Soft, strong and long: The story of toilet paper.

This article discusses the history of toilet paper, highlighting the controversy and skepticism surrounding its introduction in the 1850s. While Joseph C. Gayetty's Medicated Paper was the first commercial toilet paper in America, the Chinese had been using paper for this purpose since the 2nd century. The article also mentions the use of alternative materials such as sheep's wool, leaves, linen, and cloth in Western countries. Despite initial mockery from the medical establishment, toilet paper eventually gained popularity and spawned numerous copycat products. The article concludes by mentioning the modern advancements in toilet technology, such as the Washlet in Japan, which may potentially render traditional toilet paper obsolete. [Extracted from the article]