#privies

[julieschulerart]

In the 19th century men often kept an “earth closet” in their billiards room or parlor. These privies contained dirt or sand that could be scraped over, like a human litter box. A refined earth closet was patented in 1860 by the Reverend Henry Moule. It was like a flush toilet but when the handle was pulled, a measure of dirt would be released from the storage tank to cover what was in the toilet.

[pimentogirl]

Today I found this little book in a charity shop

It's a fricking delight. When you open a book and find the phrase 'shit hole' in the first five pages, you're on to a winner.

I've been reading and chuckling all afternoon. And the real bonus, it's double signed!

Oh my life, I'm living today...

[chaotic-archaeologist]

The only reason why indoor plumbing sucks:

Now that most places have a sewer system that works with running water, pipes, and processing plants people have stopped using the privy as a place to chuck unwanted things.

We have several pairs of Abraham Lincoln's glasses that were found in his privy. We have neat stuff from Paul Revere's privy.

Archeologists love privies.

And that's why, even though I greatly appreciate being able to flush away my ablutions, I do sometimes regret that ability.

[uwlmvac]

These two 19th century limestone privies were from a site in Prairie du Chien. As you can see, they were constructed differently, and the one on the left was more solidly built. Artifacts recovered indicated that the privy on the left was later (probably used from the mid- to late 1800s), and the one on the right was earlier (early to mid-1800s). The ceramics photos show more table ware and tea ware from the later foundation (left), and more utilitarian and plain wares from the earlier foundation (right). In the bottom photo, the medicine bottles/vials to the left of the scale came from the later foundation, and the single medicine vial to the right came from the earlier foundation.

[proverbiumseniorum]

"The sun too penetrates into privies, but is not polluted by them."---Diogenes the Cynic, Greek philosopher, 404-323 BC

“The sun too penetrates into privies, but is not polluted by them.”—Diogenes the Cynic, Greek philosopher, 404-323 BC

(Please note that each of these quotations is meant to be read independently of all the others, especially those immediately preceding and following the current quotation.) To SEE the ENTIRE BLOG, go to:  https://proverbiumseniorum.blog/ To COMMENT on (or to DISCUSS) this quotation, go to Twitter  twitter.com/PSeniorum To CONTACT us, please email us at:   [email protected] The…

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[lindaseccaspina]

The Three Holer and other Privie Nonsense

The Three Holer and other Privie Nonsense

You may know it by a different name: head, john, latrine, lavatory, outhouse, potty, restroom, the can, throne, washroom, water closet… Simply, a privy is an outdoor toilet. Before you hurl back in disgust, let me explain why privies are so interesting to archaeologists. You may already be privy, wink wink, to the fact that archaeologist are interested in people’s trash. But, a person’s…

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[mmcguire390]

November 30, 1917: U.S. Public Health Service Sanitation near Army Camps

November 30, 1917: U.S. Public Health Service Sanitation near Army Camps

November 30, 1917:  Municipal Journalarticle. How the U.S. Public Health Service Endeavored to Secure Healthful Conditions and Surroundings at Camp Bowie, the Aviation Fields Nearby and the Adjacent Area. “When a million men were ordered into military training in the summer of 1917, it was thoroughly realized that intensive health work would be necessary to adequately protect them from disease.…

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[mmcguire390]

November 16, 1918: Sanitary Survey of Unnamed City

November 16, 1918: Sanitary Survey of Unnamed City

Privy in terrible condition

November 16, 1918:  Municipal Journal. A Sanitary Survey of an Unnamed City. The conditions about which you will read were by no means unusual in 1918 in the U.S. “A State Board of Health a few months ago, made a sanitary survey of a certain city (the name of which is unessential) which was of more than usual interest, because of its thoroughness and the sensible…

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