucks, most products manufactured would be damaged when transported to long distances; hence companies would face losses. In consequence, they avoided making bulky products, a situation solved by the invention of a semi-truck. The device is essential since it helped improve trade between nations at the time and presently as well. Nowadays, people can purchase cars, trucks, and other bulk products from distant regions and have it without any damage due to the availability of semi-trucks. I feel that the semi-truck invention had a role to play in boosting the overall economy in America and the world as well. By making transportation of bulk goods faster and possible, they allowed for new and bulky inventions sold to different parts of the world.

Conclusion

To conclude, the two most important inventions in America from the years 1865 to 1890 were medical gloves and a semi-truck. The innovations helped to improve the relevant industries significantly. As discussed in this paper, the medical gloves reduced the number of new infections during surgeries hence decreasing the overall mortality rate. The gloves are still used in the medical field up-to-date. The semi-truck allowed for the transportation of bulk goods such as cars and trucks from one region to another. In effect, the vehicles helped in streamlining trade practices between areas, which in turn, boosted the overall economy of a country. Just like the medical gloves, the semi-trucks are still in use in the world today. The invention allowed manufacturers to be more creative and make bulky goods since the semi-trucks would ease the transportation of the commodities to the end-users.

References

Barton, M. (2018). The History of Surgical Gloves. https://www.pastmedicalhistory.co.uk/the-history-of-surgical-gloves/

Brady, T. (2014). Who Invented the First Semi-Truck? http://www.getloaded.com/load-board-blog/post/Who-Invented-the-First-Semi-Truck