The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1858-03-04
Nature aud Effect ofthe Projeetiels.

The Courier de PARIS gives us some inter
esting facts as to the effects the fragments OF
the shells had upon the persons of the wound
ed. DIR. o 'RoRKE, a highly scientific medical
man in Paris, says 1.-The wounds received by
the different individuals in the attempt of the
l4th, present an appearance entirely singu-
lar; they are, in general, very numerous on
each wounded person, and happily the frag-
ments of the projecties rarely present
considerable diameter. In spite, however,
of their small size, these fragments have
caused wounds penetrating deep, and the
force OF impulse compared with their volume
is truly extraordinary ,incomprehensble even.
if the curious effects of these explosive and de-
structive powders had not been long known.
The shells were evidently charged with full
minating powder, and the examination of
the fragments that possess, consisting of
particles Withdrawn from wounds Of the
neck and face are imperceptible crystals of
crystalized cast metal one piece somewhat
larger, about the size of No. shot, has
penetrated through the thick leather Of a
rustic shoe, broken the bone of the last to-
but one, traverscd the flesh Of the anterior
part Of the foot and the thick skin of the
sole of the foot and has finally remained
imbedded in the thick seams Of the shoe.
In the two persons wounded in the pas
sage of the Panoramas, gentleman and
lady, besides two fragments lost in the cali
Of the leg, numerous wounds Of the face and
of the neck contained microscopic fragments
Of iron in crystalized state. This is my
explanation Of the fact under the influence
Of the rapid explosion OF the illuminate, the
resisting substance that contains il under.
goes, throughout all It's molecules dissolu-
ton as disseminated as il is instantaneous
each molecule yibrates with a commotion
that is exercised on each Of lis surfaces
there il a general cleavage Of the crystalline
surfaces, and all the crystals which con>ti-
tute the solid body, launched with an i'm
pulsive force in a straight line, triumph over
the force OF cohesion that retains TO project
them with some notifications, in the drec-
ton which is given TO them. This is the
account Of what takes place in hollow
mould submitted to an enormous centrifugal
force each segregated particle becomes a
proiecti,e. In word, there are no frac-
lures OF any extent, no fragments as in the
cas- Of an ordinary shell, or prolonged fs-
sure in one direction or another. II is dust,
isolated crystals with their natural cleayagcs
that are projected.
/, must be borne in mind that this is bat
one Of the singularities Of the general facts
Of the explosion. and that the large and
deadly fragments have unfortunately caused
dreadful wounds, but this one tact explains
the circumstance Of the numerous small les-
isons that have been produced. This Is the
rational and scientific explanation Of thu
et5ec, produced by the explosion Of falminst-
ing powders when ipclosei in hollow sub
stances
In short, the two wounded persons whom
I am attending, Ike Others, in addition to
serious injuries, are literally riddled with
small projec,iles Of hardly Of the size Of
quarter Of snips shot, and these present
under the magnifyinr glass the appearance
Of isolated crystals of coarse casting
The clothes Il the lady contain more than
hundred holes produced by similar fras-
ments.