---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Since time immemorial it had been the…"
description: "\"Since time immemorial it had been the custom before a sea battle for the men to wash and don clean clothes in case of being wounded. This was all the m..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b70/richard-hough-44807_battle_since-time-immemorial-it-had-been-the-cu_1502363.jpg"
---

#  Since time immemorial it had been the custom before a sea…

![“Since time immemorial it had been the custom before a sea battle for the men to wash and don clean clothes in case of being wounded. This was all the more necessary under these circumstances, as many of them were still covered with coal dust.” quote by Richard Hough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b70/richard-hough-44807_battle_since-time-immemorial-it-had-been-the-cu_1502363.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b70/richard-hough-44807_battle_since-time-immemorial-it-had-been-the-cu_1502363.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b70/richard-hough-44807_battle_since-time-immemorial-it-had-been-the-cu_1502363.jpg)

> “Since time immemorial it had been the custom before a sea battle for the men to wash and don clean clothes in case of being wounded. This was all the more necessary under these circumstances, as many of them were still covered with coal dust.”

[Richard Hough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-hough/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Soldiers historically cleaned before battle to prevent infection, especially when covered in coal dust.

**In simple terms:** Cleaning before combat reduces infection risk, especially in dirty conditions.

Key Takeaway

Maintain hygiene to protect health in harsh environments.

Themes

military history health safety preparation

Mood

pragmatic historical

Type

educational informative

When to use this quote

- combat readiness
- field hospitals
- industrial workforces

Key Concepts

infection control logistics historical practices

Questions to Reflect On

- How does hygiene affect combat effectiveness?
- What modern parallels exist?

A Different Perspective

Modern gear may reduce need for extensive cleaning.

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