Doyle D
J R Coll Physicians Edinb. 2005 Dec;35(4):367-70.
Enemas and clysters have been administered since before recorded history, using instruments ranging from cow horns and hollowed out bamboo shoots to metal syringes to inject laxatives, herbs, opium, turpentine, tobacco, oxygen and noxious chemicals. The potentially lethal dangers are today well recognised. The rectal route, now less often used for laxative enemas is still proving useful for other medications, increasingly in suppository form.
灌肠法自历史记载之前就已应用，使用的器具种类繁多，从牛角、掏空的竹笋到金属注射器，用于注入泻药、草药、鸦片、松节油、烟草、氧气和有害化学物质。如今，人们已充分认识到其潜在的致命危险。直肠给药途径如今较少用于通便灌肠，但对于其他药物仍被证明是有用的，越来越多地采用栓剂形式。
