In 1596 Sir John Harington (1561-1612) designed, constructed and installed the first flush water closet. He presented another to his godmother, Queen Elizabeth 1. He described it in his book The Metamorphosis of Ajax. He held that it ???ould make unsavoury Places sweet, noisome Places wholesome?? The relationship of disease to the lack of sanitation and hygiene was unknown and sanitary arrangements were primitive. This device emptied itself. Water from the raised cistern flowed to the lower pan with the seat when a handle on the seat was turned, sweeping its contents into the cesspool beneath. The design allowed the pan to be refilled. The woodcut shows his water closet in use with 'a Godly father' in dispute with a devil about the fitness of the place for holy contemplations. Though the concept was ignored until the 18th c., a reconstruction shows the design was practical.