1900. 



on Some Modern Explosives. 



333 



The water collected, after the explosion vessel was opened, always 

 smelt — occasionally very strongly — of ammonia, and an appreciable 

 amount was determined in the water. 



Table I. 



In examining the gaseous products of the explosion of various 

 samples of gunpowder, it was noted that as the pressure under which 

 the explosion took place increased the quantity of carbonic anhydride 

 also increased, while that of carbonic oxide decreased. The same 

 peculiarity is exhibited by all the explosives with which I have 

 experimented. I show in Table II. the result of a very complete 

 series of a sample of guncotton fired under varying pressures, and it 

 will be noted that the volumes of carbonic oxide and carbonic an- 

 hydride are, between the highest and lowest pressures, nearly exactly 

 reversed. 



Table II. 



There are slight changes as regards the other products, but they 

 do not compare in importance with that to which I have referred. 



But before drawing your attention to other points of interest, it is 

 desirable to give you an idea of the advances in ballistics which have 

 been made both by improvements in the manufacture of the old 

 powders and by the introduction of the new. 



