some faecal matter hi mathonius i am no expert on human faeces like yourself but i was wondering why content like this is allowed on toilet paper but not in the anal cleansing section of human feces elsewhere wealthy people wiped themselves with wool lace or hemp while less wealthy people used their hand when defecating into rivers or cleaned themselves with various materials such as rags wood shavings leaves grass hay stone sand moss water snow maize ferns may apple plant husks fruit skins or seashells and corncobs depending upon the country and weather conditions or social customs in ancient rome a sponge on a stick was commonly used and after usage placed back in a bucket of saltwater several talmudic sources indicating ancient jewish practice refer to the use of small pebbles often carried in a special bag and also to the use of dry grass and of the smooth edges of broken pottery jugs e g shabbat a a yevamot b these are all cited in the classic biblical and talmudic medicine by the german physician julius preuss eng trans sanhedrin press ideas