12 
Every step in the manufacture of this substance is attended with the greatest 
danger to human life, it is therefore desirable that some substitute should be found 
for it. Gun-cotton has been proposed for this purpose, but, on account of the 
difficulty in retarding its combustion, it has been almost entirely abandoned, and, 
from its being a definite chemical compound, it^is also impossible to adapt it to all 
the requirements of industry and war. Nitro-glycerine has likewise been used in 
place of gunpowder for certain purposes, but this possesses all the disadvantages 
of gun-cotton to an exaggerated degree. If any new substance be found to re- 
place the black powder it must possess the pliability of the time-honoured agent. 
It must be able to furnish varieties corresponding to the existing sporting, rifle, 
artillery, and blasting powders. These are essential; absence of smoke and 
residue are highly desirable. 
All these requirements seem to be fulfilled by the powder of Captain Schultze. 
In the manufacture of this powder the wood is deprived, as far as possible, of its 
hydrogen, but the oxygen and carbon is retained- It is then mixed with certain 
substances which generate abundantly oxygen and nitrogen, but unincumbered by 
potash and sulphur. All the ordinary forms of powder can be produced by this 
process, smoke and residue are reduced to a minimum, and moreover the explosive 
power is greater than that of common gunpowder. The manufacture only occupies 
a few days, and is entirely free from danger until the " finishing '* is performed by 
moistening the powder with a certain solution. This and the subsequent drying 
process can be performed at any time. Three millions of tons may be kept 
without the slightest risk, a small quantity only being "finished " at a time when 
wanted. Even when finished it does not explode except under pressure or in a 
close chamber, though when it does explode its effects are more powerful than 
those of ordinary powder. 
Major T. Austin then burnt some of Schultze's powder in an eprouvette, 
but as it required much compression to show its force, it merely burnt out 
of the touchhole without exploding. 
Mr. E. A. PrjEGer thought that the system of preparing powder for 
use in time of war, was very absurd. He did not think that Schultze's 
powder would answer, from its requiring to be finally prepared so soon 
before using, and he considered it to be in that, and other particulars, 
decidedly inferior to Neumeyer's. 
Mr. Willoughby, in reply, said that Shultze's powder need not be 
" finished " first before being used, and that then it was on a par with 
Neumeyer's. 
Mr. W. L. Carpenter inquired if either of these powders had been 
used for breech-loaders, as in them there would be no ramming. Mr. 
Prseger and Mr. Willoughby did not know whether these powders had 
been so used. Mr. Prseger thought that Neumeyer's had not been, and 
could not be used in breech loaders. 
The Chairman observed that such questions could not be settled there, 
they must be decided by practical men. 
