On Mon, 21 Nov 2011 00:01:21 -0800 (PST), harry
wrote Re Dental floss toilet beast (must see):

Heh Heh. That is not dental floss.
That is what in the UK we call "gaskin" . It is hemp fibre (often
tarred) and was used to fill the joint in socket and spigot rigid
pipes. (Iron or earthen ware.)

That's what it looks like to me too.

It will be leaking someplace now.
--
Work is the curse of the drinking class.