LATRINÆ, were public houses of office, or necessaries, amongst the Romans. We do not find, in the writings or buildings that remain of antiquity, that they had any privies in their dwellings. The latrinæ
were public places where the slaves washed and emptied their master's close-stools. We are pretty well assured that the Romans had public places of convenience, which were covered over, and had a sponge hanging up in them for cleanliness. Rich men had close-stools, which were taken away occasionally to the common shores.