Tin of 'Enule' predigested meat

Tin of 'Enule' predigested meat for rectal feeding for adults, Burroughs Wellcome & Company, England

Enule was the brand name for Burroughs, Wellcome & Co suppositories. A range of products were developined containing witch hazel, extract of belladonna, glycerine and quinine. These examples contain predigested meat, likely to be beef, with the aim to provide people with nutrition if they could not eat. Milk containing examples were also available.

The Enule brand introduced a new shape with one bulbous end and one tapered end that improved the retention of the suppository. Founded in 1880, Burroughs, Wellcome & Co was a pharmaceutical company developed by Silas Burroughs and Henry Wellcome. As a pharmacy student in 1870, Wellcome wrote his dissertation on urethral suppositories which is believed to inspired the Enule range.

Rectal feeding or nutrient enemas is no longer used due to the development of IVs – intravenous injections or therapies, where fluids, medicine and nutrients are injectd into a person’s vein.