An everyday fixture that we are all familiar with, I'm sure. What you may not know are these interesting facts about the poor unfortunate piece of plumbing we call the john.
1. The film “Psycho” was the first movie to show a toilet flushing – the scene caused an inpouring of complaints about indecency
2. Pomegranates studded with cloves were used as the first attempt at making toilet air-freshner
3. Hermann Goering refused to use regulation toilet paper – instead he bought soft white handkerchiefs in bulk and used them
4. Over $100,000 US dollars was spent on a study to determine whether most people put their toilet paper on the holder with the flap in front or behind; the answer: three out of four people have the flap in the front
5. King George II of Great Britain died falling off a toilet on the 25th of October 1760
6. The average person spends three whole years of their life sitting on the toilet
7. The first toilet cubicle in a row is the least used (and consequently cleanest)
8. An estimated 2.6 billion people worldwide do not have access to proper toilet facilities, particularly in rural areas of China and India.
9. The Roman army didn’t have toilet paper so they used a water soaked sponge on the end of a stick instead!
10. The toilet is flushed more times during the super bowl halftime than at any time during the year.
11. 90% of pharmaceuticals taken by people are excreted through urination. Therefore our sewer systems contain heavy doses of drugs. A recent study by the EPA has found fish containing trace amounts of estrogen, cholesterol-lowering drugs, pain relievers, antibiotics, caffeine and even anti-depressants.
12. Lack of suitable toilets and sanitation kills approximately 1.8 million people a year, many of them children.
13. The toilet handle in a public restroom can have up to 40,000 germs per square inch.
14. While he didn’t invent the toilet, Thomas Crapper perfected the siphon flush system we use today. He was born in the village of Thorne – which is an anagram of throne.
15. In a 1992 survey, British public toilets were voted the worst in the world. Following quickly behind were Thailand, Greece, and France.
Now that should give you something to ponder on while taking care of...business!
Coffee out on the patio this morning. Weather isn't too hot yet.
So much of what we do goes down the drain . . .
ReplyDeleteKnew about #7 so that's the one I use. Think I'm going to have to visit LIstverse and see if I can find good stuff. I sometimes think that much common sense gets flushed.
ReplyDelete#4- The patent for the toilet paper holder shows it going over the front
ReplyDelete#5- I wonder if alcohol was involved?
#8- I wonder what "proper" means? Is an outhouse proper?
#11- Is that a testament to the power of the pharmaceutical industry & Madison Ave?
I was in a museum in Charleston SC & went to the men's room, they had a History of Toilets exhibit inside! As you sat there or stood at the urinal there was a display to read, Thomas Crapper was mentioned and by the sinks they had a display (behind glass) of different chamber pots.
It was really neat! :-)
Some of the facts I had already read, many I had not. Very interesting post this morning. Still can't believe they did a study on which direction your toilet paper should hand - unbelievable!!!
ReplyDeleteWell this was interesting. I have to tell I toilet paper going over front. And just to let you know how obsessed I am about it I have changed people rolls.
ReplyDeleteWe hit 103 yesterday just as predicted I am not a happy camper.
Hey Sixbears...
ReplyDeleteI reckon that's maybe a good thing.
Thanks for stopping by today!
Hey Momlady...
Often seems that common sense is a casualty for sure.
Thanks for coming by this morning!
Hey Rob...
Guess they figured they had a captive audience. Good place to learn , I reckon!
Thanks for the visit this morning!
Hey Linda...
Seems like so many folks are always studying something. Bet they were sponsored
by the government!
Thanks for the visit this morning.
Hey Jo...
Gotta lend a hand when you can, right? Good for you, sweetie!
Thanks for dropping by this morning!
40,000 germs per cubic inch? Wow, that puts it right up there with the kitchen counter top. . .
ReplyDelete