Chapter I: II

Potassium perchlorate 35 35
Ammonium nitrate 20 10
Sodium nitrate -- 3
Trinitro-toluene 5} 11
Dinitro-toluene 5}
Wood meal 3 2
Vegetable meal 4 5
Blasting gelatine 4 4
Sodium chloride 24 30

It is practically the same as Wetter-Persalit.

=LIGDYN= is a nitroglycerine explosive similar to American dynamite made in South Africa. 40 per cent. Ligdyn consists of--

Nitroglycerine 40
Sodium nitrate 45
Wood meal 13
Wheat flour 2

=*LIGHTNING.=--A 33-grain smokeless shot-gun powder made by the Schultze Gunpowder Co. See Schultze Powder.

=LIGNOSIT= is a German blasting explosive containing a considerable percentage of ammonium nitrate. Lignosit I. contains also aromatic nitro-compounds, of which not more than 15 per cent. must be trinitro-compounds or wood meal, and not more than 6 per cent. of potassium nitrate, not more than I per cent. of collodion cotton and bauxite or salts, such as sodium chloride or carbonate.

Lignosit II. may contain up to 10 per cent. of collodion cotton, but no wood meal or nitro-compounds. It is somewhat sensitive.

Lignosit III. differs from I. in that it may contain up to 4 per cent. of blasting gelatine and contains no bauxite.

The object of adding the neutral salts is evidently to make the explosive safer in coal mines. When intended for this purpose it is called Wetter-Lignosit I. or III.

Lignosit IV. consists of ammonium nitrate, not more than 13 per cent. of trinitro-toluene, not more than 13 per cent. of aluminium powder, and wood meal.

=LITHOFRACTEUR= is a name that has been given to more than one explosive. One introduced about 1873 by Krebs and Co. of Deutz, near Cologne, consisted of nitroglycerine absorbed in kieselguhr mixed with nitrates, charcoal or coal and sulphur. Some of it was imported into England at one time.

=LOEWENPULVER= or Castroper Sprengpulver is a German blasting powder consisting of a compressed or granulated mixture of sodium nitrate, manganese dioxide, sulphur and carbonaceous substances such as briquette powder or coal. It may also contain potassium nitrate, wood meal or tar.

=LOMITE NO. 1= is an American coal-mine explosive on the Permissible List. It is a low-grade dynamite containing hydrated salts.

=LOWINITE NO. 2-B= is an American coal-mine explosive on the Permissible List. It is an ammonium nitrate explosive.

=LUXIT I.= is a German blasting explosive consisting of ammonium nitrate, not more than 17 per cent. of trinitro-toluene, and not more than 5 per cent. of wood meal.

=LYDDITE.=--A high explosive used in the British Services for filling shell. It consists simply of picric acid, which is melted under proper precautions and poured into the shell.

*Poudre =M= is a shot-gun powder made by the French Government, and is the one that is most used in France. Its composition is--

Nitrocotton 71
Barium nitrate 20
Potassium nitrate 5
Camphor. 3
Binding material 1

The nitrocotton has a solubility of only 15 or 20 per cent., and is partially gelatinised with ether-alcohol aided by the camphor. It is granulated under edge runners, granulated and drummed.

=MACARIT.=--A Belgian high explosive for filling shell--

Trinitro-toluene 30
Lead nitrate 70

It has a high density and is not deliquescent. For equal weights its power is less than that of trinitro-toluene or picric acid, but for equal volumes it is somewhat greater.

=MARKANIT.= See =SILESIA=.

=MARSIT.=--A sort of Oxyliquit. Liquid oxygen is passed into a linen bag containing soot.

=M.B. POWDER= (Modernised Black) is a black powder mixture in which part of the potassium nitrate has been replaced by potassium or ammonium perchlorate, generally the potassium salt. It is manufactured at Bonnybridge, Stirling, at the works originally erected for making Mitchellite. During manufacture the composition is heated in steam boilers. (See “Arms and Explosives,” 1911, p. 7.)

=M.D.= See =CORDITE=.

=MEGANIT= is a Hungarian nitroglycerine explosive similar to American dynamite, except that it contains a small percentage of nitrated vegetable ivory.

