Gunpowder. 199 



GUNPOWDER. 



THE discovery of gunpowder is generally con- 

 ceded to have been made by a German monk, 

 named Schwartz, about A. D. 1320 ; although the 

 credit of this wonderful discovery has been claimed for 

 others, among them Roger Bacon, born in 12 14, who 

 was the greatest physical philosopher of the Middle 

 Ages, and well versed in such chemical science as 

 then existed. At any rate, this discovery, like that 

 of the art of glass-making and many others equally 

 important, was purely accidental. 



Gunpowder consists usually of about 75 parts of 

 saltpetre or nitre, with 13 of charcoal, and 12 of 

 sulphur. Different nations make a slight difference 

 in the division of these elements. In very warm 

 countries, more sulphur is used, to check the waste 

 occasioned by the humidity of the atmosphere. This 

 combination of ingredients makes the most terrific 

 explosive propellent that is known in the world, as 

 an agent of man. 



Nitro-glycerine is perhaps a more powerful mixture ; 

 but it has not yet been brought under control. 



Nearly every civilized nation manufactures its own 

 gunpowder. In this country we have several large 

 companies engaged in its manufacture, which at best 

 is a very hazardous business. The powder made 



