Golden Age

I'm certain that when members speak of the 'Golden Age' they are referring to when they themselves, or possibly their parents were young. It's the way that good memories mellow with the passing of time and become endowed with special relevance.

But just to put a historical perspective on the concept, the late 17th and approximately the first 2/3rds of the 18th centuries were, in France particularly, also 'Golden Ages' when it came to using all manners of irrigation devices. To be fair, the most common instrument used back then would have been a clyster pump of one type or another. They were made of metal generally, as suitable rubber compounds had not yet been invented. Metal and glass clysters, often beautiful devices made of gleaming brass, were more of a later design.

Clysters were popular as a means of relieving bowel disorders due to over-eating and/or unbalanced diets (think of the rich meals of the higher monied classes and aristocracy). Interestingly enough, not only was water, soap or various oils used are irrigant, but apparently the application of tobacco smoke pumped into the bowels was also a favorite. This was used to revive people (ladies usually) who had fainted, had a weak constitution or probably just for the pleasure it provided. The practice of clystering tobacco smoke lives on in the old American colloquialism: 'to blow smoke up someone's ass' - meaning to flatter and try to butter up a person (your boss for instance or perhaps a good looking lady on a date whom you wish to charm the panties/knickers off of ... hehe)

Cystering back then was also a medical activity often performed by quacks for any number of reasons. As any French schoolchild can, to their great boredom, undoubtedly recount, clystering was also satirized in literature and the theater in those times, with Moliere's 'la Malade Imaginere' being the most known example.

I have read that in the era of the "rat-pack" in SouthernCalifornia, Peter Lawford gave enema parties using his collection of 18th an 19th century enema equipment, the parties taking place at his house in Malibu. One time it is said, Marilyn Monroe was given an enema in front of the assembled guests using an 18th century enema device once used by a noted 18th century courtesan. Does anybody know anything more about these events? Heavens, what videos of these events would be! Evidently, Marilyn Monroe used enemas for sexual pleasure, often given to her by her maid (as may have been the case with her fatal enema), but perhaps by her peers as well, like Peter Lawford, and perhaps by one or two of the Kennedys. Anyone know anything to contribute?

Now I have read that LBJ when having meettings with his inter-group would go into the john next to his Oval Office and he would "summons his staff in there"

Marilyn Monroe was murdered with an overdose of barbituates shoved up her rectum. I don't recall all the details, but it's quite well chronicled in the book "Double Cross" by Sam Giancana (nephew of Sam "Momo" Giancana), and Chuck Giancana (brother of Sam Giancana). At the time of her death, Marilyn was seeing Bobby Kennedy, and wanted him to leave his wife, which Bobby wasn't willing to do.

Marilyn was kind of a "loose cannon" (she knew a whole lot about the Kennedy's & the Mob, and was willing to open her mouth if she didn't get what she wanted), and as far as Bobby Kennedy and the Mob were concerned, she needed to be silenced. Was Bobby aware of the planned murder, or somehow involved? Who knows. But the whole affair was covered up well, and as far as most of the public knew at the time, Marilyn died of an overdose of drugs.

Life was much different pre internet days for the good and not so good. Sites like this are wonderful, but we have given up privacy for updated technology. I'm willing to be cautious and respectful of others to have what we have today

After having a discussion with a friend regarding rectal temperatures, it was discussed how we got them as kids. I then began to recall my experiences with the temperature taking and the enema, both of which I got plenty of as a kid. However, the procedure for enemas and temps while ill, was a bit different. While I always received a temperature before any enema, when I was sick, I got many temperature takings. I also received enemas, but the administration of them was a bit different than that of my regular enemas that I received on a weekly basis.

When illness was suspected, or I complained of being ill, I was immediately put to bed and an initial temperature was taken rectally. I was made comfortable in bed, and then shortly the treatment began. I was to get an initial cleansing enema, not usually large, but soapy in nature and after the administration of that, was put back to bed. Following the initial enema, I was given a suppository, I think it might have been for fever, and then had to rest for an hour or two. Then the enemas began again. I was given no more soapy enemas, but rather warm water ones with some chemical in them. They were not unpleasant, and in time I got used to them.

