[sphinx]

Prostitutes are part of western lore. They are tough women in the west. Its housewives that are often the bad women. Housewives are often considered too frail or nosy, or rumormongers. The prostitutes are depicted as women who can handle themselves and know the men. And by the way, they like the men. Thats the way westerns are in most movies and TV shows as well as real life. Calamity Jane was said to be a prostitute.

Per a talk at a Civil War Roundtable from an historian who had looked into it: the life expectancy of a prostitute in that era was about five years. They were deadenders, typically alcoholic and diseased. Add in malnutrition and lack of medical care, and you can take your pick as to what finally carried them off.

[poinq]

The civil war had even more prostitutes. The word Hooker comes from General Hooker. The General was known for having the women near the camp so he could manage his men. Hookers were on both sides in large numbers. America drank, paid for sex and gambled to access for most of its history.

[TexasTransplant]

*** “Add in malnutrition and lack of medical care, and you can take your pick as to what finally carried them off” ***

No Penicillin ?