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“How” to Achieve Results
In ancient Rome, it was common for urine collected in public latrines to be used for industrial purposes. The urine was used by the tanners of skins, as well as by the laundresses, who used it to clean and bleach wool togas because of their ammonia content.
In order to afford the wars and the construction of the Roman Colosseum, the Roman emperor Vespasian (9–79) decided to impose a tax on the buyers of the urine that was poured into the latrines of Rome and was collected in the Maximum Sewer. From then on, the artisans who needed the urine in their businesses had to pay the new urine tax.
Vespasian’s son, Titus, complained about the disgusting nature of the tax and reproached his father. Then, Vespasian held up a ...
