1874.1 British Artillery Matériel. 45 
powder, as it may prove a valuable explosive for shells and 
the Harvey and outrigger torpedoes, where the amount of 
charge is limited. 
VI. The following experiments have been made by the 
Special Committee on Explosives upon an explosive sub- 
stance termed “‘ Pyrolithe,” which is being manufactured in 
the town of Middlesborough, to determine whether it is of 
such a character as to bring it within the meaning of section 
Got Act 23 and 24 Vict., c. 139 :— 
I. 1 lb. tin gunpowder canister (obtained from Messrs. 
Curtis and Harvey) filled with pyrolithe taken from 
No. I cask. 
The canister was laid upon the ground, and the material 
ignited by means of a piece of Bickford fuze placed in 
a hole in the side. 
The contents burnt with considerable violence, but 
without exploding; the solder of the case melted almost 
immediately, and the pyrolithe burnt fiercely from the 
apertures thus caused until consumed. 
2. I lb. tin gunpowder canister filled with pyrolithe taken 
from No. 2 cask. 
The nose of the canister was placed on the ground to 
prevent it from being immediately blown off, and a small 
piece of iron was placed on the canister to weight it, and to 
represent the condition of one package in a box, or under 
others. 
The material was ignited (as in the previous case), and 
exploded with a dull but decided report, and with sufficient 
force to project the canister (which was ripped open) to a 
distance of fourteen yards. 
3. r lb. tin gunpowder canister filled with pyrolithe from 
the cask not marked. 
The results were the same as those obtained in No. 1 ex- 
periment. 
4. I lb. tin gunpowder canister filled with pyrolithe from 
the cask not marked. 
This canister was placed in a fire of wood and coals laid 
in abrazier. In about four minutes the pyrolithe ignited 
and burnt fiercely, but without exploding. The solder of 
canister was melted. 
5. Small wooden keg (with a capacity to contain 5 lbs. of 
gunpowder) filled with pyrolithe from No. 1 cask and 
headed up. 
The keg was ignited by means of a piece of Bickford fuze 
