modern-day practice, so I thought that it would be interesting to look back on the history of contraception.

One of the earliest references to this subject is found in the bible and here I quote from the Book of Genesis, Chapter 38 beginning at Verse 8: "Then Judah told Onan to sleep with his brother's wife, to do his duty as the husband's brother and raise up issue for his husband's brother. But Onan knew the child would not be his, so whenever he slept with his brother's wife he spilled his seed on the ground so as not to raise up issue for his brother.'' In 1850 BC we have medical text written on papyrus by ancient Egyptians which states that the female vagina could be plugged with substances such as honey or crocodile dung to make an effective barrier against sperm. Further writings in 1550 BC state that tampons made of seed wood and medicated with acacia and dates ground with honey which, when inserted, prevented a woman from conceiving for one to three years.

In the Talmud in 200 AD we have reference to a spongy barrier being used. In the 4th century in Constantinople women inserted sponges moistened with lemon juice.

Fallopius writing in 1504 makes reference to linen sheathes being worn on the male penis to prevent syphilis.

In the 18th century we have reference to a Doctor Condom at the court of King Charles II using sheathes to prevent both pregnancy and disease. Condoms were first made of rubber in 1880, latex was first used in 1930.

The great lover Casanova in the year 1700 used half a lemon to make a barrier over the female cervix.

In 1852 a Doctor Charles Knowlton was using douches made of Alum, Sulphate of zinc, vinegar and liquid chloride of soda as a contraceptive. The diaphragm was developed by a Doctor Wilhelm Mensinga in 1880 but did not achieve popularity until around 1920.

Intra uterine devices can be traced back for over 3000 years when pebbles were placed in the wombs of female camels to prevent them from becoming pregnant during long treks across the desert.

In the early 1900's plugs were placed in the female cervix, removed every month prior to menses and then replaced, not a popular method as infection was usually introduced at the same time.

In 1930 a Doctor Grafenberg used silkworm threads and silver rings as intra uterine devices, these have gradually been improved upon until the small devices made of copper and nylon which are used today. Preceding the present-day birth control pills, which were only developed in the 1950's, many substances were given to women to swallow in the hope of causing infertility.

Ancient Chinese writings of 4000 years ago state that women were fed quicksilver (commonly known as mercury). Four hundred years ago in India, carrot seeds were used as an oral contraceptive. This method was quickly disregarded! In the last century in the northern part of the Canadian province of New Brunswick, dried beaver testicle was brewed in alcohol and given to women to drink.

Obviously when comparing some of these methods with the safe and simple methods available today, we can see that we are fortunate indeed to have these safe and simple methods of contraception that enable us to make decisions as to when and how often children should be born.

MRS. BRENDA ROWSE Supervisor, Maternal Health and Family Planning Clinic Department of Health and Social Services