Disgusting: 5 ways the ancient Romans used pee and poop in everyday life

1 - Tooth Whitener

Don't think tooth whitening products are a modern invention! The Romans, who were beyond clever, knew that, over time, the urine decomposes to form ammonia. This substance, in turn, has excellent cleansing properties and can be used for spotting - and both human and animal pee were used as mouthwash to whiten teeth by the ancient Romans.

2 - Detergent

In addition to being used as a dental bleach, urine ammonia was used by ancient Romans to wash the togas. The cleaning took place in places known as fullonicas - where men named fullones would put their clothes into urine-filled bowls and jump over the pieces like live washing machines.

The process often involved adding ashes or soil to the urine, and the mixture helped to remove the fat that was accumulating in the fabric, and as a result, the colors of the togas came back to show and bright.

3 - Like leather

The ancient Romans developed a leather-tanning system that consisted of soaking animal skin and then adding animal poop - and sometimes even human feces. The process was used to remove hair from the pelt and worked because the enzymes produced by the bacteria in the poop made the skin softer and supple.

4 - Veterinary Remedy

The ancient Romans also used human urine to treat their animals. Sheep, for example, when diagnosed with biliary problems, were forced to drink pee; However, if the disease was pulmonary, the substance was administered through the nose of the animals. Sick birds were also treated with warm urine, and it was common for bees to receive doses of the liquid.

5 - Fertilizer

Because it is rich in phosphorus and nitrogen, urine can also be used in agriculture - especially in vegetable gardens and orchards. For there are historical records that the ancient Romans 'watered' their pee plants, especially for the tastiest and most succulent pomegranates.

However, the Romans did not merely use human urine to fertilize their crops and gardens. They frequently resorted to feces as well, and there were even specialized collectors - the stercorarii - who collected and marketed this material and even a tax on "products."

* Posted on 3/16/2016