Important: Safety Warning
This page contains instructions involving gunpowder or other explosive or pyrotechnic compositions. Preparing explosives as described has caused severe injuries and deaths, and is illegal in most places.
In addition, this page contains a formula or preparation using substances now known to be dangerously toxic, such as arsenic, mercury, lead, or cyanide compounds. Exposure to these substances can cause severe poisoning, permanent injury, or death.
This information has been left in for historical purposes but should not be acted upon.
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Bird's Blue Fire
1 part charcoal, 1 part orpiment (yellow sulphuret of arsenic), 16 parts black. sulphuret of antimony, 48 parts nitre, and 64 parts sulphur. 2071. Bengal, or Blue Signal Light, used at Sea. 1 part tersulphide of antimony, 2 parts sulphur, and 6 parts dry nitre. (See No. 2065.)