on bathing (and smart toilets)

I am currently browsing through Lisl and Landt Dennis’ Soap for Body and Soul, a book that my aunt lent to me. She makes handmade soap for a living (in addition to being a pediatrician) and thought I would be interested in what history has to say about bathing and its relation to health.

The book starts out with a short history of soap across the ages. While it is interesting to note that evidence of soap-like material were found in clay cylinders from 2800 B.C. Babylon, the part I found compelling occurred much later with the downfall of the Roman Empire.

Initially, with the rise of the Roman Empire, there was a burgeoning obsession with cleanliness. Enormous and elaborately adorned public baths were built, the largest being Emperor Caracalla's thirty-acre water world. With 1,350 public fountains and cisterns, and thirteen aqueducts bringing water to Rome, per capita the citizens used about 300 gallons a day. Unfortunately, as with the power of the Roman Empire, this fixation with bathing did not last.

“With the decline of the Roman Empire and the rise of Christianity, appalling filth spread throughout Europe. The clergy, shuddering at the debauchery and promiscuity that took place in Roman baths, condemned parishioners who bathed.”

Historians have called the Dark Ages that ensued as “the one thousand years of filth”.

“ . . . plagues swept the Continent, killing hundreds of thousands. Devastating epidemics of infectious diseases, rampant infant mortality, and short lifespans were all common . . .”

I think that pretty much brings anyone reading to the conclusion that the plagues and epidemics of the Dark Ages where brought about by poor hygiene. Of course, there are others things to consider. The inadequacy of medicine in those days plays a huge role also.

Good hygiene and proper sanitation certainly do go a long way in disease prevention. In the hospital, frequent handwashing alone has been the most cost-effective way to prevent nosocomial infection.


More about plagues and epidemics are discussed with the history of plumbing(!) at theplumber.com. Also check out the smart toilets which measure sugar level in the urine, blood pressure, body fat and weight before dispensing advice on diet and exercise.



In unrelated “news” I just learned that I passed my Pediatrics class. Oh the joy of living! The recently modified system of Promotion Boards and Removal Exams has everyone shaking in fear. I still haven’t decided yet if the new system will be of more benefit to the students. Most of the people I’ve spoken to recently do not seem agree.