352 
ME. F. A. ABEL’S CONTBIBUTIONS TO 
Table I. 
Dimensions. 
Initiative 
charge ex- 
ploded in 
one extre- 
Nature of tube. 
Result. 
Remarks. 
Diameter. 
Thickness. 
Length. 
mity (silver 
fulminate). 
Glass (Bohemian) 
Pewter 
i/ mm. 
0-48=12 
0-5 =14 
0-5 =14 
0-5 =14 
a mm. 
f 0049=1-241 
(0 058 = 1-47/ 
0-049=1-24 
r 0-049 =1-241 
(0-058=1-47/ 
; 0-042=107 1 
(0049 = 1-24/ 
a m. 
39 =1 
39 = 1 
33 = 
39 =1 
grn. grm. 
0-5 =0 032 
0-6=0 039 
0-4=0-027 
1 =0065 
Detonation induced. 
No detonation. 
Detonation induced. 
No detonation. 
1 The glass tubes were always shat- 
1 tered to small fragments to about 
[ 0-2m.(7-9inches)beyondtheseat 
J of the initiative detonation. 
Several times repeated with the same 
result. 
) The pewter tubes were always deeply 
indented, but not opened up, at 
| the seat of the initiative detona- 
( tion. When detonation was in- 
duced at the opposite end, the 
1 latter was always torn open, and 
J the metal much distended. 
Several times repeated with the same 
result. 
Tubes of the same length, bent into 
different curves, were previously 
tried with the same result. 
35-5=0-9 
99 
Detonation. 
31-5 = 0-8 
Pewter, bent in 
the centre pretty 
sharply at right 
” ” 
" ” 
31-5=0-8 
(total 
length). 
1 =0-065 
” 
Brass 
0-5 =14 
0-042=1-24 
39 =1 
1 = „ 
No detonation. 
1 The brass tubes were not even in- 
29-6 = 0-75 
l dented at the seat of the explo- 
J sion. 
99 
23-7 = 0-6 
” 
Detonation. 
Paper 
0-5 =14 
0-058=1 -47 
39 =1 
l” =0065 
No detonation. 
The length of the tube was gradually 
reduced to 0-5 m. 
The tube was torn at the seat of de- 
19-7=0-5 
11-8=0 3 
Partial detonation. 
tonation to the length of about 
1 inch. 
There was an explosion, but with 
comparatively little destructive 
effect. 
The india-rubber was not torn in 
( any one instance at the seat of 
the initiative explosion. 
Vulcanized india- 
rubber. 
» i> 
0058=1-47 
39 =1 
19-7 = 0-5 
15-8 = 0-4 
1 =0065 
No detonation. 
Detonation. 
The following points are indicated by the foregoing tabulated results : — 
(1) Detonation was transmitted through glass tubes with very much greater facility 
than through tubes, of corresponding diameter and thickness, of any of the other 
materials tried. Employing nearly double the quantity of silver fulminate required to 
induce detonation with certainty through the glass tubes, it was only possible to obtain 
a similar result through a pewter tube 08 m. (3T5 inches) long, a brass tube 06 m. 
(23*7 inches) long, an india-rubber tube 0 - 4 m. (15*8 inches) long, and a paper tube 
0 - 3 m. (11*8 inches) long. 
(2) The difference in the results obtained was not ascribable to a difference in the 
escape of force on the instant of explosion at the seat of the initiative detonation, in 
consequence of the fracture of the tube, nor to the expenditure of force in work done 
upon the tube at that point, since the glass tubes were always destroyed by the first 
explosion to a very much greater extent than any of the others ; and the brass tube, 
which was in no way injured at the seat of the explosion, did not transmit detonation 
to so great a distance as the pewter tubes, which were always deeply indented. 
