186 Memoranda on Explosive Cotton. [Feb. 



vantages which in point of range, cleanliness, lightness and absence of 

 smoke, I have shown it to possess over ordinary service powder. 



It has been stated that the low temperature at which this cotton 

 explodes would render rapid firing impracticable in consequence of the 

 heating of the guns. Now the true exploding point is 3/5° Fahrenht. 

 Under this, whatever may be asserted to the contrary, the best cotton 

 cannot be made to explode. Now whether it arise from the greater 

 quickness of the explosion, or the inferior degree of specific heat in the 

 material, the fact is certain that it would take a greater number of 

 rounds of the best cotton than ever could be fired in the sharpest action to 

 bring the temperature of the gun so as to approach, the exploding point. 



In one set of experiments instituted on this question, 80 rounds of 

 cotton were fired from a gun metal cone of exactly the weight of the 

 whole of the cotton used. The interval was but ten seconds between 

 each round. When the last round was fired, a piece of the best cotton 

 was firmly pressed against the sides of the metal cone in every direction 

 without ignition taking place. On repeating the experiment and taking 

 the temperature of the cone it was found to be below that of boiling 

 water ! 



The next objection made is the assumed probability of spontaneous 

 combustion. Now the combustible material in this compound being 

 already combined with all the oxygen it requires, I can see no reasonable 

 cause for the apprehension of the spontaneous heating, which in raw 

 cotton arises from the absorption of the additional oxygen with which 

 its carbon and accidental oily matters have a tendency to unite. 



This process I have most carefully studied with reference to an attempt 

 made some years since to fire the arsenal in Fort William, on which 

 occasion a Court of Enquiry, of which I was a member, had satisfactory 

 proof before them that spontaneous combustion was not concerned in 

 what took place. The experiments then carried on led to our being 

 enabled to produce this kind of combustion with perfect certainty in 

 masses of tow, cotton, cloth, &c. duly prepared for the purpose. Such 

 experiments I have repeated with the gun cotton, but I have never 

 detected the least trace of heating. The objection nevertheless is one 

 which time alone can dispose of effectually. 



As to danger in the process of preparation, I do not deny that there 

 is some risk. But this, I know by sufficient experie nee, is infinitely 



