Enemas in the 1940s and 50s

For those of us over a certain age, the 1940s and 50s were the hayday of enemas in middle American culture. Red rubber bags with long hoses and black nozzles hung in many bathrooms. Weekday evenings or Saturday afternoons were "enema time", with mothers, aunts, nannys, and even older sisters administering. In some households enemas were discussed openly, and many school kids discussed them in hushed tones at play ... referring to their sister's or brother's or cousin's experience, and seldom admitting to actually have had a nozzle up their own bottom.

So is my characterization at all accurate? And what experience and memories do you have to share? 😉

I certainly did not escape the delightful process in UK too

Garts, any more details on your or others experience from the era in the U.K.? I gather that equipment was often different, with the enema can more popular than our red rubber enema bags. I always had the impression that enemas were used more sparingly in the 40s and 50s in Britain than in middle America.

As a child in the 40's, I was given enemas at the childrens hospital near Boston until I went home in 1949 at age fourteen. Enemas were given for surgery prep, if you didn't have a BM foe three days and you were given enemas just for practice by the new nurse recruits.

The equipment used on the kids was a simple funnel and red colon tube, oh yeah, I can't forget the green soap.

The enemas I enjoyed most were the ones for surgeries and the ones the new nurse gave because those sessions were given by two or more nurses at a time until my colon was clear. Even as a kid, I thought those enemas to be sexy and enjoyable.

When the new recruits came in for training, the head nurse would just point to the kid who was chosen for an enema without saying anything. Then another nurse would wheel me into the boys bathroom and place me on a long table where several nurses were standing around. Mrs. Bishop[ the head nurse ] would give the instructions to the new nurses before the enema began.

One nurse was told to disrobe me naked, another nurse lubed my anus and she lubed the red tube up with Vasilene. They turned me over on my side, then the nurse filled the funnel with the warm soapy solution while pinching the end of the colon tube. The next thing I knew the warm water filling my belly, it felt soo good like I was in heaven. I just laid there and watched those new nurses smiling as they took turns pouring the warm soapy water up my ass. They were so gentle with me as they pulled the tube out and slid the bedpan under me. The head nurse told me to expell into the pan. When I expelled all I could, the nurse took the bedpan away, then another new nurse would give it a try as the head nurse explained the enema process to her. I was having as much fun as the they were. By the time it was all over, the new nurse gave me three enemas on that day.

During my twelve years at the hospital, I was given enemas for just about anything. One time when I was acting out, I threw my glasses across the floor and broke them. Three nurses put me in a strait jacket and wheeled me into the boys bathroom, I was yelling my head off as the nurse close the door behind her. The head nurse came in the room, and said ,"Give him an enema". Well, that shut me up in a hurry. My arms were in a strait jacket as the turned me over, pulled my pants down and shoved the tube in me. I remember, the water was very warm and soapy. I don't know how much they poured into me, but it felt like a lot. Mrs Bishop talked like she was angry as she told me to expel. Then she said ,"Give him another one"The nurse gave me another enema. I did quiet down, so they took the strait jacket off me and wheeled back into the ward.

Let the good times flow. W/m73yrs/Western Ma

Unfortunately my parents switched to milk of magnesia after giving me a few enemas. What I remember most about those days was peeking in peoples' bathrooms looking for evidence of enema use.

As a child in Australia in the 1940s and 50s I receieved several enemas but it wasnt talked about a lot only if you had been ill or in hospital. Kids feared injections more than enemas

When I was child in England in the 1950's I knew nothing about enemas. My mum was obsessed with glycerin suppositories and that's all I got! The first time I found out about enemas was my aunt telling my mum about what they did to her in hospital before she gave birth to my cousin and I remember I was horrified.

From Boston myself, and this was so common in the 50's. Enemas were really routine. You usually got one when you were admitted and then whenever the nurses felt like it.

I remember being given the choice between Milk of Mag or an enema. I think I always chose the enema, at least I hope I did.

Today there would be a question.

Being born in the 40 the enema was a fix-all for everything. The thing that enema bags were on the bathroom of all of my friends growing up. When coming back to school after being sick you were asked how many enemas did you get in those day it seamed that everone was given enemas. The enemas were part of growing up the girls & boy talked after staying home sick how many enemas they were given but as we all got older the talk about stop too. The enema bag was used on me by mother until I was married. My mother gave enemas anytime we stay home sick unless she new we were faking being sick that is when she gave a BIG glass of MOM awful to drink & about the time the laxative started working in she came in with with the soap enema.

