Household amenities are not as noticeable as, for example, the newfangled wonders of computer technology. But without them it is difficult to imagine the life of a modern civilized person. The toilet is one of those useful inventions of mankind, which can confidently be called the blessing of civilization.
From the history of the toilet
The history of the toilet began long before the new era. The first latrines connected to a primitive sewage system appeared about three thousand years ago. Archaeologists who excavated the cities of ancient Mesopotamia and India, more than once stumbled upon the remains of public latrines, where similarities of clay pots were installed, which served as a toilet bowl.
In ancient Rome, there were two types of public places for the fulfillment of natural needs. The common people used toilets that were devoid of basic amenities. But for the nobility, the most comfortable conditions were created: the toilets were equipped with comfortable toilet chairs, trimmed with marble. There were even fountains with clean water and sources of incense. Specially trained slaves looked after the cleanliness of such latrines.
The first semblance of a modern "water closet" equipped with a drain system was invented at the end of the 16th century by the Englishman John Harington. The "night vase", designed by this English nobleman, was used by the Queen of England Elizabeth herself. However, Harington's adaptation did not go into the series, since in England at that time there was still no water supply system or an effective sewage system. But inventors continued to work on similar systems designed to maintain hygiene.
How the modern toilet appeared
In the 1830s, cholera and typhoid fever raged in Europe. One reason for the rapid spread of these diseases was the lack of public sanitation. The water in the cities was heavily polluted with sewage, which became the source of a variety of infections. European rulers took up the construction of the sewage system. At the same time, attempts were made to create a comfortable and functional toilet.
It was in those years that the English locksmith Thomas Krepper developed a very successful "night pot" design, equipped with a flush cistern. In terms of its structure, Krepper's toilet was close to modern devices of this type. The most unique part of it was the curved "elbow", in which the principle of a hydraulic seal was implemented. The water securely locked the system, preventing unpleasant odors from spreading throughout the room. Crepper's invention quickly gained popularity.
But it took about half a century before the toilet became an indispensable attribute of civilization. The year 1909 is considered the beginning of mass production of toilet bowls made of earthenware. At this time in Spain, a commercial enterprise was created for this purpose, which had a sonorous and capacious name Unitas, which literally means "union", "union", "unity". The name of the brand, which was associated with household amenities, quickly took root among Europeans. So the hygiene device became a "toilet bowl".
