284 Mr, F. A. Abel o?i some of the applications [May 23, 



The question as to the material best adapted for heavy guns, or 

 as to tlie best method of preparing or casting the metal, was still 

 undecided. The most interesting and valuable results had, how- 

 ever, already been obtained by Fairbairn, Whitworth, Nasmyth, 

 and other eminent engineers and metallurgists, and by trials already 

 instituted by the Government, with cannon constructed of various 

 descriptions of iron, and on different principles. The serious atten- 

 tion now directed to the subject by scientific men, added to the 

 excellent opportunities that would be afforded by the extensive 

 Government cannon foundries in course of construction, of prac- 

 tically comparing the value of the most important propositions 

 made with reference to the construction of strong and durable 

 ordnance, promised to place England speedily on a footing with 

 those continental states which have for many years devoted especial 

 attention, and with the greatest success, to this important subject. 



In adverting to the extensive application of galvanized iron to 

 the erection of light and durable structures, required at a brief 

 notice, reference was also made by the speaker to some ingenious 

 metallurgic applications of zinc to the production of compound 

 projectiles for rifled cannon. The property possessed by the so- 

 called zinc-white (finely divided oxide of zinc), of retaining its 

 pure white colour on prolonged exposure to atmospheric influence, 

 had led to the almost entire substitution of that colour for white 

 lead, in some important manufacturing departments. The oxy- 

 chloride of lead had also been found to possess advantages over 

 white lead, particularly with respect to its covering properties (or 

 body). Experiments were being made with a view to determine 

 fully its comparative merits.* 



Lead was the metal employed in the purest condition for mili- 

 tary purposes. Ordinary pig-lead was used for the manufacture of 

 shot (alloyed with a small quantity of arsenic) and of musquet- 

 bullets, the latter being produced hy submitting the lead, cast in 

 rods, to successive compressing operations until the form of the 

 bullet was attained. For the manufacture of the rifle-bullets on 

 the Minie system, the lead was required to possess a great degree 

 of softness, so that it might be susceptible of instantaneous expan- 

 sion in the barrel of the rifle, by the force of the exploding powder. 

 Refined lead, as obtained by PattinsorHs recrystallizing process, 

 was the only quality found to possess the requisite softness. This 

 lead was formed into rods of great length, and converted by Mr. 

 Anderson's ingenious compressing machine, into bullets, in one 

 operation, a single die furnishing 13,000 bullets in ten hours. 



* The great liability to adulteration of most descriptions of colours, as also 

 of oils, and a variety of other materials employed in the manufacturing esta- 

 blishments of the War Department, has led to the recent introduction of a rigid 

 system of inspection, to which all articles supplied to these manufactories, 

 which are susceptible of chemical examination, are submitted before they are 

 accepted for use in the service. 



