Bathrooms and latrines: From communal needs to individual comfort of today!

 The great thinker from Greece, Hippocrates, had said to investigate health and disease, one needs to understand the conditions around a person. And this specifically to be looked for are air, water, land, and people habits. All these if not correct can lead to disease. Old civilizations such as Egyptian were hydraulic and around water resources since water is vital for living. Water was piped and used for irrigation and daily use. Romans made water and sewerage separate to promote healthy living. They made latrines and public baths. 

History of public baths and latrines

In olden Roman culture, baths and latrines were public and not in every homes. Hence these areas were places for socialization. Gender differentiation of bathrooms was not common. People Sat side by side in communal latrines and talked and argued. Government realized that sanitation was a public subject and maintained it. 

But after Romans fell, English standards came in. They believed that it was immoral to have communal baths and latrines. Hence hygiene fell to the background and defecation and urination became sinful individual matters. 

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Wealth and type of latrines

From then on, money decided the type of areas a person had in the house to answer nature's calls. Wealthy people could afford a whole room for it. They had special constructed latrine areas and baths. But poor people used chamber pots to relieve themselves. There was no sewerage areas or proper water supply. Feces was just thrown on streets of water. Water supply was improper and all this led to various communicable diseases.Done innovations here and there were shaping the present day latrines slowly.

Flush latrines of England

In the 18th century, inventions started on latrines. England had the first flush latrines installed in some houses. France invented bidet to clean private parts and this to date exists in many countries of the Middle East. Showers in primitive firm were available in the Egyptian times. But it took many years and centuries to get its current sophistication. 

Water supply and sewerage systems started first in London in the late 19th century after a bad outbreak of cholera. Now bathrooms are taking on a luxurious elegant look. Materials used in its making are expensive and more refined. But this is affordable only for the rich. The poor continue to have no proper access to these great innovations and defecate in the open especially in the third world countries of the world.