388 
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS OF 
resistance, the nitrogen compounds are deoxidized in favour of the carbon in 
marsli-gas and of the hydrogen, by which an increase in the carbonic oxide, 
carbonic acid, water, and a separation of free hydrogen are caused. Hence 
it follows that the red gun cotton vapours can never occur if the entire gun 
cotton is burnt away at the moment in which it begins to overcome the 
resistance offered to it. 
These facts have a practical application in the use of gun cotton to mining 
purposes. 
II. Analysis of the Products of Combustion of Gunpowder . 
After finding that the combustion of gun cotton under circumstances 
resembling those which occur in mines is of decisive influence on the products 
evolved, it appeared desirable to investigate the combustion of gunpowder 
under similar circumstances. Unfortunately, since my investigations had a 
specifically military object, I could only analyze the Austrian small-arms and 
ordnance powder; hence only a superficial comparison can be instituted with 
the results which Professor Bunsen obtained with freely burning sporting 
powder. 
The combustion of the gunpowder was effected in the exhausted mortar in 
the same way as the combustion of the gun cotton, with the exception that, 
on account of the smaller action of the powder, and in order to obtain as 
large a quantity of gas, the exploding vessels had to be larger, but with 
thinner sides than those in which the gun cotton was exploded. The 
excavation in the cores was filled with meal powder. 
The composition of the two kinds of powder used for investigation are 
obtained from the following analyses 
Ordnance Powder. 4*5487 grms. gave 3*3562 grms. saltpetre and 
1*1923 grm. of a residue insoluble in water. Bisulphide of carbon dissolved 
0*5823 sulphur. The remainder was charcoal. 
Small-arms Powder . 8*8653 grms. contained 6*8408 saltpetre: the resi¬ 
due of 2*0245 grms. contained 0*765 grm. sulphur, and there remained 
1*2595 grm. of charcoal. The organic analysis of the charcoal, carefully 
freed from sulphur, gave— 
For Ordnance Powder,— 
Carbon . 81*200 
Hydrogen . 2*865 
Oxygen . 13*599 
Ash,..... 2*336 
100*000 
Hence the percentage composition 
follows:— 
For Small-arms Powder,— 
Carbon. 82*90 
Hydrogen. 2*99 
Oxygen.. 12*14 
Ash .. 1*97 
100*000 
of both these kinds of powder is as 
Ordnance Powder,— 
Small-arms Powder ,— 
Charcoal. 
Nitrate of potash... 73*78 
Sulphur. 12*80 
Carbon. 10*88 
Hydrogen. 0*38 
Oxygen. 1*82 
„Ash .. 0*31 
Charcoal. 
Nitrate of potash... 77*15 
Sulphur. 8*63 
Carbon. 11*78 
Hydrogen. 0*42 
Oxygen. 1*79 
.Ash . 0*28 
100*00 
100*00 
