Cotton swabs (British English: cotton buds) are used in first aid, cosmetics application, and a variety of other uses. They consist of a small wad of cotton wrapped around the end of a small rod, made of wood, rolled paper, or plastic. The most common type of usage is to dip the cotton end in a substance, then use the swab as an applicator for the substance. Sometimes swabs are also used for removal of substances such as earwax from ear canals, though the instructions accompanying the swabs generally contain a warning that the swabs should not be inserted directly into the ear, as doing so is actually dangerous. The inventor of the cotton swab is supposed to have been one Leo Gerstenzang, in 1923 [LINK: http://www.anecdotage.com/index.php?aid=2857] [1]. His product, which he named "Baby Gays", went on to become the most widely-sold brand name, "Q-tip". Construction The tra

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