Kingetter
21-Oct-06, 02:21
Manure - interesting trivia -
Never knew this was originally an acronym, thought I'd share it with you...lol
Manure: In the 16th and 17th centuries, everything had to be transported by ship .
As this was before the invention of commercial fertilisers, large shipments of manure were common.
It was shipped dry because in dry form it weighed a lot less than when wet. Unfortunately once at sea it became wet and heavier and the process of fermentation began again.
A by-product of this 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" (Ship High In Transit), an acronym that has come down through the centuries and is in use to this very day.
You probably didn't know the true history of this word.
Neither did I... I thought it was
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i102/OpenandShut/Org/bull.gif
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i102/OpenandShut/Org/good20manure20pile1.jpg
Now I know better?
Never knew this was originally an acronym, thought I'd share it with you...lol
Manure: In the 16th and 17th centuries, everything had to be transported by ship .
As this was before the invention of commercial fertilisers, large shipments of manure were common.
It was shipped dry because in dry form it weighed a lot less than when wet. Unfortunately once at sea it became wet and heavier and the process of fermentation began again.
A by-product of this 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" (Ship High In Transit), an acronym that has come down through the centuries and is in use to this very day.
You probably didn't know the true history of this word.
Neither did I... I thought it was
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i102/OpenandShut/Org/bull.gif
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i102/OpenandShut/Org/good20manure20pile1.jpg
Now I know better?