Gunpowder and Ammunition, Their Origin and Progress

This historical work by H. W. L. Hime presents a detailed and exact account of the evolution of gunpowder and ammunition. The invention of gunpowder was impossible until the properties of saltpeter had become known. The book focuses on determining the approximate date of the discovery of this salt. It provides precise information in a comprehensible way and covers all the details on explosives, from methods of refining the saltpeter to the making of even fireworks. Contents include: The Origin of Gunpowder- Introduction Saltpetre The Greeks Marcus Græcus The Arabs The Hindus The Chinese Friar Bacon The Progress of Ammunition- Analytical Table of Ammunition Hand Ammunition War Rockets Gunpowder Shock Projectiles Igneous Projectiles Igniters Signals