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A compleat history of druggs divided into three classes, vegetable, animal and mineral : with their use in physick, chymistry, pharmacy, and several other arts, illustrated ... / written by Monsieur Pomet ; to which is added what is further observable on the same subject from Messrs. Lemery, and Tournefort ... Done into English from the originals [by Joseph Browne].

  • Pierre Pomet
Date:
1712
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A compleat history of druggs divided into three classes, vegetable, animal and mineral : with their use in physick, chymistry, pharmacy, and several other arts, illustrated ... / written by Monsieur Pomet ; to which is added what is further observable on the same subject from Messrs. Lemery, and Tournefort ... Done into English from the originals [by Joseph Browne]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    then take out the Coals for Ufe, which re¬ duce into a fine Powder. Of thefe Ingredients the Country People in the XJkxain in Poland^ and the Co(facl{s make it with their own Hands thus. They put their Proportions of Nitre, Sulphur and Charcoal, (being all in fine Powder) all together in an earthen Pot, upon which they put fair Water, •then they boil upon the Fire ’till all is evapo¬ rated, and the Matter becomes thick like Pafte, and taking it from the Fire they make it yet dryer in the Sun, or in a Stove, or the like, ’till it is fit to corn ; then they granulate it by pairing it through a Hair Sieve, making the Grains of what Bignefs they pleafe, and this lerves their rural Occafions, as well as if it had been made by the moft skilful Ar- tift in the World. But in order to the truly Knowing and Making of Gnn-powder, it is fit that you Ihould firft know the Kinds thereof, and then the dtfterent Strength of each : The Kinds are threefold, i. Canon Powder, 2. Mufquec Powder, 3. Piftol Powder, and of each of thefe there are two Teveral Kinds, •vi::(. a ftronger and a vpeakpr, all which Differences arifes only from the various and differing Proportions of the above enumerated three In¬ gredients. The exacfl Limitations of which we come now immediately to declare. Cannon. 1 • 1 «a Nitre. Sulphur. Coal. 10,0 2.5 2 5 [ 0.0 J.8 2.0 f 0.0 ^ r.2 S 1.5 ^ Nitre, ' Sulphur. ÇoaL f 0.0 2.0 2.4 iq.o ..8| 10.0 ^ I.o .s 1.8 s The Preparations declared, I. Cannon Powder, i. The Stronger. To every loofc. of Saltpetre, there is Sulphur 2516. Charcole 251^ 2. The Weaker. To every looft. of Saltpetre, Sul¬ phur 20tb. Charcoal 24tt>. II. Mufqaet Powder. 1. Stronger,' To Saltpetre icotfe. Sulphur Charcoal 20ft. 2. The Weaker. To Saltpetre icelfc. Sulphur Charcole III. P/jhT Pùwder. 1. The Stronger. To Saltpeter looft. Sulphur 12ft. Coal 15ft. 2. The M^eaker. To Saltpeter looft. Sulphur loft. Charcoal i8jt. as in the Table annexed, which are the Num¬ bers, and in the fame Proportion, but in leffer Quantities or Dicimals. The Way of making it. All thefe Ingredients are to be finely powdered, and they are to be moiftened wdth fair Water or Vinegar, or Spirit of Wine, or Water and Spirit of Wine mixt together, or Urine, which is ulual ; then let all be well beaten together for the. Space of twenty four Hours at leaf!:, and then granulated after the following Manner. You muft prepare a Sieve with a Bottom of thick Parchment made full of round Holes, and the former beaten Mafs muft before hand be moiftened with the following Liquor, Spirit of Wine |xx. Spirit of Wine Vinegar, ?xij. Spirit of Nitre, lilij. Spirit of Sal Armoîiiack^ |ij. Camphir, %\. diffolved in Spirit of Wine, mix together for the Purpofe aforefaid. Or in ftead thereof, if all thefe Things cannot be had with this. B/. Brandy %xl. Champhir IJ. mix anddijfolve .3 the Mafs being made up into Balls as large as Eggs, which put into the Sieve, and with them a wooden Ball, which fo move up and down aboirf the Seve, that it may break the Balls of Powder, and make it pafs through the little Holes into Corns. Butin making of vaft Quantities foria natu¬ ral Ufe, to do it all by the Eland would be a moft tedious and flavifh Work, and there¬ fore Kings and the fupream Rulers of Coun¬ tries have provided Alills for that very Pur¬ pofe, by Help of which they can do more in one Day, than a Man can in an hundred, ' You may make Ponder of various Colours, if yon fo pleafe, but then you muft leave out the Charcoal, and put in as much for it of ano¬ ther Thing of the Colour you intend, which, may be as apt to kindle or take Fire as Char¬ cole is ; but for real Service, whether ÇoxWar or Huntifig, See. the klack Powder is much to he prefer’d ; yet for Satisfadion’s fake, we will give you the Diredions for. making white Powder. White Powder. Take Saltpeter , loft. SuU phur, ftj. Saw-dujl of Elder, or the like Wood, dried and powdered fine, ftij. mix and make Pow¬ der by the former DireBions. Dr thus; 'fy Nitre loft. Sulphur, ftjiS. dried and finely powdered, Saw-ditfi %i]. mix and make Poyvder. Or Thusj Nitre loft Sulphur, ftij. Rotten Wood dried and powdered, ftij. Salt of Tartar lii). mix and make Powder to be kept clofe from the Air. This is alfo to be noted, That in making Piflol Powder, if you would have it ftronger or more violent, you ought to ftiiMt up feveral Times while it is in the Morur, and moiften i-: