The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1855-11-01
Percussion or Illuminating Powder

If the word "diabolical" can be proper
ly applied to any substance that chemic-
al artiice has produced, it certainly be-
longs to this, which, from the terrific
power and force of its explosion, de-
serves that title. The extraordinary power
of Illuminating mercury, or, as It'll COM
monty termed, percussion powder, pro-
hibits its use as projectile, because we
have not made any cannon capable of
withstanding its force, in any quantity at
once. Sufficient to project ball or a
bomb-shell, would completely shatter a
cannon on the instant of explosion. 1t is
strange mixture that produces fulminat.
ing powder, such combination as none
but a true chemist would think of max
ing. Fulninate is prepared with nitric
acid, Chat is, spirits of wine,) and mer-
curry. These substances are the repre-
sentatives of the atmospheric, the botan.
ic and mineral portions of the world; and
althoug they are here united, they have
little affinity to each other, and are wait.
ing to fly asunder at the slightest call
The fall of a feather upon pure fulminat-
ing powder will cause it to explode. We
would describe the method of its manu-.
facturc did we not fear to do SO, lest
some of our ingenious readers should at.
tempt to produce it. None but persons
of the greatest experience should ever
touch it. Not long ago the principal op.
orator of Apothecaries' Hall, a man ex-
tremely cautious, and of profound exper-
ience, was shivered to pieces while drying
an ounce oft.
As a means of igniting gunpowder
it has proved in warfare of great service
as it adds to the force of the powder
Eight and half parts of powder fired
with percussion caps, are quite equal in
force to ten parts of gunpowder, fired in
the old way by means of the "gun and
flint" One ounce of illuminate is more
than enough for charging thousand caps
In charging the caps, the illuminate is
mixed with quarter of its weight of wa.
ter and half its weight of gunpowder; the
whole is then ground together with a
wooden muller upon marble slab. Per-
cusssion powder, like gunpowder, owes
its tepriic force to the concentration into
solid form of the elements of air in the
immediate juxtaposition of combustible
materials, which when fired, assume in
simultaneously the air, shape and bulk
which is, by the heat developed at the
instant of explosion, fearfully increased
in size. All substances that contain {
great deal of oxygen will explode more
or less when in contact with com bustibles;
although not included in the category Of
warlike stores. Thus, at Gateshead, du.
ring the late fire there, dreadful explo.
sions took place, although no gunpowde1
was present. Some of the warehouse.
contained vast quantities of nitrate of So
da, substance of similar composition tt
nitrate ofpotasb (saltpetre.) The napths
and the sulpher being mixed with this
formed a compound precisely similar to
although not indentical with gunpowder
Chemists are however, acquainted will
many substances far more explosive thar
illuminate, such as chloride of nitrogen, q
pound of which would annihilate the
strongest fort in the world. By the time
the chemist have taught us to control this
frightful power, let us hope that the peace
of nations will have rendered it useless
Scientific American.
"My wife is very attentive to the pigs,
said gentleman the other day, in the
presence of several ladies.
"That accounts for her attachment tc