Ordnance Powder. Small Arms Powder.
Nitrogen 37·58 } { 35·33 }
Carbonic anhydride 42·74 } { 48·90 }
Carbonic oxide 10·19 } { 5·18 }
Hydrogen 5·93 } 100 { 6·90 } 100
Sulphuretted hydrogen 0·86 } { 0·67 }
Marsh gas 2·70 } { 3·02 }
It will be seen from the above figures that in addition to the generation
of a considerable amount of carbonic anhydride (carbonic acid) by the
combustion of gunpowder, there is liberated at the same time a large
quantity of solid matter, in the form of sulphate and carbonate of potash,
sulphide of potassium, sulphur, charcoal, &c. This will explain why the
air of mines is so prejudicial to the health of the miner, particularly
when he is engaged in blasting operations, these being carried on in a
more or less confined space. See AIR, VITIATED.
=Gunpowder, Schultze.= The subjoined account of Schultze gunpowder is a
transcription of a report communicated to the editor of the 'Field'
newspaper by Mr F. Toms, A.I.C., F.C.S. After referring to a previous
communication on the same subject Mr Toms proceeds as follows:--I have
carried out some further experiments, with the aid (by Dr Frankland's kind
permission) of apparatus more suited to my requirements than that
previously at my disposal; and I now proceed to lay before you the results
of these experiments, and the conclusions to which they have led me,
respecting the powders formerly received and the new Schultze powder, with
a sample of which you have since favoured me.
The main constituent of the Schultze gunpowder, as you are aware, is wood
fibre, which, having first been purified, is then subjected to the action
of strong nitric acid (intensified by mixture with sulphuric acid), and
thus is converted into a kind of nitro-cellulose or pyroxylin, the
ordinary form of which is gun-cotton. The wood fibre undergoes no change
in appearance by this treatment; but a change takes place in its chemical
composition, which may thus be exemplified:
CELLULOSE NITRO-CELLULOSE
(unconverted cotton or (cotton or wood fibre treated
wood fibre). with nitric acid).
Carbon 6 parts 6 parts.
Oxygen 5 " 5 "
Hydrogen 10 " 7 " or more.
Nitroxyl (NO_{2}) none 3 " or less.
It will thus be seen that the sole difference between gun-cotton or
Schultze powder and ordinary cotton or wood fibre is, that some of the
hydrogen is abstracted and has its place supplied by nitroxyl--a substance
contained in nitric acid, and composed of one part of nitrogen united with
two parts of oxygen. Under the most favorable circumstances, it is
possible to replace _three_ of the ten parts of hydrogen by three of the
nitroxyl, when the substance produced is explosive, and is called from
its composition _tri_-nitro-cellulose. This is the purest form of
gun-cotton. If weaker acid is used, less hydrogen is displaced, and the
product is called _di_-nitro-cellulose or _mono_-nitro-cellulose,
according as it contains _two_ or only _one_ part of nitroxyl. These
derivatives are either feebly explosive or not explosive at all. Such are
the compounds known as photographic collodion and soluble gun cotton--the
latter name distinguishing it from pure gun-cotton, which is not soluble
in a mixture of ether and alcohol.
The Schultze powder contains both the explosive and the non-explosive
varieties of nitro-cellulose.
If the wood fibre, after being carefully purified according to the method
described in Schultze's patent of 1864, were thoroughly desiccated and
allowed to cool out of contact with air, and then dipped in acid of the
strength mentioned in the specification, there seems no theoretical
reason why an explosive powder containing at least 90% of true
tri-nitro-cellulose should not be produced. As, however, I find on
experiment that nothing like that per-centage is arrived at, I can only
conclude that, in order to moderate the violence of the explosion, the
Schultze Company secure the formation of a large per-centage of "soluble"
or less explosive nitro-compounds by merely air-drying their wood.
If this supposition be generally true, it seems probable that the sample
of Schultze powder supplied by Messrs Blissett may owe its extra explosive
force to exceptional care being taken, during the interval between the
drying and the dipping, to prevent the absorption of moisture--with the
addition, perhaps, of an increased length of exposure to the action of the
acid.
