what did people use before the paper especilly the toilett paper was discovered?

Answer 1

Hmm, good question. Part of the answer goes back to how folk defecate. Traditionally it's by sqatting. The notion of sitting on stool or box while defecating is really a late invention, and one that was only available to the rich in the early days. There's no way to explain this without asking you to 'draw a mental picture', but here goes... When squatting one is less likely to soil oneself because the cheeks are 'spread' wide. Generally, no matter what the consistency of the stool, it is usually 'ejected' cleanly from the anus. Squatting is 'normal' in the Middle East and Asia. Cleaning up with water and the LEFT hand (still practiced in the east) isn't then such a daunting task. But don't handle food with your left hand in villages in Asia.

Sitting on the other hand compresses the 'butt' cheeks in the region of the anus and - frankly - only toilet paper can 'save the situation' after that. Point to note though, others have mentioned the Roman use (and re-use) of a stick. If you are stuck in the forest and need a little assistance cleaning up, a smooth stick still works wonders. But getting back to the Romans, they'd of course be mindful to pick up the stick by the correct end, hence the expression 'the wrong end of the stick'.

Incidentally (and why leave any stone unturned), it is possible to 'squat' over a modern toilet by 'not quite but almost' sitting, basically 'hovering' above the toilet seat (although you don't put the toilet seat down in this exercise). Some folk with problems defecating (piles etc) might find this in fact easier, it seems to 'relax' the sphincter more, which is of course a very good thing. Your knees need to be able to take the strain though..

Answer 2

I was writing a response, but I realized Wikipedia had said it better...

"The first factory-made paper marketed exclusively for toilet use was produced by Joseph Gayetty in the United States in 1857. Gayetty's name was printed on every sheet. Before this invention, wealthy people used wool, lace or hemp for their ablutions, while less wealthy people used their hand when defecating into rivers, or cleaned themselves with various materials such as rags, wood shavings, leaves, grass, hay, stone, sand, moss, water, snow, maize husks, fruit skins, or seashells, and cob of the corn depending upon the country and weather conditions or social customs. In Ancient Rome, a sponge on a stick was commonly used, and, after usage, placed back in a bucket of saltwater.

In some parts of the world, the use of newspaper, telephone directory pages, or other paper products was common. Old Farmer's Almanac was sold with a hole punched in the corner so it could be hung on a nail in an outhouse. The widely-distributed Sears catalogue was also a popular choice until it began to be printed on glossy paper (at which point, some people wrote to the company to complain). In Hervé Bazin's book, "Viper in the Fist", a Catholic family uses pages of the Catholic newspaper, La Croix (after tearing off the cross of Calvary). In modern flush toilets, using newspaper as toilet paper is liable to cause blockages.

In monarchical Russia, a subordinate stamped the toilet paper with imperial arms for the use of the Tsar. In the court of Henry VII of England, the Groom of the Stool was given the job of cleaning the royal anus by hand. During the reign of his son, Henry VIII, the title was awarded to favoured minions of the King, though the bum-wiping job itself continued to be carried out by Court functionaries."

Answer 3

in rome they used a sponge on a stick, similar to what some of my g/f's have used in the shower. since the toilets were public back then, proper etiquette was to rinse the sponge when you were done so that the next person could use it.

Gross as this sounds, the history channel claims it to be true

Answer 4

they use tablets (flat peices of rock), papyrus which is paper liek but is very fragile, wood, sometimes even leaves.

that is for writing

but for toilet paper they use leaves, and then for some others they use water and their bare hands to clean themselves up, they still do in my country,

Answer 5

Rags. A handful of leaves. Very possibly they stayed dirty much of the time.

Answer 6

Hygene wasn't big before the 19th century, so oftentimes they used nothing. Yeah, it's sad.

Answer 7

Probably leaves or nothing

Answer 8

they we're probably using their bare hands, as they still do in some countries ....