Project MUSE - More on Merde

Whereas food has always received much attention in conversation, commerce, and the literature, the subject of feces has been comparatively neglected.To fill this lacuna, a small book on comparative coprology was recently published (Lewin 1999).The present article aims to supplement this book with a review of overlooked or new items relating to biological and medical aspects of coprology, notably chemical and microbial components of human and animal feces, their uses as fertilizers, and a few other sociological impacts.