These Tapers are prepared by taking off a small part of the wax, near the tip of the wick, and putting one-third of a grain of Fulminating Silver in the wick, then replace the wax, and on its taking fire, a loud Detonation will be produced.
FULMINATING
GARTERS.
The garter is formed of common tape, or of the common worsted binding, which should not exceed the length and breadth of the enclosed pattern; the parts marked with ink are to be covered with the glass composition in the same manner as directed for the Lace of Security; suffer it to remain till quite dry, and then sew it together as in the pattern; half a grain of the Fulminating Silver is then to be placed between the parts marked S, and a piece of paper or ribbon, well pasted on one side, is to be wrapped twice round in the same way as directed for the lace. The manner of applying it is, to take one end in each hand, and by suddenly pulling it, a loud report will be given, equal to a large pistol.—This experiment may also be performed by offering one end to another person, and requesting them to pull against you, or by giving them the garter, and desiring them to use it as first directed. Keep the garter below the eyes.
Fulminating Chairs
Are thus prepared: Enclose half a grain of Brugnatelli's Fulminating Silver in a piece of glass paper, and that should be again enclosed in a square piece of tinfoil; this doubled in a very small compass may be placed immediately under the foot of a chair, and the chair placed very lightly upon it, or pasting it would be much better; be careful to stand the chair down very gently: on any one's setting down on a chair so prepared, a loud Detonation will follow.—This experiment is particularly innocent, and may be productive of much mirth.
FULMINATING
DRAWERS.
The preparation for the drawers is the same as used for the chairs: it should be pasted directly under the drawer, or on the side; if the drawer be left partly open, the effect will more certainly be produced: on the drawer being opened or shut, a loud explosion will be caused. This experiment is also perfectly harmless, and as there could be no suspicion of the trick, it cannot fail to prove the source of much amusement, to create great surprise, and to cause many whimsical conjectures as to the origin of the wonderful phenomenon.
FULMINATING