Powder flask

“ When the measure on the flask is regulated as it ought to be, it will hold the requisite charge for a clean barrel on a warm dry day. It behoves the shooter, then, when the atmosphere is moist and the wind boisterous, to increase the charge of powder in each barrel in a trifling degree. However stormy the day may be, the shooter may prevent the particles of powder from being blown away while he is charging ”

“ When night fell he emptied into the liquor a carefully computed amount of chloral hydrate, recorked it, shook it well, and placed it among sundry odds and ends in a corner of the office, where it would be overlooked by any thirsty caller, whose glance was certain to notice the bottle of whiskey in plain sight on a shelf. Against the consciousness of sixteen men that innocent-looking flask would tip the scales to its own side with an emphasis; and the marshal not only knew the proper dose for horses but also how to shove it down their throats with practiced ease and swiftness. ”

“ When the exhaustion « 106 » is complete (when a drop of petroleum-ether from the leather leaves no grease when allowed to evaporate on a clean glass) , the upper part of the apparatus is removed, and the ether is distilled off. If the flask has been previously weighed, it is maintained in an air-bath at 212°-248° F. (100°-120° C.) for some hours, allowed to cool, and weighed, when the gain of weight is the grease and oil. Paraffin would also be extracted and reckoned, and probably traces of resin if present. ”

“ When cold, froth can be immediately dissipated by adding a few drops of ether. In boiling liquids its formation may be prevented by adding paraffin wax; the wax melts and forms a ring on the surface of the liquid, which boils tranquilly in the centre.
3. Fractional Distillation.—By fractional distillation is meant the separation of a mixture having components which boil at neighbouring temperatures. The distilling flask has an elongated neck so that the less volatile vapours are condensed and return to the flask, while the more volatile component passes over. ”

“ Let us take a glass flask with a long neck of from two hundred and fifty to three hundred cubic centimetres capacity, and place in it some wort, with or without hops, and then in the flame of a lamp draw out the neck of the flask to a fine point, afterwards heating the liquid until the steam comes out of the end of the neck. It can then be allowed to cool without any other precautions; but for additional safety there can be introduced into the little point a small wad of asbestos at the moment that the flame is withdrawn from beneath the flask. ”

“ Put two drams of pure nitrate of potash, and half a dram of chloride of ammonium reduced to a powder, into two ounces of pure alcohol, and place this mixture in a clear glass bottle, covering the top with a piece of rubber or thin kid pierced with small holes.
If the weather is to be fine, the solid matters remain at the bottom of the bottle, and the alcohol is as transparent as usual. If rain is to fall in a short time, some of the solid particles rise and fall in the alcohol, which becomes somewhat thick and troubled. ”

“ When the bottle has been kept at a red heat for about seven or eight minutes, and no more vapour issues from it, remove it from the fire, then stop it with a piece of cork; and, having suffered it to cool, preserve the mixture in small bottles well closed.
If you unclose one of these bottles, and let fall a few grains of this powder on a bit of paper, or any other very [Pg 40] dry substance, it will first become blue, then brown, and will at last burn the paper or other dry substance on which it has fallen. ”

“ The conditions necessary for success are— (1) that the apparatus should be in total darkness; [314] and (2) that there should be no substance present, such as alcohol or ammonia, [315] which, distilling over with the phosphorus-vapour, could destroy its luminosity. A convenient apparatus, and one certain to be in all laboratories, is an ordinary Florence flask, containing the liquid to be tested, fitted to a glass Liebig’s condenser, supported on an iron sand-bath (which may, or may not, have a thin layer of sand) , and heated by a Fletcher’s low temperature burner. ”

“ If the alcohol is stronger than 70 per cent., and the height of the distillation apparatus is not more than 17 cm., the residue in the flask may be weighed as fusel oil. With a weaker alcohol, or an apparatus which projects further out of the water bath, the residual fusel oil is mixed with water. It can, however, be separated by adding strong alcohol and redistilling, or by treating with ether, which dissolves the amyl alcohol, and distilling, the temperature being raised finally to 60°. ”

