Smoke balls burn from 25 to 30 minutes.
| Composition. | |||||
| lb. | oz. | lb. | oz. | ||
| Corned mealed powder | 5 | 0 | Swedish pitch | 2 | 0 |
| Saltpetre, pulverized | 1 | 0 | Tallow | 0 | 8 |
| Sea coal | 1 | 8 | |||
To construct hollow Globes, or Cases for Light Balls, &c.
The canvas, or paper, may be formed in the following manner, viz.:—With radius of half the intended calibre, describe the circle A B C D (vide [Figure 20], Practical Geometry), and divide the same into four equal parts. From B with radius A B describe arc A E, from A with radius A B describe arc B E, and from E with radius E A describe arc A B. Eight pieces, as E A B, will form a ball nearly, the edges being brought close together.
CARCASSES.
Carcasses, a species of shell, are filled with composition, the flame from which is extremely powerful, and nearly unextinguishable. They are much used in bombardments of towns, setting fire to shipping, &c., and are discharged from guns, mortars, and howitzers, similarly to common shells; from which, however, they differ, in being made thicker, to enable them to withstand the intensity of fire; and in having three fuze holes instead of one.
Carcasses burn from 8 to 10 minutes.
Common shells may be made to produce effects similar to carcasses, by filling them with a proportion of Valenciennes composition, and bursting powder.
All carcasses have three holes; and, from guns and howitzers, are fired with sabots.
| Carcass Composition. | Valenciennes Composition. | ||||
| lb. | oz. | lb. | oz. | ||
| Saltpetre, pulverized | 6 | 4 | Saltpetre, pulverized | 6 | 4 |
| Sulphur, sublimated | 2 | 8 | Sulphur, sublimated | 2 | 8 |
| Rosin, pounded | 1 | 14 | Rosin, pounded | 1 | 4 |
| Antimony, pounded | 0 | 10 | Antimony, pounded | 0 | 10 |
| Tallow | 0 | 10 | Linseed oil, 6 oz. 14 drams. | ||
| Turpentine | 0 | 10 | |||