What Was Hygiene Like In The Wild West?

1 year ago
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Hygiene in the American Wild West was probably about what you'd expect - unhygienic.
Men and women who made their way west across the North American landscape contended with harsh weather and difficult terrain - a less-than-ideal situation for finding a place to bathe. With the journey to new lands came a perpetual quest to find clean water, something that could be a matter of vital importance.
In difficult conditions, the practicalities of survival often outweighed concern for cleanliness. Days or weeks without a bath, living in close quarters, and the lack of adequate toilet facilities all contributed to a life in the Wild West characterized by foul smells, constant disease, and a generally squalid existence.

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