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bunnyjadwigaIn the preceding pages, I have detailed examples of many personal hygiene practices used before 1601. Personal hygiene, clearly, was not completely unknown to our medieval and Renaissance forbears. Teeth and mouths were cleaned, bad breath combated, hands and faces washed, good manners in eating expected, and hair combed and dressed, at least some of the time by some people.
But, to slightly misquote Sherlock Holmes, it is always a mistake to theorize in excess of your facts. Were the modern student of medievalism to be transported back in time, their experiences with medieval hygiene would still be quite a shock to the system. People may have washed-- but not as often as moderns. People took care of their persons and tried not to offend with dirt -- but not the way we are used to. And as we know, the equipment and furniture of hygiene were rather different.
While the medieval laver or lavatory has appeared already, the 'usual domestic offices' which we look for in a modern lavatory will be covered in volume II. Readers interested in bathing, soap, and scents, and the disposal of human waste in the pre-modern period should look forward to it. Such hot and steamy-- not to mention odiferous -- topics yield more surprise as well as fascination.
How does that sound, folks?
But, to slightly misquote Sherlock Holmes, it is always a mistake to theorize in excess of your facts. Were the modern student of medievalism to be transported back in time, their experiences with medieval hygiene would still be quite a shock to the system. People may have washed-- but not as often as moderns. People took care of their persons and tried not to offend with dirt -- but not the way we are used to. And as we know, the equipment and furniture of hygiene were rather different.
While the medieval laver or lavatory has appeared already, the 'usual domestic offices' which we look for in a modern lavatory will be covered in volume II. Readers interested in bathing, soap, and scents, and the disposal of human waste in the pre-modern period should look forward to it. Such hot and steamy-- not to mention odiferous -- topics yield more surprise as well as fascination.
How does that sound, folks?
