The Fountain Bath reservoir holds three gallons of water, which is quite sufficient to meet all requirements of the various complicated cases of bowel and uterine troubles which require a generous supply of tepid or very hot water. This obviates any interruption in the use of the enema or the recurrent douche treatment until one or both are satisfactorily completed, and without changing one’s position on the toilet seat. It requires a quantity of water to irrigate the large intestine, which is some five feet long and two and a half inches in diameter. It is foolish to attempt to irrigate one end of a long, tortuous, foul sewer with one or two quarts of water and hope for good results. Water is cheap, then why not clean out and keep clean?
Adaptability.
For the first time in the history of enemata appliances can an enema, recurrent douche, or vaginal injection be taken with water at any desired temperature and at the same time be medicated with any remedy desired. External pressure against the anal orifice is regulated at will; also the flushing of the integument about the anus and buttocks is easily accomplished before leaving the toilet seat.
Convenience.
This scientific device can be used without assistance. It has one feature moreover, that renders it unique among rectal appliances, namely that you may take a number of rapid injections without changing your seat. You may inject a small quantity of water (from eight to twelve ounces), and expel it immediately; then you may follow with a larger amount (from one to three pints), and expel that also, then in the same manner flush the colon. A complete internal bath may be effected in the same way by using three, four or more quarts of water. In this way, thorough depurating results may be obtained. The several preliminary injections of gradually increasing quantities of water free the lower bowel of feces, germs, and gases which otherwise might be forced by the flushing process backward into and along the colon. With the Internal Fountain Bath, unlike other syringes, it is not inconvenient to take preliminary injections before flushing the bowels. After the flushing the rectal and anal canals the bowels can be easily cleaned their entire length, as can also the integument about the anus and buttocks by letting the jet of water play on these parts to wash away any germs and other poisonous discharges. All the necessary movements of the anal point are easily made with the handle which projects between the limbs in front of the toilet seat.
Cleanliness.
The water reservoir is enameled white, both inside and out and free from poisonous substances. The enamel is not injured by the use of any germicidal remedies that may be placed in the water, or by the water being brought to a very high temperature to destroy bacterial poisons. Furthermore this enameled surface is easily cleaned, thus avoiding foulness of the reservoir from continued use. The glass medicine case and anal cone attached to the handle, as well as the anal point, are all detachable and easily cleaned, and the handle is of sufficient length to obviate soiling the hands and impregnating them with odors.
To bring away a quantity of feces does not exhaust the purpose of the enema. The intestinal sewer requires further cleaning from end to end, and the external parts around the anus as well. By playing a jet of water on the external anal region you finish the enema and avoid the very uncleanly practice of using “toilet paper” as a means of external cleansing. It is strange that otherwise cleanly people are content with such uncleanly treatment of these parts. They imagine that “toilet paper” will effectually remove the excrement and its attending odors. They would not think it sufficient thus to clean their hands if soiled by excrementitious matter. It is the old story, “out of sight, out of mind,” and of letting any make-shift in such cases answer; but the spirit of cleanliness is abroad in the land, and the Silent Club of the Cleanly is being formed through just such agencies as the Internal Fountain Bath. Many have doubtless longed for a better practice but did not know what to do. The “toilet paper” habit will pass with the once-a-day habit of stooling, the constipation habit, and the physic habit, for all four are uncleanly in the extreme.
Durability.
The enameled metal reservoir and the metal and hard-rubber parts of the handle ought, with care, to last a lifetime; the soft-rubber tube, if properly cared for, will be of service for a long time.