Vintage Enema Bag Boxes and Packaging

Inspired by the thread on Vintage Enema Bad and the post by @Vicki_V that really enjoyed where she mentioned:

My mother had a Faultless fountain syringe from the 1960s. The box pictured a demure-looking young woman that implied internal cleansing was a natural necessity of being female. In addition to the syringe's feminine hygiene purpose, the enema was also part of the woman’s domain, as was nursing in those days.

I thought about all the enemas bags I've purchased over the years - I still have many of boxes they came in. Many of these boxes prominently displayed the image of a woman on the outside - and oh, that made taking and carrying the box from store shelf to checkout highly embarrassing! I would feel like all eyes were upon the box and me! I was so sensitive to what others might think and that I had no business buying something meant for women's use! So here is picture of the box https://ibb.co/5T10TqQ mentioned. Note it only mentions “For Feminine Hygiene” !? Couldn't they have at least put in small print something about enema use…

Historically speaking, douche/enema bags and related items were marketed to women because the woman of the house was the person usually tasked giving enemas to herself and her family. I’ve always associated the administration of enemas to both sexes a job best done by females. We women tend to be more gentle. Even through the embarrassment, most males will admit being given an enema by a woman feels more comfortable and less awkward. This preference is rooted in the fact that children of both sexes usually get cared for and comforted by their mothers, or female nurses.

Admittedly I have never purchased either an enema or douche syringe. However, having been married for many years there were those times when my wife would ask me to purchase items at the supermarket or pharmacy that made life interesting. For many years I was what I self described as a pharmacy voyeur. When she would send me for tampons, minipads, douche concentrate or personal lubricant it was like giving me a license to be in that part of the store.

By the 1970s the square, light colored, shrink-wrapped square box had become mostly standard. The major manufacturers when had withered to just “Faultless” Mostly at large chain drug stores, Cara, which was mainly sold at sick-room and medical supply stores, and Davol, which seemed by then to have been mostly in “independent” drug stores.

Cara was the only one to stick to the flat rectangular boxes that most of the brands used in the post war era.

The square boxes started appearing in the early 1970s.. Before that, the long, wide, and thin boxes were almost universal. In the 1950s, if you saw a box like that nit was certainly a hot water bottle, combination syringe, or fountain syringe.

Many, if not most, of these boxes were printed with simple graphis. Te pictures were mostly on the later boxes and appeared in the early 1970s, just before te box dimensions changed.

https://ibb.co/2F7NJQ0

Is typical of a late syringe box.

Hi All!!,

What “Nurse Nikki” said in Post #2 say's it all!!

highwater

@Nurse_Nikki Historically speaking, douche/enema bags and related items were marketed to women because the woman of the house was the person usually tasked giving enemas to herself and her family. I’ve always associated the administration of enemas to both sexes a job best done by females. We women tend to be more gentle.

Nurse Nikki writes the book on this subject. I’m sure she also knows that women make most of the health-related decisions in their family. Getting him to the doctor is often her decision, or should I say, her nagging. Lol

Cultures and practices have certainly changed over time, but I‘d guess that the revival in the purchase of enema bags for health reasons continues to be mainly a woman’s domain. Younger women in growing numbers are taking enemas of various types and making appointments for colonics, but it’s still a very small number compared to the whole and a subject not being discussed much in public.

Yes, I think we may be in an enema mini-revival. If my naturopath is any example, many women are turning to alternative and holistic practices, especially as they relate to digestive issues, which in my opinion are caused by the high stress that we are experiencing in our society. That’s the topic for another day.

@Vicki_V

Today, there are several classes of people who take enemas:

Older folks who grew up with them as a treatment for pooing issues.

As a prep for anal sex I'd guess this is more common with men than women.

The ‘granolas’ who believe that colon cleansing and coffee enemas help to ‘detox’ them.

MO

Vicki V.

I am not sure if I count as a “granola”, but I am absolutely convinced of the gut brain connection. Yes, I am addicted to herbal enemas and colonics, but I am the happy, stable, kind person I have always wanted to be. Having been through terrible mood swings, depression and divorce twenty years ago I know a good thing when it happens!! A very wise person once said “your internal presence effects your external presence” and I would say amen to that!!

There is no question in my mind that the gut does some important things.

An example is the production of Vitamin K, which influences blood clotting. If you ae on Coumadin/Warfain you have to get you INR checked periodically. If you have the runs, which can be caused by the wrong bowel microcritters, your INR goes nuts.

Also, some antibiotics kill you bowel microcrritters or favor the wrong ones, and you get the runs, either from not enough or the wrong ones like C Diff. Antibiotics sometimes don't help and can be hard on you kidneys . I've experienced this. A probiotic enema does help repopulate the microcritters. I almost considered a poo transplant too.

@Sean The ‘granolas’ who believe that colon cleansing and coffee enemas help to ‘detox’ them.

I don’t disagree about your ”granolas.”

They can get a bit fanatical about cleansing their colon, claiming that it will relieve or cure a long list of maladies. Not sure if all those claims will hold water in a court of research. Lol

However, I do believe that our brain and lower intestinal tract are connected in some manner. I have often experienced a feeling of emotional well-being after an enema. Getting cleaned out when I am particularly stressed does have a relaxing effect on me. Whether that qualifies me as a “granola,” I’m not sure. Maybe I am in a fourth category, with a title to be announced.

I have no medical issues, I do understand what Vicki V. expereiences.

If I take a series of several enemas, ie a total cleanout I always feel a sense of well being and energy afterward.

@Vicki_V

I don't dispute that the bowel has a vital role in well being. For example, the gut microcitters produce Vitamin K, the blood clotting agent. Too little of that and you bleed and bleed

Also the microcritters make poo solid. Get the wrong ones and you poo soup every 15 minutes. That's what C Diff is.

As a point of fact, it is both impossible to completely ‘purify’ the colon and you really don't want to do it. After an episode of C Diff it can take many, many months to reestablish a micocritters population anything like normal. During this time, even though the C Diff is gone, you still often poo soup or pudding. I nearly wound up on a bowel catheter:

https://mms.mckesson.com/product/722218/Convatec-418000

which is like a Foley, but allows liquid poo to drain into a poo bag continuously. Talk about an indignity….

I am sure my mother's enema bag was probably from the late 50's or early 60's. I was enamored by that bag and when no one was around I would sneak that bag out from under the stack of towels where my mother kept it hidden in the linen closet. It was red and made of high quality red rubber. I have since seen the cheap enema kits they sell now and there is no comparison. The bag was heavy and thick and I can still remember the hollow sound the water made as my mother filled that bag. The clamp was real metal not the cheap plastic clamps that are used today. My mother kept the enema in the original box and I think there was a picture of a woman in a bath rob holding the bag and the brand name was Faultless.

It is fun to have an old style metal enema clip. Yet for me the plastic is more functional allowing a gradation of flow.

I had prostate surgery back before Christmas 2O22 and the catheter bag I had had one of those metal snap clamps just like the ones from our enema / douche bags back in the 60’s and 70’s. BARD is the company that made the bags … you can look it up on the net and see for yourself if interested