In excavations in Scottish towns, pieces of moss have been found in
several cess-pits. It has been suggested that these were used as a form
of toilet paper. I suspect most of the possible answers to questions of
hygiene are most likely to come from archaeological evidence.
Is this what we might call getting to the bottom of it?
There is a reference to a Perth example in Excavations in the Medieval
Burgh of Perth 1979-1891 ed P. Holdsworth. Society of Antiquaries of
Scotland Monograph Series Number 5 (Edinburgh, 1987)
Elizabeth Ewan
Scottish Studies
University of Guelph
eewan@uoguelph.ca