Dr. F. Wilhoft's (Original) Lady’s Syringe- Iowa City, IA
Institution: Office of the State Archaeologist, Univ. of Iowa
State: Iowa
Object: Syringe
Era: 20th Century
Iowa archaeologists discovered a vaginal syringe near a dump site on South Clinton Street. The former residence was occupied by women of various professions- dressmakers, teachers, students and a mother. No evidence links the syringe to a particular occupant, however, it was most likely used as a form of birth control.
The syringe consists of two parts: a short nozzle and a bag. Reports from other turn-of-the-century sites suggests that women typically douched with traditionally-shaped syringes or irrigators. Vaginal irrigators had long, slender nozzles attached to a bag with tubing. Neither feature is present on the Dr. F. Wilhoft's brand.
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