USELESS TRIVIA TIME:

WWI brings about the birth of KOTEX.

Military Nurses during WWI noticing how absorbant the bandages used on
wounded soliders were, decided to try it for their own bleeding. While they
would go back to the old standby of rags if supplies were low, they prefered
the bandages... especially if they had been making out with the officers and
were worried that they might miss that monthly visitor.

After the war, nurses contacted the manufacturer, Kimberly-Clark, advising
them of the practicality of marketing them for female use. K-C, not one to
ignore a new market, started a study on it.

The product was proven, but several names were rejected before the name
Kotex was chosen:

>>> MANHOLE COVERS FOR WOMEN
>>> RED RIVER VALLEY MADAME DAMS
>>> COTTON PONIES (a strong contender, often used as a nickname to this day)
>>> SLURPPIES
>>> TOMATO JUICE EXTRACTORS

Of course, the name KOTEX was finally chosen after Jimmy Kotex, K-C janitor
and future son-in-law of a K-C exec, after he put a stop to the monthly
visitor of said exec's 15 year-old-daughter.