Sometimes implants were put in me and left in for long periods of time—some types of herbal infusions—I know not what—as my uncle was very much into health methods and foods, he knew what he was doing. It sometimes became a bit difficult to retain an enema for an extended time, but it was not that uncomfortable for me.

When the slow enemas were given, sometimes my younger cousin would be in and out, and so I got used to a rather public show when I was lying there with my legs up and an enema hose deep in my bottom.. On one or two occasions my uncle’s friend, who lived down the street, and had a teen-age son that sometimes would baby-sit my cousin and me would be there while I was undergoing this treatment. They would be talking about enemas, and how they gave them to his boy, and me, and anyone else who would hold still for one!! I really enjoyed their conversation about it—especially when I was on the receiving end.

This sort of treatment went on in my childhood from about age 7 until I was old enough to go to college —about age 17 or 18 ---occasionally when home from college, I did receive enemas also. Finally, at age 20 or so, I moved and got my own apartment, and of course a new enema bag!

Being born in 1944 causes me to believe that I truly experienced the golden age of enemas. My mom kept an empty two pound candy box for a vast assortments of nozzles at the back of the highest shelf, with fountain syringes and colon tubes hanging up in the back of the lower bathroom cabinet. As many others have opined, especially in a rural area an enema or two was the first thing boys and girls received at the first sign of an illness, once appendicitis was ruled out.

I was thinking about my enemas I had received as a kid, and I was taken way back into my youth and I sort of tried to remember what I felt as the enema was prepared for me.

At any rate, I do remember the anxiety and sort of fluttery feelings that I got as soon as the impending enema was announced for me. When I was told that I needed an enema, and it was going to be given to me now, and was told to go to my room until preparations were made, I was almost beside myself with sort of a fear, yet a wanting of the enema, a mixed set of messages.

I do remember I even had on occasion sweaty palms as I thought of what would soon be happening to me. Then the call to come to my uncles room where preparations were complete. There was no turning back now, I was going to get an enema! My clothes were removed and the usual exam was done, I don't even remember much about this, except I would go over his knees for a temperature. That was the first feeling of something sliding into my most secret space and I must say the feeling was great. I do know however, that I remember that the next insertion would be something larger, and that I would soon experience the cramping aspects of the coming enema, and the fact that I would have to endure a somewhat uncomfortable 20-30 minutes until I could get to the bathroom.

After my uncle had prepared me I was put on the bed and had a few moments to reflect on what was about to happen. There was the bag full and heavy, hung above my legs, and snaking down was the hose, which my uncle has placed beside my leg. I looked at it and saw it was glistening with vaseline already to go inside me. I instinctively remember how that was going to feel. The pushing at my rectum and then the entrance, slow but all the way. Then just after the insertion, a moment of "well thats over!" and as I got used to the feeling of the nozzle in my bottom, the next part would continue. A couple of times after I had raised my legs up for the insertion, and then lowered them, my uncle had to leave the room to either answer the phone or something. Of course he soon would be returning to continue the enema, but now I had a chance to observe the bag, hose, and to squench my butt together, to feel the large (to me) nozzle imbedded in my bottom. It did not hurt, it never did, and to me, felt quite good in there/ It was only the thoughts of what was to come down the hose and into me that gave me some panic..

Finally the time came and the enema began.... I watch with some fascination as the bag slowly began to deflate, and I felt the enema going inside me. It wasn't long before a cramp happened, and the enema was stopped and then restarted several times.

Oh the Golden Age of Enemas, for years i have been hearing about 4 quart bags from the 40's and 50's but do they really exist. Some say Big Foot exists, i am sure they did exist and i am sure there are still thousands of vintage 4 quart bags still around, but i have yet to see a real picture of one and there are pictures of almost every type of enema on the interweb. I have even seen pictures of flying saucers !! but that 4 quart bag, its a mystery to me, can you show me proof of the 4 quart mystery bag !

I also grew up in that "golden age"---I guess I just missed out on a lot because as a kid the only enemas I got were if I were constipated or sick from school. I always just got them for a specific medical reason. I never got the famous "one time a week" every week treatments that I read so much about. I will always wonder if my parents were either of new age thinking or just lazy and didnt want to bother giving me more enemas.

