The application of scrubbing brushes to encourage personal hygiene sounds extreme but, while not condoning it, I can offer an explanation. Living in a tightly-knit community such as a school dormitory, an Army barrackroom or a ship's messdeck, it is absolutely vital that every last person keep themselves and their clothing clean, and the sad fact of the matter is that there is a tiny minority who do not. Of those, some will respond to verbal or minor physical pressure, but the worst offenders simply do not. And, believe me, living with them can be extremely unpleasant and the individuals can he very, very obtuse
In these, happily rare, circumstances the group - who cannot avoid having to live with this person - is left with little choice but to take action which is so firm that the offender cannot avoid being aware of the offence being caused and which will encourage him/her to mend their ways, if for no other reason than to avoid a repetition of the punishment.
Unfortunately, gifts of scented soap, or pointed remarks from girls has little effect - I would say that it is like water off a duck's back except that such people are totally unacquainted with water. I have known of two cases of "scrubbing" (both in the Army, not at CH) and they were only taken in desperation after every other form of suggestion and pressure had failed. The sad fact is that there are people who can be unbelievably dirty and smelly - ask Social Services or the police about some of the houses they have to visit. If they are living on their own that's one thing, but if they have to live among others then that is quite a different situation.
Basically, scrubbing should never need to happen because monitors, prefects, matrons and/or housemasters/mistresses should spot such problems early and take preventative action of their own to cure the indivdual before the situation gets out-of-hand.
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