Some of the most important pieces of paper in history
Since this is Friday, I thought I would lighten up a bit. When you are sitting on the throne in your loo, have you ever even thought of how important those little bits of squares are that you are holding in your hand and about to use? Have you ever wondered who or when or where they were invented? Have you ever even thought of what it must have been like living before...toilet paper?
No? Well, me neither. But I'm going to tell you anyway.
When and where was toilet paper first invented?
*China…AD 1391 - The Bureau of Imperial Supplies began producing 720,000 sheets of toilet paper a year, each sheet measuring two feet by three feet. For use by the Emperors.
When was the first roll of toilet paper made and by whom?
*USA…AD 1890 - The Scott Paper Company is the first company to manufacture tissue on a roll, specifically for the use of toilet paper.
What did people use before toilet paper was invented?
*Newsprint, paper catalogue pages - in early US
*Hayballs, Scraper/gompf stick kept in container by the privy - in the Middle Ages
*Discarded sheep's wool - in the Viking Age, England
*Frayed end of an old anchor cable was used by sailing crews - from Spain and Portugal
*Straw, hay, grass, gompf stick - Medieval Europe
*Corn cobs, Sears Roebuck catalog, mussel shell, newspaper, leaves, sand- United States
*Water and your left hand - India and throughout the Middle East
*Pages from a book - British Lords
*Coconut shells - in early Hawaii
*Lace was used by - French Royalty
*A sponge soaked in salt water, on the end of a stick - Public restrooms in Ancient Rome
*Wool and Rosewater -The Wealthy in Ancient Rome
*Lace and hemp - French Royalty
*Hemp and wool - were used by the elite citizens of the world
*Defecating in the river was very common - internationally
*Bidet - France
*Snow and Tundra Moss were used - by early Eskimos
I know, alotta shit, right? Well, at least now you know where, when, and whom you can thank for letting you wipe it off with.
What's next...1 ply or 2?
posted by Laura @ 10:54 AM
17 Comments:
I was going to add praise to the infamous Thomas Crapper but apparently he didn't invent the flushing toilet.
http://www.theplumber.com/crapper.html
So instead raise a toast to a Mr. Albert Giblin - Crapper's employee who did originally patent it in 1898.
Coconut shells? My eyes are watering already.
"*Water and your left hand - India and throughout the Middle East"
same goes for malays. so either they were influenced by arab or indian traders. or vice versa.
shan't go on about what chinese peasants resorted to.. cringed at the thought of it.
It does make you appreciate those little squares of paper, doesn't it.
OMG!!!!! LOL!!!!!!!!! The stuff people used to use!!! OMG!!!!
Nice diet programme.I've read this - and suddenly I'll give my tea a miss......
Alright cleverclogs, who puts all the little perforations in the roll? ;0)
Polly, Hobbits do.
Has anyone experienced certain toilets on the continent? The ones where the water is much further back and down - and where you can easily see what you have deposited before you flush it away? Why do they have those??
Gaff: Maybe they want you to feel even lighter when you are through by letting you see what you deposited.
I've hunkered down over some Turkish toilets ~ holes in the ground surrounded by tile work ~ gives new meaning to a real balancing act.
It is important stuff isn't it? I had thought it would be good to have a couple of rolls in my 'survival box'. Along with a carton of smokes and a bottle of gin.
Things we wouldn't think of...
yeah - I remember having to use a hole surrounded by tiles in an Italian toilet on a train platform.
btw Where does the expression Restroom come from?
Gaff, near as I can tell, going to the "toilet" is very vulgar in American terms, and in Victorian times in the USA, women used to go to the WC and "rest" up by loosening their corsets and such to allow themselves to breathe and well, rest.
Hence, the Rest Room.
In some parts of the world, the left hand by itself is still the preferred wipe method...
Mike, that's a custom that I couldn't ever adopt, I must admit.
Yeah - I'm glad to see you're using your right hand there to shake Ronnie's hand - Mike. lol
the left hand is considered "dirty" to the malays and indians - not sure about the arabs but apparently they use water and the left hand to clean emselves up. the right hand is for eating, and most still do at home. and have been doing so with their hands since time immemorial.
if i'm not wrong the indochinese do same. that's why the older indians and malays especially find it rude to hand things over using the left hand.
sadly/ashamedly it seems that i'm the only one in the family [erm so was my dad but he's considered pure chink!] who can't scoop rice with my hand come meal time. had been trained using fork and spoon since young.
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home