A terrible habit
Now get ready, because what we are about to reveal may disgust you. Spitting is an ancient and sometimes necessary habit that has gained incredible cultural significance in the Old West.
A terrible custom
In bars, brothels, hotels and even banks, spittoons for customers were quite common. Generally speaking, the custom was widespread among adult men, who chewed tobacco and then spat the mucus into the spittoons. Yes, it was horrible and caused illness.
Sawdust on the floor
For modern readers, this is an unimaginable situation: that you can sleep on sawdust. This material was used in the Wild West to cover the ground and create a layer on which to tread.
Sawdust on the ground
Since cowboys were in the habit of chewing tobacco from spit, it was common for sawdust to get dirty after several weeks of use. This also contributed to the spread of harmful bacteria.