That some such variation of the ordinary procedure was carried out seems
evident from the different proportions of soluble and insoluble gun-cotton
in the specimens of Schuitze powder supplied by Messrs Blissett and Messrs
Bland; for it was found that on the washed wood fibre from each being
submitted to the action of a mixture of alcohol and ether, about one half
of the former powder and two thirds of the latter were dissolved out. This
shows that while the "Blissett" specimen contained about one half its
weight of insoluble or explosive nitro-cellulose, the "Bland" contained
only about one third--a difference which confirms the result obtained by
analysis as stated below.
The _soluble_ gun-cotton, ordinarily non-explosive, may, however, be
rendered explosive by saturating it with bodies rich in oxygen, which
promote the decomposition and complete the combustion of the fibre. Nitre
is used for that purpose, because it parts with its oxygen readily; and
nitrate of baryta is also used, because, being more stable than the nitre,
it renders the combustion more gradual than would be the case if nitre
were alone employed. When both are used, the nitre, I should think, would
start, and the nitrate of baryta continue and finish the combustion of the
powder. The amount used is, I suppose, the result of calculation and
experiment; but a powder containing little true tri-nitro-cellulose should
require more of these salts than one containing much tri-nitro-cellulose;
and an excess of the salts would lower the rate of burning of the powder.
I will now give my analysis in full of the three powders, viz.--(1) the
ordinary powder issued last season, being part of a supply obtained from
Messrs Bland, gunmakers, of the Strand; (2) some powder furnished by
Messrs Blissett, of Holborn, and alluded to in their letter in the 'Field'
of Jan. 19th last, as having damaged a gun made by them; and (3) some of
the new powder of 1878, as used at the 'Field' trial of explosives in May
last.
1877 1878
Bland's. Blissett's. Trial or
New.
Moisture, per cent. 2·18 2·39 2·97
{Nitrate of baryta, per cent. 21·50 16·59 22·32
Extracted { " potash, per cent. 11·46 10·46 6·47
by water. {Yellow coloured organic
{substance, trace of chlorides,
{&c., undetermined
{The converted wood fibre }
Insoluble { (nitro-cellulose) then }
in water. { remaining contained the } 5·0 6·0 2·95
{ following per-centage of }
{ mineral matter }
The converted wood fibre (after allowing for extraneous mineral matter)
possessed the following per-centage composition. I place for comparison
Professor Abel's determination of the composition of tri-nitro-cellulose,
and two of the impurities found along with it, in a parallel column.
Bland's. Blissett's. Trial or New. Tri-nitro- Impurities.
Cellulose.
Carbon 28·75 28·07 28·12 24·24 29·20 30·50
Hydrogen 3·49 3·65 3·54 2·36 -- 2·91
Nitrogen 10·80 15·60 11·66 14·14 11·85 --
Oxygen 56·06 52·68 56·68 59·26 -- --
These powders exploded at a temperature of about 190° C. (374° F.), the
different samples varying but slightly. Pure gun-cotton is stated by
Professor Abel to explode at 150° C. (302° F.); and black powders are
said, by different authorities, to explode at various temperatures between
500° and 600° F., according to the variation in their composition and
manufacture.
In addition to the difference in chemical composition of these Schultze
powders, I would point out that there is a difference in density--the
Blissett being heaviest, the Bland next, and the New the lightest of the
three. I think this fact also has some bearing on the violence of the
explosion. In black powders, I believe, a dense powder, speaking
generally, is stronger than a lighter one; and the Schultze patent states
that hard woods make more explosive powders--not, I take it, because the
composition is thereby altered, but because a denser powder is produced.
It would appear to me, from the above analyses, that the new trial powder
should contain rather more explosive force than the Bland variety, though
considerably less than the Blissett. The result may, however, be modified
by the difference in density of the powders; and your practical
experiments will show how far this agrees with the results of the
shooting.
I have hitherto only spoken of the explosive force of the powder; now I
will touch on another point--its tendency to spontaneous decomposition.
