A new analysis of remains from medieval Cambridge shows that the Augustinian friars were more likely to be affected by parasites than the general population.
Most Augustinian monasteries have hand- washing facilities, unlike the houses of ordinary working people.
According to researchers from the University of Cambridge's Department of Archaeology, the difference in parasites may come down to monks manuring crops in friary gardens with their own feces.
It is the first study to compare the prevalence of parasites in people from the same community who were living different lifestyles.
The population of medieval Cambridge consisted of residents of monasteries, friaries and nunneries, along with merchants, traders, craftsmen, laborers, farmers, and staff and students at the early university.
The soil samples were taken from the former cemetery of All Saints by the Castle parish church and from the grounds of the Augustinian Friary.
The majority of the church burials are from the 12th century and were mostly for agricultural workers.
Clergy from across Britain and Europe would visit the Augustinian friary in Cambridge to read manuscripts. Henry VIII's break with the Roman Church resulted in the closing or destruction of most English monasteries.
The researchers tested 19 monks from the friary grounds and 25 locals from All Saints cemetery and found that 11 of them had been bitten by worms.
They say these rates are likely the minimum, and that the actual number of infections would have been higher, but some worm eggs would have been destroyed by insects.
The 32% prevalence of parasites among townsfolk is in line with studies of medieval burials in other European countries, suggesting that this is not particularly low.
Dr. Piers Mitchell from Cambridge's Department of Archaeology said that the friars of Cambridge appeared to have been overrun with parasites. This is the first time anyone has tried to figure out how common parasites were in people in the same town.
The most common infections were roundworm and whipworm, but we found evidence for both. Poor Sanitation is to blame for both of these spreading.
The cesspit toilet was a staple in medieval towns. At the Cambridge site, which is only partially excavated, running water systems were a common feature in monasteries.
Wealthy people from the town could pay a fee to be buried in the Augustinian friaries. The team was able to tell which graves were for friars from their clothing.
According to co-author Craig Cessford of the Cambridge Archaeological Unit, the friars were buried in belts that were standard for the order.
Researchers argue that the difference in infections between the friars and the general population is due to how each group handles their waste.
The friars may have used human feces in their vegetable gardens in order to get rid of the worms.
Cambridge residents may have been aware of parasites. A section on De Lumbricis was included in a manuscript left to Peterhouse college by a Cambridge doctor.
It says that long round worms form from an excess of salt phlegm, short round worms from sour phlegm, and broad worms from natural phlegm.
The text suggests that the plants be hidden with honey or other sweet things in order to help the medicine go down.
The "Tabula medicine" text found favor with leading Cambridge doctors of the 15th century, and suggested remedies that were recommended by individual Franciscan monks.
According to previous research, those buried in medieval England's monasteries had lived longer than those in parish cemeteries, possibly because of a more nourished diet.
More information: Intestinal parasite infection in the Augustinian friars and general population of medieval Cambridge, UK, International Journal of Paleopathology (2022). DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpp.2022.06.001
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