These instructions on how to make “sheepgut” condoms are from an 1824 text which I found on proessional archivist Lesley Hall’s Condom Page
Ordinary Condoms (Armour, Baudruches, Redingotes Anglaises) (Used to prevent venereal disease or pregnancy) are made from sheeps' intestina caeca soaked in water for some hours, turned inside out, macerated again in weak alkaline changed every 12 hours, scraped carefully to removed the mucous membrane, leaving the peritoneal and muscular coats; exposed to the vapour of burning brimstone, washed with soap and water; blown up, dried, cut to length of 7-8 inches, bordered at the open end with a riband.
- Baudruches fines: soaked in weak ley, turned inside out, dressed as before. Soaked in ley again, brimstoned, drawn smooth upon oiled moulds of a proper size, with the external coat of the gut next to the mould.
- Baudruches superfines: washed in 2 soapy waters after soaking in them for 24 hrs and very carefully dressed with the knife. Soaked in hard water for 3 days, the water being often changed; dried with a clean cloth, scented with essences, and being stretched on a glass mould, rubbed with a glass to polish them.
- Baudruches superfine doubles: in their moist state being on the mould, another is drawn over also moist, the 2 insides adhere together.
- Condoms should be soaked in water before use to make them supple.
Published January 8, 2006.