Knowing that, in the case of gun-cotton, its stability is injured by a
small proportion of resin and other organic impurities, and by the
presence of free mineral acids. I did not expect to find this powder (made
from a less pure kind of cellulose, from which also it must be somewhat
difficult to wash all traces of acid) equal in stability to gun-cotton;
and on subjecting the three kinds of Schultze powder to the Government
'heat test' of 150° F. (with a minimum of 10 minutes' duration), it was
found that the
New or Trial (1878) Powder stood the test 12 m.
'Bland's' sample " 8 "
'Blissett's' sample " 7 "
This shows that the 'new' powder is very stable, as it stood the test for
two minutes beyond the Government minimum, while the other two samples
were a good way below it. The officials at Waltham Abbey would accept no
gun-cotton which did not stand the test for ten minutes; and I have seen
the best gun-cotton stand it for fifteen.
Whether the loose granulated condition of the Schultze powder, when
stored, is sufficient to neutralise this inferiority in purity, and render
a sample of Schultze, which only stands the test of seven minutes, as
little liable to spontaneous combustion as gun-cotton which stands the
test for ten minutes, there is at present no evidence to show.
To carry out this 'heat test' properly, some practice is required; so, in
order to put the matter beyond doubt, I called in the assistance of my
friend Mr Arthur Linnell, F.C.S., chemist to the Gun-Cotton Company,
Stowmarket, a gentleman who uses the test daily, and who carried out the
above three experiments strictly after the manner adopted by himself and
by the Government officials.
In addition to Mr Linnell's experiments, I noted that the aqueous extract
of 'Blissett' was very faintly acid; that when heated in a chest at 195°
F. moist blue litmus was very quickly reddened.
I think this serious defect (want of stability) is due to want of care in
the washing; and I base this opinion on the following facts:
(1) The 'Bland' and 'Blissett' samples (the powders of least stability)
are of a deeper tint than the 'new' (due to the soluble yellow impurity
before mentioned). By continued washing in warm water they become pale,
like the more carefully prepared new powder, and the yellow substance is
dissolved away. Hence the lighter colour of the 'new' (and most stable)
indicates it has less of this organic impurity.
(2) Sulphuric and nitric acids are used in the dipping of the powder, but
should be entirely washed out, as they promote spontaneous decomposition.
If left in, the sulphuric acid will, when the salts are added, decompose
the nitrate of baryta, forming insoluble baric sulphate and free nitric
acid.
On experiment I ascertained that the abnormally large quantity of mineral
matter or ash (5 and 6 per cent.) found in the insoluble part of the
'Bland' and 'Blissett' powders _is_ due to baric sulphate, and I think the
acidity of the aqueous extract is due to the nitric acid thus set free.
Had this baric sulphate been present in the new powder, I should have
thought it was purposely formed in all to prevent access of moisture; but,
not finding this substance in this carefully prepared sample, I attribute
its presence in the other cases to carelessness on the part of the
workmen.
I should state that all these powders consisted of a granulated and
consolidated pulp. This improvement must, I think, have considerable
advantages over the sawdust form previously adopted by the Schultze
Company in as much as it facilitates a more thorough purification being
carried out, and produces a more homogeneous and equal powder. It is
possible, too, that working with pulp may be of advantage, inasmuch as the
company may now, by varying the pressure in forming the cake, obtain
grains of any required density.
In conclusion, I may say that, in my opinion the most difficult task which
the Schultze Company have had to encounter is that of obtaining
uniformity of strength in their explosive; and the 'Blisset' sample of
their powder may he looked upon as an experimental batch in which (by
altering the mode of procedure in some such manner as I have indicated)
they made a powder with a large per-centage of tri-nitro-cellulose, thus
producing a more rapidly burning substance, and consequently a more
violent explosion.
Taking all things into consideration, I think the Schultze Company, in
manufacturing a nitro-explosive which gives the uniformity of shooting
power shown in your recent experiments, have worked out a most troublesome
problem with remarkable success. The difficulty of obtaining such results
is evidenced by the fact that so many inventions of a somewhat similar
character have been abandoned for sporting purposes from a deficiency in
this respect.
