I wrote blog posts about Medieval times before, but I can’t read something interesting about medieval times, shudder, and then keep it to myself. I have to share it with you… and be warned: This isn’t for the fainthearted! If you have a weak stomach, you might as well just skip this one.
To the others: Have fun gagging with this indispensable piece of information.
During medieval times in England, urine was indeed used for various purposes, although it might sound unusual to us today. Here are a few ways in which urine was utilized:
- Textile Industry:
- Urine was used in the process of fulling woolen cloth. Fulling is a step in clothmaking that involves cleaning, thickening, and softening the cloth. Urine, particularly the ammonia it contains, helped to break down and cleanse the fibers.
- Tanning Leather:
- The ammonia in urine was used in the tanning process for leather. It helped to break down the proteins in animal hides and prepare them for the tanning agents.
- Cleaning:
- Due to its ammonia content, urine was sometimes used as a cleaning agent. People would use it to clean various items, from clothes to household items.
- Medicine:
- In medieval medicine, urine was often analyzed for diagnostic purposes. It was believed that the color, smell, and taste of urine could provide insights into a person’s health.
- Teeth Whitening:
- There are historical accounts suggesting that people in medieval England used urine as a teeth-whitening agent. The ammonia was thought to help remove stains.
- Dyeing Fabric:
- Urine was used in the dyeing process for fabric. The ammonia acted as a mordant, helping to fix the dye to the fibers.
It’s important to note that the use of urine in these ways was based on the limited knowledge and resources available during medieval times. In modern times, we have developed more advanced and hygienic methods for these purposes, and the use of urine in these ways is no longer common. The historical use of urine also reflects the practical and resourceful nature of people in dealing with the materials available to them at the time.
Now, after reading this, remember the Historial Romance books and imagine ‘The Big Endless Everlasting Love’ practiced in pee-smelling cloth, fabric, and leather, in a room that was cleaned with pee, and kissing your partner who brushed their teeth with pee… – sheesh… I think that Historical Romance novel will wait on my shelf for another two years or so to be read… how about yours?
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