=MELANITE.=--A Belgian blasting explosive consisting of--

Nitroglycerine 78
Collodion cotton 4
Sodium nitrate 18

It contains, therefore, a considerable excess of oxygen.

=MÉLINITE= is a high explosive used by the French for filling shell and other military purposes. It consists essentially of picric acid, to which other substances are sometimes added. Paraffin wax has been added to diminish the sensitiveness. Mélinite D is simply picric acid, but Mélinite O contains also a little Crésilite 2 (q. v.).

=MELLING POWDER= was a coal-mine explosive on the Permitted List, made by the Cotton Powder Co. The permit has been repealed.

_Date of Permit_ 1-9-13

Nitroglycerine 5
Ammonium nitrate 53·5
Sodium nitrate 12
Trinitro-toluene 6
Wood meal 4·5
Ammonium oxalate 19

Limit charge 12 oz.
Power (swing of
ballistic pendulum) 2·62”

=MERCURIT= is a blasting explosive that has been introduced recently in Germany. It consists of 88 per cent. of potassium chlorate and 12 per cent. of high boiling neutral tar oil. In Mercurit II. up to 20 per cent. of the chlorate may be replaced by perchlorate.

=MERSEY POWDER= was a coal-mine explosive on the Permitted List, made by the Cotton Powder Co. The permit has been repealed.

_Date of Permit_ 3-7-15

Nitroglycerine 5·5
Ammonium nitrate 51
Sodium nitrate 11
Trinitro-toluene 6
Wood meal 3·5
Ammonium chloride 23

Limit charge 18 oz.
Power (swing of
ballistic pendulum) 2·60”

=METEOR AXXO= is an American coal-mine explosive on the Permissible List. It is a low-grade dynamite containing a hydrated salt.

=MIEDZIANKIT= (also called Egelit or Kieselbacher Chloratsprengstoff) is a German chlorate explosive of the Sprengel class. It consists of porous potassium chlorate impregnated with not more than 10 per cent. of kerosene, having a flash point not below 30° C. It has met with some unfavourable reports, as it is found that results are not uniform unless the impregnation be carried out in special factories, the original idea having been that it was to be done shortly before use.

During the War a modification of the explosive was introduced for use in coal mines. This contains up to 30 per cent. of sodium chloride.

=MINERITE.=--A coal-mine explosive made by the Forcite Co. of Baelen Wezel in Belgium, identical in composition with Kohlen-carbonite and Colinite antigrisouteuse.

=MINER’S FRIEND, NOS. 1 to 6.= American coal-mine explosives on the Permissible List. They are ammonium nitrate explosives.

=MINITE.=--A coal-mine explosive of the Grisounite type which was on the old Permitted List--

Ammonium nitrate 89
Trinitro-toluene 10
Ammonium oxalate 1

There was also an explosive of the Carbonite type of this name made at Arendonck in Belgium--

Nitroglycerine 25
Potassium nitrate 35
Flour 39·5
Soda 0·5

Charge limite 750 g.

=MIN-ITE.=--American coal-mine explosive on the Permissible List. Brands A, A-2, B, and B-2 are nitroglycerine explosives, whereas Nos. 5-D and 6-D are ammonium nitrate mixtures.

=MINOLITE.=--A Belgian blasting explosive, which is also approved for transport over the German railways. It contains ammonium nitrate, dinitro- or trinitro-naphthalene with other substances added in some cases. A variety for use in coal mines is called Minolite antigrisouteuse.

Minolite Minolite
antigrisouteuse. nouvelle.

Ammonium nitrate 72 87
Sodium nitrate 23 3
Trinitro-toluene 3 --
Trinitro-naphthalene 2 5
Dinitro-naphthalene -- 3
Quebracho -- 2

Charge limite 400 g.

There was also a variety containing lead nitrate, but this could not be used in mines because of the poisonous smoke it evolved.

=*MISCHPULVER= is a name given in German to ungelatinised smokeless nitro-cellulose powders.

