A research team led by the University of Cambridge has just discovered diarrhoea in two high-end latrines in Old Testament Jerusalem. "Cesspool toilets from this era are relatively rare and were usually only made for the elite," said lead author Dr.
Piers Mitchell of Cambridge's Department of Archaeology. Previous work has also shown that users of ancient Judean baths were infected by other intestinal parasites, such as whipworms, tapeworms and pinworms. Some texts included recommended incantations to recite that increased the chances of recovery.