Comte Arnau
06-24-2011, 06:03 PM
Two 200-year-old condoms found in Toledo, Spain
They are made of pig intestine and have been found among documents of the second decade of the 19th century. They were used against venereal diseases rather than to prevent pregnancy and had to be softened in milk before use.
They are 21 inches long and made of pig intestine. So are the two condoms from the beginning of the nineteenth century found by workers in the National Historical Archives of Toledo who examined correspondence of the 1814-1830 period. At first they thought it was a papyrus, but immediately saw that it was something else that had a rounded tip and the sides were sewn, says BBC News. The other end is open and is adjustable to be able to close on the penis.
http://www.ara.cat/societat/Condo-antic-dipositat-Universitat-Salamanca_ARAIMA20110624_0078_20.jpg
Ancient condom in the University of Salamanca
According to experts, in ancient times these rudimentary condoms -that Egyptians already used a thousand years before Christ- were a luxury and often illegal, and were designed to prevent venereal diseases like syphilis and gonorrhea, rather than as a contraceptive. They were reusable and had milk to soften them before using.
This type of finding is occasional, and the University of Salamanca has got two that were found in a book of ancient medicine. Years before, the British Museum had organized an exhibition of condoms 450 years old.
They are made of pig intestine and have been found among documents of the second decade of the 19th century. They were used against venereal diseases rather than to prevent pregnancy and had to be softened in milk before use.
They are 21 inches long and made of pig intestine. So are the two condoms from the beginning of the nineteenth century found by workers in the National Historical Archives of Toledo who examined correspondence of the 1814-1830 period. At first they thought it was a papyrus, but immediately saw that it was something else that had a rounded tip and the sides were sewn, says BBC News. The other end is open and is adjustable to be able to close on the penis.
http://www.ara.cat/societat/Condo-antic-dipositat-Universitat-Salamanca_ARAIMA20110624_0078_20.jpg
Ancient condom in the University of Salamanca
According to experts, in ancient times these rudimentary condoms -that Egyptians already used a thousand years before Christ- were a luxury and often illegal, and were designed to prevent venereal diseases like syphilis and gonorrhea, rather than as a contraceptive. They were reusable and had milk to soften them before using.
This type of finding is occasional, and the University of Salamanca has got two that were found in a book of ancient medicine. Years before, the British Museum had organized an exhibition of condoms 450 years old.