But, however difficult it may be to manufacture a powder giving uniform
shooting, it is evidently possible, with suitable care to produce (as the
'new' Schultze shows) a wood powder which is perfectly safe and stable, as
far as spontaneous decomposition is concerned. The company, therefore, if
they have not already done so, ought to take means to prevent powder of
the low stability of the 'Bland' and 'Blissett' samples being again issued
from their works.
P.S.--Since writing the above I have examined cursorily a sample of the
'Dittmar' wood powder, an American variety of 'Schultze,' used by Captain
Bogardus in some of his recent shooting competitions. The powder is
somewhat darker in tint, and of slightly larger grain, than the Schultze.
In density it is intermediate between 'Bland's' and the 'new' powder; and
the charge in a twenty-bore cartridge was forty-two grains. This powder
would seem to be made from solid cubes of wood (not a pulped mass like the
present 'granulated' Schultze, or of sawdust splinters like the old
so-called 'cube' Schultze). It contains no nitrate of baryta, but has a
small quantity of nitrate of potash and soda. Possessing, as it would
seem, therefore, a much smaller proportion of oxidizing salts than the
English Schultze, it should contain, to make up for this loss of force, a
larger proportion of explosive pyroxylin; but this is a point I have not
experimentally determined. ('Field,' August 3rd, 1878, No. 1336, p. 143.)
=Gunpowder, White.= _Syn._ BLASTING POWDER. _Prep._ 1. See BLASTING
POWDER, No. 3.
2. Yellow prussiate of potash and white sugar, of each 1 part; chlorate of
potassa, 2 parts; powder each separately, and mix them well, but
carefully, with a bone or wooden knife. It may be granulated like
gunpowder, by making the powder into a paste with a little water, and
pressing the mass through a parchment sieve.[344]
[Footnote 344: See the precautions noticed under BLASTING POWDER, page
230.]
=GUN'JAH.= See HEMP (Indian).
=GUT.= _Syn._ FISHING GUT, SILKWORM G. This is obtained from the _Bombyx
mori_ (Linn.) or silkworm caterpillar. _Prep._ The silkworms, when just
ready to spin, are steeped in strong vinegar for 12 hours in warm weather,
or 2 or 3 in cold weather, and are then broken in half, and stretched out
as far as possible on a board, furnished with slits or pegs to hold them;
in this state they are allowed to dry in the sun or a warm place.
_Obs._ Used by anglers. The worms may be known to be going to spin by
refusing food, and by having a fine silken thread hanging from the mouth.
=GUT'TA PERCHA.= The concrete juice of the _Isonandro Gutta_, a tree
growing only in the Malayan Archipelago, and of other species of the same
genus. The stem of the gutta-percha tree grows to the diameter of 5 or 6
feet, and on being notched yields a milky juice, which, after exposure to
the air for some time, solidifies, forming the gutta percha of commerce.
It arrives in this country in irregular blocks of some pounds in weight,
usually containing a large portion of impurities in the form of pieces of
wood, stones, and earth. To prepare this crude product for manufacturing
into useful articles, the blocks are first cut into slices, and then torn
into shreds. These are softened by hot water, and kneaded in a
'masticator,' the stones, earth, and other impurities, being gradually
washed away by water. After several hours the gutta percha is found to be
kneaded into a perfectly homogeneous mass, which is rolled or drawn into
sheets, bands, or tubes, as required.
_Prop., &c._ Gutta percha is a tough, inelastic substance, becoming soft
and plastic at 212° Fahr., at which temperature two pieces may be firmly
welded together. It is one of the best insulators of electricity, is
impervious to moisture, and resists the action of acids and alkalies to a
great extent. Its best solvents are benzol, chloroform, bisulphuret of
carbon, rectified mineral naphtha, and rectified oil of turpentine. All
these dissolve it readily. According to the analysis of Payen, the
purified gutta percha of commerce consists of 75 to 828 of chemically pure
gutta percha, which is insoluble in ether and alcohol, and a white and a
yellow resin, soluble in boiling alcohol.
