There's a catalog of Hokie merchandise we get a few times a year, I think from the bookstore that has pieces that can be used to decorate gardens, as door stops, and as desk items. But they're about $100+ depending on size and engraving.
Saltpeter is the common name used for several different chemical compounds, specifically for potassium nitrate and sodium nitrate. Potassium nitrate is commonly used in gunpowder, and sodium nitrate is found in fertilizers and explosives.
This process is called osmosis. If high enough salt concentrations force the osmosis, it can dehydrate cells and cause them to die. (This is also why salt can be used to preserve meat) Much evidence has been found that throughout history, salt was actively used in order to prevent infections of wounds.