I always wondered if there was anything made for dealing with the curse. Watching Regency House on PBS last year mentioned that women would suffer through it and use some form of a cotton pad. The show mentioned women would retire for the 1st 2 or 3 days, I'd be right there with those ladies.

But flannel referred to flannel wool, not cotton as we know it. I wonder if the items were felted (sort of like the pricey diaper covers that I used for my son when he was a baby). But if they aren't made of a good grade of wool they'd chafe something fierce. I guess one could cover them with cotton. Any ideas?