igo 



NA TURE 



[August 12, 1909 



THE BRITISH EXPLOSIVES INDUSTRY.'^ 



VALUABLE addition to ttie literature on explo- 

 sives has been published under the auspices of tlie 



strictions on manufacture and storage, the super- 

 vision was very lax, leading- to great carelessness in 

 the manufacture and handling of such dangerous 

 substances. Colonel Moody's report on the disastrous 



A . 



seventh International Congress of Applied Chemistry j explosion of powder magazines on the river-bank at 

 by its explosives section, with Mr. Brayler Hodgetts j Erith in 1864 (from which report some startling ex- 

 as editor. It owes its inception to Mr. Oscar Gutt- tracts are given) fully emphasised the necessity for 

 niann, to whom the publishers pay a well-deserved more stringent regulations, and led in October of 



that year to the appointment of 

 Colonel Boxer to " inspect and 

 examine any mill, magazine or 

 place " in which any kind of ex- 

 plosive was manufactured or kept. 

 Later, a further disaster at Bir- 

 minghain, by which fifty-three 

 lives were lost, resulted in the a]i- 

 pointment of permanent inspectors 

 on tlie recommendation of the late 

 Colonel Sir V. D. Majendie, 

 K.C.B., who, as chief inspector, 

 became so well known to the public 

 at the time of the Fenian outrages. 

 The Explosives Act of 1875 was 

 the final outcome of these disasters, 

 an .\ct which has proved of the 

 greatest value through the tactful 

 admiiiistration of the inspector^ 

 and the conscientious manner in 

 which its provisions have been 

 observed by the industrv. 



.Special mention must be made 

 of the bibliography and of the 

 chronology. It is claimed for the 

 former that it gives a complete 

 list of the books on explosives published in Eng- 

 land, whilst the chronology covers the period 

 1242-1700, and is a remarkably complete work re- 

 flecting the greatest credit on those responsible 

 for its compilation. The licences granted and 

 the restrictions imposed for the sale of the in- 

 gredients of powder and for its manufacture are often 



Fiu. 1. — Charcoal Chambers in 1798. Rack View. Reduced from ' 

 Eritish Explosives Industry." 



The Ki^e and Progress of the 



tribute for his able assistance and the facilities he 

 has afforded them by placing his unique and valuable 

 library at their disposal. 



.'Ml who have been associated with the compilation 

 of tlie work are to be highly congratulated on having 

 produced a volume which will certainly fulfil the hope 

 expressed by Captain TuUoch in his preface, that it 

 will " in years to come be looked 

 upon as a work of reference con- 

 necting the past with the future," 

 for all will agree with him, after 

 perusing it, that " it is the onlv 

 work of the kind containing so 

 complete a history of the manufac- 

 ture of explosives in this country." 



The book is divided into two 

 main sections, historical and de- 

 scriptive. In the former arc 

 articles devoted to each of the 

 principal explosives, and such re- 

 lated subjects as percussion caps, 

 safety fuses, and fireworks, contri- 

 buted by writers specially com- 

 petent to deal with each. It is 

 impossible to single out any one 

 article for comment, but the con- 

 tributions of Mr. G. W. Mac- 

 donald on the literature relating to 

 researches on gunpowder, nitro- 

 glycerine, and nitrocellulose, witli 

 the full references to the original 

 papers, will prove of considerable 

 value. 



Outside of what may be regarded as the purely 

 scientific or technical articles, that on legislation, con- 

 tributed by the editor, is of great interest. .Although 

 prior to i860 there had been many Acts placing re- 



^ *■ The Rise .''nd Progress of the British Explosives 'ndustry," Published 

 nnHer [he Auspices of the Seventh International Congress of Applied 

 Chemistry hv its Explosives Section. Pp. .\iv + 4i8. (London ; Whittater 

 and Co., 1509.) Piice 15J. net. 



NO. 2076, VOL. 81] 



Fig 2. — Sulphur Subliming Chamber in T798. Side View. Reduced from " The Rise and Progress 

 of the British Explo-ives Industry." 



extremely quaint and of great interest. This chrono- 

 logy should appeal to the antiquarian equally with 

 the student of applied science. 



In the second section of the book, devoted to de- 

 scription of existing factories, the information as to 

 development, specialities of manufacture, organisa- 

 tion, &c., is very complete. .Space only permits of 

 reference to the articles dealing with Government 



