Table.

Halsted's innovations and contributions to surgery

1.	As a medical student, invented a traction apparatus for neck fractures.
2.	As a resident, was responsible for the inclusion of temperature charts in the medical record.
3.	In 1881, performed the first emergency blood transfusion (on his sister) and one of the first operations for gallstones (on his mother).
4.	Was the first to use cocaine for local and regional anesthesia and also the first to demonstrate spinal anesthesia. This discovery later greatly enlarged the scope of dentistry.
5.	Was the first to promote “safe surgery” (asepsis, careful handling of tissues, hemostasis, and introduction of fine silk sutures and delicate forceps).
6.	Developed new operations for intestinal, stomach, gallbladder, thyroid, hernia, and breast surgery. Also signalled advances in vascular surgery (first to excise a subclavian aneurysm).
7.	Promoted rubber gloves for scrub nurse Caroline (see discussion in article).
8.	Was the first to use plate and screw techniques with burial screws for long bone fractures.
9.	Most importantly, was the first in the USA to develop a “school of surgery”: a rigorous training program for young surgeons. His department of surgery established four subspecialties: otolaryngology, urology, orthopedics, and neurosurgery. Seven of his residents became professors of surgery.