A Historical Perspective on Condoms

Reprinted from: Condoms in the Prdventibn of Sexually Transmitted 89-56 Diseases: proceedings of a conference, Atlanta, Georgia February 1987 (Research Triangle Park, NC: American Social Health Association, 1989) pp. 1-3 A Historical Perspective On Condoms Paul J.Feldblum, 1 M.S.P.H. protector Minos. She slipped the sheath is "armor against 2 love, Michael J.Rosenbei g,M.D., M.P.H. bladder of a goat into the vagina of a gossamer against infection."2 woman. Into this bladder Minos Until this time, the word condom 'Reproductive Epidemiology cast off his serpent-bearing semen. had not yet been coined; we may Division Then he went to find Pasiphae and never know its origin. An Family Health International cohabited with her. apocryphal story has it that the Research Triangle Park, NC 27709 Clearly, disease prophylaxis was word condom derives from Dr. paramount in this early user's mind. Condom, a court physician to King Departments of Epidemiology and Using this novel Obstetrics-Gynecology technique, Charles II,who reigned from 1660 to Pasiphae had eight children. Some 1685. The king became alarmed at University of North Carolina classicists believe that this rather his wealth of illegitimate children Chapel Hill, NC 27599 nasty legend exhibits misciassifica- and the good doctor helped him tion in that it was actually Minos prevent further errors, for which the and not his female partner who relieved king knighted this planned wore the goat The Ancients bladder sheath. At parenthood pioneer.' We know that any rate, this is the only reference to the term first appeared in print in a Evidence for condom use by the a male barrier device in either the 1717 English work on syphilis as ancients is sparse and ambiguous, ancient Greek or Roman sources. "condum.'2 ' It may have derived The ancient Egyptians used penis from the Latin word condus (a recep protectors of various sorts, probably tacle). Alternatively, the word may not for contraception, but for Origins be the product of a medieval Latin prophylaxis against tropical dis- Norman Himes, the respected his- scholar who jokingly coined it after eases.- torian of contraception, believed the Persian kendu or kondu, an Writings from the classical that the most plausible theory of the animal skin used to store grain. One civilizations are notably deficient in origin of the condom is that a researcher claimed that the word descriptions of effective contracep- medieval slaughter-house worker derives from a French village in the tive methods. Antoninus Liberalis, conceived the notion that an animal Department of Gers. Whatever the in his Metamorphoses, recounts the membrane stretched over the penis true etymologic and geographic legend of Minos and Pasiphae. would protect against disease. The origins of the condom, the French Prokris, daughter of Erechtheus, first indisputable published refer- colloquially refer to it as "a capote abandoned her husband, Cephalus, ence to asheath derives from the anglaise" (the English cape), while and took refuge with King Minos of Italian anatomist Fallopio in 1564. the English counter with their term, Crete. Minos had a most unusual This was a linen sheath moistened "the French letter."2 sexually transmissible condition with lotion for use against venereal his semen contained serpents and disease. Thirty-three years later, scorpions. So it is understandable Hercule Saxonia described a similar Europe that the poor king's marriage to fabric device soaked in an inorganic In the eighteenth century the con Pasiphae, the daughter 2 of the Sun, salt solution and dried. In 1671, traceptive benefits of the condom remained childless at this time. Mme. Sevigne wrote her daughter, began to be appreciated, and the Prokris had a brainstorm by the Countess of Grignan, that the devices were frequently employed which she could hPlp out her by prostitutes. De Sade mentioned Condoms in the Prevention of STD/December 1989 1 condoms in his writings, and I suppose, that thus mailed that by as late as 1940, "ASHA Casanova used them regularly. He and with spears sheathed in (American Social Hygiene Associa once stol. a nun's supply of this way, they can undergo tion, now called American Social condoms, but relented and returned with impunity the chances Health Association) had still failed to her "that which is so precious to a of promiscuous intercourse. to promote, or indeed, even men nun who wishes to make sacrifices But they are greatly mis- tion, the use of condoms3 in their 1 educational liierature." to love."' Casanova was very aware taken. of the varying levels of condom Perhaps more modem informa- On the manufacturing side, the quality and would test them before tion would have persuaded Dr. development of liquid-latex con use by inflating them. Boswell Astruc. doras lowered costs even more, and wrote how in May 1763 he "picked Earlier condoms were made from in the 1930s over 300 million were 1 up a strong young jolly damsel, led the ceca of sheep or other mammals, sold annually in the U.S. Some her to Westminster Bridge and an expensive process that put these body out there was using them. there, in armour complete, did I devices out of the reach of poorer Finally, ir World War II,the U.S. eitjoy her upon this noble edifice.' 