A pubic
hair piece. A toupee for the pubic area/genitals. In the 1700’s when mercury was used to treat sexually transmitted diseases (
Gonorrhea or Syphilis) one of the side effects was the loss of
pubic hair. To disguise this condition, that was not cured by mercury, a Merkin was employed.
17th Century setting: Due to his treatment of the "
French Pox" (syphilis) with mercury a merkin
Gwendolyn used a Merkin to used to hide the side effects of
hair loss and not alarm her husband.