In the nineteenth century, bands of young English gallants would seek out virgins. The demand generated a shameful trade in young girls. One problem was that there were just not enough available virgins to go around. An answer was to "manufacture" virgins, i.e. to sew up girls who had had previous sexual relations. Some poor young girls were treated in this fashion repeatedly, their maidenheads being restored after each coitus with a new client. In some areas of London disreputable surgeons specialised in "revirginising" - and some girls were reported to have gone in for repairs as often as 50