Lots of events and issues have occurred in the past that some are probably unaware of and will be interested in learning more about. Here are just a few uncommon facts that not many people know about the past.
Infant feeding bottle
Throughout the late Victorian period, the infant feeding bottle was a high demand item. It consisted of a glass bottle with a rubber tube and a nipple allowing the infants to feed themselves. Since women at this time usually wore corsets, it was very advantageous; it became very popular among mothers. However, over time it acquired the nickname “murder bottle” because cleaning the rubber tube was a bit of a challenge, thus increasing the growth of bacteria. Many mothers were also told it was inappropriate to disinfect the nipple for weeks. This was problematic because the infant mortality rate was already extremely high at the time and there was concern that it would worsen by the use of this bottle.
P.T Barnum
Before his circus business, P.T Barnum had a museum in New York. He paid a random individual to walk around the building with bricks, placing one in each corner before entering the museum, and then repeating the action. This operation was deemed so unusual that bystanders were puzzled so they began to pursue this random person. However, they had to pay to enter the museum, and once there, they were captivated by the exhibits and forgot about the mysterious man placing bricks along the outskirts of the building. Somehow Barnum knew that to get the public’s attention, he had to first try to intrigue them.
Kinetoscope
Kinetoscope, developed by Thomas Edison, was designed to allow one person to watch a movie at once. It was created before the concept of moving images was known and used for the larger audience. The kinetoscope was short-lived and it soon fell out of favour as the movie industry became more technologically advanced. It should be noted that during this period the films were not well preserved and the acid devoured at the celluloid level. As a result, it was not uncommon for studios to burn down and old reels to be completely destroyed. To conclude, the kinetoscope was introduced before silent movie stars such as Charlie Chaplin or Harold Lloyd started defending their work.
Arsenic in fashion
In the 19th century, many wore green dresses decorated with arsenic-based pigments; beaver hats were made of mercury, causing many accidents and death, as it was common for many to fall into gas lamps and ignite. Not only was it dangerous for the consumers, but also for the workers who made the garments. These garments were made with the goal of bringing attention to their unique beauty; these people were not concerned about their own safety or their lives. It is worth to point out that “The Arsenic Waltz” was created to mock these arsenic garments.
With that in mind, we can assume that life was challenging and, at times, dangerous. Thanks to this, although we are not perfect, we can avoid making similar mistakes and prosper in the future.