alone. The nitro-glycerine, furthermore, being itself a solvent of
gun-cotton, much less of the volatile ether is necessary to render the
compound of an amorphous character. Being quite plastic this substance
may be wrought or moulded into any desired size or form of grain.

This simple compound of nitro-glycerine and gun-cotton, or with some
slight modifications, has been found, when properly granulated, to be
the most smokeless powder that has yet been discovered or invented. If
pure chemicals are employed in the manufacture, and the gun-cotton and
nitro-glycerine be made of the highest nitration and best quality, we
have a smokeless powder which will possess the following desirable
qualities:

1st. It is absolutely smokeless, that is, its products of combustion are
entirely gaseous.

2d. Its products of combustion are in no way deleterious or unpleasant.

3d. It is perfectly safe to manufacture, handle and transport. There is
no more danger of its exploding accidentally than there would be of an
explosion of shavings or sawdust; for, unless well confined and set off
with a strong primer, it will not explode at all. In the open its
combustion is so slow as to in no way resemble or partake of the nature
of an explosion.

4th. It is perfectly stable, and will keep any length of time absolutely
without undergoing any change whatever, under all conditions of
temperature or exposure to which gunpowder would ever be subjected.

5th. It is not hygroscopic, and may be soaked in water without being at