March 27

This day in sketchtory, Andrew Rankin patented the urinal. "He was not however the actual inventor of the device. No one seems to know its actual origin, but the stories go back all the way to the Roman Empire. There is a story of an unfortunate Roman soldier on his way home after a campaign abroad who stumbled upon a newly built aquifer. This device that brings water from the hills down into Rome was not there when he left for war many many months ago. Upon finding this trough filled with running water he was amazed and delighted, but as anyone knows, the sound of cool running water causes the urge to urinate to increase dramatically. Not knowing that the water was being sent to the cities baths and even to the palace, he though this would be a fine place to relieve this urge. Unfortunately for him, he was spotted by an extremely offended city engineer who had him hauled before the council. This poor Roman soldier was found guilty, castrated, and used as a eunuch slave for the rest of his days. So begins the story of mans desire to pee standing up into a trough of running water, so begins the sordid tale of the urinal." - Normal Chaos Blog