The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1866-05-10
Nltro-Glycerine.

The recent fatal accidents that have oc-
| CURED in Aspinwall, San Francisco, and
CoIfnx, Cal, arising from the use or pres
encc OF nitro-glvcerine, have recalled tho
accident at the Wyoming Hotel. in New
York, last year. which was due to the same
cause. and have awakened great interest
! as to the nature and qualities of this pow
erful and destructive agent.
Nitro-glycerine is the result ofa mixtur"
| in varying proportions, of nitrous acid and
glycerine, and sometimes, sulphuric acid.
The second of these ingredients, which
! plays the least important part in the COM
pound. is the sweet principle of oils, the
| base of the compounds found in animal
fats and in some vegetable substances. It
is colorless, transparent, inodorous syrup,
with the specific gravity Of LIS. It is in-
flammable, and mixes freely with water,
which it absorbs from the air.. While not
Of a greasy nature, it long continues moist.
and serves excellently for such purpose
rs this. .a
Nitrous acid is composed of one atom Of
nitrogen and four of oxygen, and is, like
all the compounds of nitrogen and oxy-
gen. TetiliThtDie 1DE us eHeTgsLAG IiitIhS-
ter. The force of eunpowder is due to the
presence of nitre, which forms 75 per cent.
of its composition. y mixture of nitro
and charcoal alone possesses great explo-
sive power. Vegetable substances, such
as Ignite paper, starch. or cotton. have.
long ago been treated with concentrated
nitric acid. and the result has been the
production of compounds of a peculiar
character, susceptible Of the development
of violent action.
1t is stated that the use Of glycerine rs
base for employing these qualities of nj
trous arif practically originated with Mr..
Alfred Nobel, Swedish Engineer, by
whom it has been patented, although chem
lists have known. ever since the discovery
of glvcerine, that it could be used in COM
bination with nitrous or nitric acid for
mining or similar purposes. One formula
| for the preparation is:
sec HIS O6. (NOH X 5 Aq.
Another. into whose composition sui
phuric acid enters, is:
CO H6 (NoN goo.
These mixtures are from tep to hnn-
and are liable to explode from various
causes, one of which is, that, when sui
phurie acid IS an ingredient, or when, that
| being absent, the mixture is placed in tin
cases, by the decomposition OF " hose inner
| Innings sulphurious products are dfsen-
| gagged. the addition 70 the mass Of a few
| drops of any essential oil. such as snrpen-
tine, win cause a terrible explosion. Rnt
| the great cause of explosion. and the ona
| which presents an almost insurersble OBJ
stacle to the use of this article. is The facs
that giycerine absorbs water in large qnan-
| titles. When not in air tight eases. il takes
| this water from tho air. Tho nxygon.
which forms half Of the water. nnfses
with the nitrous acid. and ,se roste's IS she
formation OF IL fulminstin9> powder. pos
sessing great torce---a1l compounds OF nf-
trogen and oxygen passessiRls taat anafi!y,
and which slight shock il sGHfesens 10
explode. Thus, in the rase That Occurred
al Glatz. in Prussia. II miner anCaerienk 10
chop open a flask containing fsoren esy'es~
rine. 1t is probable. Also, that the .xfiao-
the blast. ... ..a. .sa..
In a moist climate, therSllTe. whore tho
air contains large qaaatisSss at waller. the
risk from abe pTesenee o. n'tro-glycerins
is very great and. i'm whatever climate il
may be, the longer il - Kept amused IN
greater becomes he iassssr. ss ii ahstrhs
more and more water. The circumstances
attending the explosian nf iAfs substance
at Aspinwasl and san Francisco cannoi.
| OF course. he closely asHsgiainet,: but there
| is no loubt bus ihat she accident was in
each ease eanssSa t.y same Sil l,at cnnrnsssioa
received by ths falnina!s. -
T4ereslGs. i,nmsSnais measures should
/ DO taken % preyenfths ennssyatnce Of nj
| trc-g-,yeerine where there is the slightest
| passlhility 81 as explosion enannssTing
/, life. and ass. &. proven. Ills ssarSss" in tho
| vicinity Of an Inhabited place, anlii chem
| lists haye devised sssme ssaeihn1 ofrscsst-
| ing tise fanl-er,pas condition which il as
/ sn mes sAartiy ai!Sr ma nusactare. Unless
il 5 kcrs y.sSssesiy Air-siss ~-si.a--;.-a Rs
Yssssaaa.