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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Signal Lights
Such lights are generally composed of sulphur and nitre, with a small quantity of metallic sulphuret. Mix 600 grains nitre, 2 sulphur, and 100 yellow sulphuret of arsenic, and ram it into a conical paper case. When touched with a red-hot iron it deflagrates rapidly with a brilliant white light. The sulphuret of antimony may be substituted for that of arsenic.