Part 9/12:
Pest invasions were a nightmare for colonists, described extensively by figures like Captain John Smith and George Washington. Their accounts reveal a world not only compromised by the absence of modern hygiene practices but also plagued by various vermin, including lice and fleas. Oddly enough, body odor was seen as a form of self-defense, particularly for women, as it was thought to be a deterrent against unwanted male attention.