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To Pulverize Saltpetre


Take a copper kettle, the bottom being spherical, and put into it

fourteen pounds of refined saltpetre, with two quarts or five pints of

clean water; then put the kettle on a slow fire, and when the

saltpetre is dissolved, if any impurities arise, skim them off, and

keep constantly stirring it with two large spatulas, till all the

water exhales; and when done enough, it will appear like white sand,

and as fine as flour; but if it should boil too fast, take the kettle

off the fire, and set it on some wet sand, which will prevent the

nitre from sticking to the kettle. When you have pulverized a quantity

of saltpetre, be careful to keep it in a dry place.



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