The first public toilets were just open spaces without any partitions. They didn’t usually have windows, so the darkness helped visitors to stay anonymous. They also weren’t divided into sections for men and women — both genders could use public toilets at the same time.

There was a rope near each seat but it wasn’t for flushing. A person would grab at it if they fell into a hole in the bench. This happened quite often because drunk men were regular visitors of public toilets. By grabbing at this rope, they could lift themselves. Otherwise, they had to call for help.