“ It rattles away like a valve chattering, because the steam rising from the boiling water sends the valve up and down, and forces itself out, and so makes it clatter. You can very easily perceive that the flask is quite full of steam, or else it would not force its way out. You see, also, that the flask contains a substance very much larger than the water, for it fills the whole of the flask over and over again, and there it is blowing away into the air ”

“ The connection between the flask and the condenser is made by means of a tube having on the limb next the flask a bulb filled with glass beads to prevent the contents of the flask splashing over into the receiver, and on the other limb another bulb to prevent the acid in the receiver finding its way into the distillation flask, should regurgitation occur. ”

“ The liquor is carefully decanted into a clean beaker and is then thrown into a jar marked "waste silver." About 40 c.c. of the second parting acid, heated to boiling, is then poured into the flask, which is then replaced on the hot plate. The boiling is continued for 15 or 20 minutes or even longer. At this stage bumping has to be specially guarded against; after a little experience it is easy to see when this is imminent and the flask should be withdrawn to a cooler part of the plate; it is better to prolong the heating at a temperature below boiling than to run the risk of disaster. ”

“ Care must be taken that all the dry ingredients be finely pulverised, and that the harder and gritty ones be reduced to the state of an impalpable powder, either by levigation or elutriation. The mixture of the ingredients must also be complete. This is the most readily effected by stirring them well together until they form an apparently homogeneous powder, and then passing this powder through a very fine sieve. Those which contain volatile substances should be preserved in closely corked wide-mouth bottles, and those which contain acidulous or gritty matter should not be frequently employed. ”

“ It permits the air to pass through and arrests all floating particles and, therefore, does not allow dust or germs to pass through with the air. A flask, or test-tube, is partly filled with an organic infusion; the latter is boiled and, while boiling, a plug of cotton-wool is pushed into the mouth of the vessel. On cooling, the air passes through this plug, but the smallest solid particles are caught in the meshes of the cotton-wool. Organic fluids treated in this way have been known for years to show no sign of microscopic life. ”

“ THE POWDER STILL WORSE
So much for the liquid. The powder seems to be something entirely different, for, according to the chemist’s report, over 90 per cent. of it is inert, absorbent, talcum-like material. There is enough camphor and carbolic acid to give the powder an odor and thus mislead physicians, especially those who are in the habit of taking for granted that whatever statements nostrum manufacturers make are true. ”

“ All powder, whether it is intended for blasting, hunting, rifle-shooting, or warfare purposes, is made in the same general way, and so, in telling of a visit I recently made to the Du Pont Works, near Wilmington, I shall reveal no secrets if I describe the various mills and processes which practically all powder goes through before it is finished. Ordinary powder is composed of three ingredients—saltpetre, sulphur, and charcoal, or nitrate of soda, sulphur, and charcoal. Powder intended for blasting is generally made with soda; powder intended for shooting is generally made with saltpetre. ”

“ Put them into a wide-necked bottle or jar, pour over them the brandy, and keep them in a warm place for 4 days, shaking them frequently. Crush the sugar-candy to a fine powder, add and stir occasionally until it is quite dissolved, then strain the liquid into small bottles and cork them tightly. ”

“ THE DETERMINATION One gram of the substance to be analyzed is brought into a digestion flask with approximately 0.7 grams of mercuric-oxide, and 20 cubic centimeters of sulphuric acid, and the flask is placed on the frame described in an inclined position, and heated below the boiling point of the acid for from five to fifteen minutes, or until frothing has ceased. The heat is then raised until it boils briskly. No further attention is required until the contents of the flask have become a clear liquor, which is colorless, or, at least, has only a very pale straw color. ”

“ There is scarcely any possibility of foreign substances of any kind passing through the stuffing box, so that water, unless chemically tainted or poisoned by mineral solutions, can be rendered fit for use in two or three minutes by the use of either the metal flask or stopper. ”

