Путешествие на Луну
The Question of the Powders
Now,1,600,000poundsofpowderwillcreate6,000,000,000litresofgas.Sixthousandmillions!Youquiteunderstand?"
"Whatistobedonethen?"saidthegeneral.
"Thethingisverysimple;wemustreducethisenormousquantityofpowder,whilepreservingtoititsmechanicalpower."
"Good;butbywhatmeans?"
"Iamgoingtotellyou,"repliedBarbicanequietly.
"Nothingismoreeasythantoreducethismasstoonequarterofitsbulk.Youknowthatcuriouscellularmatterwhichconstitutestheelementarytissuesofvegetable?Thissubstanceisfoundquitepureinmanybodies,especiallyincotton,whichisnothingmorethanthedownoftheseedsofthecottonplant.Nowcotton,combinedwithcoldnitricacid,becometransformedintoasubstanceeminentlyinsoluble,combustible,andexplosive.Itwasfirstdiscoveredin1832,byBraconnot,aFrenchchemist,whocalleditxyloidine.In1838anotherFrenchman,Pelouze,investigateditsdifferentproperties,andfinally,in1846,Schonbein,professorofchemistryatBale,proposeditsemploymentforpurposesofwar.Thispowder,nowcalledpyroxyle,orfulminatingcotton,ispreparedwithgreatfacilitybysimplyplungingcottonforfifteenminutesinnitricacid,thenwashingitinwater,thendryingit,anditisreadyforuse."
"Nothingcouldbemoresimple,"saidMorgan.
"Moreover,pyroxyleisunalteredbymoisture—avaluablepropertytous,inasmuchasitwouldtakeseveraldaystochargethecannon.
