CONNECTIONS to HEALTH

It Happens Manure In the 16th and 17th centuries, everything had to be transported by ship. Since it was also before commercial fertilizer was invented, large shipments of manure were common. Manure was shipped dry, because in dry form it weighed a lot less, but once water (at sea) hit it, not only did it become heavier, but the process of fermentation began, of which a by product is methane gas. Methane began to build up below deck 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 DIY term.

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