Come The Revolution...

SamSam · Apr 9, 2015

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For some reason I'm looking at 'quicklime' in Wikipedia and see this...

Use as a weapon

Historian and philosopher David Hume, in his history of England, recounts that early in the reign of Henry III, the English Navy destroyed an invading French fleet by blinding the enemy fleet with quicklime:
D’Albiney employed a stratagem against them, which is said to have contributed to the victory: Having gained the wind of the French, he came down upon them with violence; and throwing in their faces a great quantity of quicklime, which he purposely carried on board, he so blinded them, that they were disabled from defending themselves.[16]

Quicklime is also thought to have been a component of Greek fire. Upon contact with water, quicklime would increase its temperature above 150 °C and ignite the fuel.[17]
Click to expand...

That's the first time I've ever heard of 'chemical warfare' or a trick like that used in naval warfare back then. Or even in land battles. It seems like an excellent idea, if you're into that sort of thing.

Using quicklime for stage lighting ('being in the limelight') was also enlightening.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calcium_oxide

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daiquiri · Apr 9, 2015

Very interesting info, thank you.
It might be useful the next time I get a job as a ninja.

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Come The Revolution...

SamSam Senior Member

daiquiri Engineering and Design

The third industrial revolution, (the solar electric age)?