I've read of ancient physicians diagnosing diabetes (though they didn't
call it that) from "olfactory examination" of stool samples, perhaps
delivered via chamber pot.  If it smells sweet...



At 06:29 PM 8/11/99 -0400, you wrote:
>I believe that an earlier citation (provided by Mary Ellen??) also
suggested an
>etymology of 'looking glass' for chamber pot from the practice of physicians
>examining stool samples.  The term does conjure up a humorous side to the
image
>of the old family physician peering intently into the pot.  I seem to
recall that
>this method of diagnostic exam dates back to antiquity, and perhaps
earlier (i.e.
>those Greek physicians who were so much in favor in Imperial Rome).
>
>During grad school I worked as a night clerk in the emergency room of the
local
>hospital.  One of our psychiatrists on call was Raymond Moody who wrote
one of
>the early books on near-death experiences (titled _Life After Life_, 1977;
>Elisabeth Kubler-Ross was the other pioneer in this field; they helped
popularize
>the 'out-of-body/sense of contentment/walking toward the light' etc.,
stories).
>Anyway, Raymond was/is an interesting person and perhaps a bit of an
eccentric.
>On occasion he would hang out at the front desk with the clerks (us) and talk
>about various things (such as whether or not then President Reagan was
'legally
>insane'  --remember the missiles on trains, always a moving target? <g>).
Once
>he told me about an essay he wrote, which he dubbed his 'thesis on feces.'
 For
>this paper he went about examing the stools of mental patients, to see if he
>could find distinct patterns between those of, say, schizophrenics and the
>depressed.  His theory, in essence, was that 'the sphincter doesn't lie' and
>would give a true insight into one's state of mental and emotional health.
 If I
>recall correctly, he claimed that he did find some patterns; certain
>personalities tend toward constipation, while others..., well, the details
remain
>thankfully fuzzy.
>
>Okay, so this had more to do with bedpans than chamber pots, but I thought
you
>all would like to know that there are still people out there who take
their shit
>seriously.
>
>:)
>Marty Perdue
>architectural history doctoral candidate living in Williamsburg
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>