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...that Aristotle believed that a vital heat was produced in the heart, causing blood to boil and expand outward into the arteries with each pulsation?
...that the Capitoline Games of Ancient Rome became so popular that the Romans counted periods of time by them, rather than their previous unit of lustrum?
...that camelot is a woven fabric that might have originally incorporated camel or goat hair?
...that the highest distinction among the Caloyers, a Greekmonastic order, involves spending one's entire life alone, confined in a cave on top of a mountain?
...that a catoptric theatre(pictured) was an ancient optical illusion in which a single elaborate scene appeared to be larger than the box that contained it?
...that Epiphanius's most important work, the Panarion, is ironically the only surviving source of information on several early Christiansects that he sought to eliminate with his writing?
...that the French West India Company was so successful at recovering commerce from the Dutch in the West Indies, that the company became obsolete after only 9 years in operation?
...that Roman EmperorTrajan was heavily criticized for giving extravagant donations, called congiaria, to every citizen?
...that a Roman man once received the surname of "Tricongius" for his ability to drink three congii of wine (9.8 litres; 2.6 gallons) in one sitting in a feat that he once performed before Emperor Tiberius?
...that the Roman festival of hilaria, which allowed anyone to masquerade as any rank, was used in a plot to assassinate EmperorCommodus, by conspirators planning to disguise themselves as members of the Praetorian Guard?
...that at the Roman festival of Quinquatria in 59, Emperor Nero invited his mother Agrippina to his villa, as part of his plan to assassinate her?
...that the invention of the tone variator(pictured) in 1897 marked the advance beyond classical psychophysics, as it allowed the study of the perception of continuous changes in stimuli?
...that the 1672 treatise Loimologia is a rare first-hand account of the Great Plague of London, written by one of the few physicians to remain in the city during the plague?
...that St. Nilus reportedly foretold to princess Aloara of Capua, for her part in the murder of her husband's nephew, that none of her offspring should reign in Capua—a prophecy that came true in 999?
Here are some odd, humorous, or obsolete entries I've found while reading through the 1728 Cyclopaedia:
Algarot: ... This is also called Emetic Pouder—It purges violently both upwards and downwards.
Burning: in our antient Customs, was an infectious Disease, got in the Stews, by conversing with leud Women.
Camus: a Person with a low, flat Nose, hollow'd or sunk in the Middle ... The wife of the great Cinghis Kam (Genghis Khan), a celebrated Beauty, had only two Holes for a Nose.
Cells: in Anatomy, are little Bags, or Bladders, where Fluids or other Matters are lodg'd. [yes, that's it]
Clitoris: ... In many respects it represents the Penis of a Man; whence some call it the Woman's Yard.
The manner wherein Vapours are rais'd into Clouds may be conceiv'd thus:
Fire, being of a light, agil Nature, easily breaks loose from Bodies wherein 'tis detain'd.
Now, by reason of the exceeding smallness of the Particles of Fire, their attractive Force must be exceeding great: hence, in their Ascent thro' fluid Bodies, part of the Fluid will cling around them, and mount up together with them, in form of Vesicles of Water replete with Particles of Fire; which Vesicles are what we call Vapour... etc.
The Signpost did a story (02/2005) on my work bringing an article from nothing to featured status in 2 weeks.
Impostors so far: Brian09I8, BrianO918, Brain8190, Brain1890, Brain1980, Brain1809, Brian0918 on wheels!, Brian 0918, Brian0918 AKA Redwolf24 AKA Mickey, Brian0918 in a bikini
For your constant and tireless work, always high-quality, I award you this silly animated GIF. I mean, this beautiful barnstar! Ashibakatalk 21:33, 26 Feb 2005 (UTC)
For all the wonderful images you've bnrought to featured status, I hereby award you The Photographer's Barnstar – ClockworkSoul 03:16, 23 Mar 2005 (UTC) (KC)
For the huge improvements you made to Norman Borlaug where the AID failed, and your countless other great contributions, I award you this barnstar. -- the wub(talk) 09:16, 17 Jun 2005 (UTC)
For having the most welcome welcome message a newcomer could wish to receive, I hereby award you this WikiCookie. Don't lose the great sense of humor! Sango123 23:16, August 19, 2005 (UTC)
I, Thelb4, award you this Barnstar for welcoming me and other people very kindly – Random Acts of Kindness Barnstar
I've been seeing your work around here, so I decided to give you a barnstar. Take care, Image:Smilie.gifMolotov(talk) 23:42, 16 October 2005 (UTC)
An Award
I award this award to Brian0918 for very fast and efficient counter-vandalism Sceptre 23:04, 28 October 2005 (UTC)
I, Hall Monitor, award you this Barnstar of Reversion for your tireless contributions to Wikipedia. 19:03, 31 October 2005 (UTC)
I, Reflex Reaction award this barnstar to Brian0918 for his excellent work at WP:MEA developing new lists and pruning those list
For tirelessly defending the template {{maintained}}, which was the first good idea I've seen come down the Wikipedia pipe in a while that didn't get shot down. I'mNo Parking and I approved this message 05:40, 23 December 2005 (UTC)
The Random Acts of Kindness Barnstar
For your help with the fair use rational and other stuff Tawker 08:16, 25 March 2006 (UTC)
I award this Award to Brian0918 for their great efforts one the awards pages that promotes good cheer for alll wikipedians. --evrik 17:24, 31 March 2006 (UTC)
Indigenous American Barnstar awarded for American Indian photographic contributions. --Aaron Walden 08:44, 7 May 2006 (UTC)
In recognition of your meritorious service to DYK, both as a prolific article contributor and keeping it running. -- Blnguyen 06:01, 19 June 2006 (UTC)
The Working Man's Barnstar
For your continuing supervision of the DYKs, I, Piotrus, hearby award you with The Working Man's Barnstar.
Wear it proudly and keep up the good job! Piotr Konieczny aka Prokonsul PiotrusTalk 17:11, 15 June 2006 (UTC)
The Resilient Barnstar
I, Pecher, hereby award you this Resilient Barnstar for staunchly holding out against emotional attacks on Talk:Banu Nadir. 19:30, 16 June 2006 (UTC)
The Tireless Contributor Barnstar
Brian, I see you everywhere on Wikipedia, and you deserve this: The Tireless Contributor Barnstar! Viva LaVieBoheme 23:15, 21 July 2006 (UTC)