Lot Essay
Happy the man who in his pocket keeps,
whether with green or scarlet ribbon bounds
a well made C----M (The Potent Ally,1741)
Since the 18th Century contraception and contraceptive devices have been a recognisable part of English social history. Both prose and poetry have alluded to the condom or sheath, often described as "armour" or "machine". In Joseph Gay's poem The Petticoat of 1716 a condom is described as
The New Machine as a sure defense shall prove
and guard the sex against the Harm of Love
In his writings Boswell described using "armour complete" when on amourous adventures in London and Holland.
London had several respected purveyors of sheaths, including a Mrs Philips, Mrs Perkins and Mrs Lewis. Those supplied by Mrs Philips were of such quality that she sold to France. The Machine of 1744 described the production of "Capotes anglaise" and suggested that for safety two should be worn. In the New description of Merryland the condom was described as
of an extraordinary fine thin substance, and contrived
so as to be all of one piece, and without a seam, only
about the bottom. It is generally bound round with a
scarlet ribbon for ornament
Early medical reservtions appear to have been tempered by religious morals. Joseph Com felt that the use of condoms to prevent venereal disease ought not to be allowed in a Christian country since to advise mankind to use Machinery and to fight in armour was merely to encourage wickedness. A more objective view was exspressed by E.C. Bourro in 1770, when he stated that the English sheaths were subject to tears and were therefore of little use to prevent disease
whether with green or scarlet ribbon bounds
a well made C----M (The Potent Ally,1741)
Since the 18th Century contraception and contraceptive devices have been a recognisable part of English social history. Both prose and poetry have alluded to the condom or sheath, often described as "armour" or "machine". In Joseph Gay's poem The Petticoat of 1716 a condom is described as
The New Machine as a sure defense shall prove
and guard the sex against the Harm of Love
In his writings Boswell described using "armour complete" when on amourous adventures in London and Holland.
London had several respected purveyors of sheaths, including a Mrs Philips, Mrs Perkins and Mrs Lewis. Those supplied by Mrs Philips were of such quality that she sold to France. The Machine of 1744 described the production of "Capotes anglaise" and suggested that for safety two should be worn. In the New description of Merryland the condom was described as
of an extraordinary fine thin substance, and contrived
so as to be all of one piece, and without a seam, only
about the bottom. It is generally bound round with a
scarlet ribbon for ornament
Early medical reservtions appear to have been tempered by religious morals. Joseph Com felt that the use of condoms to prevent venereal disease ought not to be allowed in a Christian country since to advise mankind to use Machinery and to fight in armour was merely to encourage wickedness. A more objective view was exspressed by E.C. Bourro in 1770, when he stated that the English sheaths were subject to tears and were therefore of little use to prevent disease