Frequent Bathing is Harmful to Health: 17th Century Pilgrims

Brenda F. Johnson, MSN

History of 17th Century Bathing

As with many beliefs and ideals of centuries ago, people often based their decisions on religious customs and superstitions. People of all social and economic classes living in Europe during the 17th century transitioned from public bathhouses to not bathing in water except for a couple of times a year. In the Middle Ages, bathhouses were very popular, but because they promoted sexual freedom, they fell out of popularity. This sexual freedom didn’t settle well with the strict Roman Catholic and Puritan views.

According to the article by Kelly White, “Colonial Hygiene - The Dirty Truth”, the colonists thought that bathing would strip their skin of oils that protected them from disease (2020). They were correct in the fact that too frequent bathing would strip their skin, however, it is unlikely that their infrequent bathing of 3 to 4 times a year was harmful to their health - only to their fellow humans’ noses. They often washed their hands and face however, and sometimes bathed for medical reasons using herbs such as rosemary (White, 2020). But submerging their naked bodies in water was thought to be unhealthy and immodest. Obtaining water for a bath was a difficult chore as well, which impeded frequent bathing. By today’s standards, this seems strange, but to them, they were maintaining their health and religious convictions.

Public bathing also fell out of popularity when the plague hit. This led to the thought process that submersion in water was dangerous to the body (Linen and Laundry, 2015). Excessive temperatures were also thought to be harmful to the body, as well as moisture. Sweating was encouraged because doctors believed it was the body ridding itself of toxins (Linen and Laundry, 2015). Not only that but the toxins were believed to be able to come back into the body and enter the bloodstream through the skin, causing disease and possibly death.

How Clothing Represents Purity

Another layer of reasoning to justify not bathing often was the colonists' tradition of changing undergarments. They felt that wearing clean undergarments (linens) meant that they were clean; the underclothes absorbed all of their dirt and sweat and negated the need for further bathing (Little, 2019). The underwear was thought to clean the body, absorbing all of the impurities. This was partly about appearance, which was important to the early settlers. To be thought of as clean equated with being recognized as moral. Having sparkling clean, white collars showed that they were not only clean but morally pure (Little, 2019).

Keeping bed linens clean was also important. Therefore, taking off outer clothes was important to the Puritans when going to bed, but taking off their underclothes was immodest (Little, 2019). They intertwined physical cleanliness with moral cleanliness.

The Native Wampanoag People

On the other side of the coin are the Indians. The Native People had no such fear of bathing and took part in it on a regular basis. The Wampanoag people (People of the First Light) wore clothes made from deerskin that was weather resistant. The women wore skirts made of deerskin and, in the cold weather, leggings. Both women and men wore mantles (like cloaks) made of deerskin and wrapped them around their bodies in different ways.

Disease From Overseas

The Pilgrims brought black rats over on the ships which carried leptospirosis. This caused fever, nosebleeds, and body aches. The rats would deposit their bacteria into the fresh water that the Indians bathed in and hunted from.

It is common knowledge that the Pilgrims brought disease to the Native People that killed a large number. Unfortunately, the Pilgrims did not understand that they had, in fact, been the reason for the deaths of so many. The Pilgrims had lost many of their own on the voyages to their new home as well. But both groups of people persisted and probably learned a lot from each other.

Conclusion

The fact that Pilgrims and the rest of Europe believed bathing to be dangerous seems outlandish. Most modern people bathe daily and use multiple lotions, soaps, and deodorants to clean and moisturize their skin. There are stores full of different companies’ skin care and facial care, and perfumes. When a person chooses not to bathe, we are disgusted and hold our noses. If a patient comes into the hospital dirty, we give them a bath. The first thing a patient receives in ICU is a wipe down from head to toe with special wipes to prevent disease and the spread of germs.

We now have science on our side to help us learn how to keep our bodies healthy and free from disease. Nursing uses evidence-based practice to make policies and guide procedures. Previous practices that worked are made policy, while those that failed have taught us to keep trying and find the best way to move forward. Medicine is constantly evolving with better ways to treat and prevent disease. What has been your experience with a patient who doesn’t practice good hygiene?

References

Little, Becky. Why Pilgrims Arriving in America Resisted Bathing. (2019) History.

White, Kelly. Colonial Hygiene - The Dirty Truth, (2020).

Pennsbury Manor