Gross Jobs in History you're glad you don't have to do | Summary and Q&A

TL;DR

In history, there were dangerous and disgusting jobs such as hat making, gong farming, toshas (sewer hunters), chimney sweeping, leech collecting, and grooming the king's stool.

Key Insights

• 😒 Hat making involved the use of mercuric nitrate, leading to mercury poisoning and psychosis.
• 🧑‍⚕️ Gong farming was a vital job for maintaining sanitation in cities but exposed workers to health hazards.
• 😀 Toshas faced dangers and unsanitary conditions while searching for valuable items in the London sewers.
• 🧑‍⚕️ Chimney sweeping was a demanding job with long-term health effects due to exposure to soot and cramped conditions.
• 🖐️ Leech collectors played a crucial role in bloodletting but faced hazards such as blood loss and infection.

Transcript

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Questions & Answers

Q: How did hat making become a dangerous job?

Hat making became dangerous due to the use of mercuric nitrate, which caused mercury poisoning and the development of symptoms of psychosis in hat makers.

Q: What were some of the hazards faced by gong farmers?

Gong farmers faced risks of infection, sickness, and disease from exposure to human waste. They also dealt with poor ventilation and the danger of drowning or suffocating in the cesspits.

Q: What were some dangers faced by toshas in the London sewers?

Toshas faced the risk of burial due to crumbling tunnels, suffocation from noxious fumes, drowning from rushing water, and attacks from swarms of rats.

Q: What were the long-term health effects of chimney sweeping?

Chimney sweeps experienced irreversible lung damage and disease from repeatedly inhaling soot dust and smoke. They also faced joint deformities from staying in cramped positions.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Hat making was a dangerous job due to the use of mercuric nitrate, which caused mercury poisoning and psychosis.

• Gong farming involved collecting and disposing of human waste from cesspits and required dealing with health hazards and unsanitary conditions.

• Toshas, or sewer hunters, searched for valuable items in the filthy London sewers, facing risks of drowning, suffocation, and rat attacks.

• Chimney sweeping was in high demand during urbanization, with climbing boys facing cramped and dangerous conditions, leading to health issues.

• Leech collecting was done mainly by women, involved wading into marshes for leeches, and was dangerous due to blood loss and infection.

• The groom of the stool had the privilege of attending to the king's toileting needs and held a position of power and trust.