Two metal buttons showing an enema treatment, Germany, 1701-1900

Made:
1701-1900 in Germany
Two metal buttons, one depicts a doctor administering on enema Two metal buttons, one depicts a doctor administering on enema

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Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

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Two metal buttons, one depicts a doctor administering on enema
Science Museum Group
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Two metal buttons, one depicts a doctor administering on enema
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Two metal buttons, one depicts a doctor administering on enema, the other shows the patient defecating with the doctor looking on, executed in repousse, German

The metal button on the left shows a physician administering an enema. An enema introduces liquids such as medications or purgatives into the body via the rectum – a once very common medical procedure. This enema was clearly aimed at flushing out the body as the button on the right shows the patient on a chamber pot watched by the physician. Not much is known about why the buttons were made or who might have worn them.

Details

Category:
Therapeutics
Collection:
Sir Henry Wellcome's Museum Collection
Object Number:
A63621
Materials:
metal
Measurements:
overall: 9 mm 30 mm,
type:
button
credit:
Wellcome Trust (Purchased from Stevens)