Dictionary of Explosives

"Dictionary of Explosives" by Arthur Marshall is a detailed catalog from the early 1900s, made by a chemical inspector in the Indian Ordnance Department. It is a guide that covers all kinds of explosive materials, their makeup, groups, and where they came from. Because lots of new explosives had been made since the last book on the subject, the author wanted to give people the most up-to-date facts. The book starts off by talking about how long it had been since the last dictionary about explosives was written and points out this version is about new explosives that have brand names; it places them into two groups of propellants and high explosives. It also talks about things like nitrocelluloses and explosives used in coal mines, highlighting the serious tests and rules for these explosives to make sure they're safe and work well. This introduction prepares the reader for the in-depth explanations that come next, which carefully sort the explosives that are used in different jobs.