human
powder. That is, it ignites slowly, and burns more slowly than ordinary powder. Of course to the eye it goes off in a flash, like ordinary powder, but really it is slow in its explosion compared with ordinary powder. The object of this is to secure the full force of the power in the powder, and also to start the projectiles in cannon very slowly in their terrible journey of destruction. By using a slow powder there is less strain on the cannons and less danger of their bursting. There must be as little shock as possible to the cannons, when they contain such a terrible power as an ordinary charge of powder, and it is desirable that all of the powder should be used. Hence the need for