Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1855-12-22
Percussion or Illuminating Powder.

IF the word "diabocap can be properly ap
piled to any substance that chemical artifc,
has produced, it certainly belongs to this, which
from the terrific power and force of its ex
plosion, deserves that title. The extraordinary
power of Illuminating mercury, or, as it is com
monty termed, percussion powder, prohibits its
use as proecte, because we have not made
any cannon capable of withstandng its force
in any quantity at once Sufficient to project
a ball or bomb-shel, would completely shatter
cannon on the instant of explosion 1t is a
strange mixture that produces Illuminating pow
| der, such a combination as none but true
chemist would think of making. illuminate
is prepared with nitric acid, (that is, spirits of
wine and mercury. These substances are
the representatives of the atmospheric, the
botanic, and mineral portions of the world ;
and although they are here united, they have
little affinity to each other, and are waiting to
fly asunder at the slightest call The fall of
a feather upon pure Eliminating powder will
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 operator of Apothe-
profound experience, was shivered to pieces
while drying an ounce of it.
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 gun
powder, fired iu the old way by meaus 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 water
and half its weight of gunpowder the whole
is then ground together with wooden mailer
upon marble slab. Percussion powder, like
gunpowder, owes its terrific force to the con-
centration into a solid form of the elements of
air i'll the immediate juxtaposition of combus-
tible materials, which, when fred assume in
simultaneously the air, shape and bulk, which
is, by the heat developed at the instant of ex-
plosion, fearfully increased in size All SUBJ
stances that contain a great deal of oxygen
will explode more or less when in contact with
combustibles although not included in the
category of warlike stores. Thus, at Gates
head, during the late fire there, dreadful ex-
plosons took place, although no gunpowder
was present. Some of the warehouses con-
tanned vast quantities of nitrate of soda, sub
stance of similar composition to nitrate of
potash (saltpetre). The naptha and the sui
phur being mixed with this, formed COM
pound precisely similar to- although not iden-
tical with, gunpowder. Chemists are, how
ever, acquainted with many substances far
more explosive than illuminate, such as chloride
of nitrogen, pound of which would annihi-
late the strongest fortress in the world BY
the time the chemists have taught US to con-
troll this frightful power, let us hope that the
peace of nations will have rendered it useless
Scientific american.