The ‘Gamic appliance’, England, 1965-1974

Gamic appliance, with instructions, in original carton Gamic appliance, with instructions, in original carton Gamic appliance, with instructions, in original carton

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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

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

Buy this image as a print 

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

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Gamic appliance, with instructions, in original carton
Science Museum Group
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Gamic appliance, with instructions, in original carton
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Gamic appliance, with instructions, in original carton
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Gamic appliance (urethra plug), with instructions, in original carton, by Gamic Genetic Laboratories, English, available in 1970

The ‘Gamic appliance’ is a male contraceptive. It consists of a short rubber bung with a small sheath fitted over the tip. The bung was pushed down in to the urethra. This is the tube leading down through the penis. Ejaculated semen was caught in the sheath. It was an unreliable form of contraception. The appliance was prone to come off in the vagina. However, makers Gamic Genetic Laboratories claimed it was designed to ‘uphold the permanence and prestige of marriage.’ This device was part of the Marie Stopes collection - Stopes herself condemned the Gamic Appliance as "wholly dangerous and absurd". Stopes was an early campaigner for contraceptives and family planning.

Details

Category:
Obstetrics, Gynaecology & Contraception
Collection:
Sir Henry Wellcome's Museum Collection
Object Number:
A626918
Materials:
appliance, rubber and carton, rubber
Measurements:
overall: 25 mm x 85 mm x 60 mm, .026kg
type:
male contraceptive
credit:
Marie Stopes Memorial Foundation

Parts

Instruction leaflet for Gamic Appliance

Instruction leaflet for Gamic Appliance

Instruction leaflet for gamic appliance

Materials:
paper
Object Number:
A626918 Pt1
type:
printed ephemera