Chewing Tobacco Was Gross
Many people chewed tobacco back in the day. It is not only highly addictive, but the saliva created from chewing helped keep mouths moistened. Nowadays, we almost always have access to clean water, but that wasn’t the case back then. Since they couldn’t chug water while working in the fields, chewing tobacco was a refreshing alternative.
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When chewing tobacco was at the height of its popularity in the 19th century, saloons had a special vessel for spitting it into. These bowls were called “spittoons,” and they were seen in pubs, bars, stores, and even banks. They were filled with used tobacco, so it wasn’t the most beautiful sight.