Re: Urine as fuel

"daestrom" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in message  
> It is said that during the civil war (or 'war-between the states' for you
> southern folks), the ladies of Vicksburg were asked to contribute the urine
> from their chamberpots to the making of saltpeter.

Actually it was the war of northern aggression : )
> 
> I don't know how saltpeter is made, but it contains nitrates that contribute
> to the manufacture of gun-powder.  They folks of Vicksburg were using it to
> make their gunpowder while under siege.
> 
> daestrom

The french also collected nitrates from latrines during napoleononic wars.
 Don F.