MELENITE SHELLS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 2056, 6 February 1889, Page 3

MELENITE SHELLS.

» . Forty civilian workmen accustomed to tbe manipulation of explosive Buhatanoes are at present employed at Toulon Arsenal, under the direction of the Artillery Staff, m charging melonlte shells. To the latter oojoposltloa, It appears, is now added another substanoo termed 'cresllite,' whioh Is stated to materially increase the powers of raelenite, and at the s»mo time contribute to Us preservation and safety m handling. As fast a* the shells are loaded, and a considerable number are dally filled, they are sant away to store all the forts on the Ooast or Alpine line. Tbe process of fi line the shells is sapposed to be a secret, bub it is learnt that the oresilite, a hard gummy compound, Is first melted m copper vessels, and then poured into a apaoe oooupying about two - thirds of the interior of the shell left In the oaating, The remaining vacuum is afterwards filled up with melenlte, rammed m by means of a mallet, and the work requires the utmost delioacy to avoid sooldent. Ten men are specially selected for the latter part of the operation, who are kept separated one from the other In compartments enclosed by walls of empty ahells, so that, should an explosion ocour, there would be but one vlclm. On beginning work m tbe morning the fillers have to drink a pint of milk, by medical order, as a prophylaotio remedy against the noxious fames of the substances they handle, whioh leave upon all tbe exposed parts of their skins a deep yellow tinge that oannot be removed, even by contlnuoos ablutions. Spite, however, of these cutaneous signs, and the forebodings of the surgeons, the mon, whs gain from 4s to 6a per day, seems to retain excellent health, and declare that tbe emanations from the compounds they mix ecdow them with inordinate appetites. — Broad Arrow.

Public Notices.