History of Condom
The condom is one of the oldest forms of contraception.
Its history and use can be traced back thousands of years.
It is believed that a form of modern-day condoms were used
by the Egyptians as far back as 1, 000 B.C.
The earliest evidence of condom use in Europe are scenes
from cave paintings at Combarelles in France. Dated 100
to 200 AD.
The first known published description and trials regarding
prophylactic condom use were recorded by the Italian Gabrielle
Fallopius in the 1500's. He claimed to have invented
a sheath made of linen and conducted trials amongst 1, 100
men using the condom - none of who became infected with syphilis.
The origin of the word 'condom' is still unknown.
Folklore attributes the invention to Dr. Condom or Conton,
who was at the court of King Charles II in the 1600's.
It is more likely, however, that the name derives from the
Latin 'condus', meaning receptacle.
The condom, made of animal gut, became well known and increased
in popularity in the 1700's. Literature of that time
suggests that the condom's contraceptive (rather
than just prophylactic) properties had already been realised.
By 1766 many shops were producing handbills and advertisements.
Japanese are known to have used two types of condom. The
'Kawagata' or 'Kyotai' was made of thin
leather and the 'Kabutogata' was made from tortoiseshell
or horn.
Documentation also suggests that legendary 19th Century
lover Casanova was a regular user of this type of contraception.
He referred to condoms as 'Redingote Anglaise'
(English Riding Coat).
The rubber condom was developed shortly after the creation
of vulcanized rubber in the 1840's, by Goodyear and
Hancock. Vulcanisation is the method or process of treating
crude rubber with sulphur and subjecting it to intense
heat. This process turns the rubber into a strong elastic
material.
In the 1930's liquid latex manufacturing superseded
crepe rubber. It is still the basis for manufacture today.
In the 1990's new technology considerably improved
the condom and enabled the production of far more sophisticated
versions.
and now in the new millenium the new condom revolution is
making record waves in the history of the condom and the
condoms future is looking brighter than ever.