Chamber pot
Encyclopedia
A chamber pot is a bowl-shaped container with a handle, and often a lid, kept in the bedroom under a bed or in the cabinet of a nightstand
and generally used as a urinal at night. In Victorian
times, some chamber pots would be built into a cabinet
with a closable cover.
s started to displace chamber pots in the 19th century but such pots were in common use until the mid-20th century.
Chamber pots continue in use in countries lacking indoor plumbing such as rural areas of China, and have been redesigned as the bedpan
for use with the very ill.
In North America
and the UK, the affectionate term "potty" is often used when discussing the toilet
with small children – such as during potty training. It is also usually used to refer to the small, toilet-shaped devices made especially for potty training, which are quite similar to chamber pots. These "potties" are generally a large plastic bowl with an ergonomically-designed back and front to protect against splashes. They may have a built-in handle or grasp at the back to allow emptying and a non-slip bottom to prevent the child from sliding while in use. Some are given bright colours such as pink, red, blue and purple (generally depending on the child's sex), and some sort of cartoon. In many cases they are used since it is difficult for children to get up onto the normal toilet; in addition the larger opening in the regular toilet is much too large for a child to sit over comfortably and not fall in without some type of aid. Their size means they can be discreetly packed away in a bag for days out or camping with young children, and can be placed near or under beds for sufferers of nocturia
or some other form of incontinence.
In the Philippines
, chamber pots are used as urinals and are commonly called "Arinola" in most Philippine languages, such as Tagalog
and Cebuano
.
In Korea
, chamber pots are referred to as yogang (요강). They were commonly used by people who did not have indoor plumbing to avoid the cold elements during the winter months and are commonly used in North Korea
to this day.
Nightstand
A nightstand, alternatively night table or bedside table, is a small table or cabinet designed to stand beside a bed or elsewhere in a bedroom. It serves the role of a coffee table during nighttime hours, at a persons bedside....
and generally used as a urinal at night. In Victorian
Victorian era
The Victorian era of British history was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. It was a long period of peace, prosperity, refined sensibilities and national self-confidence...
times, some chamber pots would be built into a cabinet
Cabinet (furniture)
A cabinet is usually a box-shaped piece of furniture with doors or drawers for storing miscellaneous items. Some cabinets stand alone while others are built into a wall or are attached to it like a medicine cabinet. Cabinets are typically made of wood or, now increasingly, of synthetic...
with a closable cover.
History
The introduction of inside water closetFlush toilet
A flush toilet is a toilet that disposes of human waste by using water to flush it through a drainpipe to another location. Flushing mechanisms are found more often on western toilets , but many squat toilets also are made for automated flushing...
s started to displace chamber pots in the 19th century but such pots were in common use until the mid-20th century.
Chamber pots continue in use in countries lacking indoor plumbing such as rural areas of China, and have been redesigned as the bedpan
Bedpan
A bedpan or bed pan is an object used for the toileting of a bedridden patient in a health care facility, usually made of a metal, glass, or plastic receptacle. A bed pan can be used for both urinary and fecal discharge. Many diseases can confine a patient to bed, necessitating the use of bedpans,...
for use with the very ill.
In North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
and the UK, the affectionate term "potty" is often used when discussing the toilet
Toilet
A toilet is a sanitation fixture used primarily for the disposal of human excrement, often found in a small room referred to as a toilet/bathroom/lavatory...
with small children – such as during potty training. It is also usually used to refer to the small, toilet-shaped devices made especially for potty training, which are quite similar to chamber pots. These "potties" are generally a large plastic bowl with an ergonomically-designed back and front to protect against splashes. They may have a built-in handle or grasp at the back to allow emptying and a non-slip bottom to prevent the child from sliding while in use. Some are given bright colours such as pink, red, blue and purple (generally depending on the child's sex), and some sort of cartoon. In many cases they are used since it is difficult for children to get up onto the normal toilet; in addition the larger opening in the regular toilet is much too large for a child to sit over comfortably and not fall in without some type of aid. Their size means they can be discreetly packed away in a bag for days out or camping with young children, and can be placed near or under beds for sufferers of nocturia
Nocturia
Nocturia , also called nycturia , is the need to get up in the night to urinate, thus interrupting sleep. Its occurrence is more frequent in pregnant women and in the elderly...
or some other form of incontinence.
In the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
, chamber pots are used as urinals and are commonly called "Arinola" in most Philippine languages, such as Tagalog
Tagalog language
Tagalog is an Austronesian language spoken as a first language by a third of the population of the Philippines and as a second language by most of the rest. It is the first language of the Philippine region IV and of Metro Manila...
and Cebuano
Cebuano language
Cebuano, referred to by most of its speakers as Bisaya , is an Austronesian language spoken in the Philippines by about 20 million people mostly in the Central Visayas. It is the most widely spoken of the languages within the so-named Bisayan subgroup and is closely related to other Filipino...
.
In Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
, chamber pots are referred to as yogang (요강). They were commonly used by people who did not have indoor plumbing to avoid the cold elements during the winter months and are commonly used in North Korea
North Korea
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea , , is a country in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea...
to this day.
See also
- History of the toilet
- List of works by William Hogarth