| Gelatin, | 24 |
| Phosphate of lime, | 64 |
| Carbonate of lime, | 0.1 |
One hundred parts of ox-bone gave
| Gelatin, | 51 |
| Phosphate of lime, | 37.7 |
| Carbonate of lime, | 10 |
| Phosphate of magnesia, | 1.3 |
Berzelius, however, detected in bone-fluate of lime, muriate of soda, and uncombined soda. Albumen is most generally present. One hundred parts of bone are reduced by calcination to sixty-three. One hundred parts of human bone afforded Berzelius 81.9 phosphate of lime, 3 fluate of lime, 10 lime, 1.1 phosphate of magnesia, 2 soda, and 2 carbonic acid.
Sec. LIV. Of Galbanum.
Galbanum is a gum-resin, obtained from the bubon galbanum, a plant peculiar to Africa. It is at first a juicy fluid, which exudes when the plant is cut above the root, and hardens by exposure to the air. Alcohol dissolves about three-fifths of it. It contains some volatile oil.
The only instance we know of, in which galbanum has been used in fire-works, is in the composition of rain-fire, employed as an incendiary, before the present fire-stones were invented. The rain-fire, which may be found in the fourth part of this work, it is said, gave rise to the composition of fire-stone. There is no advantage, however, in using galbanum for this purpose; since pitch, tar, turpentine, and many other substances are more inflammable, and, therefore, better adapted for such compositions. We mention it merely because it was one of the ingredients in that once celebrated incendiary preparation, the fire-rain of Siemienowicz.
Sec. LV. Of Tow and Hemp.
In military fire-works, tow and hemp are much used, and principally for the preparation of incendiary works. Both tow and hemp are employed in forming match. Although old rope, &c. are used for immersion in the tourteaux, carcass, or fire-stone composition, which is readily imbibed, if the rope is untwisted and beaten; yet tow or hemp is a better material, and receives more of the composition. The manner of using it may be seen by referring to the composition for fire-stone. For very nice purposes, the tow or hemp should be well dressed. Flax is, therefore, to be preferred in such cases.