It is hard to imagine that once upon a time people used to do their 'business' in public places, or throw their 'business' out of the window or the front door. The invention of the modern toilet truly has transformed the world we live in.
When people think of the invention of the toilet, they think of Sir Thomas Crapper. It is not hard to fathom why as his surname is 'Crapper'. However, although he can be credited for many of the improvements made in the system, him being behind the invention is largely a myth. The Victorians were largely baffled as to how to build a flushing water closet that would efficiently remove waste in the most sanitary way possible.
Sir John Harrington already had a flushing water closet designed for Queen Elizabeth 1st in 1596, however it did not catch on with the rest of society simply due to the fact that it was seen more as a novelty rather than something of real practical use. The main issue of waste disposal remained. Some people threw the waste out on the street. When millions of people died as a result of widespread cholera in 1832, people then became increasingly aware that it was the unsanitary conditions they were living in that was causing and spreading the disease.
Alexander Cummings made somewhat of an improvement to the toilet in 1775. In the water closet, the water supply was brought low into the bowl, and some water remained after each flush. Although there were some improvements, such as the cleansing of the bowl due to excess water, there were still some areas that needed to be fixed. The seal at the bottom of the toilet leaked and this was continually emitting sewer gases into the home. People did not realise at the time how toxic these gases could be.
Along came Mr Crapper. He can be credited for solving many of these problems with the flush system. As a plumber he opened up his shop in 1861 and began testing toilets. He made vast improvements to the water closet. For example, he invented a pull-chain system for powerful flushing, and an air tight seal between the toilet and the floor. Furthermore, he patented several venting systems for venting the sewer gas by way of a pipe through the roof.
Modern day toilets are a marvel. If we truly examined how long it took various plumbers and inventors to design a sanitary and efficient means of waste disposal, we would appreciate the modern commode much more. So next time you decide to go for a 'business' imagine what your life would be like if you didn't have this marvel.