_Uses._ These are numerous and varied. No substance, perhaps, with the
exception of caoutchouc, has been 'tortured' to so many different
purposes. Its perfect plasticity when warm, and its capability of
receiving the most delicate impressions, render it invaluable in many
cases where india rubber would be useless. Beautiful mouldings, picture
frames, and a number of ornamental articles, are made from it. To the
chemist and photographer it is of great use as a material for making
bottles, carboys, photographic baths, and voltaic battery cells. One of
the most important uses to which it has been applied is for enclosing the
metallic wires used for telegraphic purposes. Its indestructibility by
water, its plasticity, and high insulating power, have rendered it
particularly valuable for this purpose. At the International Exhibition of
1862 the Gutta Percha Company exhibited one mile of covered wire perfectly
insulated, which was hardly thicker than common sewing cotton. Gutta
percha may be rolled into thin transparent sheets, which, being perfectly
impervious to moisture, are well adapted for surgical purposes. Again, a
solution of gutta percha in chloroform forms an excellent dressing for
incised wounds, and a protection for abraded surfaces, burns, &c. It is
used in the same way as collodion.
=Gutta Percha, Purified.= Dr Cattell, of London, has succeeded in
purifying gutta percha so perfectly from all extraneous matter, that it
presents the appearance of ivory. The raw material is dissolved in a
certain solvent, and the solution most carefully filtered until it leaves
on evaporation the gutta percha in a pure milk-white condition.
=GYP'SUM.= This is native sulphate of lime. When baked, to deprive it of
water, and ground, it forms PLASTER OF PARIS. Gypsum is an excellent
manure for certain soils.
=HAARBALSAM, Vegetabilischer--Vegetable Hair Balsam= (Joh. Andr.
Hauschild, Leipsic). A decoction of burdock root, containing a little
spirit and coloured green with indigo. (König.) Hager analysed a turbid
brownish fluid, which deposited a brown precipitate on standing, and when
filtered consisted of a decoction of burdock root with 20 per cent. of
spirit.
=Haarbalsam Mailandischer--Mailand's Hairbalsam= (Kreller, Nuremberg).
Beef marrow, 40 parts; cinchona extract, 5 parts; balsam of Peru, 1 part;
storax, 1 part; oil of bergamot, 1 part; oil of lemons, 1/2 part. (Hager.)
=Haarbalsam Ostindischer--East Indian Hairbalsam= (Dr Ayer). Contains
sugar of lead, sulphur, glycerin, oil of lavender, and water.
=Haarbalsam= (J. F. Sehwarzlose Söhne, Berlin). A brownish-yellow
spirituous aromatic fluid, having nearly the composition of eau de
Cologne, with liquid storax, carbonate of potash, and a fat--perhaps
derived from cantharides. (Hager.)
=Haarbalsam= (A. Marquart, Leipsic). A mixture of 83 grammes water
perfumed with eau de Cologne, with 12 grammes glycerin, 4·25 grammes milk
of sulphur, and 1·2 gramme lead nitrate.
=HAD'DOCK.= A small sea-fish, allied to the cod, and esteemed an excellent
article of food. It is the _Gadus æglefinus_ of Linnæus. Split, smoked,
and dried, it is common in the smaller shops of London.
=HÆMATEM'ESIS.= In _pathology_, vomiting of blood. See STOMACH AFFECTIONS.
=HÆM'ATITE.= _Syn._ HEMATITE. In _mineralogy_, one of the most important
iron ores. Two kinds are distinguished, the red, which is an anhydrous
peroxide of iron, and the brown, which is the hydrated peroxide.
=HÆMATOCRYS'TALLIN.= A crystalline substance obtained by the action of
oxygen and afterwards carbonic acid on the 'clot' of blood.
=HÆMATOS'IN.= _Syn._ HÆMATIN, RED PIGMENT OF BLOOD. The red colouring
principle of the blood. It is not known in a state of purity. It differs
from the other animal principles in containing, as an essential
ingredient, the sesquioxide of iron.
=HÆMATOX'YLIN.= A principle obtained by Chevreul from common logwood
(_Hæmatoxylon campechianum_), and on which its colour appears to depend.
