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How Bad Was Body Odor in the Old West?

by | Apr 11, 2017 | Ask the Marshall, Departments

ask the marshall trimble true west
How bad was body odor in the Old West? Michael C. Westlund Clarkdale, Arizona Body odor was pretty bad. Pioneers had no deodorant, shampoo or commercial toilet paper. They didn’t bathe often, and they rarely changed clothes. Women didn’t shave their armpits or legs. Bad breath and rotten teeth were prevalent. Hollywood sanitizes almost everything, and, in this case, I’m sure glad they do. Marshall Trimble is Arizona’s official historian and vice president of the Wild West History Ass


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