Important: Safety Warning
This page describes trade processes that use dangerously toxic materials such as cyanide solutions, mercury amalgams, or strong acids. These processes require training, equipment, and precautions far beyond what the text describes.
This information has been left in for historical purposes but should not be acted upon.
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Without Ice
Four oz. each of nitre and sal ammoniac in 8 of water will reduce the temperature from 50° to 10°. Equal parts of nitrate of ammonia and water, from 50° to 4°. The salt may be recovered by evaporation and used over again.
Equal parts of water, crystallized nitrate of ammonia, carbonate of soda, crystallized and in powder, from 50° to 70. Five parts of commercial muriatic acid and 8 of Glauber's salt, in powder, from 50° to 0°.
With Ice. Snow is always preferable. Ice is best powdered by shaving with a plane like a carpenter's, or it may be put into a canvas bag and beaten fine with a wooden mallet.
Equal parts of snow and common salt will produce a temperature of -4°, which may be maintained for hours. This is the best mixture for ordinary use.
Three parts of crystallized chloride of calcium and 2 of snow will produce a cold sufficient to freeze mercury, and to reduce a spirit thermometer from 32° to -50°. The chloride may be recov ered by evaporation. There are many other freezing mixtures given in the books, but none are so cheap and efficient as the above.