When I grew up in the 1940's we did not have any enema equipment in our home and we were given a laxative when constipated.

It was only in the in the 1970's I first started to give myself enemas and have continued to this day....

I grew up in the 1930's and early 40's. When necessary we were given M.O.M, Castor oil an enema or maybe 1 of the 2 laxatives with an enema. We were never given a choice. I had 2 brothers and eventho I would have chosen the enema I would not have done so with my brothers around. I was given a wonderful introduction to enemas and they were not.

I'm also of the 1940s-50s enema age, and it was nice to know back then that you weren't alone in getting the bag or can of soapsuds when our moms decided it was needed. The open display of equipment both in homes and drug stores helped in that regard, along with the occasional comment by another kid that he/she had recently been given an enema.

That didn't mean, of course, that some of us didn't dread the announcment we'd be given one, at least the first few times.

I was born in the thirties and mother never gave me an enema. I got my first one in a hospital when my tonsils were removed. I enjoyed that enema, and have been enjoying enemas ever since redrub

Although born in the 30's, my first recollection of enemas was in the 40s and on...During the early years (1-4) enemas which I do not remember were given with a red bulb and bowl of soapsuds. I do later remember, however, enemas from the large enema bag which hung from the medicine closet door during preparation, then moved to a wall hook over where I lay on the floor. These enemas were not well received, they were too fast thus uncomfortable and a bit large for my size. But, since they were given during times of illness or after several days of not going to the bathroom, they worked.

I remember being fascinated by the open top enema bag...frightening and bulging, the tubing ending with the dreaded black rubber tip glistening with Vaseline...there was no escape. As the tip was inserted and with the 'click' of the clamp the flow of soapy solution began; cool and feeling good at first, followed by a warming sensation, then fullness, then cramps. It was a non stop get-it over-with procedure that had me screaming until the bag was empty, the tip removed and I was ridding myself of everything on the pot.

Like most kids during those years we did talk among ourselves about getting enemas. Bags were not uncommon behind bathroom doors, and drug stores were a delight to visit when their windows were adorned with various rubber goods.

Why the fascination with something that inflicted such emotional and physical discomfort yet in some ways stirred deep sensual feelings I'll never know. To this day the thought of an enema, sight of an enema bag or can is pleasurable and often results in the desire for a "good cleaning out".

In our household, an enema was not hushed or forbidden, just a normal part of life. There was no secret world about enemas and my mother used them liberally as a part of keeping healthy. It is hard to understand what has happened that has made the use of enemas in homes or hospitals as something looked down upon. Oh well the world has turned in many ways as well.

Back in the early 50's I was leaving College and wondering what I wanted to do, and was thinking of becoming a doctor. So to find out a bit more, I took a summer job at the excellent local Cottage hospital. They had about 12 beds. It involved general portering and cleaning under a medical technician. so I got a good idea of what was going on.

In those days nurses ordered enemas PRN and it seemed the practice there to welcome most patients with a soap suds enema on arrival and thereafter if there was any doubt at all about the state of their bowels further enemas as necessary.

The nurses had delegated the administration of the routine enemas to my boss, the technician, which took up quite a lot of his time. After a few weeks the technician went off on his summer holiday and the nurses said jokingly to me "Now you will have to do the enemas!"

I had by this time plenty of experience of being on the receiving end of enemas, which I had come to enjoy, so I immediately said yes, if they would show me how to do it properly! To which they agreed after consulting Matron.

They had a small separate room for doing the enemas on ambulantry patients, fully equipped with treatment couch covered with a red rubber sheet,separate toilet, sink and draining boards, steriliser, IV stand, and cupboards for the 2 quart white enameled enema cans and tubing, bedpans and other supplies.

So the following afternoon I was initiated in the art, first by watching the proceedure a couple of times and clearing up after and then actually giving my first enema! I have to confess that I really enjoyed the whole experience.

After giving a few more under supervision I was allowed to give them on my own dressed up in my white coat and red rubber apron. From then on for the rest of the summer quite a lot of my time was taken up in giving soapsud enemas and the occasional 'enema to clear', even after the technician returned. Even though I say it myself, I enjoyed myself thoroughly and I became very good at cleaning out my patients.

