The anal sphincters, along with the pelvic muscles that surround the end of the digestive tract, ensure controlled movement of digestive tract contents. There are many possible causes of fecal incontinence; in most cases, incontinence results from some combination of these causes. Critical to normal bowel function are:
Oilcloth is a tightly woven fabric, usually cotton or linen, which is then treated on one side to give it a waterproof finish. The coating traditionally was linseed oil, but is now more commercially sold with a PVC coating.
The modern oil is less toxic, but also less suitable for making oilcloth. Re-enactors may boil their own oil in the search for a correctly coloured oilcloth. Oilcloth used for weatherproofing may have used a mixture of lead and manganese salts, the sienna and umber pigments, to give a more humidity-resistant cure.