Explosive Materials

This book is included in the Self Reliance Firearms & Weaponry section.
Preface
THE first edition of this number of Van Nostrand's Science Series having become exhausted, it became necessary, 
in order to keep the series complete, to issue a new edition. But in the fifteen years which have elapsed since the 
appearance of the first edition, many changes have taken place in the views regarding the phenomena of 
explosions, and many new explosives have attracted the world's attention, particularly the important class of 
smokeless powders. Therefore, since the theory advanced by Berthelot no longer accounts for all the known 
phenomena, it was deemed best by the publishers to have the entire number rewritten.

The present volume is the result of this decision. The subject-matter is based on the original essay of Berthelot, 
and such matter has been added, as it is believed, will render the little work more generally useful.

We are indebted to Prof. J. P. Cooke of Harvard University for the first clear explanation of the action of explosive
compounds, and for directing attention to the necessity for studying structural formulae in this connection. The few 
pages devoted to the subject of explosives in the new work of Professor Tillman of the U. S. Military Academy, 
present the subject in simple language, but in a most satisfactory way, especially as regards the distinctions 
between the classes of explosive compounds. But the greatest authority on explosives in this country is probably
Professor C. E. Munroe, formerly of the U. S. Naval Torpedo Station, now of Columbia University, Washington, D. C.
Traces of his work are evident in all the later literature on the subject, and much of the interest in the field of 
explosives in this country was inspired by his labors. Lieutenant Walke, in charge of the Department of chemistry 
and explosives at the U. S. Artillery School, has embodied the gist of Professor Munroe's lectures in the new edition 
of his work, which has, besides, excellent descriptions of the latest processes of manufacturing the principal 
explosives. The dictionary of Lieutenant-Colonel J. P. Cundill, R. A. (now in its second edition) is, of course, 
invaluable in the study of the latest forms of smokeless and other powders, and we were fortunate, too, in learning 
the views of Professor Mendeleef on explosives, through the Proceedings U. S. Naval Institute, Revise d' Artillerie 
and Arms and Explosives.

The author, therefore, desires to express his obligations to the following works, besides the original volume (No. 70)
of this series.

	The New Chemistry. Prof. J. P. Cooke, Jr. D. Appleton & Co.
	Descriptive General Chemistry. Prof. S. E. Tillman, U. S. Military Academy.
	Lectures on Chemistry and Explosives. Prof. Charles E. Munroe, Naval Torpedo Station.
	Lectures on Explosives. Lieut. W. Walke, U. S Artillery School. Wiley & Sons.
	Ordnance and Gunnery. Gapt. L. L. Bruff, U. S. Military Academy. Wiley & Sons.
	Dictionary of Explosives. Lieut. - Col. J. P. Cundill, R. A. London : Eyre & Spottiswoode.
	Militaer - Wochenblatt. Mittler u. Sohn, Berlin. 
	Proceedings U.S. Naval Institute. Annapolis, Md.
	Revue d' Artillerie. Paris, France.
	Arms and Explosives. London, England.
J. P. W.
FORT MONROE, VA.,
March 8, 1898.


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