<P> Criminals have also been known to wear medical gloves during commission of crimes . These gloves are often chosen because their thinness and tight fit allow for dexterity . However because of the thinness of these gloves, fingerprints may actually pass through the material as glove prints, thus transferring the wearer's prints onto the surface touched or handled . </P> <P> The participants of the Watergate burglaries infamously wore rubber surgical gloves in an effort to hide their fingerprints . </P> <P> Generally speaking, examination gloves are sized in XS, S, M and L. Some brands may offer size XL . Surgical gloves are usually sized more precisely since they are worn for a much longer period of time and require exceptional dexterity . The sizing of surgical gloves are based on the measured length across the palm in inches, at a level slightly above the thumb's sewn . Typical sizing ranges from 5.5 to 9.0 at an increment of 0.5 . Some brands may also offer size 5.0 which is particularly relevant to women practitioners . First - time users of surgical gloves may take some time to find the right size and brand that suit their hand geometry the most . People with a thicker palm may need a size larger than the measurement and vice versa . </P> <P> Research on a group of American surgeons found that the most common surgical glove size for men is 7.0, followed by 6.5; and for women 6.0 followed by 5.5 . </P>

When were rubber gloves first used in surgery