I am just curiouse... before toilets what did people do??!! What happened to the fecal and smell?
2006-11-19 10:20:05 · 10 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Other - Society & Culture
Privies, latrines. Marco Polo brought toilet paper from the East. What do you suppose people used before there was toilet paper?
2006-11-19 10:22:36 · answer #1 · answered by maxinebootie 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
For some strange reason I don't want to try and figure out, every time my cousins and aunt gather at my house, after dinner, as they sit talking...eventually the talk turns to bathrooms. And mostly what we all did before we had toilet paper. But because of this strange ritual we seem to have aquired, I know a little bit about toilets and the history of bathroom habits. At one point, in human history, in big towns, people would use a sort of bowl to eliminate their waste. Then, they would chuck it out a window. Thus was invented high heels. The wealthier men in the towns would wear them so as not to get this stuff on their feet as they walked.
In the country, life was always easier. You had a bunch of trees (the woods), you had leaves. Viola! a toilet was created. And that would be many feet from the place you called home, so the stench wasn't carried into your home.
As the universe evolved, thus was born the outhouse. A deep hole was dug. A small structure was built around it, with a door, and a sort of wooden chair like thing with a hole in the center (toilet seat) You sat on it, and the waste fell into the hole. (here's where my family comes in handy for information--I am so proud!) and the catelogs were used as toilet paper. Some of them being very rough against delicate areas. Think of these sort of like those port-a-potties at concerts.
As far as the smell...it was horrible; just like port-a-potties!
I have never been prouder of my idiot family. They finally have proved they have a real purpose. They gave me the answer to this question!
2006-11-19 11:53:07 · answer #2 · answered by the witch 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They kept pots (chamber pots) under or beside their beds. These were covered, often very pretty, and is where the residents would take their leave. When these were full, the were either emptied onto the back of the lot in the woods, or in the city they were emptied into the gutter. Thus, many pre-industrial cities smelled to high heaven, but this was just a part of life and people were used to it. The modern day toilet was certainly a blessing for the entire world! I hope this helps answer your question!
2006-11-19 10:23:33 · answer #3 · answered by Justin 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Chamber pots and servants for the rich. Digging holes and burying. Out houses. Ancient Rome had a sophisticated sewage system for the time period. Lots of different solutions from lots of different people and time periods.
2006-11-19 10:25:30 · answer #4 · answered by as_myself 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
they probably went behind trees and over time the fecal decomposed into soil i saw it on the discovery channel last night
2006-11-19 10:23:04 · answer #5 · answered by blondie 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Outhouses. Holes in the ground.
2006-11-19 10:21:38 · answer #6 · answered by CrankyYankee 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Remember little house on the prairie and their outhouses. sorta like porta potties, only not portable. And really gross!
2006-11-19 10:28:15 · answer #7 · answered by Nicole L 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
they had out houses or u know buckets and u kept in the house with lid i hope
2006-11-19 10:23:12 · answer #8 · answered by george p 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
complex step. browse on yahoo and bing. that will could help!
2015-03-30 16:43:58 · answer #9 · answered by Julio 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
they feed it to their children
2006-11-19 10:25:15 · answer #10 · answered by Jessica j 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