406 Original Articles. [July, 
only direct our attention to the compound with the highest displace- 
ment. From its explosiveness and consequent similarity to gun-powder, 
this has been called gun-cotton. In scientific language, following the 
excellent custom adopted by chemists in the nomenclature of organic 
compounds, a name has been given to it which fully expresses its 
composition: cellulose being the scientific name for cotton, and the 
prefix nitro being added when any of the hydrogen in an organic com- 
pound is replaced by hyponitric acid (by no means an uncommon 
occurrence in organic chemistry), chemists call the product in this 
instance tri-nitro-cellulose, signifying that it is cellulose, in which three 
equivalents of the hydrogen are replaced by nitrous acid. It is also 
sometimes called pyrowilin, under the impression, we suppose, that by 
translating a useful English term into barbarous Greek it becomes 
scientific. This system of pseudo-scientific nomenclature is, unfor- 
tunately, too common. If an expressive, convenient, but empirical name 
be desired, by all means let us have the common English name in 
popular use. If, on the other hand, a scientific term be required, let 
us, in the name of all that is scientific, build up this name according 
to the orthodox rules of science; but we protest against a name like 
pyroxilin, which leads to nothing but the inference that science is not 
indigenous to the soil of England. 
Most European governments have attempted to utilize gun-cotton 
in warfare. Soon after its discovery, Messrs. Hall, the well-known 
gunpowder makers at Faversham, commenced its manufacture upon a 
considerable scale: their factory had, however, not been long in opera- 
tion before a very disastrous explosion occurred, by which a number 
of men lost their lives, and this was ascribed to the spontaneous 
ignition of the gun-cotton : the manufacture was therefore abandoned 
in England. 
As early as the winter of 1846 a French manufactory was estab- 
lished at the Government Powder Works at Bouchet, near Paris, and 
much valuable information was obtained respecting the comparative 
value of gun-cotton and gunpowder; but three disastrous explosions 
occurring within a year (one taking place in a magazine near which 
it was believed that no one had been for several days) put a stop, 
until quite recently, to further experiments. 
In Austria, experiments were likewise instituted, and although 
the committee of the German Confederation pronounced unfavour- 
ably upon it, one of the members, General Lenk, devoted himself 
assiduously to its study, and with such success that the Austrian 
Government were induced to reconsider their adverse determination. 
The manufacture was commenced upon a large scale, and above forty 
batteries of guns were furnished with this agent, and successfully used. 
The complete supersession of gunpowder by gun-cotton was con- 
sidered certain, when an explosion, which took place at the Austrian 
gun-cotton magazines at Limering, again put a stop (to some extent) 
to its use in artillery. Another Austrian committee, however, re- 
ported so favourably on its value, stability, and non-liability to spon- 
taneous explosion, that gun-cotton was again restored to favour. 
The very favourable accounts respecting the value of gun-cotton 
