Spitting Became Outlawed Due to Spread of Disease

The Wild West conjures images of spitting, a seemingly ubiquitous habit of the time. In those days, spittoons were as common as tumbleweeds, and a lax approach to hygiene meant folks didn’t think twice about letting loose. The veneer of cleanliness was often provided by a generous layer of sawdust, but this seemingly innocuous practice had a dark side – it transformed into a breeding ground for germs.

In a landscape where diseases like pneumonia and tuberculosis lurked, this cavalier attitude toward spitting placed many at grave risk. The situation escalated to the point where train stations took a stand, banning the practice outright and issuing stern warnings of hefty fines or even imprisonment for the culprits. Suddenly, the act of spitting carried a price tag of $500 or the prospect of a year behind bars, incentivizing a dramatic shift toward improved hygiene practices.