Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1876-05-15
EXPLOSIVES.


poses, nothing has yet successfully COM
peted with it. Some years since Schon-
bein, of Germany, supposed that gun
cotton, invented by himself in lS43,
would excel gunpowder in all the varied
uses to which it had been applied. But
this proved to be an error During the
past few years further confidence has
been manifested in gun-cotton, because
the charge could be measured to gradua-
ton according to the resistance.
The sudden explosion of gun-cOtton
has hitherto endangered the barrel of the
musket or implement in which it was
used. The shock was sudden and too
great, and, after few explosions in the
chamber, the metal surrounding would
expand and crack. On the other hand,
gunpowder was elongated in its explo-
sion that is, it did not explode all at
once, and hence the force or conclusion
was spread throughout the gun barrel.
1t has been determined that only thirty
two hundredths of the gunpowder ex-
plodes in the gun, and much of that
takes place between the charge chamber
and the muzzle. The remainder is
thrown out, and is either consumed in
the air or falls to the ground.
Nitro-glycerine and other high explo-
sives act precisely as gun-cotton, but
with some of them the suddenness of
their decomposition is greater; and this
result arises principally from the fact
that they lay more compact in a given
cubic space.
In such compounds as gunpowder,
gun-cotton, nitro -glyceune and their like,
their explosive force or power depends
upon the quantity of nitre they contain.
Ordinarily, gunpOwder is composed of
seventy-five parts of saltpetre (nitre)
ten parts sulphur and fifteen parts char
coal. These ingredients are we'll pull
verized, mixed together, pressed and
granulated, and then covered with plum
bago, to prevent absorption of moisture.
Gun-cotton, as invented by Schonbein,
was made in this manner: He took one
part nitric acid of high specific gravity,
and two parts sui phuric acid; these be-
ing mixed, he submerged common cotton
into the acids. After thus placed a short
time the cotton was taken out, and for a
few hours kept in jars, and then washed
in water. The cotton thus treated, when
dried, was highly explosive. The nitre
of the nitric acid united with the cotton
fibre, and the water of the acid united
with the sulphuric acid. The improve
ments since that day, invented by Lenk
of Austria, Shafner of America, and
Abel of England, are mere devices fol-
adjusting the charge to graduated ex-
plosion, and for the better manufacture
of the compound known as nitrated fibre
pulp or gun-cotton.
Nitro-glycerine was discovered by So
brero about l845, and being liquid il
was found to be practically useless. Mil.
itary men of the different governments
of Europe exercised their talents to de.
wise means to use it, but it was reserved
: to Nobel of Sweden, to make the discov.
cry or invention In 1868. He found that
it required concussion, or suddenly ap-
piled force, to explode it, and from this
he proceeded to place the nitro -glycerine
in vessel or bore-hole for blasting, and
explode in or near it large percussion
cap or charge of gunpowder, or othel
, explosive substance. This was the eli
max of the invention.
Nitro-glycerine is made by the same
acid mixture required for making gun
cotton. Suppose you have the acids mix.
ed in glass jar holding gallon. Sur
round it with ice, as is used around q
freezing tub for making ice cream ther
agitate the acids with glass rod unit
they become cold, say So degrees Fab.
then pour some ordinary glycerine, a,
found in the drug stores, gradually int
the acids, the mixture being stirred al
the time. In that quantity of acids yol
may use pound of glycerine. Whel
/ thus mixed, pour the whole into tel
times its quantity of pure water Th
nitro-glycerine will be found at the bot
tom of the vessel of water. The produc
= will be about two pounds. 1t is six
tenths heavier than water. If the nitro
, glycerine is we'll washed, you will hav'
pure article.
Dynamite is compound that ha
come into use within few years. Som
ten years age, in 1866, Col. Shaffne
: discovered that for general purposes o
blasting the nitro glyeerine was too muc
concentrated in the bore-hole Of the rock
and in order to spread il throughout tn
drill-hole lie mixed with 1t fine sand
the finer the sand the greater would b
the absorption. After this, Nobel fOun
that when nitro-glycerine was thus mix
ed it could be safely transported, an
that the finest silicious matter that eoul
!, be found would be the most advantage
Gus. With this view he selected tn
earth known as infusoria, found in larg
quantities in Holland. This infusori