Probing the “Golden Age”

You could argue about this in several directions, but my take on what was a “Golden age” in this country was the 40's to the 70's when

Enemas were de rigeur in most households. I suspect a good number of members on this site would testify that they had early experiences from childhood and teen years when they were introduced to Enemas and rectal thermometers on a regular or semi-regular basis which wired them in a sexual way. It was the “go to” remedy in many cases. This was certainly my experience. Enema equipment could be found in catalogues (Sears, Montgomery Wards), were commonplace in every drugstore. They were easy to come by. Then for whatever reason (and it seems around the late 70's) it all died out. Enema magazines started to dwindle. The Sherema Clinic died in the mid 80's. Do I wish all this stuff were still around? Absolutely! The equipment alone was spectacular and now nearly impossible to find. People born in the 40's, 50's, and 60's are a mainstay on this site due to this golden age of Enemas. Someday, someone will recognize that a study of this phenomenon merits attention. Did it die out because it suddenly acquired a stigma of deviant, perverted, or unhealthy behavior? Will it ever be understood for what it is, in many cases a “side dish”….something that delivers powerful orgasms? Be interesting to find out.

I think the biggest change is the simple fact that we are now in what my Dad calls “The post-privacy era”

The opportunities to do things without anyone else knowing especially for teens and pre-teens were vast compared to today.

Reading posts here - thoughts of when doctors made house calls; a golden age that has long since passed. Apart from the enema that would usually follow such visits; the doctor arriving with his black leather medical bag stands out in my mind 😈

Could we be in the Detox Age? Judging by the amount of attention coffee enemas and the sale of enema bags are given on the Internet, there’s some kind of Age happening. There’s a “little secret” that I would love to hear revealed in one of these coffee enema videos — “and the orgasm was amazing!” Come on ladies, it's not just the detox!

You know, in reading about the golden enema age lost because parents are too busy to give enemas to their kids (as our parents did us, paraphrasing) is perplexing to me. Is it lost on us that along with these golden age enemas, was instilled a medical fetish, shaping an innocent child's sexuality for life? Spankings too. Now I'm hearing that because of the "post privacy" era kids aren't spanked anymore--like that's a bad thing. All this in the context of mourning the waning poplularity our favorite kinks!

Presumably that "Golden age" was one in which enemas were presented medically as some magical panacea--which they weren't. That alone's reason for doing them sparingly these days, even in hospitals: respect for boundaries! Spankings we're just "discipline" & not supposed to be a kink. Whatever the intention, both spanking & enemas provide sphincter stimulation, & on a young mind that's undergoing developmental changes. How can those encroachments on those most intimate, private areas not going to become highly sexualized? I personally find it hard to believe that all the parents' intentions were purely medical or disciplinary (per se) in those golden age practices. (Even a recent thread: 'were you spanked by those you believe had a spanking fetish?')

I'm not being sanctimonious or judgemental about this. There's just an incongruity here that I can't wrap my head around. The concept of anyone assuming that kind of control of a kid. As for me, I've already written here that I'm not fond of children, & under no circumstances do I want to teach or take any responsibility for them.

I personally resent being treated as I had been as a kid. I had one enema, an ice water enema at age 4, done with a large red bulbed douche, with a wide long black nozzle, to break a fever. It was not fun. (Though at 19 I stole that douche to pleasure/torture myself & used it until the bulb cracked apart from old age.) Never a bare bottom spanking, but constantly slapped in the face, & hit all over the body with a thick 3" × 12" souvenir brass ruler. My teachers were monsters, & I HATED my old perv pediatrician who was always pulling down my pants in front of my parents, until even my parents decided to get me sane physician who stayed away from my privates for the rest of my young life (few!)..

I must say, on a visceral, primaly sexual level, I envy many of these childhood golden age remeniscances written about on zitybiz. They're so ‘out there" they seem made up, but I think to myself, " why could that’ve been me"--spankings & all! Yeah, kind of a golden, kinky Never-Never Land utopia .But, my intellect says it's wrong, & no way to treat a kid, except me!

I would say anything before the advent of the Fleet type enema. I know my grandmother used them on her kids regularly in the 30s and they were used long before that. The Fleet was probably used commonly starting in late 60's to early 70s and hastened the end. I also think the medical community looks on them these days with distaste and as a last resort.

@sse4fun

#4

a very good post that couldn't describe it better. But it also reads like a swan song to what once was and will never be the same again.

Thanks for that

When I hear the term “Golden Age” I think of the 50’s 60’s and 70’s. Mainly because enemas seemed to be more common place, you could almost always see an enema bag on display in most bathrooms, in the 60’s I remember most of my friends bathrooms had enema bag hanging either behind the door or from a towel rack or in the shower. Now a days doctors discourage you from using enemas and recommend some form of laxative.

