Scatology

Fossil subject

Coprology ( Greek κόπρος [kopros] “ dung , feces ” + λόγος “teaching, science ”) is a scientific study of bowel movements , primarily from a biological and medical point of view. A coprological study is performed, for example:

• in zoology - to analyze the nutrition of the corresponding species of animals,
• in paleontology - to study coprolites , that is, fossil stool of extinct animals,
• in archeology - to determine eating habits, primarily the study of the contents of cesspools,
• in medicine , in particular in parasitology - to obtain information about possible diseases.

The closely related concept of pathology rather means the study of the role of bowel movements from a cultural and psychological point of view. This includes the study of:

• references to bowel movements in literature and culture, in particular fecal language and fecal humor (a form of linguistic habit when words associated with bowel organs or feces are used in speech).
• sexual deviations associated with bowel movements: coprophilia , coprophagy , etc.