There have been shortages of many things throughout history – oil, rubber, coffee, medicine, and so on. Yet, one of the most interesting shortages – the shortage of toilet paper – was one that should never have occurred. Before telling this unusual story, let’s first take a quick look at the history of toilet paper. Obviously, toilet paper has not been around forever. We can be pretty sure that the caveman did not stop at his local Mega-superstore to pick up a case pack of Charmin. In fact, Since humans are the only animals that have the dexterity to actually wipe themselves after each defecation, it is currently believed that the original material used for cleaning (to put it politely) was leaves and sticks. Of course, where you lived help determine the material of choice. Mussel shells were very popular in coastal regions prior to toilet paper’s popularity (approx. 1900). If you were lucky enough to be raised on the Hawaiian islands, you may have used good old coconut shells. If you were born into royalty, like Louis XIV, you would have used wool or lace for added comfort. In India and the Arab world, the most popular tool to use … Continue reading Toilet Paper – The History Behind’ it