Experiments and observations to investigate the nature of a kind of steel, manufactured at Bombay, and there called wootz: with remarks on the properties and composition of the different states of iron / By George Pearson.

  • George Pearson
Date:
[1795]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Experiments and observations to investigate the nature of a kind of steel, manufactured at Bombay, and there called wootz: with remarks on the properties and composition of the different states of iron / By George Pearson. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    6/60 (page 2)
    fmooth, with feme rather rough particles, and it is gritty In the mouth. Moft parcels at firft are taftelefs ; but in about' a minute there is a flight brafiy tafte. It is perfedlly inodorous. Specific gravity. This powder feels much heavier than any of the common earths and ftones In a pulverized ftate. One of the phials, nearly full, in which it is fold, reckoned to hold a quantity equal to twelve packets, or 480 grains, contained 470 grains troy weight of James’s powder. This- plhal, filled with dl(- tilled water to the fame height that it had been by the powder, was found to contain nearly four drachm-meafures, or about .240 grains, of this liquid Eft els of fire. (^/) The exterior part of the flame of a candle applied, by means of the blow-pipe, to about one, two, and three grains of James’s Powder on charcoal, and alio in the fpoon, only made it yellowifh while hot, but, on cooling, this colour difap- peared. The interior and hottefl: part of the blue flame turned this powder yellow, and when continued fo as to ignite It, a white Inodorous fume or vapour arofe, which foon ceafed ; and though the heat was continued, the powder neither ap- peared to diminiih nor melt; but, on cooling, a (lightly co- After this Paper had been read, an experiment, in a diiTerent manner, was made to alcertain the fpecihe gravity of this powder. The quantity which nearly filled a phial weighed 4^7 grains ; and filling the fame phial, to the fame height, with dlflillcd water, the temperature of which was 65°, the water weighed 250. grains. The rer.fon of the variation in thefe i'cfults, in making ufe of different jiarctls of this medicine, will be obvious, from the following account of its prep a ration, and the great didiculty of determining, with accuracy, the fpecific ■gi'avity ol powders. fieri 112: o