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 describes trade processes that use dangerously toxic materials such as cyanide solutions, mercury amalgams, or strong acids. These processes require training, equipment, and precautions far beyond what the text describes.
This information has been left in for historical purposes but should not be acted upon.
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Electric Tissue
Steep linen or cotton 1 hour in a mixture of 1 part strong sulphuric acid and 3 of pure nitric acid; squeeze out the acid, wash with water until no sensible acidity remains, plunge it in a weak alkaline solution, then in water, and dry.
By friction it yields a large quantity of resinous electricity.