In days of old, most toilet facilities weren't exactly commodious

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette ^ | Wednesday, February 12, 2003 | Lillian Thomas

[Willie Green]

For most of the world during most of human history, the public toilet has been a convenient bush, riverbank, street or wastewater canal.

Though sophisticated water systems that included underground drainage and running water were developed in a number of ancient cultures, they usually served the rich. The poor just tapped into them at strategic spots.

[Willie Green]

Centuries of technological innovation and you still have to sometimes jiggle the handle to stop the water from running.

But thanks to The Post Gazette for summarizing this odd, but interesting trivia.
I'm sure it was done in response to the new, computerized, high-tech public pay toilet just installed by the city. South Side gets streetside pay toilet

[davisfh]

Reminds me of a little ditty I heard many years ago.

In days of old, when knights were bold and toilets weren't invented, they'd squat by the road, drop off a load and get up quite contented.

[2right]

www.cromwell-intl.com/toilet/#science.

The link is like a Michelin guide for toilets.

I will never mock gas station bathrooms after seeing some of the photos on that site.

[Bob]

A member of such a crew in Newgate, England, named Richard the Raker fell through the planks of a public latrine and drowned in the deep pit of excrement below, according to records from 1281.

Seems a rather $hi++y way to go to the great beyond.

[Old Professer]

Though sophisticated water systems that included underground drainage and running water were developed in a number of ancient cultures, they usually served the rich. The poor just tapped into them at strategic spots.

When will the millionaire-bashing ever end?

[stanz]

For sewer references just look him up:

[RoughDobermann]

Thomas Crapper

[eastsider]

Bet Shean, Israel
Roman public toilet
(see right side of photo)

[Callahan]

A member of such a crew in Newgate, England, named Richard the Raker fell through the planks of a public latrine and drowned in the deep pit of excrement below, according to records from 1281. Sounds like a fitting end for Saddam and OBL.

[RayBob]

Yowser. That's some pretty scary stuff. My B-I-L worked with some Japanese who would climb up and sqaut on the toilets. he thought that they did it because of hygeine reasons. He never heard of (nor have I) "squat toilets." Must suck to be a dry-cleaner over there.

[Willie Green]

When will the millionaire-bashing ever end?

That would defy the laws of physics.
For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.
And "it" all flows downhill.

[Alouette]

Flush toilets have been discovered in Bahrain in the Persian Gulf dating from around 1000 B.C.

And none have been used there since then.

[cricket]

Perhaps because I have traveled just enough to have experienced some of the best of the worst toilets (it never occured to me to photograph them) which in turn has made me wonder as to the 'what and how' of different places on the planet, and in a historical context as well; so found th is this site curiously interesting. . .

I mean, just watching throngs of robed Iraquis protesting in the middle of nowhere has me asking; 'where do they go???'

. . .and then read something unexpected:

[The Mavi House guesthouse, Sultanahmet district, Istanbul, Turkey. Just across the street from the back side of the Four Seasons hotel, which was originally the prison featured in the film ``Midnight Express'' (which, it must be pointed out, was a blatant propaganda film funded by the Greek government, with a screenplay by that master of conspiracies, Oliver Stone).]

. . .well, never know what you might learn, visiting strange websites.

[E Rocc]

Now public toilets can be found all over the world, and even documented on the Internet. Robert Cromwell, who has traveled the world extensively, chronicles public toilets of all kinds, ancient and modern, elegant and disgusting, at www.cromwell-intl.com/toilet/#science.

George Michael and Kordell Stewart also are rumored to be preparing an extensive survey of public restrooms, albeit for different reasons.

-Eric

[AxelPaulsenJr]

I have always been amused by the expression: "I'm going to the john to take a dump."

It would appear to me to be more desirable to "leave a dump".

[Billthedrill]

Where would an article like this go without a visit to The Toilet Museum!

[wbill]

One of the things that I remember distinctly from my visit to England was a (approximately) 1000 year old castle keep. They knew where the Lord of the Keep's room was because he had a two-holer privy in it. The (ahem) 'facilities' were plumbed directly to the outside. I hope warning was given before using them.....

These are the things that fascinated my 14-year-old mind.

[Willie Green]

These are the things that fascinated my 14-year-old mind.

Have you ever wondered why, with all the Star Trek episodes, movies and spinoffs, they've never given a hint as to what the rest rooms of the future will look like?

[warchild9]

Actually, a urinal was used in Babylon 5: it was an automatic affair which eliminated the waste without water (the exact details were skipped). Afterwards, the utilizers of the facilities stuck their hands under this food-warmer gadget thing which flashed red light at their hands, and then they went on their way.

[APBaer]

"instructed by Moses to dispose of their waste away from the camp"

"Er,... Moses, didn't you say there was an Eleventh Commandment, (and not the one about Republicans)?"

"Oh, almost forgot:
Men of Israel, do not shiite where you eat."