=MITCHELLITE= was an explosive that was formerly licensed for manufacture in Great Britain, and was made at Bonnybridge, Stirling, but the factory and the licence were transferred to the M.B. Powder Co. in 1910. It was apparently a chlorate or perchlorate explosive. It is said to be manufactured at Monticello, Indiana, U.S.A.

=*MODDITE.=--A sporting rifle powder made by Eley Bros. Analysis of a sample showed--

Nitroglycerine 38·7
Nitrocellulose 56·8
Mineral jelly 4·3
Volatile matter 0·2

Of the nitrocellulose about one-third was soluble in ether-alcohol. It was made in the form of strip.

=MONACHIT= is a German blasting explosive which was known at one time as Vigorit. It is distinguished by containing nitro-compounds derived from naphtha, mostly nitro-xylenes and nitro-mesitylenes.

Monachit I. contains ammonium nitrate, not more than 15 per cent. of nitro-compounds, of which not more than 60 per cent. must be trinitro-bodies, also vegetable meal and potassium nitrate.

Monachit II. contains in addition not more than 1 per cent. of collodion cotton, not more than 1 per cent. of charcoal, also hydrocarbons and ammonium oxalate or other salts to act as cooling agents, and render the explosive suitable for use in coal mines, _e. g._--

Ammonium nitrate 81 64
Potassium nitrate 5 3
Nitro-compounds 13 14
Collodion cotton -- 1
Flour 1 --
Charcoal -- 1
Potassium chloride -- 17

The collodion cotton is to gelatinise the nitro-compounds when they are liquid.

=MONARKITE= is a coal-mine explosive made by Kynoch, Ltd., and is on the Permitted List--

_Date of Permit_ 10-2-14
_Revised_ 20-9-19

Ammonium nitrate 49[1]
Sodium nitrate 9
Nitroglycerine 11·5
Collodion cotton 0·3
Starch 3·5
Mineral jelly 2
Sodium chloride 24·7

Limit charge 18 oz.
Power (swing of
ballistic pendulum) 2·30”

[1] Including not more than 2 per cent. of magnesium carbonate.

=MONOBEL= is a coal-mine explosive made by Nobel’s Explosives Co. There are three formulæ which have passed the Rotherham Test, but A1 is no longer on the Permitted List--

Monobel A1 A2
No. 1. Monobel. Monobel.
_Date of Permit_ 10-2-14 13-5-14 15-1-15

Ammonium nitrate 68 60 59
Nitroglycerine 8·5 10 10
Wood meal 8·5 10 10
Sodium chloride 15 -- --
Potassium chloride -- 20 20
Magnesium carbonate -- -- 1

Limit charge 10 28 22 oz.
Power (swing of ballistic pendulum) 2·81 2·78 2·44”

There is also Quarry Monobel which is not permitted for use in dangerous coal mines, and presumably contains no alkali chloride.

See also Viking Powder and Victor Powder.

=MONOBEL, NOS. 1= to =7= are on the American Permissible List. Of these, Nos. 4 and 5 are low-freezing explosives, containing a small percentage of nitro-toluene or similar substance; Nos. 3 and 5 are less violent than the others.

=MONOBEL POWDER= was the predecessor of the above and was on the old Permitted List. It is now no longer “permitted.”

Ammonium nitrate 80
Nitroglycerine 10
Wood meal 10

=*MULLERITE.=--A shot-gun powder made by the Muller Co. in Belgium. It is a gelatinised dense powder in the form of green leaflets, and the charge for a 12-bore cartridge was 33 grains. It contains no inorganic salts.

=EXPLOSIFS N.= See Favier Explosives.

=NAPHTHALIT.=--A German chlorate explosive introduced during the War. It contains not more than 80 per cent. of potassium chlorate, and aromatic hydrocarbons, such as naphthalene, and not more than 12 per cent. of nitro-hydrocarbons, but no trinitro-compounds; also paraffins, fatty oils, flour or other organic substance. It may contain also alkali chlorides, and not more than 4 per cent. of blasting gelatine.

The prefixes Gesteins- and Wetter- are applied according as the explosive is intended for rock or coal mines.

Grisou-=NAPHTALITE=. See =FAVIER= Explosives.

=NATIONALITE.=--A coal-mine explosive of the Grisounite class made by the National Explosives Co., Ltd. The composition, which was on the old Permitted List, was--

Ammonium nitrate 92
Di- and Trinitro-toluene 8

But to pass the Rotherham Test it was necessary to add alkali chlorides. There were two formulæ formerly on the Permitted List--

No. 1. No. 2.
_Date of Permit_ 22-6-14 28-1-15
Ammonium nitrate 65·5 64
Trinitro-toluene 15 15
Sodium chloride 19·5 --
Potassium chloride -- 21

Limit charge 12 20 oz.
Power (swing of
ballistic pendulum) 2·92 2·63”

The permits have been repealed.

=*N.C.T.= is the name given in the British service to the Nitro-Cellulose Tubular smokeless powder, made in the same way as the American service powder. It consists of nitro-cellulose completely soluble in ether-alcohol, but of comparatively high nitration. It is gelatinised with ether-alcohol and pressed into cords with either one or seven perforations running down them length-ways. These are cut into short cylinders and dried. The powder contains a little diphenylamine as a stabiliser.

=N.E.= See New Explosives Company’s Smokeless Powder.

=NEGRO POWDER.=--A coal-mine explosive of the Grisounite class made by Roburite and Ammonal, Ltd. The composition, which was on the old Permitted List, was--

Ammonium nitrate 88
Trinitro-toluene 10
Graphite 2
and a small quantity of colouring matter.

To enable it to pass the Rotherham Test, sodium chloride has been added, and Negro Powder No. 2 is now on the Permitted List--

_Date of Permit_ 25-11-13
Ammonium nitrate 57
Trinitro-toluene 15
Graphite 0·7
Sodium chloride 27·3
Colouring matter small quantity
Limit charge 20 oz.
Power (swing of ballistic pendulum) 2·21”

=NEONAL.=--A coal-mine explosive made by the New Explosives Company. Two formulæ were at one time on the Permitted List--

No. 1.
_Date of Permit_ 1-9-13 22-6-14

Nitroglycerine 21 40
Collodion cotton 1 2
Di- and Trinitro-toluene 0·2 --
Wood meal 15·8 5
Potassium perchlorate 37 14
Ammonium oxalate 25 39
Limit charge 16 30 oz.
Power (swing of ballistic pendulum) 2·56 2·51”

Both have now been repealed.

=*NEONITE.=--A 30-grain bulk gelatinised smokeless shot-gun powder introduced by the New Explosives Co. in 1907. According to an analysis given in “Arms and Explosives,” 1917, p. 76, its composition is--

Nitrocellulose, insoluble 73·0
” soluble 9·0
Metallic nitrates 10·5
Vaseline 5·9
Moisture 1·6

Neonites are also made for various types of rifled small arms, including military rifles, cadet rifles, revolvers and rim-fire rifles. These are all nitrocellulose powders with or without moderants.

=*NEW EXPLOSIVES COMPANY’S SMOKELESS POWDER= or =N.E.=--A 36-grain fibrous bulk powder for shot-guns introduced in 1912. According to an analysis given in “Arms and Explosives,” 1917, p. 76, its composition is--

Nitrocellulose, insoluble 50·0
” soluble 25·8
Metallic nitrates 12·0
Nitro-hydrocarbons 7·0
Vaseline 3·5
Moisture 1·7

=NEW FORTEX.= See =FORTEX=.

=NITRALITE.= See =DENSITE=.

=NITRO-DENSITE.=--A coal-mine explosive made by Kynoch, Ltd. It was of the Carbonite type, and was at one time on the Permitted List--

_Date of Permit_ 1-9-13
Nitroglycerine 18
Barium nitrate 25
Wood meal 5·5
Starch 28·5
French chalk 23

Limit charge 28 oz.
Power (swing of ballistic pendulum) 1·47”

=*NITROKOL.=--A gelatinised nitrocellulose powder intended for use in rifles. It consists of a nitrocellulose, mostly soluble in ether-alcohol, and gelatinised with that solvent. It is made up in the form of small square flakes which are graphited.

=NITROLIT.=--A high explosive used by the Germans for filling shell. It is a mixture of ammonium nitrate and trinitro-anisol.

The name was formerly given by C. Lamm of Stockholm to a blasting explosive containing blasting gelatine, ammonium nitrate and other substances.

=NITRO LOW-FLAME, NOS. 1= and =2= are American coal-mine explosives on the Permissible List. They are nitroglycerine mixtures.

=NOBEL AMMONIA POWDER.=--A coal-mine explosive which was on the old Permitted List--

Ammonium nitrate 84
Nitroglycerine 8
Wood meal 8

=NOBEL GELATINE DYNAMITE.=}

=NOBEL GELIGNITE.=} Under these names explosives were introduced during the War with modified compositions, the potassium nitrate being replaced by sodium nitrate, and the percentage of nitroglycerine being reduced.

=NOBELIT= is a German blasting explosive containing blasting gelatine, carbonaceous substances, inorganic nitrates and sodium or potassium chloride.

=AMMON-NOBELIT= contains ammonium nitrate, and the proportion of blasting gelatine is limited to 4 per cent. It may contain sodium or potassium oxalate, and various other substances that are not present in Nobelit.

=*NORMAL POWDER.=--A smokeless powder which was said to have been adopted by the Governments of Switzerland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Finland. The following analyses were given in “Arms and Explosives,” 1917, p. 91--

Rifle. Shot-gun Powders.
_Date of Sample_ 1895 1913 1902
Nitrocellulose, insoluble 93·0 8·8 40·8
” soluble 3·5 89·4 56·1
Resin 2·0 -- --
Moisture 1·5 1·8 2·0

=NORMANITE.=--A coal-mine explosive which was made by the Cotton Powder Co., and was on the old Permitted List--

Nitroglycerine 33·5
Collodion cotton 1·5
Potassium nitrate 44·5
Wood meal 8
Charcoal 1·5
Ammonium oxalate 11

Explosifs =O= are the chlorate explosives made in the French State factories. O1, O2, O4 and O5 are Cheddites (q. v.). O3 is a Sprengel explosive, and is dealt with under the heading of Prométhée.

=OAKLEY QUARRY POWDER= is a blasting explosive consisting of ammonium nitrate and tetryl.

=OAKLITE.=--A coal-mine explosive made by the Explosives and Chemical Products, Ltd., which was on the old Permitted List--

No. 1. No. 2.
Nitroglycerine 25·5 10
Collodion cotton 1 0·5
Potassium nitrate 34·5 --
Ammonium nitrate -- 79·3
Wood meal 38·7 10
Magnesium carbonate 0·3 0·2

=ODITE.=--A coal-mine explosive which was made by the New Explosives Co., and was on the old Permitted List--

Ammonium nitrate 88
Dinitro-benzene 12

=OPHORITE.=--A mild but hot explosive consisting of--

Potassium perchlorate 60
Magnesium powder 40

It is used as a bursting charge for incendiary shell, smoke bombs, etc.

=ORKANIT= is the same as Alkalsit, but may contain sodium chloride and similar salts.

=OXYLIQUIT= is a blasting explosive consisting of liquid oxygen absorbed in some porous combustile material, such as absorbent cork, soot or kieselguhr mixed with petroleum. It was discovered in 1895 by Prof. F. C. Linde, and was tried on a large scale in 1899 in the construction of the Simplon tunnel. It is very cheap, and is safe in the case of a missfire, because in about half-an-hour the oxygen has all evaporated off and the charge becomes inexplosive. On the other hand, it is necessary to have the air liquefying plant near the scene of operations, and the charge must be fired soon after charging. These disadvantages prevented the adoption of the explosive, but during the War fresh trials were made in Germany in consequence of the scarcity of nitrates.

Liquid oxygen explosives are now used on a considerable scale by the Germans for military, as well as civil blasting operations. The name Oxyliquit, however, seems only to be applied to them when the explosive is made in the manner and with the plant of the Linde Company. See also Marsit.

=PANCLASTITE.=--A Sprengel explosive made by mixing liquid nitrogen peroxide with carbon bisulphide, nitro-benzene or nitro-toluene. It was proposed in 1881 by Turpin, and was tried by Germany for filling shell, the two constituents being contained in separate glass containers, which were broken by the shock of discharge. It was not adopted there on account of the inconvenience of dealing with a liquid which gives off poisonous fumes. It is a powerful and violent explosive, and is probably the same as the “Turpinite” about which sensational statements were made in the press early in the War.

=PANNONIT.=--A blasting explosive made by the A. G. Dynamit Nobel of Austria. It has replaced Progressit in Austria as a coal-mine explosive. Its composition is--

Nitroglycerine 25·5
Collodion cotton 1·5
Ammonium nitrate 37
Dextrin 4
Glycerine 3
Nitro-toluene 5
Sodium or potassium chloride 24

=PASTANIL.=--A German ammonium nitrate blasting explosive similar to Plastammon.

=*P.C./88.=--A Swiss smokeless powder for small-arms consisting of--

Nitrocellulose 82
Trinitro-toluene 18

=PERAGON.=--A German blasting explosive containing potassium perchlorate, zinc-aluminium alloy, aromatic nitrocompounds and some other constituents.

=PERCHLORIT= is a German blasting explosive introduced recently. It contains ammonium nitrate, a perchlorate, mono- and dinitro-compounds, meal, charcoal, and not more than 4 per cent. of nitroglycerine.

=PERDIT.=--An explosive used by the Germans for mining and demolitions and rifle grenades. It consists of--

Ammonium nitrate 76
Potassium perchlorate 6
Wood meal 2
Dinitro-toluene 16

=PERILIT.=--A German perchlorate blasting explosive made by the Koeln-Rottweil Pulverfabriken. It contains not more than 65 per cent. of potassium perchlorate, aromatic nitro-compounds, not more than 6 per cent. of dinitro-chlorhydrin, flour, etc., and nitrates (but not more than 10 per cent. of potassium nitrate).

=PERKORONIT.= See Koronit.

=PERMON POWDER.=--A coal-mine explosive which was on the Permitted List. It was made by the Carbonite Syndicate in Germany, and imported into Great Britain--

_Date of Permit_ 25-11-13

Nitroglycerine 12
Collodion cotton 0·4
Ammonium nitrate 55
Sodium nitrate 1
Glycerine 4
Potato flour 10·6
Sodium chloride 17

Limit charge 18 oz.
Power (swing of ballistic pendulum) 2·57”

The permit was repealed on 21-11-16.

=PERMONITE.=--A potassium perchlorate explosive made by the Carbonite Syndicate at Schlebusch in Germany. A number of mixtures have been placed on the market, but they do not differ from one another very much. One which was on the old British Permitted List was--

Potassium perchlorate 32·2
Ammonium nitrate 41
Nitroglycerine 3·5
Collodion cotton 0·3
Trinitro-toluene 12
Starch 8
Wood meal 3

See also Gesteins Leonit.

=PERRUMPIT.=--A German coal-mine explosive containing ammonium nitrate, sodium nitrate, vegetable meal, fatty oils, graphite and aluminium, cooling agents such as ammonium oxalate or sodium chloride, and not more than 15 per cent. of trinitro-toluene.

=PERSALIT= is a German perchlorate explosive made by the Westfälisch-Anhaltische Sprengstoff A.-G. It contains not more than 77 per cent. of an alkali or alkali earth perchlorate, organic matter such as hydrocarbons, resins, meal or nitrated hydrocarbons (with the proviso that if the percentage of perchlorate exceed 70, there must not be more than 10 per cent. of trinitro-toluene). There must also be not less than 4 per cent. of ammonium nitrate, and there may be an addition of sodium nitrate or other salt that does not increase the sensitiveness.

=WETTER-PERSALIT= is a similar explosive, but has been modified to make it more suitable for use in coal mines. It contains not more than 35 per cent. of potassium perchlorate, not more than 25 per cent. of ammonium nitrate, aromatic nitro-compounds of which not more than 20 per cent. must be trinitro-toluene, vegetable meal, not more than 6 per cent. of nitroglycerine, sodium nitrate, and neutral salts. It is similar to Neu-Leonit.

=PETROKLASTIT= or =HALOKLASTIT= is a modified gunpowder mixture used in Germany in potash mines and stone quarries. It contains sodium nitrate, sulphur, coal-tar pitch, potassium nitrate, not more than 1 per cent. of potassium bichromate, and may have up to 10 per cent. of charcoal, as, for instance--

Sodium nitrate 69
Potassium nitrate 5
Sulphur 10
Coal-tar pitch 15
Potassium bichromate 1

It is more powerful than ordinary blasting powder, and somewhat less sensitive to blows. This explosive is also made in Switzerland.

=PETROLIT= is a German chlorate explosive introduced during the War. It contains not more than 88 per cent. of potassium chlorate, nitro-compounds, kerosene, and neutral salts. (This is rather a dangerous mixture.--A.M.)

=PFALZIT.=--A German blasting explosive containing ammonium nitrate, sodium nitrate, not more than 13 per cent. of trinitro-toluene, not more than 1 per cent. of collodion cotton, meal, sodium chloride, etc.

=PHŒNIX POWDER.=--A German coal-mine explosive made by Dr. R. Nahnsen and Co., of Hamburg. It passed the Woolwich Test and was on the old Permitted List.

Nitroglycerine 29·5
Collodion cotton 0·5
Potassium nitrate 32
Wood meal 38

=PICROL.=--See Shellite.

=PIERRITE.=--A form of Cheddite which was made at Gamsee, near Brig, for excavating the Simplon tunnel--

Potassium chlorate 80
Nitro-naphthalene 11·5
Picric acid 2
Castor oil 6·5

=PIT-ITE= was a coal-mine explosive of the Carbonite type, made by the New Explosives Co., Ltd. The composition, which was on the old Permitted List, was--

Nitroglycerine 26
Barium nitrate 33
Wood meal 41
and a little sodium or calcium carbonate.

In order to pass the Rotherham Test, the composition was modified to the following, No. 2, which was formerly on the Permitted List--

_Date of Permit_ 1-9-13
Nitroglycerine 24
Potassium nitrate 30
Wood meal 38
Ammonium oxalate 8

Limit charge over 32 oz.
Power (swing of ballistic pendulum) 2·15”

=PITSEA POWDER NO. 2= was a coal-mine explosive on the Permitted List, made by the British Explosives Syndicate, Ltd.--

_Date of Permit_ 25-11-13
Nitroglycerine 6·5
Ammonium nitrate 55
Potassium nitrate 10
Wood meal 10
Ammonium oxalate 18·5

Limit charge 8 oz.
Power (swing of ballistic pendulum) 2·64”

The permit has been repealed.

Gesteins-=PLASTAMMON=.--A German blasting explosive containing not less than 70 per cent. of ammonium nitrate, glycerine, not more than 15 per cent. of nitro-toluene or other nitro-compounds, and not more than 4 per cent. of nitro-semicellulose.

Steinkohlen-=PLASTAMMON= is a variation of this, containing not more than 25 per cent. of potassium nitrate, and intended for use in coal mines.

=*PLASTOMENIT= was an early German shot-gun powder which possessed no great merits. The following was the composition of a sample examined in 1893, and given in “Arms and Explosives,” 1917, p. 90--

Nitrocellulose, insoluble 32·7
” soluble 19·3
Metallic nitrates 21·0
Dinitro-toluene (solvent) 26·0
Moisture 1·0

=PLASTROTYL.=--A German high explosive for filling shell. It consists of a partially liquid mixture of trinitro- and dinitro-toluene gelatinised by means of not more than 0·5 per cent. of collodion cotton, and mixed with a small quantity of turpentine or soft resin. It does not appear to be in use now.

=PLESSIT= is a blasting explosive that was introduced in Germany during the War. It consists of potassium chlorate, not more than 9·5 per cent. of kerosene and 0·5 per cent. of albumen. Wetter-Plessit III. contains sodium chloride as well.

=PNIOWIT.=--A German blasting explosive containing ammonium nitrate, trinitro-toluene, wood meal and a small percentage of potassium perchlorate.

