dissolves or melts very suddenly and readily at body-heat, but is solid
below that heat. Cocoa-butter in itself is quite harmless--usually
non-irritating (unless it is "rancid")--and it gives some mechanical
protection, in the same way as vaseline or any kind of fat or oil would
do, provided, of course, it is in the right place to catch and entangle
the spermatazoa and thus prevent their uniting with the ovum. Research and
experiment have proved conclusively that no spermatazoa--indeed, _no
microbes or germs of any kind--can pass through a film of oil_. But if the
protective covering of grease is incomplete at any point, it may there
prove ineffective, and there is no chemical protection whatever if the
particular germicide relied upon, such as quinine, has been omitted.
Quinine is sometimes omitted on the ground of expense, and sometimes
because it proves irritating to many women. Only really suitable
suppositories, guaranteed to be made in accordance with accredited medical
formulæ, should be used. These suppositories should be composed of
specially selected and tested fats, should be soothing and cleansing, as
well as protective; should be stainless, odourless, and quite
non-irritating. If they do cause any woman discomfort temporarily,
vaseline or soap-suds could be substituted, but might not be quite so
certain to prevent conception.

3. _Syringe._--The ordinary enema is not a particularly suitable appliance
for the purpose of douching. The kind of syringe required is one which
will not only flood the vaginal passage with warm water or very weak
antiseptic lotion (such as dilute solution of lysol), but one which is
sufficiently large for the contents on injection to distend slightly the
walls of the vagina, straighten out their folds and furrows, and thus let
the cleansing and protecting lotion touch every part as far as possible. A
movable rubber flange is necessary to act as a stopper at the mouth of the
vagina, and thus enable the woman to retain the lotion for a minute or so.