Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1884-04-08
GUN-COTTON.
The POper Of the Terrible and Dan9evOsH
EpDIOafDo.

The POtVer Of the Terrible and Dan90Oao
ErpLosive.
[Dr. Doremus in the New York SUM-
In response to Supt. Walling's cliH.
cism, allow nae to state few facts con-
corning explosives, which I shall be
happy to demonstrate to him, if he will
honor me with his presence, at the Cel-
lege Of the City Of New York, or %
Bellevue Medical College. II gunpow-
der is placed in basket made Of coiled
platinum wire, and is then inserted in .
glass jar arranged SO that it can be e1.
hausted Of air by an air-pump, on apply
ing a current Of electricity to the coil,
so as to render the wire red hot, the
gunpowder will neither explode nor burn
with flash. 1t will apparently boil,
with purple light, and will require
from five to twenty seconds for its com.
plete combustion, depending on the
quantity of powder and the amount d
air removed.
All know that gunpowder has Its own
supply Of oxygen it does not require
any from the air; for we shut out the ain
when we load apistol, a rifle or a cannon.
The nitrate of potash furnishes the o1y-
/, gen for the carbon and sulphur Of the
powder. The cause of the tardy COM
bustion Of the gunpowder in the ex-
hausted receiver ia the diminished
pressure.
But wrap the powder in paper, and We
have the firecracker; inclose the powder
! in an iron sphere, and We have the
bopb-shell. As the powder burns I'M
der increased pressure produced by its
own gases, it explodes with Increased
force. An ounce or even pound Of
powder, when burnt in the open air,
produces no explosive sound--merely Q
puff.
The Eliminates Of silver or mercury
which are used in percussion caps will
also burn slowly when placed in the
platinum coil referred to and heated red
hot after the air has been exhausted
from the glass jar. Yet in the open air,
when fred, they will explode with .
sharp sound.
If o lock of gun-cotton (of the most
explosive knd). say.a foot in length, be
suspended in glass jar with said plat
inumcoil, and, after removing thep pressure
OF the air by pump, if the coil is made
red hot by an electric current, the gun
cotton will not explode, nor will flame
or spark of fire be seen the gun-cotton
will gradually disappear.
Even under the pressure Of the air,
or, in other words, in the open air,
small quantities Of gun-cotton of the
most explosive variety when lighted do
not explode they merely burn with .
bright fash of light When We prepare
gun.cotton before class in chemistry
We frequently place q lock Of it on q
students hand and fire it to show how
quickly it burns for he scarcely feels
it. This is one Of the trivial tests OF ita
good quality. Another is to place the
gun-cotton OH gunpowder, then apply Q
light. II it fails to ignite the powder il
is the explosive variety; if it sets fire To
the powder it is inferior in character.
Photographers gun-cotton, which is sol.
uble in alcohol and ether, and is used
for making cOllodion, will burn slower.
II placed on gunpowder it will ignite it
Inclose the explosive variety Of gun
cotton IN stout receptacle. Now FIRE
it, and it will exhibit three times thu
force Of gunpowder.
II Superintendent Walling will fill 1
teaspoon with nitro glycerine and apply
to it lighted match, he will find tina
the nitro-glycerine will quietly and
slowly burn, with green-coloped fame
because it is only subjected to the press
ure Of the air. But if he places thil
amount Of niho-glycerine in CLOSED
vessel and fires 1t, I would advise him u
remain at respectful distance from ii
have placed fluid ounce Of nitro
glycerine in metal cup, connected will
one pole OF q galvanic battery, and, OF
applying the opposite pole Of the bat
terry to said liquid. I have shown befor,
medical class that the nitrC-giycerln.
burns tardily and without noise. Will
said battery I had previously fused anc
vOlatiized platinum, iridium and othe
refractory metals to demonstrate the in
tsnsity Of the heat Yet, If singh
drop Of nitro-glycerine is placed on q
smooth surface andstruok sudden blow
the explosion is stunning to the ear. The
same law applies TO giant powder, dyna.
mite, rend rock and other terrific ex
plosives. They must have pressure Il
exhibit their power. They burn qui
city and slowly without II.