_Prep._ 1. Infuse logwood chips in water, at a temperature of about 130°
Fahr., for 12 hours, filter, and evaporate to dryness in a water bath;
digest the residuum in rectified spirit for 24 hours, again filter and
evaporate; then add a little water; again gently evaporate and set aside
the solution in a cold place that crystals may form; these must be washed
in rectified spirit and dried.
2. Digest powdered hard extract of logwood in rectified spirit, and
proceed as last.
3. Powdered logwood is mixed with sand and digested for several days in
pure ether; the resulting liquid is filtered, evaporated to a syrup, and
set aside to crystallise.
_Prop., &c._ Brilliant reddish-white or straw-yellow crystals, soluble in
boiling water, forming an orange-red solution which turns yellow as it
cools, but resumes its former colour on being heated. Alkalies in excess
change its colour successively into purple, violet, and brown; acids
brighten it; with the metallic oxides it forms compounds having a blue,
purple, or violet colour.
=HÆMOP'TYSIS.= In _pathology_, spitting of blood. It generally arises from
extreme fulness of the blood-vessels of the lungs, or the rupture of
blood-vessels, as a consequence of ulceration; but sometimes it is induced
by excessive exertion or external violence. Depletion, aperients,
acidulous and astringent drinks, and nauseants, are the usual remedies.
Acetate of lead, in small doses, has been recommended for this affection.
When this substance is given, it should be accompanied with a sufficient
quantity of free acetic acid, to prevent its being converted into the
poisonous carbonate of lead in the system.
=HÆM'ORRHAGE.= _Syn._ HEMORRHAGE; HÆMORRHAGIA, L. A bleeding or flow of
blood. Bleeding may be divided into active, passive, and
accidental.--Active hæmorrhage is that arising from a full state of the
vessels, or plethora.--Passive hæmorrhage, from general debility of the
system, and of the blood-vessels in particular.--Accidental hæmorrhage,
from external violence, as blows, wounds, &c. The first generally requires
depletion, and the second the usual treatment to establish the general
health and vigour of the body. The bleeding from wounds, if extensive,
should be arrested by tying the ruptured blood-vessels; or where this
cannot be done, and in less important cases, by the application of
styptics, as creasote, sulphate of iron, infusion of galls, compound
tincture of benzoin, &c.
=HAIR.= _Syn._ CAPILLUS, PILUS, L. The hair of the human head has
continually formed a subject for the chisel of the sculptor, the pencil of
the artist, and the lay of the poet. Nor is this surprising, since all the
features of the face, as well as the head it covers, derive from it
additional finish and unequalled grace. The hair is, indeed, one of the
greatest auxiliaries of personal beauty, and imparts to it some of its
principal charms. All nations, in all ages of the world, have been
unanimous in their admiration of luxuriant and flowing or gracefully
arranged hair.
Of all organic substances, hair is the one least liable to suffer
spontaneous change. It is also less affected by aqueous liquids than most
other substances. Hence its value in various branches of the useful arts.
The preservation of the hair of the head, independently of its connection
with personal beauty, is a matter of the utmost importance in relation to
hygiene. In other parts of this work, we have referred to its management
under various conditions, but a few observations may be added here.
When the hair is in a weakly state, and either falls off or grows feebly,
frequently cutting it will be found of the greatest service. "In the
arrangement of the hairs, on the surface of the body, it might be inferred
that little existed to excite attention; but this is not the fact, if we
are to judge by the careful investigations to which the subject has given
rise. The hair-tubes are not placed perpendicularly, but obliquely, in the
skin; hence the direction of the hairs, after their escape from the tubes,
is in the same sense inclined towards the surface; and the 'set' of the
hair, from the root to the point, is governed by a law as precise as that
which regulates any other of the secondary vital functions. Thus, on the
head, the hair radiates from a single point, the crown, to every part of
the circumference, making a gentle sweep, behind towards the left and in
front to the right. The direction of this sweep is naturally indicated on
the heads of children, and is that in which the hair is turned," (Eras.
Wilson.) The same occurs on the face and other parts of the body. In
making our toilet, this natural arrangement of the hair should be
interfered with as little as possible. Combing it or banding it in an
opposite direction to that which it naturally assumes, is highly
prejudicial to its healthy growth, and if long persevered in, leads to its
premature and rapid decay. The practice now common among ladies, of
throwing the hair from the forehead towards the back of the head, is of
this reprehensible character.
In addition to our remarks elsewhere, we may here observe, that all the
various systems proposed for strengthening or restoring the hair depend
for their efficacy upon simple excitation or stimulation of the skin.
Friction with the hair-brush, and the use of the ordinary hair-oils,
pomades, and washes, are of this kind. The various advertised nostrums for
reproducing or restoring the hair are either stimulants or rubefacients of
more or less activity, or are emollients, which are directed to be applied
by friction, in such a manner as to set up a considerable amount of
irritation. When the affection depends on the languid circulation of blood
in the part, this treatment often succeeds; but when the hair-bulbs are
withered or decayed, or the scalp much attenuated, the restoration of the
hair is an impossibility. See BALDNESS.
=HAIR COSMETICS.= Under this head are included all preparations which are
used for beautifying, preserving, or restoring the hair. These are fully
described in different parts of this work, and we shall here merely name
the principal heads under which they will be found. The hard pomatums used
for keeping the hair, moustache, and whiskers, in form, and sometimes to
colour them at the same time, are noticed under COSMETIQUE; the
mucillaginous preparations for stiffening the hair, under FIXATURE; the
compounds for removing superfluous hairs, under DEPILATORY; the
applications for the cure and prevention of baldness, under POMADES and
WASHES; and those employed to cleanse or beautify the hair under the last
two heads, and under HAIR DYES and OILS.
=HAIR DYES.= _Syn._ TINCTURA CAPPILLORUM, L. The practice of dyeing the
hair is of great antiquity; and though not so common as formerly, it is
still far from infrequent at the present day. The numerous preparations
vended for this purpose have generally a basis of lead or silver. Bismuth,
pyrogallic acid, and certain astringent vegetable juices, are also
occasionally thus employed. The following list embraces all those of any
value:
_Prep._ 1. Litharge, 1 part; fresh-slaked lime and starch, of each 2
parts; all in fine powder, and perfectly dry; mix, and keep the compound
in well-corked bottles. This powder is to be made into a thin paste or
cream with water (for black), or milk (for brown), and applied to the hair
(previously freed from grease with soap and water, and dried), by means
of a sponge or brush, or the fingers; observing to rub it well into the
roots, and to pass a comb for some time through it, to ensure its coming
in contact with every part. The whole must be then covered with a moist
leaf of cotton wadding, or some brown paper several times doubled and well
damped with hot water, and allowed to remain so for 3 or 4 hours, or even
longer; or an oil-silk cap, or a bladder, may be worn, the object being
simply to prevent the evaporation of the moisture. After a sufficient time
has elapsed, the powder may be removed by rubbing it off with the fingers,
and afterwards washing it out with warm soap-and-water. A little pomatum
or hair-oil will restore the usual gloss to the hair. Another method of
operating is to apply the cream or paste as before, and then to keep
rubbing it about the hair with a brush as long as may be required,
occasionally adding a few drops of hot water to preserve the whole moist.
In this way the action of the dye is facilitated, and the process
concluded in a much shorter time.
2. Lime (slaked in the air), 2 parts; carbonate of lead (pure white lead),
1 part; mixed and applied as the last.
3. (AQUA ORIENTALIS.) From grain silver, 2 dr.; steel filings, 4 dr.;
nitric acid, 1 oz.; soft water, 1-1/2 fl. oz.; digested together, the
solution being afterwards diluted with water, 3-1/2 fl. oz., and filtered.
Applied by means of a fine-toothed comb, or a half-worn tooth-brush to the
hair, previously well cleaned with soap and water, and dried.
4. (ARGENTAN TINCTURE.) From nitrate of silver, 1 dr.; eau de rose, 1 fl.
oz.; nitrate of copper, 2 gr., or q. s. to impart a slight greenish tint.
