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Ovulation Test

Ovulation Test

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Description
Frank Ewers was a Catholic physician in Ottowa, Illinois, who was concerned about patients who wished to limit their families but found the rhythm method unreliable. Learning about research into tests for sugar in the mucus of the uterus, Dr. Ewers imagined that this work might lead to a general test for ovulation. He and several Catholic laymen then founded Weston Laboratories, to market the product.
Labels on this cardboard carton read “FERTILITY TESTOR / U.S. PATENT 3,017,879 / a home test for ovulation” produced by “WESTON LABORATORIES, INC. / OTTOWA, ILLINOIS.” Labels on the item itself read “FERTILITY / TAPE / For the Detection of Cervical Glucose.”
Ref: Donald T. Sapit and Frank J. Ewers, Jr., “Fertility Tester,” U.S. Patent 3,017,879 (Jan. 23, 1962), assigned to Weston Laboratories, Inc.
Shirley De Leon, “Research on Rhythm,” The National Catholic Reporter (March 24, 1965), p. 6.
Location
Currently not on view
Object Name
fertility tester, kit
ovulation test, kit
date made
1960s
patent date
1962-01-23
place made
United States: Illinois, Ottawa
Physical Description
plastic (overall material)
Measurements
overall: 2 in x 8 3/8 in x 1 7/8 in; 5.08 cm x 21.2725 cm x 4.7625 cm
ID Number
1982.0531.079
accession number
1982.0531
catalog number
1982.0531.079
patent number
US3017879A
Credit Line
Gift of Margaret Sanger Center
subject
Women's Health
See more items in
Medicine and Science: Medicine
Health & Medicine
Data Source
National Museum of American History
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