The Golden age was really much longer than just the 50's and 60's. They have been used for centuries but as medical science developed they fell out of favor. I was told by a cardiologist that medical knowledge is doubling every 7 years. That is to say in 7 years we will know twice as much about medicine as we do right now. It's no wonder that enemas have gone by the wayside! Now you can swallow a pill and it takes pictures all the way out the other end. Go figure!

My daddy said back in the 30’s if you got sick castor oil was the remedy for everything! He said my grandma gave them a dose before school started to keep them well!

I’m a 1946 model and in my home I can’t place my early age when I started receiving enemas. I will not be untruthful as so many are and say I liked enemas, when I was 3½ or any age during my youth.

Our bathroom was alway draped in hosiery, slips and girdles drying along with the every present amber folding bag perpetually threading on the back of the door with the hose circled up nozzle in the bag. Mom always made a nest of towels in the bath tub for me. She was all business and like everyone I did the usual begging and pleading “No More Please!” met with the motherly calm voice “Just a little more Honey !”

The only significant event I can recall when she made the grand announcement I was graduating from a half bag to a full bag, certainly nothing I rejoined over. They were warm Ivory of course and unfortunately the bag was hung on the shower curtain rod that I now know was the source of the agonizing pressure.

Tuesday was Dad’s bowling night and my weekly “GOOD ENEMA” affair until some time between 10 and 11 they abruptly stopped without any reason nor discussion. Over the years I have tried to replicate Mom’s Ivory to water formula and pressure to create the cramping and bloatedness sensation without success. Enemas have come and gone during my life, always a private thing never shared with my wife.

So glad to have lived during a period of the Golden Age of Enemas. Enemas are so much more sensual than laxatives that taste funny. Supps can be fun if given by someone who likes to finger anuses.

I am so glad that I was raised during the Golden Age of enemas… and that I had a loving mother who knew how to use her Rexall Victoria Combination syringe! One happy old man

My daddy said back in the 30’s if you got sick castor oil was the remedy for everything! He said my grandma gave them a dose before school started to keep them well!

Castor oil before school starts?🤔

But that was a quick way to school😛

An interesting topic raised here.

Although I had heard the term "Golden Age" before, I didn't give it much thought.

When reading the individual articles, I came across the age of the individual authors; outweigh all +/- my age. Consequently, I lived through my childhood in said "Golden Age".

During this time it was common for salesmen and peddlers to sell their wares at the front door. My mom bought the enema supplies this way. I'm sure the whole village where we lived was supplied with it.

In any case, I was aware that some of my buddies were also given enemas. And as some wrote here, not a few bathrooms and toilets were trapped with bags and bulbs, which is not common nowadays, with a few exceptions.

There were also medical supply stores whose shop windows were decorated with everything to do with enemas and douches. Today you can find walkers, support stockings and other things there; so something for our age group again...

That would confirm the thesis: the "Golden Age" is over...

Nevertheless, from today's point of view, I would like to relive this time, with my current perspective.

I'm even sure I didn't get enough enemas...

The golden age is spoofed in the movie "The Road To Wellville" and if you can stand watching the traitor Bridget Fonda, you can see it or download it on Youtube here: https://youtu.be/5-vv7V8URe8 you have to sign into Youtube for age verification, and if you want to download it you use Realplayer. Just install Realplayer and use Chrome and a small dropdown at the top center will allow you to download any Youtube and some other web videos.

My favorite scenes are Matthew Broderick's visualizing nurse Graves naked in the elevator and his expression when nurse Graves squeezes the bulb, and when Kellogg says "put him on the enema machine"

LostInThe50s

There's already a thread titled "Probing the Golden Age" https://en.zity.biz/index.php?mx=forum;ox=display;topic=114519

My two sisters and I were all born in the early to mid-1960s which some might suggest means that we missed the golden age such as it was.

In our home nothing could be further from the truth. Our mom had the standard issue red rubber combination syringe that got its share of use, but such was also a sign of those times when a good soapy enema was considered one of the basic treatments for a wide range of health issues. Certainly constipation headed the list, but so did many other afflictions where the basic advice was to keep the patient's bowels open.

The drugs that we know today hadn't been invented yet and in addition to the trusty enema bag there was cough syrup, aspirin and throat lozenges. For us kids any complaint of a tummy ache or if we were home sick from school no matter what the reason we would have a mid-morning appointment with Dr. Mom and her enema bag. If we were really sick and mom called the doctor, the advice was to give an enema, which really didn't matter much because mom had already done that.