2 people. The vulcanization of rubber Army awoke to the reality of its By this time, condoms were open- by Goodyear in 1843-44 set the stage soldiers' sexuality. An educational ly sold in London, Paris, Berlin, and for revolutionary advances in the campaign promoted condoms, and St. Petersburg. The brisk London manufacture of condoms, although as many as 50 million of the devices trade in condoms in the eighteenth there is no evidence that rubber ones were sold or freely distributed by century was led by a Mrs. Perkins were produced until the 1870s. the army each month during the and a Mrs. Philips, who shipped in Condoms were by then considerably war.3 Even then, social engineers quantity to France, Spain, Portugal, cheaper than in the days of natural criticized what they considered to be Italy, and elsewhere. One advertise- products, and their use was men- the condoning of promiscuity; the ment read: tioned prominently in late- conflict between people concerned nineteenth century treatises.1 with disease and others concerned To guard yourself from shame or with sexual morals was very much fear, in evidence. Referring to those inter Votaries to Venus hasten here, Twentieth Century ested in the control of sexuality, one None in my ware e'er found a During World War I, sexually trans- author wrote ironically of "the 3 flaw, mitted disease (STD) prevention in spiritual value of syphilis." This Self-preservation's nature's law.2 the American military centered on notion of disease as purifying moral exhortation, menacing punishment is hardly dead in our Of course, not everyone ap- posters, and vice squad sweeps age. proved of the use of condoms. The through the red-light districts that The actual production of con reproving tone of Johannes Astruc, a sprang up around army bases. Late doms worldwide is unknown, but physician of King Louis XV, rings in the war, the American Expedition- manufacturing capacity is about 5 loud and clear: ary Forces began distributing billion devices, enough to supply Ihear from the lowest prophylactic packets (pro-kits). each of the world's 40 million users than 100 per year.4 debauchees, who chase These kits did not contain condoms, with more without restraint after the but rather relied on calomel oint- Among married women of reproduc love of prostitutes, that ment, carbolic acid, and camphor. tive age, the prevalence of condom there are recently employed Thus chemical prophylaxis joined use is as high as 50% in Japan and in England skins made moral and educational prophylaxis; 15-30% in Scandinavia (13% in the from soft and seamless the main barrier to infection was self- developed world overall); in Asia hides in the shape of a control. Condom use was viewed as and Latin America the prevalence is sl-. th, and called condoms a threat to American family integrity about 3-5%; and in Africa less than 3 women use condoms.4 in English, with which and moral fiber. Later, as the con- 1%of such those about to have inter- spiracy of silence about venereal dis- Most condom-manufacturing course wrap their penis as eases was partially lifted in the and condom-importing countries in a coat of mail in order to anti-syphilis campaign of the 1930s, have national standards for quality render themselves safe in syphilophobia was promoted while control; sizes and widths vary slight the dangers of an ever the preventability of the disease was ly from nation to nation. The doubtful battle. They claim, never mentioned. Brandt points out devices are produced in many 2 Condoms in the Prevention of STD/'.!ccember 1989 styles: dry or lubricated, plain or References 3. Brandt A. No Magic Bullet: A reservoir end, straight or shaped, Social History of Venereal Disease in smooth or textured, and colored or 1. Hlimes N. Medical History if the United States since 1880. New natural. Contraception. New York: Gamut York: Oxford University Press, 1985. Irrespective of such details, Press, Inc., 1963; pp. 186-206. condom fabrication is a relatively 4. Sherris J,Lewison D, Fox G. efficient and straightforward 2. Potts M, Diggory P. Textbook Update on condoms - products, process. Just imagine the corn- of Contraceptive Practice, 2nd ed. protection, promotion. Population plexity of condom manufacture if Cambridge: Cambridge University Reports Series H, Number 6,1982. the human penis were corkscrew- Press, 1983; pp.

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