Nobel =POLARITE= is a blasting explosive made by Nobel’s Explosives Co., Ltd. It consists of potassium perchlorate, and nitroglycerine mixed with a nitro-compound and gelatinised with collodion cotton, and absorbed in wood meal.

Poudres =B=, =J=, =M=, =S=, =T=. See under respective letters.

=PRAEPOSIT= is a modified gunpowder--

Potassium (or sodium) nitrate 70
Sulphur 18
Charcoal 6
Hipposin 6

the last constituent being a fine powdery substance obtained from dried horse dung. It is slower than ordinary blasting powder and more expensive. It has a tendency to blow out, and opinions as to its value vary. Formerly it was supplied in the form of a fine powder, but it is now granulated or made into compressed cartridges.

=*PRIMROSE SMOKELESS= is an inexpensive 42-grain bulk powder for shot-guns made by the New Explosives Co.

=PROGRESSIT= was an explosive formerly used in Austrian coal mines--

Ammonium nitrate 94 89
Aniline hydrochloride 6 5
Ammonium sulphate -- 6

It was superseded in 1913 by Pannonit.

=PROMÉTHÉE= or =PROMETHEUS= is a Sprengel explosive made by the French Government, by whom it is also called Explosif O3. It consists of a porous oxygen carrier and a liquid combustible, which are supplied separately, and the one is dipped in the other shortly before use--

_a_ _b_ _c_
Potassium chlorate 95 90 80 }
Manganese dioxide 5 10 20 } Oxygen carrier, 92 to 87%

1 2
Nitro-benzene 50 60 }
Turpentine 20 15 } Combustible, 8 to 13%
Naphtha 30 25 }

Any combination of _a_, _b_ or _c_ with 1 or 2 may be used. The amount of liquid combustible taken up may vary from 8 to 13 per cent.: this irregularity is a serious defect, and may cause incomplete detonation. This explosive is also made in Italy.

=PROSPERIT= is a German ammonium nitrate explosive, containing also vegetable meal, nitro-compounds and other constituents. It may contain up to 4 per cent. of blasting gelatine.

Gelatine-Prosperit contains also up to 20 per cent. of dinitro-chlorhydrin gelatinised with collodion cotton.

=PULVÉRIN.=--An ungranulated black powder made in France for use in fireworks, etc.

=PULVÉRITE.=--A Belgian coal-mine explosive containing perchlorate--

Ammonium nitrate 30·5
Potassium perchlorate 24
Nitroglycerine 6
Collodion cotton 0·5
Trinitro-toluene 7
Flour 5
Sodium chloride 18
Ammonium sulphate 7
Barium sulphate 2

The “charge limite” is 850 grammes, equivalent to 504 grammes of Dynamite No. 1.

=PYROCOLLODION= is a nitrocotton almost entirely soluble in ether-alcohol, and of comparatively high nitration. It contains about 12·5 to 12·7 per cent. of nitrogen, and consequently has about enough oxygen to oxidise all its hydrogen to water, and its carbon to the monoxide. It was first prepared by Mendeléeff for the Russian smokeless powder, and was afterwards adopted by the United States for their present powder.

=PYROXILINE= was a name formerly given to nitro-cellulose.

=RACK-A-ROCK= is a Sprengel explosive which has been used extensively in America, and also in Siberia and China. It consists of cartridges of potassium chlorate mixed sometimes with oxide of iron, which are dipped shortly before use into a liquid. The latter is nitro-benzene or “dead oil,” a heavy hydrocarbon oil obtained from coal-tar, or a mixture of the two. The chlorate cartridges are enclosed in small cotton bags, and are placed in a wire basket suspended from a spring balance. They are dipped into a vessel containing the liquid until a quarter or a third of the weight of the chlorate has been taken up.

=RASCHIT= is a blasting explosive consisting entirely of salts readily soluble in water, invented by F. Raschig. The incorporation is carried out by dissolving the constituents in water, and evaporating the solution rapidly on a rotating steam-heated drum. The oxidising substance is ammonium or sodium nitrate, and the combustible is the sodium salt of an organic sulphonate or the residue obtained from the manufacture of wood cellulose.