Cesspits were cleaned out by tradesmen known in the UK as gongfermors using shovels and horse-drawn wagons. Cesspools were cleaned only at night, to reduce the smell and annoyance to the public. The typical cesspit was cleaned out once every 8 to 10 years.
Not that they had health codes or even germs theory, it’s a really bad idea to use human waste as fertilizer. At least not without proper composting. Again, not really sure they would know that. I presume that any groups that tried it either realized not to do it quickly and wrote rules against it or died off.
Fun observation. Consider how many Jewish rules have a sanitation effect. They might now have completely understood what was happening, but they could see the effects of good food inspection and regular bathing.
Cesspits were cleaned out by tradesmen known in the UK as gongfermors using shovels and horse-drawn wagons. Cesspools were cleaned only at night, to reduce the smell and annoyance to the public. The typical cesspit was cleaned out once every 8 to 10 years.
I wonder if they used it as fertilizer or just dumped it somewhere.
Not that they had health codes or even germs theory, it’s a really bad idea to use human waste as fertilizer. At least not without proper composting. Again, not really sure they would know that. I presume that any groups that tried it either realized not to do it quickly and wrote rules against it or died off.
Fun observation. Consider how many Jewish rules have a sanitation effect. They might now have completely understood what was happening, but they could see the effects of good food inspection and regular bathing.