project 20/

SITTING ON A POT

E. Shakhovskaya, Doctor-Therapist, Shakhty

The project "Sitting on a Pot" is proposed in the form of a pow- errully therapeutic means and can be applied in cases of serious neuroses, nervous exhaustion, deep and constant depression. As opposed to the medicines used internally, this corresponds to the physio-therapeutic methods of treatment and can turn out to ren- der a neutralizing, calming affect in cases where means which have been tried and tested are not applicable.

The "device" which represents the main part of the project, in terms of external appearance resembles simultaneously a child's nightime bedpot and a comfortable, low stool, being a symbiosis of the two. Made from white ceramic, round and flat in form, its lower part replicates (and herein rests its main therapeutic sig- nificange) the form of the lower part of the buttocks of an adult with a slightly raised protrusion in the direction of the per- ineum. The small back of the oval form covers the upper part of the buttocks of the person sitting in it from behind. The height of the ceramic device, called a "Conus" does not exceed 28 cm so that the knees of the person sitting on it will raise slightly.

The effect or the device is based on the return to the patient of psychosomatic recollections; sitting on the pot in childhood which already by itself leads to a calming effect of a departure into the distant past. Parallel to this arises the sensation of the stability, soundness of the surrounding world, a feeling of being protected and of peace. The flow of blood, stillness in the lower part of the body, remove unnecessary nervous tension. The therapeutic effect is increased if the treatment has a group nature with prolonged friendly conversations together or just being in a close family circle. The devices can be made in vari- ous sizes or made (cast) by special order, painted with an orna- ment and short texts outside or on the inner surface.

SITTING ON A POT

1. Pour a plaster mold (best of all, of course, out of glazed ceramic which is used to make toilets) of the shape of a "bedpan" as shown in the sketch. The surface should be white, shiny. These should under no circumstances be made of plastic.

2. Decorate the back part and the inside part as well with a design consisting of red and blue flowers. Preferably, the design should be in the "ancient" Eastern style.

3. At the exhibit, the pot should stand on the floor and not on any pedestal.

4. In making the form of sitting on the pot, the form to be followed is that of the lower part of the trunk of an adult of average weight.