#WackyWednesday: Six strange historical facts

History books are filled with heroic and dastardly deeds.

However, there have been some historical facts which never made it to encyclopedias or text books.

Here are six interesting and somewhat strange facts:

1. Einstein could have been a president

Albert Einstein was a theoretical physicist whose name is renouned for his genius. Not many know, the German Born Einstein was offered the role of Israel’s presidency in 1952. He declined.

2. Heroin was given to children

In the early 1900s, Heroin was used as a medicine to treat bronchitis, tuberculosis and other cough-inducing illnesses.

3. Dentures were made from dead soldier’s teeth

Yes, you read that right. Apparently in the 19th century, dentures were made from teeth that were pulled from the teeth of dead soldiers. We have fortunately made leaping strides in the field of dentistry.

4. Pharaohs used slaves to keep flies away

Ancient Egypt is known for its rich culture, but its pharaohs led extravagant lives. Allegedly, they had servants smeared in honey in order to keep flies away from themselves.

5. Romans used urine as mouthwash

Yet again, modern day dentistry needs to be thanked. Ancients Romans used urine as mouthwash and they believed it worked.

6. Napoleon Bonaparte was attacked by rabbits

Napoleon was once attacked by rabbits, after embarking on a rabbit hunt with Chief of Staff Alexandre Berthier.

Allegedly, Berthier collected a colony of rabbits and when Napoleon started to prowl, accompanied by beaters and gun-bearers, the rabbits were released from their cages.

Instead of running away, the rabbits charged Napolean and his men and swarmed the emperor’s legs and started climbing up his jacket. Napoleon tried shooing them with his riding crop, as his men grabbed sticks and tried chasing them, but to no avail. Napoleon eventually got the rabbits off him and was forced to flee.

Do you know of any other strange historical facts? Email us: newsun@caxton.co.za