[pfix]

For me, one important bit is missing.

> Alcoves were hygienically problematic, as the straw was sometimes only rarely changed, ventilation was poor and food supplies were often stored under the alcoves in farmhouses. To combat tuberculosis, the Baupolizei [government institution in germany responsible for building codes] took action against alcoves from the end of the 19th century. In the Free State of Oldenburg, the health insurance companies paid 100 Reichsmark per removed alcove in 1926.

Source: https://de.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alkoven_(Bettnische)

I would assume that in other european countries the situation was similar.

[baxtr]

I was thinking about this exactly when reading that piece.

Several people sharing a closed space for sleeping seems to be the perfect way to spread diseases as well as parasites.