When everyone had a bath every Saturday or other designated day whether they needed it or not, with a 'spit'( by whatever name it was called.
) bath thrown in every other night and in some cases every night to keep the odor in check somewhat.
And from what I can remember as a youngin and it being the custom of the day where everyone did pretty much the same thing I don't recall too many people that were overly ripe.
Although those that were, were very ripe indeed!!!!:barf:
(There was a couple of things about the personal habits of the ndns that the Europeans really found very amazing.
One that we
bathed everyday and 2nd that we actually
drank water. Most European cities water supplies at the time were too polluted to drink safely so that's where the beer and wine came in, So I've been told, haven't researched it for myself, got better things to do.
)
And back then if you had a #2 washtub you were probably a bit poorer than some people, #3 washtub you were in good company and a little further up the class ratings.
AND If you had one of the long tubs designed in particular as a real bathtub you were poopin' in tall cotton and wipin' on the top
leafs*.
(*Old coloquial Okie saying.
)
Never did have a bath in one of those.
What was really bad is that if you were 3-4 down the scheduled line for the weekly bath and had to use the water left by the rest of the family.
:barf:
And to add insult to injury the water was usually cold by then as well.
:barf: