A system of pyrotechny — Text and Context

APTER I. Page. Pyrotechny in General, 1 Sec. i. Definition of Pyrotechny, ib. ii. General Theory of Pyrotechny, ib. iii. Remarks on the Nature of Particular Compositions, 9 iv. Of Illuminations, 23 v. Of some of the Feats or Performances by Fire, 26

Of the Substances used in the Formation of Fire-works, 48 Sec. i. Of Nitrate of Potassa, or Saltpetre, ib. ii. Of Nitrate of Soda, 73 iii. Of Chlorate of Potassa, 74 iv. Of Sulphur, 78 v. Of Phosphorus, 84 vi. Of Charcoal, 87 vii. Of Gunpowder, 97 viii. Of Lampblack, 144 ix. Of Soot, 145 x. Of Turpentine, Rosin, and Pitch, 146 xi. Of Common Coal, or Pitcoal, 149 xii. Of Naphtha, Petroleum, and Asphaltum, 153 xiii. Of Oil of Spike, 156 xiv. Of Amber, ib. xv. Of Camphor, 157 xvi. Of Gum Benzoin, and Benzoic Acid, 161 xvii. Of Storax Calamite, 162 xviii. Of Essential Oils, 163 xix. Of Mastich, ib. xx. Of Copal, 164 xxi. Of Myrrh, ib. xxii. Of Sugar, 165 xxiii. Of Sal Prunelle, 167 xxiv. Of Alcohol, 168 xxv. Of Fulminating Mercury, 171 xxvi. Of Fulminating Silver, 173 xxvii. Of Fulminating Gold, 175 xxviii. Of Fulminating Platinum, 176 xxix. Of Detonating Powder from Indigo, 177 xxx. Of the Fulminating Compound, called Iodide of Azote, ib. xxxi. Of Detonating Oil, or Chloride of Azote, 179 xxxii. Of Pyrophorus, 180 xxxiii. Of Sal Ammoniac, 184 xxxiv. Of Corrosive Sublimate, 186 xxxv. Of Orpiment, 187 xxxvi. Of Antimony, 188 xxxvii. Of Carbonate of Potassa, 189 xxxviii. Of Wood Ashes, 192 xxxix. Of Clay, 193 xl. Of Quicklime, 194 xli. Of Lapis Calaminaris, 195 xlii. Of Zinc, 196 xliii. Of Brass, 197 xliv. Of Bronze, 198 xlv. Of Mosaic Gold, 200 xlvi. Of Iron and Steel, 201 xlvii. Of Glass, 210 xlviii. Of Glue and Isinglass, 214 xlix. Of Wood, 216 l. Of Linseed Oil, 218 li. Of Gum Arabic and Gum Tragacanth, 219 lii. Of Cotton, ib. liii. Of Bone and Ivory, 220 liv. Of Galbanum, 221 lv. Of Tow and Hemp, 222 lvi. Of Blue Vitriol, ib. lvii. Of Nitrate of Copper, 223 lviii. Of Strontia, 224 lix. Of Boracic Acid, 226

Instruments, Tools, and Utensils, 228

Of the Laboratory, 228 Sec. i. Of Laboratory Tools and Utensils, ib. ii. Of Mandrils and Cylinders for forming Cartridges and Cases, 230 iii. Of Rammers, Charges, and Mallets, 231 iv. Of Utensils necessary for constructing Signal Rockets, 232 v. Of the rolling or plane Board, 233 vi. Of the Driver for Charging large Rockets, 233 vii. Of Mortars and Pestles, ib. viii. Of the Choaker or Strangler, ib. ix. Of the Table and Sack for mealing Gunpowder, 234 x. Of Sieves, ib. xi. Of the Paper Press, ib.

Preliminary operations in the preparation of fire-works, and observations on the preservation of Gunpowder, and sundry manipulations, 235 Sec. i. Of the Workshop, ib. ii. Of the Magazine, ib. iii. Of the Driving or Ramming of Sky-rockets, 236 iv. Of the Boring of Rockets, 238 v. Of the Preservation of Steel or Iron filings, 239 vi. Of the Making of Wheels and other Works incombustible, 240 vii. Of the Formation of Rocket and other Cases, 243 viii. Of Tourbillon cases, 245 ix. Of Balloon Cases, or Paper Shells, ib. x. Of Cases for Illumination Port-Fires, 246 xi. Of Cases and Moulds for Common Port-Fires, 247 xii. Of Pasteboard, and its Uses, 249 xiii. Of the Pulverization of Substances, 253 xiv. Of Mixtures, ib.

Fire-Works in General, 255

Observations on Fire-works, 255

Fire-works for Theatrical Purposes, 262 Sec. i. Of Puffs, or Bouffées, ib. ii. Of Eruptions, 263 iii. Of the Flames, 264 iv. Of the Fire-rain, ib. v. Of other Compositions for Fire-rain in Chinese Fire, 265 vi. Of Thunderbolts, (_Foudres_), ib. vii. Of Dragons and other Monsters, 266 viii. Of Lightning, 267 ix. Of the Artifice of Destruction, ib. x. Of the Spur-Fire, ib. xi. Of the Coloured Flame of Alcohol, 269 xii. Of Red Fire, 270

Of Portable Fire-works, 271 Sec. i. Of Exhibitions on Tables, ib. ii. Of Table Rockets, 272 iii. Of the Transparent Illuminated Table Star, 273 iv. Of Detonating Works, ib.

Of Scented Fire-works, 283 Sec. i. Of Pastilles, 286 ii. Of Vases of Scent, 288 iii. Remarks on Spontaneous Accension, ib. iv. Of Torches, and Odoriferous Flambeaux, 289 v. Remarks concerning Odoriferous and Fetid Fire, 290

Of Matches, Leaders, and Touch Paper, 292

Of the Furniture, or Decorations for Fire-works, 298 Sec. i. Of Serpents, ib. ii. Of Crackers, 300 iii. Of Single Reports, 301 iv. Of Serpent Stars, ib. v. Of Whirling Serpents, 302 vi. Of Chinese Flyers, 303 vii. Of Simple Stars, ib. viii. Of Rolled Stars, 304 ix. Of Cracking Stars, ib. x. Of Sundry Compositions for Stars, designed for Various Purposes, ib. xi. Of the Fire-rain, (filamentous), 309 xii. Of Sparks, ib. xiii. Of Gold-rain, 310 xiv. Of Rains in General, for Sky-Rockets, &c. 311 xv. Of Rain-Falls and Stars, double and single, ib. xvi. Of substances which show in Sparks, 312 xvii. Of Italian Roses, or Fixed Stars, 313 xviii. Of Lances of Illumination, white, blue and yellow, 314 xix. Of Slow White-flame Lances, 315 xx. Of Lights, ib. xxi. Of Lances for Petards, 318 xxii. Of Lances for Service, ib. xxiii. Of Marrons, ib. xxiv. Of Shining Marrons, 320 xxv. Of Saucissons, 321 xxvi. Of Fire-Pumps, 322 xxvii. Of the Volcano of Lemery, 323 xxviii. Of the Blue and Green Match for Cyphers, Devices and Decorations, 324 xxix. Of the Purple or Violet Match, 325 xxx. Of Meteors, ib.

Of Rockets and their Appendages, 326 Sec. i. Of the Caliber and Proportion of Rockets, ib. ii. Of the Composition of Sky-Rockets, and Observations on its Preparation, and on other Subjects respecting rockets, 329 iii. Of the Heading of Rockets, 334 iv. Of the Decorations for Rockets, and the Manner of filling their Heads, 335 v. Of the Dimensions, and Poise of Rocket-Sticks, 336 vi. Of the Mode of Discharging Rockets, 337 vii. Of the Appendages, and Combinations of Rockets, 340 viii. Of Swarmers or Small Rockets, 343 ix. Of Scrolls for Sky-Rockets, and of Strung, Tailed, Drove, and Rolling Stars, 344 x. Of Line-Rockets and their Decorations, 345 xi. Of Signal Sky-Rockets, 347

Of Sundry Fire-works, denominated Air-works, 347 Sec. i. Of the Composition, and Mode of Forming large and small Gerbes, 348 ii. Of Paper Mortars, 349 iii. Of Mortars to throw Aigrettes, &c. 350 iv. Of Making Balloon Fuses, 357 v. Of the Mosaic and Common Tourbillon, 358 vi. Of Mortars for throwing Aigrettes, and the Manner of Loading and Firing them, 363 vii. Of Making, Loading, and Firing Pots des Brins, 364 viii. Remarks respecting Fire Pots, 365

Of Particular Compositions, 367 Sec. i. Of Fire-Jets, or Fire-Spouts, ib. ii. Of Priming and Whitening Cases, and Remarks concerning Spunk and Touch Paper, 370 iii. Of Chinese Fire, 371 iv. Of Bengal Lights, 377 v. Of Roman Candles, 380 vi. Of Mosaic Simples, 381 vii. Of Mosaic Tourbillons, 382 viii. Of Hydrogen Gas in Fire-works, 383

Of the Manner of fixing and arranging Fire-works in General for Exhibition, 387 Sec. i. Of the Composition of Wheel-Cases, Standing and Fixed, 388 ii. Of Single, Vertical, Horizontal, Spiral, and other Wheels, 391 iii. Of Revolving Suns, 395 iv. Of Fixed Suns, 397 v. Of Fixed Suns with Transparent Faces, 398 vi. Of the Rose-Piece and Sun, 399 vii. Of the Manner of changing a Horizontal to a Vertical Wheel, and representing a Sun in front, ib. viii. Of Caprices and Fire-Wands, 400 ix. Of Palm and other Trees, 401 x. Of the Pyramid of Flower Pots, 402 xi. Of the Dodecaedron, 403 xii. Of Cascades of Fire, 404 xiii. Of Chinese Fountains, and Parasols, 405 xiv. Of Wings, or Cross Fire, 406 xv. Of Galleries of Fire, and Batteries of Roman and Mosaic Candles, ib. xvi. Of Girandoles, and their Modifications, 407 xvii. Of Cracking Caprices, ib. xviii. Of the Projected Regulated Piece of Nine Mutations, 408 xix. Of the Pyric or Fire-Piece, 412 xx. Of Sundry Illuminated Figures, 413 xxi. Of the Spiral or Endless Screw, and Waved Fire, 418 xxii. Of the Decoration of Wheels, ib. xxiii. Of Globes, with their Various Decorations, 419 xxiv. Of the Representation of the Moon and Stars, 421 xxv. Of the Representation of Sundry Figures in Fire, 423 xxvi. Of the Representation of Flat Stars with a large Body of Fire, 424 xxvii. Of the Single, Double, and Triple Table Wheel, 425 xxviii. Of Decorations, Transparencies, and Illuminations, ib. xxix. Of Imitative Fire-works, 440

Of Aquatic Fire-works, 442 Sec. i. Of Water Rockets, 443 ii. Of Pipes of Communication, ib. iii. Of Horizontal Wheels for Water, 444 iv. Of Water Mines, ib. v. Of Fire Globes for the Water, 445 vi. Of Odoriferous Water Balloons, 446 vii. Of Water Balloons, 447 viii. Of Water Squibs, 448 ix. Of the Water Fire-Fountain, ib. x. Of Swans and Ducks, to discharge Rockets in Water, ib. xi. Of Discharging Rockets under Water, 449 xii. Of the Representation of Neptune in his Chariot, 450 xiii. Of the Representation of a Sea-Fight with small Ships, and the Preparation of a Fire-Ship, 451

Of the Arrangement of Fire-works for Exhibition, 452

Military Pyrotechny, 456

Observations in General, 456 Sec. i. Of Cartridges, 462 ii. Of Cannon Cartridges, 467

Of Matches, 471 Sec. i. Of Slow Match, ib. ii. Of Priming Tubes, 475 iii. Of Quick Matches, 477

Of Fuses for Shells, Howitzes, and Grenades, 481 Sec. i. Of the Method of Charging the Fuses of Bombs or Shells, 482 ii. Of Loading Shells, Howitzes, and Grenades, 484 iii. Of Fuses with Dead Light, 485 iv. Of the Dimensions of Fuses, and the Dimensions and Charge of Bombs, Howitzes, and Grenades, 487

Of Incendiary Fire-works, 490 Sec. i. Of Fire Stone, 491 ii. Of Incendiary Matches, 492 iii. Of Carcasses and Fire Balls, ib. iv. Of Incendiary Balls, or Fire Balls, to be thrown from Cannon or by Hand, 497 v. Of Smoke Balls, 499 vi. Of Stink Balls, ib. vii. Of Poisoned Balls, ib. viii. Of Red-hot Balls, 499 ix. Of Pitched Tourteaux and Fascines, 500 x. Of Torches, or Flambeaux, 501 xi. Of Powder Bags, 503 xii. Of the Powder Barrel, ib. xiii. Of the Burning, or Illuminating Barrel, ib. xiv. Of the Thundering Barrel, 504 xv. Of the Petard, 505 xvi. Of the Stink-Fire Lance, 506 xvii. Of the Combustible Substances used in, and the Manner of preparing, a Fire-Ship, 507 xviii. Of Infernal Machines, 512 xix. Of the Catamarin, 514 xx. Of the American Turtle, 515 xxi. Of the Torpedo, 521 xxii. Of the Marine Incendiary Kegs, 523 xxiii. Of Sea Lights, 525 xxiv. Of Signal and War-rockets, 526 xxv. Of Sky-Rockets, (_Meurtrières_,) 538 xxvi. Of the Rocket Light-Ball, 539 xxvii. Of the Floating Rocket Carcass, ib. xxviii. Observations on Rockets, 540 xxix. Of the Succouring Rocket, 544 xxx. Of the Greek Fire, ib. xxxi. Of Mines and Mining, 550 xxxii. Of the Means of Increasing the Strength of Gunpowder for Mining, 554 xxxiii. Of Incendiary Bombs, 556 xxxiv. Of Murdering Marrons, 557 xxxv. Of Incendiary Rope, 558 xxxvi. Of Balloons of Grenades, of Bombs, and of Flints or Stone, 559 xxxvii. Of Spherical Case Shot, ib. xxxviii. Of the Fire-Rain, according to Casimir Siemienowicz, 560 xxxix. Of the Effect of Mirrors in inflaming Bodies at a Distance, 562 xl. Of Incendiary and Poisoned Arrows, 566 xli. Of Pyrotechnical Sponge, 570 xlii. Of Extinguishing Flame with Fired Gunpowder, 572 xliii. Of the Inflammable Dart, 574 xliv. Of the Firebrand, ib. xlv. Of the Fire Flask, 575 xlvi. Of the Trompe-Route, ib. xlvii. Of Fire-Pots for Ramparts, ib. xlviii. Of Inflammable Balls, 577 xlix. Of Pauly's Inflammable Powder, ib. l. Of Extemporaneous Fire, 578 li. Of the Indian White Fire, 580 lii. Of the Pyrophore of Defence, 581

In presenting this work to the public as a system of Pyrotechny, which, we have reason to believe, is the only full and connected system that has appeared, we may be permitted to remark, that, in our arrangement of the subject, we have appropriated separate heads for each article.

This plan, of the subject being considered in chapters and sections, and forming with the divisions of the work, a connected system of arrangement, enables the reader to have a full view of the whole, and, at the same time, all the facts in detail belonging to the chapter, or section under consideration. By referring to the Table of Contents, this plan will be seen without further comment. The arrangement of the different articles in this manner, necessarily comprehends in the onset all the substances, which are employed in various preparations. In considering this part of our subject, we have given the chemical characters, or peculiar properties of each substance respectively; by which a rationale of pyrotechnical effects may be the better understood, and, consequently, the action of bodies on each other better illustrated.

In this part we also comprehend the General Theory of Fire-works, which it may be proper to remark, we have drawn from the known effects of chemical action; so far, at least, as the laws, of affinity, which govern such action, are applicable to the subject. The importance of this inquiry, although having no relation to the mere manipulations of the artificer, can not be doubted; since a knowledge of chemistry has already improved the preparation of gunpowder, and its effects are now known to be owing to the formation of sundry elastic aeriform fluids. On this head, that of the application of chemistry to Pyrotechny, we claim so much originality, as, so far as we know, to have been the first, who applied the principles of chemistry.

It is not to be expected in every instance, that a rationale of the decomposition as it occurs, or the order in which it takes place, can be given with certainty; because, where a variety of substances enter into the same preparation, which is frequently the case, the affinities become complicated, and the laws of action for that reason indeterminate, and frequently anomalous. But, on the contrary, in a variety of primary operating causes, by which effects analogous in their nature result, decomposition of course being the same, the causes are well understood, and the effects are thereby known, and duly appreciated.

This, for instance, is the case with a mixture of nitrate of potassa, charcoal, and sulphur, in the proportion necessary to form gunpowder; for, it is known, that the explosive effects of powder are owing to the sudden production of a number of gases, which suffer dilatation by the immense quantity of caloric liberated at the moment of combustion. Although the production of caloric by the inflammation of gunpowder is a case, which cannot be explained by the present received theory of combustion, as we have noticed in that article; yet we know that it is a fact, and that caloric is generated by the decomposition of the powder.

If we consider the primary cause of this decomposition, we naturally inquire into the products of the combustion, and endeavour to account for the production of the elastic aeriform fluids. We know that carbon has the property of decomposing nitric acid, and also nitrate of potassa; for, when it is brought in contact in the state of ignition with nitre, a deflagration will ensue, and carbonic acid be formed. The quantity of this acid is in the direct _ratio_ to the quantity of oxygen required to _saturate_ a given quantity of carbon; and therefore, by employing certain proportions of nitre and charcoal, the latter will decompose the former, and by abstracting its oxygen, on the same principle form carbonic acid, while the azote, the other constituent of nitric acid, will be set at liberty. Nor is this all, if we consider the action of sulphur. The sulphur must unite with one portion of the oxygen to produce sulphurous acid gas, and also with the potassa of the nitre, and form a sulphuret, a compound necessary to be formed, before we can explain the production of sulphuretted hydrogen gas, which results from the decomposition of water contained in the nitre. There also results, as a product, sulphate of potassa. In considering these products at large, it would be necessary to go into detail; and, as we have descanted largely on its combustion in gunpowder, we accordingly refer the reader to the article on _Gunpowder_. It will be sufficient, however, to remark, that the _agent_, and consequently the cause, which produces the decomposition of nitrate of potassa, is carbon or charcoal. This, by uniting with the greater part of the oxygen of the nitre, produces, in a determinate proportion, carbonic acid gas. This gas, therefore, in conjunction with other gases, formed at the same time, all of which being expanded, causes what is denominated the _explosive effect_ of gunpowder.

We have then a primary cause of the decomposition, and most of the effective force of gunpowder is owing to the carbonic acid; and it is found, that gunpowder made without sulphur is equally powerful as that with, since it adds nothing to its power.

Causes, therefore, chemically speaking, operate alike under similar circumstances. The materials made use of being equally pure, and used in the same proportion, the effect must necessarily be the same.

It is not only in the instance we have mentioned, but in every other, in which chemical action ensues, that this doctrine is tenable. We might, indeed, notice a number of cases of a similar kind; as, for instance, in the combustion of many incendiary preparations, as fire-stone, fire-rain, composition for carcasses, light-balls, and a variety of fire-works of the same kind. If we mix pitch, tar, tallow, &c. with nitrate of potassa, and burn the mixture, we have the combined action of two elementary substances, which enter into the composition of these bodies, namely, carbon and hydrogen. The products would be carbonic acid gas, and water; because the oxygen of the nitre would unite with the hydrogen, as well as the carbon. If we employ sulphur at the same time, another product would be sulphurous acid gas, and probably sulphuric acid; and if gunpowder be used, as in the _fire-stone_ composition, then, besides these products, we would have those of the gunpowder.

As this subject, however interesting to the theoretical pyrotechnist, cannot be understood without a knowledge of chemistry, it is obvious, that that science is a powerful aid to pyrotechny. It is unnecessary to dwell on this head. We may add, nevertheless that, in order to understand the effect of all mixtures, or compositions made use of, it is necessary to consider the nature of the substances employed, and the manner in which chemical action takes place, and consequently the products, which determine in fact the characteristic property of each species of fire-work, and the phenomena on which it is predicated. All products of combustion depend on the substances thus decomposed, and by knowing the effects, we may readily refer them to their proper causes.

With respect to _caloric_, it may not be improper to offer some remarks.[1] The hypothetical element of phlogiston having given way to the antiphlogistic theory at present received, our ideas respecting caloric are predicated on facts. Caloric is a term, which expresses heat, or matter of heat. In pyrotechny, we have merely to consider it in a free, or uncombined state; but as the subject is interesting, we purpose to notice it very briefly under the following heads: viz. its nature; the manner it is set in motion; its tendency to a state of rest; the changes it produces on bodies; and the instruments for measuring its intensity.

As to the nature of caloric, different opinions are entertained. We know the effect of heat: if we touch a substance of a higher temperature than our bodies, we call it hot, and _vice versa_. The one is evidently the accession, and the other the abstraction, of caloric. The latter is merely relative as respects ourselves; for the effect depends on our feelings, and the sensation of hot or cold is therefore governed by them.[2] Caloric, however, is considered to be a substance, composed of inconceivably small particles; but count Rumford and sir H. Davy are of a contrary opinion, namely, that it depends upon a peculiar motion and not on a subtle fluid.