I can't speak of a 'golden age' as I never even saw an enemabag or equipment in our house ever.

I'm born in the 'golden 60's' and never ever came in touch with enema's or anything related. And, what's more, my mom was a nurse,

has worked in ER for a few years and when she had the chance, she switched to the medical department of the railway company.

I'm pretty sure it wasn't done neither at the home of both my parents when they were children and my dad was born in '33, my mom in '39, which means that should definitely have been the 'golden ages' of the use and administration of Enema's.

Anyway, until I did see it all on internet, I didn't even know it existed :-) ... what's more, it's all changing as these days, to be able to solve issues and certain deseases in the intestines, it becomes more and more known that one of the solutions is the 'transplantation' of faeces. And it seems really succesful when used...so, it would be 'cleaning out', but using the 'good bacteries' of other people to solve issues with people who have intestinal problems. Which means, the more we get to know about the importance of our intestines, the more we really should taking care of them when something's wrong in that part of our body.

By the way: For some people it was definitely a “golden age” when they survived their childhood without enemas.😎

I think that the "golden age" to us here is that we have mostly fond memories of not only our encounters with the enema and intimacy associated with getting an enema from mom or grandmother, be it a small syringe or a open top bag and the familiar red hose, metal clamp and anxiously waiting for the CLICK, but there was the slow way of life back then. The closeness of family, friends and neighbors. We weren't tied to a phone in our pockets, most people had one phone in the home and it was black with a rotary dial with phone numbers like HUdson 2-5864 or FUlton 5-1877, and if you wanted to make a long distance call you had to get the .long distance operator to assist you. Television had three or four channels, some lucky families had antennas on their roofs, most had "rabbit ears" usually with foil on them. Kids played outside without fear and had to be home when the street lights came on. So the "golden age" could be a collection of memories of life in the 40s and 50s when for many times were tough but we survived, families were close and even though our parents and grand parents were of the belief that the enema was the cure for almost every ailment bolstered by the fact that just about every doctor visit his advice was "it wouldn't hurt to give him/her an enema and see if that helps". I know that there are some here that hated enemas, I and my sister Tess were lucky, we liked them, our two younger sisters Diane and Robin hated them. I still remember it as the golden age!

LostInThe50s

Your thoughts??

@LostInThe50s said,

I think that the "golden age" to us here is that we have mostly fond memories of not only our encounters with the enema and intimacy associated with getting an enema from mom or grandmother…

A lot went on in the forties, fifties, and sixties that people today would consider abuse. If kids got out of line, their pants came down, then went across their parent's lap for a good bare bottom spanking. Something that’s not done today but should be. Then there’re enemas, something else parents gave their kids when they got out of line or had an attitude problem. But enemas were used for a lot more things than just those mentioned. Our grandmother was a retired RN and a firm believer in enemas for kids, teenagers, and adults for a variety of reasons. Giving us enemas for constipation, being moody, not eating normally, having an attitude, to help calm down, and being sick in bed. Plus, it was common for doctors of the day, to prescribe daily enemas until an illness passed.

And you can’t talk about enemas and spankings, without talking about sexuality. During that era, enemas and spankings were topics openly discussed. However, sexuality was a topic, that for all intents and purposes, was taboo. Only discussed by adults behind closed doors. A topic kids were to have no knowledge of. However, as kids got closer to puberty, they got more and more curious about the strange feelings they received from enemas and spankings. Like the tingling in their stiff penis or vagina when they got an enema or a spanking. Then as teenagers, playing around trying to discover what all those strange feelings were all about.

Yes, the “Golden Age” was a great time to grow up, but it had its own issues. If you could take the openness about enemas and spankings from the fifties, and combine them with the openness about sexuality today, you would truly have a “Golden Age.”

Allow me to add that in the "Golden Age" if you felt out of sorts or went to the doctor, you got your temperature taken. It was before temperature checks in ears or under arms or on foreheads. Your pants came down and the thermometer was inserted in your bottom. Those were the days...

@Pollux said,

It was before temperature checks in ears or under arms or on foreheads. Your pants came down and the thermometer was inserted in your bottom.

You’re quite correct, I totally forgot about that. I was ten or eleven before a nurse took my temperature via my mouth. Before double digits, my temperature was always taken rectally. Even then, depending on why they were taking your temperature, it could still be done via your bottom. My grandmother was a retired RN, and she always told us there’s only one way to correctly take your temperature, and that’s rectally.

Tbis poll is probably relevant to your interests: 😃

https://en.zity.biz/index.php?mx=polls;ox=showpoll;id=1087

Enema use gained widespread application during the latter part of the 19th century. There were two driving forces. One was mass production, reduced the cost of a fountain syringe with attachments to a price point within reach of most families. The other force was properly operated Victorian residences kept unwanted odors suppressed. Flatulence odors were considered an indicator of poor household management, a failure of the woman of the house. Air quality management during the Victorian years drove the use of sprinkling vinegar or lavender on hot coals in foot warmers. Vinegar was used to chemically neutralize unwanted odors and lavender simply overwhelmed the more difficult to suppress sulphur odors of some cooked foods and stools.

