[IP] no idea if this is true A lesson in English word history

[Dave Farber <dave@farber.net>]

------ Forwarded Message
From: Einar Stefferud <Stef@thor.nma.com>
Date: Wed, 12 Feb 2003 16:27:21 -0800
To: Dave Farber <farber@cis.upenn.edu>
Subject: A lesson in English word history

>From an anonymous source, and without any validation.
For your own entertainment, and for IP if you wish;-)...\Stef
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Exciting Historical information you need to know
about shipping Manure:


In the 16th and 17th centuries, everything had to be
transported by ship. It was also before commercial
fertilizer's invention, so large shipments of manure
were common. It was shipped dry, because in dry
form it weighed a lot less than when wet, but once
water (at sea) hit it, it not only became heavier, but
the process of fermentation began again, of which a
by-product is methane gas.

As the stuff was stored below decks in bundles you
can see what could (and did) happen.

Methane began to build up below decks and the first
time someone came below at night with a lantern,
BOOOOM! Several ships were destroyed in this manner
before it was determined just what was happening.
After that, the bundles of manure were always stamped
with the term "Ship High In Transit" on them, which
meant for the sailors to stow it high enough off the
lower decks so that any water that came into the hold
would not touch this volatile cargo and start the
production of methane.

Thus evolved the term "S.H.I.T," which has come down
through the centuries and is in use to this very day.
You probably did not know the true history of this word.

Neither did I.    I always thought it was a golf term!


------ End of Forwarded Message

-------------------------------------
To unsubscribe or update your address, click
  http://v2.listbox.com/member/?listname=ip

Archives at: http://www.interesting-people.org/archives/interesting-people/