The summer passed too quickly. However I felt that the reponsibilities of the medical profession were not for me, although the wonders of the human body continue to fascinate me. Many year later, after I retired I trained and qualified as a colonic therapist and practiced for a number of years.

Yes, I miss the 50's. There was an enema bag behind every bathroom door. The display of rubber goods in the drug store windows was phenomenal and if you went to the hospital for almost any reason you got a huge hot soap soapsuds enema upon arrival and most likely many more before you left.

Born in the 50's, we always had a bag or two around. It made me think all the hot girls I liked were getting them too, even into the late 60's in high school. However, never saw many bags hanging in bathrooms, though when I did, they were an extra turnon.

Never got them regular as a kid. However I did once in the hospital when I was little.

I remember browsing the enema bags in the Sears catalogue. They used to come with three nozzles, a douch nozzle, an adult rectal, and a kids rectal.

Enemas were so common in the 50's that it was taken for granted, another part of being a kid in those days. Everyone I knew got enemas, classmates and relatives. Cousins as well as aunts and grand parents.

One of my older aunts must have been a Klismo, she would mention her enema sessions when complemented on her appearance by another female relative, calling them a physic. She would also talk about her monthly colonic sessions. To be fair, she also talked about her pedicures and beauty parlor visits.

The Heyday was the 20's thru the 50's. Even into the 60's but thats when it seemed to wane. The drug co's got 'to' the Dr's. I was born in '40 and by 1950 I had had my last 'mom given' enema :'(.

Hey Compacto:

An interesting avatar!! Was your opentop family enema bag a Compacto model? I encountered an all-white version when I lived with an aunt & uncle in 1944. I later (1960) bought a more common all-red one of my own, used it all the time, and simply loved it. They occasionally appear on auction at eBay. They always attract bids beyond my current means. But I always get a twinge when I see a Compacto for sale.

Rubbertube,

could you direct me to a URL that shows a Compacto model enema bag ? Don't believe I've ever heard of one, thanks. 😃

G.N.

Enema bags were in Sears and Wards cataloges as far back as the turn of the century. Macy's had a section in their store with the bags displayed in a case and on display behind the counter. Enema bags were as common as tooth brushes.

Gentlenozzle...there's an example of a COMPACTO bag on this site. Go into the museum section on page 4 and click on PIEZO's album 'Bag 2'. There in the second row, 3'd picture is a photo of a COMPACTO. They were made by the Seamless Rubber Co. in Connecticut back in the 50's. Over the years I was able to purchase three such treasures.

I might add that this type of bag looks exactly like the HY-DA-WAY sold by Rexall.

Einlauf,

Thanks ! 😃 I definitely have never have had my hands on a COMPACTO, or seen one. If I had, I certainly would have kept it, and, quite possibly, bought one or two more. Again, thank you for directing me to the picture. 😃

G.N.

I might have posted this before, but I think it truly represents the "attitudes" of the later 50's. My assigned seat on the school bus was sitting next to my friend, and classmate, Emma. Teacher had sent her to the school Nurse, after lunch. I asked Emma if she was ok. (BTW, were 6th graders, about 12 years old.) Emma replied. "I'll be fine, Walter. Nurse said my Mom needs to give me an enema when I get home." I asked th following morning: "Are you feeling better, Emma?" "Yes I am. Mom gave me an enema when I got home, and another one at bedtime." Walt

I seem to recall from te 'golden age" of the 1940s-50s that girls were more open to discussing enemas than boys were. Maybe it was because they were the ones expected to give them to their own kids later on and maybe even helped mom with younger siblings as training?

Also in my experience, girls took the lead in playing doctor, which involved showing off our privates and doing pretend enemas and rectal temps.

As a "child" of the 40's a number of unusual (for now) memories arise. First there was the enema bag hanging in the window of the bathroom in the house next door. Hidden in the bathroom, but visible to the world. Second was the ever present little red bulb. Talk about a love/hate relationship. Third was the "physic" as treatment for every possible ailment. Our grandkids would never, ever, understand.

In my childhood home, the announcement that I needed a "physic" was just another name for an enema, and the procedure with the can of warm soapsuds was the same. The e-word was used mostly, however.