Women already were using enemas for adjunct relief of period pain and undoubtedly correlated reduced flatulence with enema use. Generally a two liter tapwater solution will clear the descending and sigmoid colon as well as the rectum. It will take 8 to 12 hours for intestinal content to reach levels that the new stool begins to create new flatulence. Women quickly realized the utility of the enema in odor management not just for themselves, but their spouses and children. The solution to keeping the home odor free during hours when guests may visit was obvious.

The nearly universal use of enemas in hospitals through the early 1960's was also driven by odor management. Health care providers and in particular nursing staff recognized scheduled enema use minimized patient caused odors. As many hospitals only provided ward and semi-private rooms, one can imagine why the nursing staff was insistent on daily bowel management.

With rapid adoption of centralized heating and cooling in the latter half of the 20th century, both homes and hospitals saw reduced demand for the dreaded bag.

As noted by several others here, enema equipment has all but disappeared from drugstores but there’s lots of it available online. The market has changed. Who is buying it these days?

Those of us who are older were most often introduced to enemas by our mother as a cure for constipation. And some of us liked them well enough to continue to give them to ourselves. Sometimes for the original reason, sometimes just for fun.

It would be interesting to hear from some of the younger people here, how they were introduced to the enema. I bet it was not for constipation.

I began seeing a naturopathic doctor six years ago — still with her, very satisfied with my care. Dr. T. Is our general practice physician who partners with an MD, a good combination that serves our family well.

I remember calling her on a cold and rainy December afternoon when my husband, who was rarely sick, was down in bed with 101 fever. I was doing all the right things, light meals and pushing fluids. She said whenever her patients are down sick in bed for more than a day or two, she recommends a warm saltwater enema to keep the bowels moving.

“Isn’t that an old world remedy?” I asked, trying to sound naïve. Yes, it’s old school, she said, but giving an enema when someone is sick can be therapeutic. It’s not a cure, but can help them rest and be more comfortable.

I’m thankful how the “golden age” is still alive with some doctors.

I may have posted in a different location, that my grand daughter recently stated that she was shocked when her aunt and cousin had purchased enema bags to begin using coffee enemas.

Her cousin is 23 years old and aunt just turned 50. Both have dealt with celiac issues etc. and a medical provider was on board with their efforts.

My younger sister in law also advocates for coffee enemas. She sees a naturopath and is in a medically related profession. Is is notable that her parents used enemas and there were always 2 fountain syringes hanging in the bathroom.

I did learn that their family saw the same physicians going back to the 40's, 50's, and 60's. Their ob/gyn also required enemas in labor prior to birth.

@jacana said,

This poll is probably relevant to your interests: 😃

https://en.zity.biz/index.php?mx=polls;ox=showpoll;id=1087

That’s interesting, the top reasons we got enemas growing up were: 1) Being constipation. 2) Enemas out of the blue without a clear reason. 3) Being moody. 4) Having a fever. …. Those were the four primary reasons my siblings and I were giving enemas growing up by mom, grandma, or our teenage aunts.

At home, my siblings and I received enemas in the bathroom or our bedroom. Mom gave us enemas for all the usual reasons, primarily in the bathroom using the knee chest position. When she spanked us, it was a bare bottom spanking laying across her lap in the bathroom. Once the spanking was over, we got an enema in the same position. However, when mom gave us enemas out of the blue for no reason, usually on rainy days when we had to play inside. We knew what was up, when she walked in our room only dressed in a sheer nightgown without a bra or panties on. It meant a session laying across our bed, usual on our back with feet pulled back touching our bottom, allowing us to watch as mom gave each of us an enema. Each having to take as much of a full bag as possible. Something we could count on during long cold days, when it rained all day. But it wasn’t a hard fast rule, because it could happen most anytime. Especially, when it rained every day for three or four days. When that happened, it wasn’t unusual for mom to give us an enema out of the blue every day it rained.

At our grandmothers, our two teenage aunts were responsible for our evening bath including enemas. And like mom, they gave us enemas that weren't truly necessary. However, because they gave us enemas at bath time before putting us in the large walk-in dual head shower, like us, both girls were naked. Around age nine, the girls switched from giving us enemas across their lap to the knee chest position. They also switched the adult rectal nozzle to a long-curved douche nozzle. The normal routine was a couple of enemas on Saturday evening at bath time in the knee chest position. Being curious teenagers, they like to play around giving us enemas in various positions. And their favorite was putting us across their bare lap, especially me and my brother. I strongly suspect, they liked feeling our stiff penis between their bare thighs. Using various excuses, to give us enemas using that position with a douche nozzle. Plus, on top of that, they kept moving the nozzle around, doing a real number on us. Realizing they were both aware of the effect it had on us, because they simply couldn’t miss how much we wiggled around on their bare legs. Something we didn’t mind, because it really felt good, especially to a ten or eleven-year-old just starting puberty.

