1856.] Mr, Abel on Chemistry fiyr Military Purposes. 283 



WEEKLY EVENING MEETING, 

 Friday, May 23. 



Sir Benjamin Collins Brodie, Bart. D.C.L. F.ll.S. 



Vice-President, in the Chair. 



F. A. Abel, Esq. 



DIBECTOR OF THE CHEMICAL ESTABLISHMENT OF THE WAR DEPARTMENT, 



On some of the Apjdications of Chemistry to Military Purposes, 



The numerous and important improvements effected in the general 

 nature, as well as in the methods of manufacture, of the various 

 implements and materials of warfare, since the energies of military 

 men have been recalled into active operation, have arisen in great 

 measure out of the rapid progress made of late years in the applica- 

 tion of physical and mechanical sciences to practical purposes. The 

 liberal application of the great facilities now existing for the manu- 

 facture of almost every implement of warfare, by ingenious machi- 

 nery, with great rapidity, and of such perfect uniformity as could 

 not before be attained by the time-consuming efforts of skilled 

 artizans, has been productive of many highly important improve- 

 ments in military science, of which some opinion may be formed by 

 a very cursory inspection of the military manufactories which have 

 but recently either started into existence, or expanded from com- 

 paratively insignificant to most extensive establishments. 



The valuable assistance which chemical science has afforded in 

 the perfection of the implements and materials of warfare, is neces- 

 sarily less apparent at first sight. It was the object of Mr. Abel 

 to exhibit the intimate connection of chemical science with every 

 branch of military manufacture, by examining briefly, from a 

 chemical point of view, the most important materials and products 

 of the Government establishments for the preparation of war- 

 material. 



In a sketch of the applications of the principal metals, allusion 

 was first made to the great attention bestowed by practical men to 

 the question of the manufacture of heavy iron ordnance, from the 

 commencement of the late war, but more particularly since the 

 experience recently gained by the use of iron guns, from various 

 sources of manufacture, had demonstrated the impossibility of 

 placing confidence in guns cast of the description of iron, or by the 

 method, employed of late years by the founders of iron ordnance. 



