To quote Shakespeare, “There's a divinity that shapes our ends.” Sadly, for millennia the materials used to clean our divinely shaped ends were decidedly rough-hewn.

This article was originally published with the title Getting to the Bottom.

12 Comments

1. 1. SachiNewDelhi 05:26 AM 3/9/13

   
   Let's reflect that in the 21st century, perhaps less than 20% of the people on the planet use toilet paper and have the whole razzmatazz of a flush toilet + shower.
   
   @sachi_bbsr
   

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2. 2. jackvandijk 08:07 AM 3/9/13

   The question is, how does a blind person know that he has wiped enough?

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3. 3. Pa Deuce 01:02 PM 3/9/13

   Arabs traditionally use the right hand for eating and the left hand for other duties, without benefit of paper or pebbles. Osama bin Laden was left handed, which brings up interesting questions.

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4. 4. mwebsterNZ in reply to Pa Deuce 07:22 PM 3/10/13

   Not really. Left handed or not, Muslims (and Hindus) prohibit the use of the left hand for eating regardless of handedness.

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5. 5. Postman1 10:17 PM 3/10/13

   The oddest thing is, I find this article much more interesting and well written than the majority on SA. Perhaps they have found their niche.

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6. 6. wakeele 11:04 PM 3/11/13

   When I was deployed to Iraq, the locals working for us would rarely use our beloved portable toilets and would just grab a bottle of water and head out into the field. This was in 2004.
   Can't really blame them one bit since those things were almost unbearably hot, and didn't smell much better too.
   
   I do find it odd how many see peeing into a bottle when civilized facilities aren't readily available (without any spillage, that is sealed well and disposed of thoughtfully) as something "gross", but doing the same into a toilet isn't questioned. Interesting how some can become so disconnected from the basics of life, that when confronted without the blinders we've socially established, it's somehow repulsive. The same with many immersed by the comforts of "the good-life" and modern sensitivities here in the U.S. if they had to witness life as our relatives did just 100 years ago and fully knew the processes their everyday consumables got to them, they would be vegetarians or paralyzed from disgust. Out of sight, out of mind--even if we're staring right at it.

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7. 7. David_J_D 06:40 AM 3/12/13

   Peeing in a bottle. Why bother if you've got the great outdoors available? better to 'water the trees'

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8. 8. Postman1 in reply to David_J_D 11:14 PM 3/12/13

   David, they use the water to rinse their left hand after wiping. Get it?

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9. 9. ccsummer in reply to jackvandijk 03:39 PM 3/13/13

   I sure never check the toilet paper to see if I'm done. One can feel when one is clean. I'm sure it's the same with blind people. Unless your comment was just trolling.

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10. 10. Ruth Rosin 06:13 PM 3/13/13

    Many may not know this, but even though the Old Testament is not concerned with how you should clean yourself after defecating, it is practical enough to instruct you to carry a stick in your belt, and use it to cover what you just did!

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11. 11. RSJ1940 04:42 PM 3/24/13

    As a microbiologist and an interest is what most other people find unmentionable I love the story! So many fascinating details. This kind of history, so wittingly presented is just great. Thanks!

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12. 12. science001 in reply to mwebsterNZ 11:18 AM 5/18/13

    Not prohibited.. rather discouraged.. if one is left-handed it will be harder for that person to change

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