568 MODERN FARRIER. 



Bursting of Barrels. 



This accident may be occasioned by any of the 

 following causes ; 



1. If in loading, the shot be not rammed home 

 close to the powder, and a space be left between the 

 powder and shot, the gun will probably burst on 

 being discharged. Should the space be very small, 

 and the shot lie so as to leave a little windage, (i, e. 

 admit a small quantity of air to pass) the barrel will 

 most likely remain whole ; but if, instead of shot a 

 bullet be used, which exactly fits the bore, the acci- 

 dent will most indubitably ensue. 



2. This accident may take place from the mouth 

 of the piece being filled with earth or snow, which 

 sometimes happens in leaping a ditch, with the muz- 

 zle of the piece pointed forwards. For the same 

 reason the barrel will burst if fixed when the muzzle 

 is thrust into water, a very little depth only below 

 the surface. 



3. A barrel may burst from a defect in the work; 

 for instance, if tlie barrel have been imperfectly 

 welded, or a deep flaw taken place in any part of it; 

 or, lastly, if for want of care in boring, or filing, it 

 have been left of unequal thickness in the sides. 

 The last defect is common, especially in low-priced 

 barrels. 



Great attention should be paid to the keeping of 

 the barrel perfectly clean. If a barrel be fired only 

 once, it should be well washed with hot water before 

 it be laid by, (unless it be used again in the course 

 of the same day;) for, after firing, the barrel will 

 quickly become moist, and this moisture will speedily 

 communicate a very corrosive rust, occasioned by 

 the evaporation of the saltpetre used in making 

 gunpowder. After the barrel is well washed with 

 tow, or a piece of flannel, wrapped round the rod,, 

 it should, by continual friction with the rod, be 



