Great care is requisite in handling this explosive compound.
In addition to the foregoing explosive compounds and mixtures, the following explosive agents have also been employed for the purposes of submarine operations, though only to a small extent.
Dualin.—Dualin is a nitro-glycerine preparation formed by mixing sawdust and saltpetre with that substance.
This preparation, inferior to dynamite, was employed by the Germans as the explosive agent for their submarine mines during the Franco-German war (1870-71).
Lithofracteur.—Lithofracteur is also a preparation of nitro-glycerine. It is composed of the following materials:—Nitro-glycerine, kieselguhr, coal, soda, saltpetre, and sulphur.
This explosive agent, also inferior to dynamite, is used, though not very extensively, by the French for their submarine mines.
Horsley's Powder.—Horsley's powder is a chlorate mixture formed of potassium, chlorate, and galls. This explosive mixture was formerly used by Captain Harvey for his towing torpedo, but has recently been discarded for compressed gun-cotton.
Abel's Detonation Experiments.—The following are the results of experiments carried out by Professor Abel, C.B., F.R.S., on the subject of detonation:—
1.—A fuze containing rather more than 1 ounce of gunpowder, strongly confined, exploded in contact with a mass of compressed gun-cotton, only inflames it, although the explosion of the fuze is apparently a sharp one.
2.—45 grains of fulminate of mercury, exploded unconfined on the surface of a piece of compressed gun-cotton, only inflames or disperses it.