The Empire County argus., 1855-08-11

PERCUSSION OR ILLUMINATING POWDER. If the
word diabolical can be properly applied to any
substance that chemical artifce has produced it
certainly belongs to this, which, from the terrific
power and force of its explosion, truly deserves
that title The extraordinary power of fumnat-
ing mercury, Or, it is commonly termed, percus-
sion powder prohibits its as a projectile, be-
cause we have not yet made any cannon capable Of
withstandng its force. if fred in any quantity at
once. Sufficient to project ball or Il bombshell
would completely shatter cannon on the instant
OF explosion 1t is strange mixture that produces
Illuminating powder-such a combination as none
but a true chemist would think of making Full
inmate is prepared with nitric acid, Extracted
from satpetre) alcohol (that is, spirits of wine)
and mercury These substances are the represent.
atives Of the atmospheric the botanic, and mineral
portions of the world; and although they are here
united they have but little affinity to each other.
and are only waiting to fly asunder at the slightest
call The fall of a feather upon pure Illuminating
powder will sometimes cause it to explode We
would describe the method of its manufacture, did
we not fear to do so lest some of our ingenious
readers should attempt to produce it, None but
persons OF the greatest experience should ever
touch it. Not long ago the principal operative at
Apothecaries Hall, a man extremely cautious and
OF profound experience, was shivered to pieces
while drying an ounce OF it,
AS means of ignitng gunpowder it has proved
IN warfare OF great service it adds to the force
of the powder. Eight and half parts of powder
fired with percussion caps equal in force to ten
parts of gunpowder fred in the old way by means
Of the pan and flint. One ounce of illuminate is
more than enough for charging a thousand caps
In charging the caps, the illuminate is mixed with
quarter of its weight of water and half its
weight OF gunpowder; the whole is then ground
together with wooden muller upon marble slab
Percussion powder, like gunpowder owes its terrific
force to the concentration into solid form of the
elements of air in the immediate juxtaposion Of
combustble materials, which, when fired. assume
inStantaneously the air shape, and bulk which is
by the heat developed at ths instant of explosion.
fearfully increased in size. All substances that
contain great deal of oxygen will explode more
or less when in contact with cOmbustbes although
not included in the category of warlke stores"
thus at Gateshead. during the late fire there
dreadful explosions took place, although no gun
powder was present. Some Of the warehouses CON
tained vast quantities of nitrate of soda, a sub
stance of similar composition to nitrate of potash
(saltpetre). Thus naptha and the sulphur being
mixed with this, formed compound precisely sim
liar to, although not identical with gunpowder
Chemists are. however. acquainted with many sub
stances far more explosive than illuminate, such as
chloride of nitrogen, pound of which would ami.
hilate the strongest fort in the world By the time
the chemists have taught to control this fright.
full power, let hope the peace of nations will
have rendered it useess.--N Y. Spirit of the Times