292 MR. ABEL'S RESEARCHES ON GUN-COTTON. 



Deductions from the Analytical Results. — The formula adopted by Hadow, as repre- 

 senting the most explosive product of the action of mixed nitric and sulphuric acids 

 upon cellulose, — which is the same as that first suggested for gun-cotton by W. Cbum, 

 afterwards adopted as probable by Gerhardt, and recently supported by Scheotter, 

 Redtenbacher, and Schneider, — demands the following percentage proportions of its 

 constituent elements : — 



e.H,N,e„=e.{3HMo,. 



The formula recently adopted by PfiLOUZE and Maury, as agreeing closely with the 

 results which they obtained in their experiments, requires the following numerical 

 proportions : — 



1152 100-00 



The following statement shows the relation which the extreme and mean results, 

 obtained in the numerous analytical examinations of gun-cotton manufactured at 

 Waltham Abbey, bear to the two above formulae : — 



In comparing the experimental results with the requirements of the two different 

 formulae, it is necessary to bear in mind the following circumstances : — 



1. The gun-cotton examined has not been obtained from pure cellulose (for the 

 production of which the most elaborate system of purification has been proved to be 



