'Racial' Synthetic sponge, London, England,1940-1960

Synthetic sponge, in original carton, "Racial" brand, London

Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

Buy

License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

License

Synthetic sponge, in original carton, "Racial" brand, London
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Synthetic sponge, in original carton, "Racial" brand, London, 1940-1960

Sponges were widely used as contraception in the early 1900s. They were one of a range of contraceptives promoted by the Society for Constructive Birth Control. The society was founded by Dr Marie Stopes (1880-1958). This brand of ‘Racial’ sponge is seen here with its original carton. It was supplied by the Mother’s Clinic, which Stopes founded in 1921. Sponges were often used in conjunction with liquids thought to have spermicidal properties. These included quinine and olive oil. The trademark ‘Racial’ relates to Stopes’ belief in eugenics. This widely held theory in the early 1900s argued selective breeding could remove ‘undesirables’ from society.

Details

Category:
Obstetrics, Gynaecology & Contraception
Collection:
Sir Henry Wellcome's Museum Collection
Object Number:
A626881
Materials:
sponge, plastic, foam and carton, paper
Measurements:
overall: 20 mm x 90 mm x 90 mm, .01kg
type:
contraceptive sponge
credit:
Marie Stopes Memorial Foundation