Looking back now as an adult, giving us enemas out of the blue probably turned mom or the girls on, because mom only had a nightgown on without a bra or panties. However, it was different with our aunts, because they gave us enemas at bath time, and like us, they were both naked. Being anal erotic ourselves, we didn't mine enemas out of the blue, because they scratched our anal erotic itch. In that respect, we looked forward to them, especially on a rainy day. Plus, during those enema sessions, mom and the girls got playful, helping us relax, so we could take as much as possible. Unlike routine enemas, when they were all business.

So, were those enemas out of the blue sexual child abuse? No, they weren’t! Not by a long shot. We enjoyed mom or our aunt's enemas out of the blue. Besides, as I got older, they kept my penis rock hard and gave all of us naughty feelings we liked but didn’t understand. They were always a rinse enema, given slowly, used to push our limits volume wise. We had to try and take as much of a full two-quart bag as possible. The hard part was waiting our turn. If they got sexual feelings from giving us those enemas, so what, we enjoyed them as much as they enjoyed giving them to us.

“Isn’t that an old world remedy?” I asked, trying to sound naïve. Yes, it’s old school, she said, but giving an enema when someone is sick can be therapeutic. It’s not a cure, but can help them rest and be more comfortable.

When enema use was more prevalent, nurses recognized a frequent side effect, patients often grabbed a nap once done with evacuation. This outcome was not overlooked and shared by Grandmothers, Moms and Aunts seeking a respite from confinement indoors with rambunctious children. Similarly, an ill and restless person would almost universally turn over and sleep for several hours once finished with evacuation. As is said today about drugs used for other purposes, the enema was being used off label.

I vaguely remember seeing the enema bags and hose in a couple of bathrooms, while visiting friends, as a child. I didn’t have any idea what it was used for, because in our house, we were given laxatives or suppositories. I had my first and only self-administered fleet enema a few years ago. It didn’t do anything for me sexually.

I think the "golden age" of enemas is just a reference back to the simpler days when you could pick up a Sears catalog and select the quality of equipment that you would like to purchase. Probably Montgomery Wards too, but we were a Sears family. Folks kept their hardware a bit more openly because most people kept up the front that health was the reason it was necessary. I don't think there were any more enemas then for health reasons than there are today among the guests here on zity. People just didn't talk much about the sexual aspects. Its similar to the heroic doctors that treated ladies gravely ill with hysteria. I'm not falling for that artful description either.

Folks kept their hardware a bit more openly because most people kept up the front that health was the reason it was necessary. I don't think there were any more enemas then for health reasons than there are today among the guests here on zity.

I remember seeing fountain syringes hanging on bathroom doors in multiple homes in the late 50's and through the 60's. Mom kept one hanging on the back of the bathroom door in the master bedroom and I assure you it was not the novel sex toy you envision. Why? Up until circa 1959, about the only remedy for vaginal candidiasis (yeast infection) was a solution of boric acid or similar solution made using Massengill or Lysol concentrates used for irrigating the vagina when a yeast infection caused burning and itching. Yeast infections were quite frequent even before Nystatin's availability in 1958. Fountain syringes also were popular with women as a form of birth control. Again boric acid and commercial products mixed with water were the mostly ineffective douche solution. Fountain syringe manufacturers had a captive market and while some women may have found self gratification with douche nozzles, I can assure you it was not a treat for most.

I occasionally overheard boys make crude comments about smelling douche nozzles in later adolescent years which seemed to be the limit of their infatuation with fountain syringes.

I remember seeing fountain syringes hanging on bathroom doors in multiple homes in the late 50's and through the 60's. Mom kept one hanging on the back of the bathroom door in the master bedroom and I assure you it was not the novel sex toy you envision. Why? Up until circa 1959, about the only remedy for vaginal candidiasis (yeast infection) was a solution of boric acid or similar solution made using Massengill or Lysol concentrates used for irrigating the vagina when a yeast infection caused burning and itching.

I'll accept that as true because I wasn't of an age when I would have been aware of that as a medical reality. So perhaps a few more of the bags than I first thought did have an actual medical purpose. My point however was simply that we saw the equipment displayed more openly _because_ it could be attributed to a medical need. Most people will choose to keep a penis shaped dildo or vibrator out of sight because it is obviously a sex toy and we usually consider that a private activity. Either way, I don't think sexual enjoyment of the process has changed much. Just the viability of the tools.