TRANSCRIBER'S NOTE

For consistency and clarity, a space (when absent) has been placed between the number and the unit of weight lb. and lbs. giving for example '21 lbs.' in place of '21lbs.'

Fractions, usually in the form '14 3-4' in the original text, have been converted to the form '14³/₄' in this etext.

Also, in a few larger tables with italic styling on some text, this italic styling has been removed, for consistency with the .txt version. In a few cases a word has been abbreviated to conserve table space: cal. = caliber; diam. = diameter.

Some instances of Tome in French citations have been changed to Tome (no italic), for consistency.

Some accents and spelling in French citations have been corrected.

For consistency, instances of 'fireworks' and 'fire works' have been changed to the predominant form 'fire-works'.

Obvious typographical errors and punctuation errors have been corrected after careful comparison with other occurrences within the text and consultation of external sources.

The cover image was created by the transcriber and is placed in the public domain.

More detail can be found at the end of the book.

A

SYSTEM OF PYROTECHNY,

COMPREHENDING THE THEORY AND PRACTICE, WITH THE APPLICATION OF CHEMISTRY;

DESIGNED FOR EXHIBITION AND FOR WAR.

IN FOUR PARTS:

CONTAINING AN ACCOUNT OF THE SUBSTANCES USED IN FIRE-WORKS; THE INSTRUMENTS, UTENSILS, AND MANIPULATIONS; FIRE-WORKS FOR EXHIBITION; AND MILITARY PYROTECHNY.

ADAPTED TO THE

MILITARY AND NAVAL OFFICER, THE MAN OF SCIENCE AND ARTIFICER.

BY JAMES CUTBUSH, A.S.U.S.A.

LATE ACTING PROFESSOR OF CHEMISTRY AND MINERALOGY, IN THE UNITED STATES' MILITARY ACADEMY—MEMBER OF THE AMERICAN PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY—CORRESPONDING MEMBER OF THE COLUMBIAN INSTITUTE—MEMBER OF THE LINNÆAN AND AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES OF PHILADELPHIA—LATE PRESIDENT OF THE COLUMBIAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY, AND VICE-PRESIDENT OF THE SOCIETY FOR THE PROMOTION OF A RATIONAL SYSTEM OF EDUCATION, &C. &C. &C.

PHILADELPHIA:
PUBLISHED BY CLARA F. CUTBUSH.
1825.

EASTERN DISTRICT OF PENNSYLVANIA, to wit:

BE IT Remembered, that on the ninth day of February, in the forty-ninth year of the independence of the United States of America, A. D. 1825, Clara F. Cutbush, of the said district, hath deposited in this office the title of a book, the right whereof she claims as proprietor, in the words following, to wit:

A System of Pyrotechny, comprehending the Theory and Practice, with the application of Chemistry; designed for Exhibition and for War. In four parts: containing an account of the Substances used in Fire-Works; the Instruments, Utensils, and Manipulations; Fire-Works for Exhibition; and Military Pyrotechny. Adapted to the Military and Naval Officer, the Man of Science, and Artificer. By James Cutbush, A. S. U. S. A. late Acting Professor of Chemistry and Mineralogy in the United States' Military Academy—Member of the American Philosophical Society—Corresponding Member of the Columbian Institute—Member of the Linnæan and Agricultural Societies of Philadelphia—late President of the Columbian Chemical Society, and Vice-President of the Society for the Promotion of a Rational System of Education, &c. &c. &c.

In conformity to the act of the congress of the United States, intituled "An act for the encouragement of learning, by securing the copies of maps, charts, and books, to the authors and proprietors of such copies, during the times therein mentioned."—And also to the act, entitled, "An act supplementary to an act, entitled, "An act for the encouragement of learning, by securing the copies of maps, charts, and books, to the authors and proprietors of such copies during the times therein mentioned," and extending the benefits thereof to the arts of designing, engraving, and etching historical and other prints."

D. CALDWELL,

Clerk of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

To the Corps of Cadets, of the United States' Military Academy, West Point;

Gentlemen,

To you, a scientific and distinguished Corps, this work on Pyrotechny is respectfully dedicated. Your liberal subscription first encouraged me to undertake its publication; for which, accept my grateful thanks.

CLARA F. CUTBUSH.

ADVERTISEMENT.

In submitting the present work to the public, it may be proper to state some of the difficulties, under which it has been published, and to bespeak an indulgent allowance for any imperfections, which may be observed in the style or arrangement. As a posthumous work, it has been deprived of those final improvements and emendations, which are generally made by Authors, while their works are in progress of publication. While, however, the work has laboured under these disadvantages, the publisher has felt it her duty to make every arrangement, to supply, as far as possible, the want of the author's personal superintendence of the publication. This course was due to the scientific reputation of her late husband, as well as to the numerous and generous patrons of the work.

Philadelphia, April, 1825.

TABLE OF CONTENTS.

PART I.
CHAPTER 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

CHAPTER II.
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

PART II.
Instruments, Tools, and Utensils,			228

CHAPTER I.
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.

CHAPTER II.
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.

PART III.
Fire-Works in General,			255

CHAPTER I.
Observations on Fire-works,			255

CHAPTER II.
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

CHAPTER III.
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.

CHAPTER IV.
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

CHAPTER V.
Of Matches, Leaders, and Touch Paper,			292

CHAPTER VI.
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.

CHAPTER VII.
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

CHAPTER VIII.
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

CHAPTER IX.
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

CHAPTER X.
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

CHAPTER XI.
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

CHAPTER XII.
Of the Arrangement of Fire-works for Exhibition,			452

The Project Gutenberg eBook of A system of pyrotechny

A SYSTEM OF PYROTECHNY,

TABLE OF CONTENTS.

A

SYSTEM OF PYROTECHNY,