132 Dr. Cuthush on the Chinese Fire, <^c. 



Besides the admixture of several saline substances, 

 which communicate particular colours to flame, we know 

 that the most brilliant red is given to flame by nitrate of 

 strontian. A preparation in which it is used for theatrical 

 purposes in France, is made as follows : take forty parts 

 of dry nitrate of strontian, thirteen parts of finely powder- 

 ed sulphur, five parts of chlorate or hyperoxymuriate of 

 potash, and four parts of sulphuret of antimony, and mix 

 them intimately in a mortar, observing at the same time to 

 pulverize the chlorate of potash, separately. A little sul- 

 phuret of arsenic is sometimes added, and if the fire should 

 burn dim, a small quantity of pulverized charcoal is added. 

 The portable fire works made in miniature, and exhibited 

 in fooms or close apartments, are much of the same na- 

 ture as already described. Another description of fire 

 works are made to communicate an agreeable odour, hence 

 called scented fires. Vases of scent were greatly employ- 

 ed in the public feasts and ceremonies at Rome, Athens, 

 and particularly in Eg^^pt. The vessels which contained 

 the composition, were placed by the Athenians in sculp- 

 tured vases. We know but little respecting the compo- 

 sitions they used. Myrrh and frankincense were the most 

 common, as well as the most prominent articles. It will 

 be sufliicient to notice two modern preparations of this 

 kind. The pastilles or fire crajons, calculated for this 

 purpose, are conical troches, which are set on fire upon a 

 plate. They are made up of 



Storax Calami t. - - - 2 6z. 



Benzoin, ----- 2 oz. 



Gum Juniper, - - - - 2 oz. 



Olibanum, ----- 1 oz. 



Mastic, 1 oz. 



Frankincense, - - - - 1 oz. 



Amber, - ... - 1 oz. 



Camphor, - - - - - 2 oz. 



Salt-petre, - - - - 3 oz. 



Willow charcoal, - - - 4 oz. 



In the Dictionnaire de VIndustrie is a composition for the 

 same purpose, called the odoriferous paste; it is nearly the 

 same as above, but contains cascarilla, cloves, oil of lemon 

 and tincture of amber. In the Archives des D^couvertesj iir. 



