The Evolution of Medical Uniforms: A Journey Through Time
Medical uniforms have come a long way from their origins, reflecting advances in healthcare and changes in society’s attitudes toward medical professionalism and hygiene. The development of medical uniforms is a result of the needs of the times. The main purpose of this article is to take you through the history of medical uniforms in connection with the development of the times.
14th Century: the Earliest Defenses
In the 14th century, the plague known as the “Black Death” swept across Europe and had a high mortality rate. At that time, there was no special medical clothing, and doctors used cotton or linen to cover their mouths and noses to reduce the risk of infection.
17th Century: Doctor Schnabel
At that time, the state of healthcare was poor, and the lack of adequate skills and means of prevention, the plague doctors were at high risk of being directly infected.
A French man named Charles Delorme invented protective doctor uniforms, which consist of a wide-brimmed hat, white leather gloves, leather or waxed canvas robe, a bird-beaked mask, leather pants and boots, and goggles. Doctors are covered from head to toe in protective medical clothes made of oil-proof cloth, their hands are wrapped in huge gloves, they wear a hat, their faces are hidden in a mask shaped like a bird’s beak to help filter the air, their eyes are protected by transparent glass, and they hold a long stick in their hands to instruct patients on how to treat their illnesses when necessary. Doctors wear this type of medical uniform to prevent infection from the patient’s blood and body fluids. In addition, the image of the bird’s beak is also intended to scare away the sick, so they are also known as “Doctor Schnabel”.
19th Century: the Advent of the White Lab Coats
The protective hospital staff uniforms of North American field doctors in the early 1800s were a white long-sleeved shirt with a high neckline, which was rolled up at the cuffs as they worked, and a dark-colored bib. In 1862, Pasteur’s experiments with a gooseneck flask proved that germs can only come from germs, and can’t be created out of thin air. In the 1880s, German surgeon Ernst von Bergmann designed a long white lab coat to be used as an operating doctor’s medical uniform, and doctors switched to white lab coats. It was only then that doctors changed to white lab coats. The white color made it easy to see stains clearly and clean them quickly, and sterilization and prevention methods became prevalent in the medical profession.
With the spread of bacteriological theories and the concept of sterilization in the medical community, the sterilized white medical uniforms became the standard for surgeons during surgery, and wearing a sterilized white surgical gown lowered the rate of surgical infections.
20th Century: Advances in Medical Uniforms
During the First World War, doctors dressed in loose round-necked, reversible dress-style white lab coats, bound at the waist with ties, and the length of the garment was close to the ankle. As doctors operated on patients under shadowless lamps for long periods of time, doctors’ eyes developed fatigue, which affected the clarity of vision.
In order to solve the problem of doctors’ visual fatigue, a doctor in New York proposed in 1924 that the complementary color of blood red should be blue or green, and then green and blue medical uniforms scrubs popular. Doctors would wear medical uniforms and white lab coats during daily visits, and once in the operating room most doctors would change into green and blue medical scrubs.
Nowadays: Modernization of Medical Uniforms
With the development and needs of society, medical technology, and the medical environment, medical uniforms are becoming more and more professional, equipped with all kinds of specialized instruments, in order to achieve the sterility of the medical environment and reduce the risk of spreading viruses and bacteria.
The public is also concerned about the comfort, functionality, cleanliness, and fashion of the medical staff, medical clothing manufacturers will produce medical uniforms that can be industrially laundered, sterilized, and ironed, but also produce hospital uniforms full of fashion elements that can be washed at home. At the same time, the humanistic approach to medicine has also led to more unique doctor uniforms coming into the clinic, and pediatric nurses will have fun prints on their medical uniforms to enhance the affinity between medical staff and patients.
The evolution of medical uniforms reflects advances in healthcare, technology, and societal values, demonstrating the changing needs of the healthcare industry as the times unfold. From the early days of protective gear to today’s modern medical uniforms, each stage has improved the functionality, hygiene, and comfort of the medical uniforms. These uniforms are now not only used for practical purposes but also symbolize the professionalism and humanity of those in the medical field.
You can contact Boston Scrub if you need medical scrubs, medical uniforms, and lab coats, Boston is a modern clothing manufacturer that integrates design, development, production, and sales. With a large garment factory, we are committed to quality first. You can come and visit our factory.