Some Obscurish facts
#20
1895 As the European imperialist powers were making major inroads into tropical Africa late in the 1800s, one of the hazards of tropical life with which their forces had to deal was the frequent lack of water. Miracle of miracles, a German inventor devised a special pith helmet crowned with a catch basin wherein rainwater could be trapped and stored. It also had a small spigot on the underside of the brim. Now every man was a reservoir. The hat received a patent from the German government and was actually used by soldiers in West Africa until several were stricken with dysentery caused by the amoebas growing in the water.
1895 As the European imperialist powers were making major inroads into tropical Africa late in the 1800s, one of the hazards of tropical life with which their forces had to deal was the frequent lack of water. Miracle of miracles, a German inventor devised a special pith helmet crowned with a catch basin wherein rainwater could be trapped and stored. It also had a small spigot on the underside of the brim. Now every man was a reservoir. The hat received a patent from the German government and was actually used by soldiers in West Africa until several were stricken with dysentery caused by the amoebas growing in the water.