Napoleon‘s troops & Troublesome Tummies: The Surprising Origin of Suppositories
Madrid, Spain - A viral video from Spanish traumatologist Inés Moreno Sánchez is shedding light on a surprising ancient connection: Napoleon Bonaparte and the invention of the suppository. While the French emperor didn’t design the medication, his army’s dire health crisis in the early 1800s directly led to its development, according to Dr. Moreno.The story, as explained by Dr.Moreno in a recent social media post, centers around Napoleon’s army’s struggles during its sweep across Europe. It wasn’t enemy weapons decimating the troops, but rather rampant dysentery. “Year 1800, the French army is bursting Europe, but not for weapons, for dysentery,” Dr.Moreno reveals. The disease caused debilitating symptoms: “fever, cramps and diarrhea out of control.”
Customary pill-based treatments proved ineffective. soldiers were so severely dehydrated and weak thay simply couldn’t keep medication down. This led to a pivotal question: “What if we put it, on the other hand?”
This innovative thought sparked the creation of the suppository – a medication designed for absorption through the rectum. “A medication that is absorbed by the rectum, fast, effective and without swallowing,” Dr. Moreno explains.The method proved successful, improving the health of Napoleon’s soldiers and quickly spreading throughout Europe.
While suppositories have been used in some form since ancient times, the early 19th century marks the beginning of their semi-industrial preparation. Today, they remain a vital medical tool, used for treating fever, pain, nausea, and situations where oral medication isn’t feasible.
Suppositories are typically conical in shape and made from a substance that melts at body temperature,utilizing bases like glycerin for vaginal suppositories and cocoa butter for rectal and urethral applications. Despite being less preferred due to discomfort, they are considered a safe and effective alternative when other routes of management are impossible.
Reference:
NCI Cancer Dictionary. (s.f.). Cancer.gov.https://www.cancer.gov/espanol/publicaciones/diccionarios/diccionario-cancer/def/supositorio
