Angier was in my opinion very thorough in describing all his chemicals. Nitric Acid in his formulas were universally listed as having a densithy of D 1.42. In the chapter "Preperation of Solutions" he describes what this is.
The problem today is as Salopian describes, many of the chamicals he lists are virtually un-obtainable today. It now takes an act of Congress to get chemicals 40-50 years ago I could walk into the corner Drug Store & obtain. Ethyl Alcohol for instance when I started bluing so many years ago was simply a bottle of Rubbing Alcohol. Today only Isoprophyl is sold over counter. To obtain the Ethyl requires a trip to the liquor store & paying the Federal "Whiskey Tax" for it.
