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EXERCISE 1

INNOVATION / DISCOVERY IN SCEINCE AND TECHNOLOGY

BEFORE 19TH CENTURY
About: FLUSH TOILET

Like most ancient technology, toilets seem to have been independently invented in several
cultures. The history of flush toilets is patchy. Depending on construction materials and local
climate, the traces of ancient bathrooms may not have survived the ages. But as it comes to
flush toilets, the credits go dually to the Minoans on the Mediterranean island of Crete and
the Indus valley civilization of present-day Pakistan and India.

But not until the 16th century the modern-day flush toilet was invented. The water closet was
invented by Sir John Harrington (1561 – 1612), who was a courtier, translator, author,
and wit. He was the godson to Queen Elizabeth I of England

FACULTY – Prof. CHELVI PRESENTED BY – SANGAMITHRA S

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Cumming was a watchmaker and mechanician from Edinburgh (1732-1814). He invented

the 'S'-shaped trap and was the first to patent the flushing water closet. It used standing water
to seal the outlet of the bowl, preventing the escape of foul air from the sewer, and used a
sliding valve.

Thomas Crapper (1836 – 1910) born in England, a plumber and businessman, invented the
siphonic system for emptying the cistern during the 1880s. This avoided the problem of leaks
common with the other valve system. Established in 1861, until now Thomas Crapper Co., is
a manufacturer of luxury, classic British bathroom products.

Source :

 6 Toilets from history and what they taught us - https://www.scishow.com/

 Death of Sir John Harrington - https://www.historytoday.com/archive/death-sir- john-
harington
 What the Earliest Toilets Say About How Human Civilization Has Evolved
- https://www.discovermagazine.com/planet-earth/what-the-earliest-toilets-say-about-
how-human-civilization-has-evolved
 Sulabh International Museum of toilets - https://www.sulabhtoiletmuseum.org/e-
book/eBookSimot.pdf

FACULTY – Prof. CHELVI PRESENTED BY – SANGAMITHRA S