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.
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Fulminating Antimony
Grind steam (not hotter than 2120) or hot water. well together 100 parts of dried tartar emetic, and 3 parts of lampblack, or charcoal powder; then take a crucible capable of holding 3 ounces of water, and having ground its edge smooth, and rubbed the inside with powdered charcoal, 1/4 fill it with the above mixture, cover it with a layer of charcoal powder, and lute on the cover. Expose it for 3 hours to a strong heat in a reverberatory furnace, and, when taken out, let it stand to cool for 6 or 7 hours before removing its contents, to prevent an explosion. The crucible being now opened, This is the formula of Dr. Ure, and said to be the cheapest and safest. If parts by measure be adopted, the above proportions will be, for 100 parts, by measure, of mercury, 740 parts nitric acid, and 830 parts alcohol.