Even when that was common, there was a gutter that ran along the sides of the streets. People wouldn’t just dump shit in the middle of the road, they’d pour it in the gutter and the rain would wash it away.
Still not the best thing ever, but it’s not like people had to wade through ankle-deep piss and shit just to get to the store…
Tangential: I passed an old street in the “Quarter” of New Orleans that was ripped up for construction. And let me tell you, the smell was familiar and horribly new at the same time. That olfactory memory certainly sticks with me
Even when that was common, there was a gutter that ran along the sides of the streets. People wouldn’t just dump shit in the middle of the road, they’d pour it in the gutter and the rain would wash it away.
Still not the best thing ever, but it’s not like people had to wade through ankle-deep piss and shit just to get to the store…
Tangential: I passed an old street in the “Quarter” of New Orleans that was ripped up for construction. And let me tell you, the smell was familiar and horribly new at the same time. That olfactory memory certainly sticks with me
Gnarly.
No, it would just splash around, and also just be raw sewage sitting out in the open air. Super hygienic.
Most of them have covers and just specific spots where you can pour stuff in.
I’m not saying it’s better than plumbing and sewer systems, just that it’s not as bad as it sounds.
There had to be laws about people just dumping chamber pots out their windows, which means that people were doing that.
…Aim for the gutter…
… and splash in the streets.
… aim better.
Why? It’s not my problem any more!