Before Latex, there was sheep guts. We unwrap the intriguing history of the condom.
The first record of a condom dates all the way back to ancient Greece: 3000 BC. In myth, Pasiphaë, queen of Crete and wife of King Minos, had a goat’s bladder placed into her vagina. With semen rumoured to contain scorpions and serpents, this allowed King Minos to have intercourse with his queen without harming her.
The ancient Chinese were renowned for their luxurious riches and grand materials, making condoms from silk paper. These condoms were made as result of diseases and the plague sweeping across the east from central Europe.
Comparatively, ancient Japanese condoms called Kabuto-Gata were made of used tortoiseshell or animal horns. Fortunately, after the arrival of Dutch traders, they later had access to condoms made from leather.
In 16th century Europe, anatomist and Catholic priest Gabriello Fallopia became widely known due to discovering the fallopian tubes and ovaries – a huge breakthrough in medical history. In 1564, Gabriello Fallopia published the De Morbo Gallico, which featured a condom made from linen. When dipped into a solution of salt and/or herbs, the linen condom was designed to protect against diseases, specifically sexually transmitted diseases.
In the 18th century, British condoms were usually only created in one size and had to be dipped in water or milk before use. The condom industry was dominated by two women: Mrs Phillips and Mrs Perkins. Phillips and Perkins were rivals, and they overshadowed any other competition.
Mrs Phillips manufactured condoms for 35 years, creating them from the finest and most luxurious skins and bladders. Not only did Mrs Phillips fulfil orders from Britain, but she also sold her condoms to people in Portugal, Italy, Spain and France! When advertising their condoms in London, both Mrs Phillips and Mrs Perkins would have paid street hawkers to do it for them. This was a useful form of 18th century advertising, as hawkers would shout short and catchy phrases to the public to encourage them into purchasing a product.
Nineteenth century contraceptive condom composed of animal gut with blue silk ties.
Condoms today
The birth of the modern condom is credited to the self-taught American chemist Charles Goodyear, although there is some uncertainty, as British inventor Thomas Hancock patented rubber vulcanisation eight weeks before his American competitor.
‘Deminteste original tested’ brand rubber latex condom sealed with officially tested examined label, in waxed paper packet.
Goodyear is widely known through his discovery of the vulcanisation of rubber in 1844. This discovery had a huge impact on condom production, as they could now be made thinner and more efficient. However, in 1931, some condoms still contained animal gut mixed with rubber. Produced en masse today with a thickness of 1mm, the evolution of the condom from gut to latex really can’t be overstated.
Durex Fetherlite condoms, 2020s.
Free safer sex pack, 2020s.
The origin of the word ‘condom’
There hasn’t been any agreement on the etymology of the word ‘condom’. All we know is that the word ‘condum’ was first seen in a poem in 1706 and later, the word ‘condon’ was found in a literary journal in 1709. Throughout history, the condom has had a myriad of other unique (yet arguably interesting) names, such as gloves, the male sheath, machine, French letter, and our personal favourite, the male riding coat.
For folks at home who want to save money or happen to be on a budget, here’s how to make a sheep gut condom!*
Step 1 – Soak a sheep’s intestine in water for a few hours.
Step 2 – Turn the sheep’s intestine inside out.
Step 3 – Then macerate them once again in some weak alkaline. Change the alkaline every 12 hours.
Step 4 – Scrape them gently and carefully in order to remove the mucous membrane. This leaves the peritoneal and muscular coats, exposing them to the vapour of the burning brimstone.
Step 5 – Wash them in soap and water.
Step 6 – Inflate them.
Step 7 – Dry them.
Step 8 – Cut to the length of 7-8 inches
Step 9 – Finally, border the open end with some form of ribbon or string in order to tie around the base of the penis.
Note: Before use, soak condom in water.
*Thackray Museum of Medicine does not endorse this method of making a condom. We recommend purchasing condoms from your local pharmacy, find yours here.
This blog was originally written by volunteer Joseph.