'Cotton bud' reveals Medieval hygiene habits

[Still Waters]

The Medieval equivalent of a cotton bud has been declared treasure after being found in Norfolk.

The 28mm "ear scoop" and sheath handle was discovered by a metal detector enthusiast in Fincham.

http://www.bbc.co.uk...orfolk-27191511

[Keel M.]

That thing looks way more dangerous to an ear drum than a cotton bud.

[Q-C]

Haha "cotton bud" ??? Oh, Q-tip!

[Keel M.]

Q-tip is a brand name. Here in the US 'cotton buds' are called 'cotton swabs' of which Q-tip is the most easily recognized brand.

[spud the mackem]

Medieval hygiene is a myth. People did not think about hygiene until Florence Nightingale started washing blood off her hands before going to the next patient in WW1.

[seaturtlehorsesnake]

are you being sarcastic, spud?

[Peter B]

are you being sarcastic, spud?

He must be, seeing as Florence Nightingale died four years before World War One began.

But to address Spud's point, medieval hygeine isn't a myth. London had a number of public bath houses even in the 12th century, although they had a reputation for naughty behaviour.

[spud the mackem]

My apologies as I got the wrong war, it was the Crimean war that Nurse Nightingale started off the Hygiene, it was widely noticed that septicaemia dwindled rapidly when medical staff started washing hands and medical equipment instead of just wiping the tools on a cloth before going to the next patient.

During Medieval times human waste was thrown into streets as the people didn't realise that this caused epidemics and plagues.They had no answer to diseases that have now been "almost" eradicated purely by hygiene .But in less developed countries these diseases still ravage the population, such as Cholera, and Smallpox .

[+OverSword]

Well perhaps if they scoop their ear wax we can remedy that spud.