Bobby Que,
I believe Salt Peter is potassium nitrate, and it was used to cure meat just as sodium nitrate is used today. Perhaps Sodium Nitrate is safer and easier to use, hence the switch from Potassium Nitrate. I don�t know, just guessing.
As for Salt Peter�s affect on the human sex drive, I really can�t comment. I have never researched it to determine if it is fact or fiction. However, the article states that Nitric Oxide is the Viagra counterpart, not Nitrates. In large enough quantities, Nitrates and Nitrites are toxic to the human body. For that matter, so is Nitric Oxide.
My uncle was right when he said, �too much of anything is no good for you.