SMOKELESS GUNPOWDER. 63 



light structure, from one of which rises a tall chimney, instrumental in 

 raising steam to drive a 10-horse-power sawing-machine, which rapidly 

 creates the " wood-powder " to be turned into use for the gun by the 

 following process: 



The grains, being collected in a mass, are subjected to a treatment 

 of chemical washing, whereby calcareous and various other impurities 

 are separated, leaving hardly any thing behind save pure woody 

 matter, cellulose or lignine. The next operation has for its end the 

 conversion of these cellulose grains into a sort of incipient xyloidine, 

 or gxin-cotton material, by digestion with a mixture of sulphuric and 

 nitric acids. Practically it is found that absolutely perfected xyloidine 

 (of which ordinary gun-cotton is the purest type) not only decomposes 

 spontaneously by time, the chief products of combustion being gum 

 and oxalic acid, but it is, moreover, liable to combustion of a sort that 

 may be practically called spontaneous, so slight and so uncontrollable 

 are the causes sufficing to bring it about. Cellulose or woody matter, 

 otherwise termed lignine, partially converted to xyloidine is, the in- 

 ventor affirms, subject to neither of those contingencies. Our readers 

 will understand that, inasmuch as the wood used as a constituent of 

 the Schultze gunpowder is not charred, its original hydrogen is left, 

 and by-and-by, at the time of firing, will be necessarily utilized 

 toward the gaseous propulsive resultant. Next, washed with carbon- 

 ate-of-soda solution and dried, an important circumstance is now recog- 

 nizable. 



The grains, brought to the condition just described, are stored away 

 in bulk, not necessarily to be endowed with final explosive energy 

 until the time of package, transport, and consignment. Only one treat- 

 ment has to be carried out, and it is very simple. The ligneous grains 

 have to be charged with a certain definite percentage of some nitrate, 

 which is done by steeping them in the nitrate solution and drying. 

 Ordinarily a solution of nitrate of potash (common saltpetre) is em- 

 ployed ; but, in elaborating certain varieties of white powder, nitrate 

 of baryta is preferred. 



Having traced the new powder to its final stage, we may contem- 

 plate it under the light of two distinct scrutinies theoretical and prac- 

 tical. Review of the chemical agencies involved, or that may be 

 evolved, suggests the reaction, especially under prolonged moisture, of 

 the sulphur and nitre of ordinary powder, whereby sulphide of potas- 

 sium should result. Practice is confirmatory : under the condition in- 

 dicated sulphide of potassium, more or less, does result, and propor- 

 tionate to the extent of decomposition is the powder deteriorated. In- 

 asmuch as the Schultze gunpowder is wholly devoid of sulphur, so is 

 the particular decomposition adverted to impossible ; and theory, at 

 least, fails to suggest any other decomposition as probable or even pos- 

 sible. 



All the buildings requisite for manufacturing this explosive are cheap 



