Tobacco Smoke Enema (really!)

Credit goes to my father-in-law Tom for sending this to me- I couldn’t believe it and had to share it with you:

Tobacco Smoke Enema Kit

Tobacco Smoke Enema Kit

Tobacco Smoke Enemas (1750s – 1810s)
The tobacco enema was used to infuse tobacco smoke into a patient’s rectum for various medical purposes, primarily thte resuscitation of drowning victims.  A rectal tube inserted into the anus was connected to a fumigator and bellows that forced the smoke towards the rectum.  The warmth of the smoke was thought to promote respiration, but doubts about the credibility of tobacco enemas led to the popular phrase “blow smoke up one’s ass.”  :-)

If you want to learn more, here’s the Wiki link.

Comments

  1. C.F. Chamberlain says:

    Where can I get one?

  2. Torquemama says:

    “Where can I get one”

    Ask a politician – if you can find one who will give away his or her trade secrets.

  3. dale says:

    Obamacare!

  4. Erik Murdock says:

    To whom it may concern (more specifically father-in-law Tom):
    My band, Blowin Smoke, would like to use your photo of the tobacco smoke enema kit for our 1st album cover. Is that really from 1810?
    Thank you for your time.
    Sincerely,
    Erik Murdock, keyboards-Blowin Smoke

Trackbacks

  1. smoke em if ya got em says:

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  3. [...] to the source of the photo, Eric at Top Hat Tobacco, the photo depicts something known as a Tobacco Smoke Enema Kit (circa 1750-1810) that was used to [...]

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