[ Composition of Gun-Powder / Method of Giving Additional Force to Gun-Powder ] Dr. William James Almon
Date: Late 18th century; exact date unknown.
Source:
Manuscript Notebook of Dr. William James Almon
Institution: Nova Scotia Archives
| Source Origin: Almon Family Fonds
| Reference: MG 1 / Microfilm Reel 10,045
A table of gunpowder composition followed by instructions for giving it greater force with a method developed by Tuscan physician Francesco Baini, p. 257.
Composition of Gun-Powder
The following are the proportions used at present in
England, France, Spain, Poland, and Italy for the
best kind of Gun-Powder
Eng.
Fran.
Swed.
Pol.
Italy.
Salt-petre
75
75
75
80
76 1/2
Sulphur
15
9 1/2
16
12
12 1/2
Charcoal
10
15 1/2
9
8
12 1/2
100
100
100
100
101 1/2
Method of giving additional force to Gun-Powder
1Discovered by Dr. Francis Baini, of Fogano in TuscanyIf consists in adding to each pound of powder
four ounces of fresh quick lime well pulverized. The
whole must then be well shaken, in order to make
it mix, after which it may be preserved in any vessel
closely shut, it is to be observed that when it is used,
the powder put into the pan must be pure, that
is without any mixture of quick lime.
2Vide Fourcroy; Chemistry Vol i- page 357M: Bertholett has discovered that oxygenated Muriatic Gas
recieved in a keg of caustic potash, forms a chrystallizable
neutral salt which detonates more strongly than Nitre
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