This first post is a long standing favourite and describes Thomas Carlyle's experience of Edinburgh University Library in 1814.

"A fat Highlander with even less weakness for letters was in command and considered students his natural enemies. In 1814 Tom was a six-footer and a good witness of what used to happen as he stood in the queue at the door, and what he said he saw was as funny as a farce. At the appointed hour the students began battering the door and the Highlander opened it slowly, slowly. He could not use his feet or his fists to show his love for his foes, but he did what he could as they crowded in - he bent his body at the last moment to send sprawling as many of them as possible"

I guess this refers to farting! It's from a biography of Carlyle written in about 1900. Sadly I don't have a proper reference, but it's Page 88 and the Chapter is called "Boy to Man"