The golden age in our house lasted throughout most of the 60s and 70s. My younger sister was a frequent recipient and that lasted until the early 80s. My older sister went away to college in the late 70s and I was two years behind her. When we think of the golden age of enemas there was also a parallel golden age of vaginal douching.

I've posted elsewhere here that our home also had a red open top syringe that was exclusively for mom's use and when my older sister went away to college she acquired a folding syringe, ostensibly for the same reason. While I was happy to distance myself from getting enemas, in those years I did learn that many of the girls that I knew douched.

If I were to guess when both enemas and douching saw a dramatic decline it was probably the late 80s. In part it was due to the rise of the convenient disposables as well as the medical profession no longer advocating their use.

Whether we are now in the midst of a new golden age is open for conjecture. Certainly the internet has introduced so many latent enema users all now aware that they are not weird or different--Zity is a great example. Another data point might be the popularity of the silicone bags--heck if there was no demand, why would these firms come up with this great innovation?

My two sisters and I were all born in the early to mid-1960s which some might suggest means that we missed the golden age such as it was.

Throughout thousands of years of history, everyone thinks they have missed any and all sorts of 'Golden Ages'. This is a constant, a recurring regret and longing that people seem to have about missed opportunities and better times.

What people do miss is being aware of the Good Times while they were experiencing them without being aware they were happening. It is only much later, when things have changed, that we become aware of how good things used to be.

While searching the net, I came across an article that compared the effectiveness of castor oil, a soap enema and a hot bath on the uterine contractions. The paper was from 1959 and is available online from NIH. One part that was of interest was the formula for the soap enema: '... according to the directions of Smyth (1957).

Method of Assessing Effect of Complete O.B.E.- In this group the first recordings were taken within 12 hours before the administration of the O.B.E. Castor oil,

21 oz. (71 ml), was given by mouth, and after two bowel actions, usually within three hours, this was followed by a soap enema (2 oz. (57 ml.) of enema soap in 2 pints (1,140 ml.) of water at blood heat).

The enema was allowed to act and the subjects were then given a hot bath. This completed, they were returned to bed and ..."

It is hard to imagine that this soap was the same as today's castile concentrate. Two oz per liter !

Was there a more diluted liquid enema soap available as a hospital supply?

Wish I was a Victorian child raised with a Nanny....

Wish I was a Victorian child raised with a Nanny....

Just as a reminder about getting what you wish for: I know what you mean, but in reality you probably would have ended up in the trenches of the Western Front as an adult afterwards ... ha ha ha

@agracier

True enough but would have died happy and with a clean bowel

True enough but would have died happy and with a clean bowel

Ha ha ha ... you know, many British commanders had the latrines dug in front of the trench lines (connected by a sap of course) to discourage the troops from spending too much time out of the proper trenches. Result: along with the expected dysentery/diarrhea, troops also suffered from constipation because few wished to use such located latrines and held everything up for as long they could ... no Golden Age during wartime I'm afraid ... ha ha ha

Definitely started much earlier than the 50s & 60s. My mother was born in the mid-30s and told stories about her and her brother receiving enemas as children. Her brother was several years older too which would put his enemas in the late 20's.

Definitely started much earlier than the 50s & 60s.

Historically if you wish to speak of a Golden Age for enemas/bowel irrigation, when they were socially accepted, talked and written about and often performed in front of others in semi-social circumstances, then the winner would be late 17th and 18th century France.

Plays were written about quack doctors and their penchant for clystering everyone ('La Malade Imaginere' by Moliere), doctors were depicted with huge over-sized clyster syringes and irrigation devices in imagery and cartoons, clysters were given in view of others, especially in higher noble circles where even such things as the King's Morning Levée included more or less public evacuation of the bowels and bladder.

And it wasn't even just soap, water, oils or coffee, tea, wine or other beverages that would be pumped in. Tobacco smoke was also very popular as it enhanced the effect of nicotine. This was apparently a popular cure administered to women who had fainted for any number of emotional reasons, as ladies were commonly believed to have been prone to do in those olden days.

That is where the old, somewhat archaic saying: 'blow some smoke up a ladies ass' comes from, though the 'modern' (late 19th/early 20th century) meaning refers to seduction and flattery.