Chemical Preparations. 295 



After all, I have only verified M. Liebeg's discovery of fulminic 

 acid, and devised a detonating compound of tremendous power, which 

 can be prepared with more safety, and at less expense than detona- 

 ting silver. 



***** 



A bottle and phial contain alcoholic solution of chloric ether. The 

 contents of the phial are as strong as I could conveniently prepare 

 them, but not equal to some which I made not long ago. It is a live- 

 ly spirited preparation. 



Since writing my article on starch sugar, I perceive in Gray's Op- 

 erative Chemist, a direction that the wooden converter should be lin- 

 ed with lead. This is wrong — in the first place, it is entirely unne- 

 cessary, as the acid so much diluted does not act on wood. In the 

 second place, either the acid or the syrup or both will act upon the 

 lead and poison the product. 



You have told me to write freely, and I trust you will not com- 

 plain of the length of this communication. Nor must you com- 

 plain against the fulminating character of my letters ; for I have 

 lived for many years in the midst of explosions, and even whilst 

 writing this letter, I have been interrupted by the noise of a heavy 

 explosion, followed by the thrill scream of " fire" from my alcohol 

 distillery. The history of the accidents, effects of explosion, danger, 

 escapes, and contrivances growing out of my yellow powder business 

 would fill a volume ; and with the percussion powder which I now 

 make I have had probably one hundred explosions more or less se- 

 vere. Thirty pounds of the powder is the largest quantity I have had 

 burn at one time ; but the most distressing accident I have encoun- 

 tered, scarcely excepting tjie severe burn which I sustained from yel- 

 low powder, arose from putting my hand into a keg containing about 

 four pounds of percussion powder, and cracking a piece of it be- 

 tween my thumb and finger, by which it took fire ; roasting my 

 hand and arm, and tearing off most of the skin of my breast, neck, 

 and face. But enough of this. I am now making two hundred 

 pounds of the chlorate of potash, and when I get through, I shall be 

 able to estimate the comparative value of carbonate and caustic pot- 

 ash in making this salt. 



With great respect, your obedient servant, 



Samuel Guthrie. 



Sacket's- Harbor, Sept. 12, 1831. 



Mr. Guthrie's preparations have all arrived, and although I reserve the trial of 

 most of them, to my winter course of experiments, I am impressed with admiration 

 both at his skill and intrepidity. — Ec. 