Used as the last.
5. (Dr Cattell.) Nitrate of silver, 11 dr.; nitric acid, 1 dr.; distilled
water, 1 pint; sap green, 3 dr.; gum arabic, 1-1/4 dr.; digest together.
Used as No. 3.
6. No. 1 Solution. Gallic acid, 7-1/2 gr.; acetic acid, 20 min.; distilled
water, 1 fl. oz.
No. 2 Solution. Nitrate of silver, in crystals, 30-1/2 gr.; distilled
water, 1 fl. oz.; ammonia sufficient to form the precipitate formed at
first.
7. (CHESTNUT HAIR DYE.) "We have met with the following, but do not
guarantee it:--Permanganate of potash gives the hair a beautiful
chestnut-brown colour, varying according to the strength of the solution
of the salt. A good formula is permanganate of potash, 1 dr.; powdered gum
Arabic, 2 dr.; rose water, 3 oz.; mix. Apply carefully with a tooth brush
so as to avoid staining the skin. ('Chemist and Druggist.')
8. (HAIR RESTORER.) This is in reality a dye. Sulphur, 45 gr.; acetate of
lead, 20 gr.; glycerin, 1/2 oz.; water to make up 10 oz.
9. (GOLDEN HAIR DYE, AUREOLINE.) A solution of peroxide of hydrogen in
water; containing from 3 to 6 per cent. of the peroxide.
10. (BROWN HAIR DYE.) Acetate of lead, 2 dr.; hyposulphate of soda, 1 dr.;
rose water, 14 oz.; glycerin, 2 oz. Dissolve the acetate of lead and the
hyposulphite in separate portions of the rose water; filter separately,
mix the solutions, and add the glycerin.
11. (A HARMLESS HAIR DYE. Dr Hager.) Ten parts of subnitrate of bismuth,
and 150 parts of glycerin are mixed in a glass vessel and heated in a
water bath; solution of potash is then added in small portions, and with
continued agitation, until a clear solution has been obtained, to which a
concentrated solution of citric acid is added until merely a slight
alkaline reaction is observed. Enough orange-flower water is added to make
the whole liquid weigh 300 parts; the addition of a small quantity of a
solution of an aniline colour completes the preparation.
12. (Chevallier.) Fresh-slaked lime, 5 dr.; water, 1-1/2 oz.; mix, strain
through gauze, and pour the milk into a four-ounce bottle. Next dissolve
sugar of lead, 5 dr., in water, 3 fl. oz.; add to this solution, dry
slaked lime, 1 dr., stir well together, wash the precipitate with a little
soft water, drain off the water, then add it to the milk of lime in the
bottle, and shake the whole well together, and again before use. Applied
as No. 1; but it acts much more quickly.
13. (Delcroix.) From acetate of lead, 2 oz.; prepared chalk, 3 oz.;
quicklime, 4 oz.; each in an impalpable powder. Used as No. 1.
14. (EAU D'AFRIQUE--Hopekirk.)--_a._ Nitrate of silver (cryst.), 1-1/2
dr.; distilled water, 2 fl. oz.; dissolve, and pour the solution into the
bottles labelled 'Solution No. 1,'--_b._ Liquor of potassa, 3 dr.;
sulphydrate of ammonium, 7 dr.; water, 1 fl. oz.; mix, and pour the liquid
into the bottles labelled 'Solution No. 2,' For use, the hair is moistened
by means of a small-toothed comb or tooth-brush, with the Solution No. 1,
either alone or diluted with a little water; care being taken to avoid
touching the skin, if possible. After the lapse of 8 or 10 minutes the
Solution No. 2, diluted with at least 5 times its measure of water, is
applied in the same manner, and any spots on the skin removed by rubbing
them with the corner of a napkin wetted with the liquid. The skin is then
sponged clean with a little warm water, and wiped dry, and the hair is
arranged with the comb as usual. It is better to avoid rubbing it or
washing it for a few hours. Sometimes the process is reversed, and the
liquid No. 2 applied first. In this way the stains on the skin are more
readily removed, but the dye is less permanent than when the other plan is
adopted.