The solid is potassium chlorate, and the liquid is either "dead oil," or dead oil and bisulphide of carbon in equal volumes, or bisulphide of carbon with 3 per cent of carbon added, or mono-nitro-benzine.
General Abbot considered the following the best:
Potassium chlorate, 79 parts; mono-nitro-benzine, 21 parts.
The potassium chlorate is put up in the form of a cartridge enclosed in a bag made of cotton or other suitable material.
In preparing the charge for use the cartridges are placed in a wire frame, which is suspended from a spring-balance, and dipped in the liquid until a proportion of 3 to 4½ parts of solid to 1 part of liquid is shown by the balance; this requires from 3 to 6 seconds.
Or, place the cartridges in a pan containing cells (each cartridge having a corresponding cell and cup) and then pour in each cell its cupful of liquid. As soon as it has all been absorbed remove the cartridges and in ten minutes they are ready for use.
If the cartridges be kept, they appear to tend to increased sensibility to friction or percussion.
GUNCOTTON.
Compressed Guncotton.—Clippings and other waste from cotton-mills are thoroughly purified from oil and fatty matters by treatment with alkali and extraneous substances removed. The material is then opened up by a carding-machine and cut into suitable lengths. After thorough drying and when quite cold small quantities at a time are immersed in a cool mixture of 1 nitric acid (s. g. 1.52) and 3 sulphuric acid (s. g. 1.85). The excess of acid is then removed and the cotton carefully washed, reduced to pulp, purified, and compressed into given weights and shapes by a powerful hydraulic press, and weighs 60 lbs. per cubic foot.
The disks or slabs can be cut into smaller sizes with a sharp saw or knife without danger, care being taken to press them between boards while so doing to prevent their falling to pieces.