Take the caecum of the sheep; soak it first in water, turn it on both sides, then repeat the operation in a weak ley of soda, which must be changed every four or five hours for five or six successive times; then remove the mucus membrane with the nail; sulphur, wash in clean water, and then in soap and water; rinse, inflate, and dry.
Next cut it to the required length and attach a piece of ribbon to the open end. Used to prevent infection or pregnancy. The different qualities consist of extra pains being taken in the above process, and in polishing, scenting, &c.
You want to remove the mucus membrane because it can rot. To “sulphur” something is to fumigate it with sulphur. “Ley of soda” is lye, which is sodium hydroxide—which is often used in soap making. It breaks down biological matter. The immersion in lye seems to help clean the biological material from the casing. People would use only the cecum of the sheep because, since the cecum is the pouch between the upper and lower intestine, it has a closed end. No one would trust themselves to a sewn-shut condom.
