If not toilet paper what did they use back when?

greenspun.com : LUSENET : ACountryPlace : One Thread

I hear corn cobs? This sounds more like a self torture device. Then there was the famous Sears and Roebuck. But it was not even available during the earliest days. How about leaves? What happens when they fall off the trees? Not to mention alergies. Rags? These are a disease waiting to happen. Can you say dysentery? I'm telling you, if I had lived back when I would have been thinking disposables. How about making your own paper. Papyrus perhaps. All I can say is people must have walked pretty funny in those days!

Little bit Farm

-- Little Bit Farm (littlebit@itlnet.net), November 11, 2003

Answers

Fingers? Yuck! Have you ever tried to wash that stuff off your hands? Maybe that was what green lye soap was used for.

Little bit Farm

-- Little Bit Farm (littlebit@brightok.net), November 13, 2003.


I would think leaves, as in pull one off a tree--most don't cause allergic reactions, and some bushes/weeds have leaves year-round (of course, blackberry's out as a choice...lol). Another option would maybe be a smooth rock, then tastefully (!) throw it in the bushes....

-- GT (nospam@nospam.com), November 11, 2003.

Either way I don't like it. Toilet paper is one modern convenience I do not want to give up. With my luck, I would grab a leaf that was poison ivy and use it. I suppose I would only do that once though. I read somewhere that in Middle eastern countries the custom was to eat and drink with your right hand and "clean" yourself with your left hand - hence the custom of taking the right hand for punishment. Then everything had to be done with one hand and you were considered unclean. I don't know how true this is. Have a happy day!

-- Joanie (ber-gust@prodigy.net), November 12, 2003.

ever read books on POW camps and such? TP was given out, but water was always available,, most would use their fingers, then wash their hands

-- Stan (sopal@net-pert.com), November 12, 2003.

Fresh, unused corncobs. old hoot. Matt. 24:44

-- old hoot (oldhoot@shawneelink.net), November 13, 2003.


But corn doesn't grow everywhere (climate-wise), or even at all times of the year, not to mention most early peoples were of the nomadic type. That's why I lean towards rocks and leaves/vegetation (moss would be softer than a rock).

-- GT (nospam@nospam.com), November 13, 2003.

Native Americans used the leaves of Mullein. It is a very soft-leaved plant, actually softer than most toilet paper. I've seen it still green at this time of year in certain areas.

-- Julie Ann Tarver (crowssecret@onenet.net), January 29, 2004.

am from india, all over here and many neighbouring countries use left hand to clean. itz no shame and u clean ur hands with soap and water.

-- rockz (sorry@yahoo.com), April 06, 2004.

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