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XLI. On the Firing of Gujipotxider by Fulminating Mercury. 

 By Mr. E. G. Wright. 



To the Editors of the Philosophical Magazine and Journal. 



TT has been a just subject of complaint with sportsmen who 

 -■■ use the percussion lock to their guns, that the powder 

 made with the chlorine of potass has a tendency to promote 

 rapid oxidation in the barrel and lock ; besides generating dirt 

 from the charcoal, after liring. I have found this incon- 

 venience myself, and was induced to seek a remedy by adopt- 

 ing a different substance, in which I succeeded to my satisfac- 

 tion ; and I shall feel obliged if you will allow me, through 

 your means, to make known the discovery, which may not 

 only prove interesting to sportsmen, but to many of your sci- 

 entific readers also. In November last Mr. Murray delivered 

 his scientific and instructive lectures on chemistry in this city; 

 and in consequence of his observations on fulminating mer- 

 cury, some experiments I had made with that substance several 

 years ago in firing gunpowder, were recalled to my recol- 

 lection ; and soon after he left us I was induced to make the 

 powder, and try it with the copper caps, when I found it in 

 every respect superior to the chlorine of potass preparation, 

 and shot with it the remainder of the winter. Its advantages 

 are : — It does not create rust so rapidly as die powder now used; 

 it is not affected by damp or moisture ; and from every severe 

 test I have given it, I do not believe it so liable to explode, — 

 and in case of such accident, as its force does not extend so 

 far, its effects would not be so destructive. I am aware it is 

 asserted that fulminating mercury will not fire gunpowder ; but 

 if any one has a doubt on this point, by procuring a per- 

 cussion gun he may try the experiment and b& fully satisfied, 

 taking care, in loading, that the gunpowder is forced by the 

 wadding to the point of contact with the fulminating com- 

 pound. 



My method of preparing the fulminating mercury is as fol- 

 lows : — I place two drachms of quicksilver in a Florence flask, 

 and pour six drachms (measure) of pure nitric acid on the 

 mercury : this I place in a stand over a spirit-lamp, and make 

 it boil, till the (|uicksilver is taken up by the acid;— when nearly 

 cool, I pour it on an ounce (measure) of alcohol m another 

 flask : sometimes immediate effervescence ensues, with the ex- 

 trication of nitrous ether ; and often I have been obliged to 

 l)lace the mixture over tlie lamp, till a white fume begins to 

 rise, when the effervescence follows. I suffer the process to 

 continue (removing the lamp) till the fumes assume a reddish 

 hue: when I pour water into the flask, and the powder is found 

 C c 2 precipitated 



