The Quality of Today's Fountain Syringes

An incident occurred to me the other day that took me by surprise. I have a small number of vintage enema syringes that I use often. Besides these, though, I buy a new syringe once in a while. Among my vintage bags is a Walgreen's Monarch combination syringe from approximately 65 years ago which neither leaks nor has grown stiff with age (although it makes me stiff, age notwithstanding). Two years ago, I bought a new syringe from a local Walgreen's because I couldn't seem to find one in any other pharmacy. I was surprised and not just a little distressed to find that only the hose was made from rubber, but not the bag, which was out of plastic. I subsequently learned that this is pretty common these days. The incident to which I refer happened when I tried to use this "new" syringe to take an enema. But the darned thing leaked. I tried to prevent the leak by using teflon plumbers tape around the plastic adapter to no avail. I had to throw the thing away.

As though I needed yet another example of the savaging of the enema in today's society and of all around built in obsolescence of products: a new Walgreen's syringe lasted for barely 18 months compared to a 65-year-old Walgreen bag that is still functioning perfectly.

The quality of bags, where you can find one in a store to begin with, has deteriorated compared to the equipment found widely in the "golden age." Thankfully, Internet sites such as Beth Tyler and Optimal Health Network have decent products.

Whether the use of plastics for enema bags is desirable or not is not really the issue. If they perform OK then that is fine.

But throwing away a recently bought product, as jorel did, isn't going to help. The item should have been returned along with a strong complaint - otherwise manufacturers and retailers will continue to get away with sub-standard products.

In the UK we have the Sale of Goods and Services Act 1979, amended in 1982 and 1984 which makes the retailer liable for quality and performance. I can't believe that the US doesn't have similar legislation.

Hello BigK,

In the States stores generally have a return policy for damaged or malfunctioning things, just as in the UK. But for certain things, such as fountain syringes, thermometers, and equipment that has been used internally, there is no return after use because of sanitary concerns. After all, in my post I stated that I had used the equipment for perhaps a year and a half or more.

In my own practice of klismaphilia, the equipment itself---its age, the materials it is made of, and its previous owner (if known)---is of importance. Sure, if all I wished to do was to inject water into my rectum by any means available, then you'd be correct in stating "If they perform OK then that is fine". But my personal involvement with enemas is more complex than just getting them in there.