Gesteins-=PLASTAMMON=.--A German blasting explosive containing not less than 70 per cent. of ammonium nitrate, glycerine, not more than 15 per cent. of nitro-toluene or other nitro-compounds, and not more than 4 per cent. of nitro-semicellulose. Steinkohlen-=PLASTAMMON= is a variation of this, containing not more than 25 per cent. of potassium nitrate, and intended for use in coal mines. =*PLASTOMENIT= was an early German shot-gun powder which possessed no great merits. The following was the composition of a sample examined in 1893, and given in “Arms and Explosives,” 1917, p. 90-- Nitrocellulose, insoluble 32·7 ” soluble 19·3 Metallic nitrates 21·0 Dinitro-toluene (solvent) 26·0 Moisture 1·0 =PLASTROTYL.=--A German high explosive for filling shell. It consists of a partially liquid mixture of trinitro- and dinitro-toluene gelatinised by means of not more than 0·5 per cent. of collodion cotton, and mixed with a small quantity of turpentine or soft resin. It does not appear to be in use now. =PLESSIT= is a blasting explosive that was introduced in Germany during the War. It consists of potassium chlorate, not more than 9·5 per cent. of kerosene and 0·5 per cent. of albumen. Wetter-Plessit III. contains sodium chloride as well. =PNIOWIT.=--A German blasting explosive containing ammonium nitrate, trinitro-toluene, wood meal and a small percentage of potassium perchlorate. Nobel =POLARITE= is a blasting explosive made by Nobel’s Explosives Co., Ltd. It consists of potassium perchlorate, and nitroglycerine mixed with a nitro-compound and gelatinised with collodion cotton, and absorbed in wood meal. Poudres =B=, =J=, =M=, =S=, =T=. See under respective letters. =PRAEPOSIT= is a modified gunpowder-- Potassium (or sodium) nitrate 70 Sulphur 18 Charcoal 6 Hipposin 6 the last constituent being a fine powdery substance obtained from dried horse dung. It is slower than ordinary blasting powder and more expensive. It has a tendency to blow out, and opinions as to its value vary. Formerly it was supplied in the form of a fine powder, but it is now granulated or made into compressed cartridges. =*PRIMROSE SMOKELESS= is an inexpensive 42-grain bulk powder for shot-guns made by the New Explosives Co. =PROGRESSIT= was an explosive formerly used in Austrian coal mines-- Ammonium nitrate 94 89 Aniline hydrochloride 6 5 Ammonium sulphate -- 6 It was superseded in 1913 by Pannonit. =PROMÉTHÉE= or =PROMETHEUS= is a Sprengel explosive made by the French Government, by whom it is also called Explosif O3. It consists of a porous oxygen carrier and a liquid combustible, which are supplied separately, and the one is dipped in the other shortly before use--