| Sir Condom |
EasyNews, UseNet made Ea .. |
| ::darkshadows:: (bat@cave.org) |
2009/04/28 23:19 |
Sir Condom
Most experts believe there was a Dr. Condom--or perhaps a Dr. Conton,
who was fond of a method of birth control that is evident in the name.
The experts do not agree, however, on who he was. One theory is that
he was in some way associated with the court of King Charles II. He
may have been court physician to the king, and thus supplied His
Majesty with the royal birth control devices. One version says that
the king was so delighted with the invention that he made Condom a
knight. Another source traces the word to a mid-17th century Colonel
Condum of Britain's Royal Guards.
Some word watchers doubt there was a Dr. Condom at all. They claim
condom is simply derived from the Latin "condus," which means
receptacle. In any case, condom use predates the court of King Charles
II. The first known published description and clinical trials of
condoms were recorded by Gabrielle Fallopius. His sheath was made of
linen.
There is a town in France called Condom, by the way. It's the center
for the production of Armagnac, a type of brandy. Town officials say
that they have to replace the sign bearing the name of their town five
or six times a year. They are frequently stolen by British tourists.
The French word for "condom" is "preservatif."
|
|
|