Provost Gloats: I Am Right, It Is Saltpeter: Confirmed!

[Dauphin]

Originally posted by Rakki
well you can mine it or you can extract it from elsewhere... I do believe they used to use urine and crap for this purpose. Where the urine comes from, well, there always seems to be a lot of people around....

The French soldier collected crap from the regiments during the Napoleonic wars to make a saltpeter substitute. The other popular ingredient in that mix was seaweed, which incidently led to the discovery of iodine when they cleaned their vats with sulphuric acid.

But I digress..

[Gyromancer]

From what I have heard, saltpeter has certain ....effects.... on the more libidinous impulses ......

[Crouchback]

Originally posted by Jingo
isnt Saltpeter that stuff they give the navy guys to refrain from homosexuality?

I think that's bromide, at least that's what I'm on to ease the reation to the countdown to Civ3 release.

Wait a minute, if saltpeter is a strategic resource then all gun powder units will require it. Damn, but that's going to be difficult.

David

[KrazyHorse]

Saltpeter was used in the past, though, to keep the soldiers from humping their CO's leg.

[Fidel]

Originally posted by KrazyHorse
Saltpeter was used in the past, though, to keep the soldiers from humping their CO's leg.

did it work? i remember that a litre of bromide could not get our boners down when i was in the army. still we managed to refrain from humping each other's legs

[Jools]

who gets the Cossack?

[Changmai Beagle]

If I remember, saltpeter was obtained from places with substantial manure. It crystallized out at the bottom and the crystals were dug out and collected to be used to make gunpowder. As is also reduces the ability to achieve an erec*tion (so there Net Nanny) - it could result in reduced population growth.

It used to be used in a number of places - army, prisons, etc. to reduce various....complications.

I think it is still may be obtained from animal operations (for example see in RRT sheep farms) and used in making explosives.

Looking forward to CIII - unless it doesn't work, then I'll be CIIIPO'd.

[Mister Pleasant]

Where did you guys go to school? Saltpeter reduces libido. They used to use it in food served during basic training (illegal now if memory serves). Also, some cigarette manufacturers use it as a preservative.