“ In the clasping talons of his left hand he held a long, slim flask that glinted even in that dim, confusing twilight. Two others, mates to the first, dangled at his waist. Lifting it high above his head, he swung his metal-clad right arm, and shattered the flask he held in his taloned left hand.
For an instant nothing happened, save that flittering bits of broken glass shimmered their way to the sand. Then the horde of noseless ones seemed to dissolve, as hundreds of limp and sprawling bodies sank to the sand. Perhaps a half of that great multitude seemed struck dead. ”

“ A warm waistcoat—sufficiently low at the back to give protection to the kidneys—is, I understand, essential. We must also procure a flask.”
“Well, I shouldn’t if I were you. If you take whiskey when you’re on duty, and then anything happens, you only put yourself in the wrong.”
“I had forgotten my cocoa flask” (page 139) .
138“My dear Eliza,” I said, “I was not dreaming of taking stimulants while on duty. Afterwards, perhaps, in moderation, but not during. I was referring to one of those flasks which keep soup or cocoa hot for a considerable period. ”

“ Some manufacturers who prepare their own pulp carry the concentration between 1.030 and 1.033. The method of obtaining this density is to use flasks graduated to hold 500 or 1000 grams of water at 200 degrees F., fill them with the hot pulp and weigh at once. For each flask there should be a proper counterpoise, and the balance be sensitive and weigh in grams. If the 1000-gram flask be used, the specific gravity will be the same as the weight of the pulp. With a valve funnel the flask may be filled level full and the weight taken in less than thirty seconds. ”

“ Introduce into a gas bottle peroxide of manganese (in fine powder) , 1⁄2 oz.; add of hydrochloric acid, 3 fl. oz., (diluted with) water, 2 fl. oz.; apply a gentle heat, and cause the evolved gas to pass through water, 2 fl. oz., and then into a 3-pint bottle containing distilled water, 20 fl. oz., and whose mouth is loosely plugged with tow; when the air has been entirely displaced by the chlorine, cork the bottle loosely, and shake it until the chlorine is absorbed; it should now be transferred to a pint stoppered bottle, and preserved in a dark and cool place. ”

“ The powders usually sold by druggists are injurious to the complexion, owing to harmful ingredients. If a powder is perfectly pure, a moderate use of it will not harm the complexion, but if it is impure it soon causes the face to turn sallow and yellow. The following is perfectly pure, and is a splendid article, giving a lovely, refined complexion:—
Boston Burnet Powder for the Face.—Five cents' worth of bay rum, five cents' worth of magnesia snowflake, five cents' worth of bergamot, five cents' worth oil of lemon; mix in a pint bottle and fill up with rain water. ”

“ Wrap a duster or towel round the neck of the flask, and, holding it over a basin (in case of breakage) , pour gently a stream of cold water on to the flask. The steam inside is condensed, a partial vacuum is formed, and as long as any heat remains in the water, it will boil, whilst the stream of cold water is continued on the outside. ”

“ One of the best ways to avoid it is to place a funnel in the flask covered with a watch-glass which will permit of the condensation and return of the escaping acid. As soon as the foaming ceases, the flame should be so regulated as to permit of the volatilized acid being condensed upon the sides of the flask. In the end a colorless mass is obtained in which no metallic oxids are present, and this mass can at once be diluted with water, treated with alkali, and distilled. According to the nature of the substance from half an hour to an hour and a half are required for the complete combustion. ”

“ How to make a powder for the poorer sort of people. Take two drams of bole Armoniack with three drams of the Seeds of Oxalis, Aloes Epeticum Lotum, and Red Corrall of each of these a dram, the powder of Diatrio Santalon, eight scruples with the pills of dry Oringes, Cloves Cinamon and Saffone of each of these five drams, make of these a fine powder, you may use the same with conserves [Pg 18] or without them, with sirrups or with distilled waters, but much rather with juces and such convenient licquors as is before named. ”