subject: Prominent Inventions That Were Made For Other Purposes [print this page] The history of findings and inventions has been the core of interests for many people. There are some stories that can be regarded as the interesting funny incidents in the history of inventions. For instance, a lot of things were first invented for the reasons 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 outbreaks of syphilis were often and intensive. Gabriel Fallopio created condoms in order to defend duke Gonzago from the disease. Very first condoms were made of silk and cotton and soaked with healing ointments. It had no contraceptive functions and was made only for the prophylactics of the disease.
Alcohol
Alcoholic drinks were known since ancient times. Pure alcohol was educed for a while following. It was first made by Avicenna, the famous alchemist who tried to evolve the so called 5th element (ether or the Soul of things) from it - that is why it is also known as spirits. The word alcohol comes from Arabian al-cole - a pure substance. Alcohol-based medicines were created in the 14th century. Gin and other alcoholic drinks were employed for medical purposes.
Buttons
Buttons as the element of clothes appeared in the XIII century. It was first applied as the decorative element of shoes. Only in the XIV century it was utilized to fasten the knights armour. Then they came into usage in military clothing and spread to stylish clothes.
Windmill
Windmill was created a few times. First - by the Buddhist monks as a faith based symbol - the octahedral column turned around by wind. Then - in Afghanistan where it was initially employed for milling corns into flour. In Europe it was created separately in the 12th century.
