Well-known Inventions that were Made For Other Reasons
Well-known Inventions that were Made For Other Reasons
The history of discoveries and inventions has always been the center of interests for people. There are some stories that can be regarded as the curious amusing happenings in the history of inventions. For instance, lots of things were first invented for the purposes different from those that we use them for. Condoms Gabriel Fallopio, the creator of the first condoms, lived and worked in Mantua in the 16th century. He was the medic for duke Gonzago and his family. XVI century was the time when the epidemics of syphilis were frequent and intensive. Gabriel Fallopio created condoms in order to defend duke Gonzago from this disease. Very first condoms were produced from silk and cotton and soaked with healing creams. It had no contraceptive functions and was made only for the prophylactics of syphilis. Alcohol Alcoholic drinks were known for thousands of years. Pure alcohol was educed long afterwards. It was first made by Avicenna, the well-known alchemist who tried to evolve the 5th element (ether or the Soul of things) from it - that is why it is also known as spirits. The word alcohol originates from Arabian al-cole - a pure substance. Alcohol-based medicines were invented only in the XIV century. Gin and many other alcoholic drinks were employed for medical purposes. Buttons Buttons as the element of clothing appeared in the 13th century. It was first applied as the decorating component of shoes. Just in the XIV century it was used to fasten the knights' armour. Then they came into usage in military uniforms and spread to fashionable clothes. Windmill Windmill was invented a few times. First - by the Buddhist monks as a religious symbol - the octahedral column turned around by blowing wind. Then - in Afghanistan where it was first useful for milling corns into flour. In Europe it was created separately in the 12th century.