Ballistics

History fascinates me. So do guns and other firearms. So imagine my delight when the History Channel aired something about the development of firearms throughout the last century. I had some time to kill in between surgical cases, so I sat through a brief segment while hanging around the surgical lounge.

During the program, as they discussed the progression of the musket, I got to wondering what went through the mind of the first guy that ever got shot by a gun. Here he is, wandering around the woods when he comes across this guy holding a stick. Before he can react, there's a loud noise as the end of the stick expels a cloud of smoke and immediately feels a terrible pain in his stomach (or wherever the bullet strikes). That had to be a very confusing and frightening moment.

I couldn't think of a comparable event in modern times which could replicate the confusion and terror of facing something new like a gun for the first time. Perhaps a similar situation would be if I happened to run into a guy in a dark alley. He puts on these strange metallic earmuffs and the next thing I know, both my arms just spontaneously fall of my body.

"Oh snap! What the hell?"

Before I can figure anything out, my wallet's gone and I'm just left standing there, looking at my arms wriggling around on the ground.