IS CLOSING THE STREAKS A PROPOSAL FROM THE 20TH CENTURY?
IS CLOSING THE STREAKS A PROPOSAL FROM THE 20TH CENTURY?
Prof. Dr. Kadircan KESKİNBORA
Bahçeşehir University Faculty of Medicine
Some Roman sewer systems, such as the famous Cloaca Maxima in Rome or the system under the Imperial Baths in Trier, amaze with their size and careful planning. However, the same cannot be said for the discharge of septic tanks. Pliny the Younger, who had previously served as the "curator" of the bed and banks of the Tiber River and the Roman sewer, wrote to Emperor Trajan from the Bithynia Region where he was located:
'Sir, among the main features of Amastris, which is a very beautifully built city, there is also a very beautiful long street. However, something called a stream flows along this street, which is actually a dirty sewer and has a disgusting appearance and a terrible smell. "If you have permission, covering this stream will be good for both the health and appearance of the city."
It is strange that this city, which was purpose-built and did not have a well-functioning sewage system, was described by Pliny as 'very beautifully built'. Moreover, the solution proposed by Pliny and approved by the emperor consisted only of hiding the smell and appearance of this discharge, and was not aimed at preventing contamination or creating a “de novo” sewer. The loss of water overflowing from aqueducts attracted the attention of official institutions and was discussed in a declaration written by Frontinus: “Overflow from water tanks always occurs. “It would be very appropriate to use this for urban health and cleaning of sewers.”
It is noteworthy that cleaning sewers is not seen as "part of urban health". Removing the waste was the first goal, but this was because it smelled bad, not because it carried disease. That's why sewers and main drainage channels rarely extended beyond the city. These were usually emptied into a ditch within the city or the nearest stream. This stream was generally the water source of a lower residential area.
In Rome, Galen draws attention to the significant difference between the fish caught in the clean streams that bring water to the city and those caught in the dirtier streams leaving the city. He also states that pollution is much higher where the Tiber River empties into the sea.
In many places, cesspools posed a serious health hazard because they were either too close to the surface or lacked a permanent stream connection. Some pits consisted of roughly arranged stones, giving the appearance of ruins. Since regular maintenance was not carried out, there were leaks or overflows due to clogging. In large Roman houses, toilets flushed with plenty of water could be found. In some of them, the toilet could be built upstairs thanks to a duct system. The more commonly used method in homes was simple wooden seats placed on top of pits. These pits had to be emptied regularly. That's why most people, especially those living on the upper floors, preferred public toilets and chamber pots.
Later, sewage content began to be used due to necessity. Sewage waste combined with household and kitchen waste began to be dumped into the fields. Tanneries and clothing manufacturers also used human feces in their processes, as well as animal feces. Tanneries were generally located away from residential areas. In Pompeii and some other cities, clothing workshops were located on the streets, side by side with shops, coffeehouses and houses. A bitter smell of urine must have permeated not only the clothing workshops but the entire city, because some of the urine used by tailors to strengthen clothes was obtained from urine bowls placed on street corners for the use of passers-by. In these houses, cesspits were often side by side with the well.
These regulations, which showed that ordinary people could not understand the importance of the simplest hygiene rules, facilitated the spread of many diseases, especially intestinal diseases and intestinal parasites such as Trichuris and Ascaris. In research conducted in cesspits, large amounts of flies and their larvae were found. According to medical writers, diarrhea and dysentery, common diseases, were endemic in many regions. Most people must have developed resistance to them. However, these diseases were very dangerous and often fatal for those who were weakened by another disease, the elderly, and above all, newborns and children.
Based on the widespread availability of perfume bottles, it can be said that this habit spread to the lower social classes. Perfumes were not only applied to the body but also taken orally. Bad breath was a very common problem and was often attributed to wine and spicy fish sauces. However, this was very natural at a time when the concept of oral hygiene was unknown and decayed teeth were removed only when the pain became unbearable. Many people suck lozenges to prevent bad breath; He would drink the perfume alone or by adding it to wine.
In summary, it is not difficult to imagine how difficult it is for individuals to maintain health. In an age when both medicines and doctors were of questionable quality, there were few treatable diseases. Therefore, it was very important to be protected from them. Apart from the wealthy, maintaining health was completely beyond individual control. Those living in cities had access to good doctors as well as baths and running water. However, urban life had negative aspects such as lack of waste disposal, overcrowding, and infectious diseases. Those living in small rural settlements were away from such city problems. They had large areas and fresh air, and were less affected by food shortages. However, there were little or no cleaning facilities. When medical help was needed, traditional knowledge, prayers to the gods of healing, a doctor in a nearby village or a 'traveling doctor' who happened to pass by were the remedies. The advice of medical men such as Celsus and Galen showed what should be done. Disease was a reality and a constant danger to ordinary people. The poor were more vulnerable to this danger than anyone else.
Resources:
1- Jackson R. Doctors and Diseases in the Roman Empire (trans. Mumcu Ş.) Istanbul: Homer bookstore. 1999, p.46-51.
2- Perrucelli RJ. Medicine Through the Ages (trans. Güdücü N.). Istanbul: Omaş Offset. 1997, p.235,248,249.