Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1877-10-31
SCIENTIFIC.

Methyidte Sprit.-Eethylic alcohol,
wood spirit or wood naphtha, Is one of
the volatile products obtained by the
destructive distillation of wood, saw
dust, spent dyewoods, etc. 1t is used
i'm a variety of chemical operations, and
in the manufacture and preparation for
use of certain artificial coloring matters.
1t having, fortunately, very disagree
able taste, il is never used for drinking,
and hence it may be manufactured,
sold, and employed in the arts without
any excise interference.
Methyldted spirit, however, is very
different article. Ii consists of ordinary
(so-called ethylic) alcohol mixed with
about five to ten per cent of the true
methylic alcohol just mentioned, and is,
therefore, not a definite chemical COM
pound, but mere mixture. The origin
and history of this "methylated spirit"
may be briefly stated as follows: Me-
thylic alcohol wood spirit), though
very useful to the chemical manufac-
turer and color maker, cannot be used
as a substitute for common alcohol
spirit of wine), but produces different
results. 1t was also found that many
chemical operations which require spirit
of wine could not be carried on as
cheaply in England as on the COnti-
nent, where spirit is much cheaper on
account of the smaller duty payable on
its manufacture. Government was
therefore petitioned to grant some relief
TO manufacturers by remitting the duty
payable upon alcohol used in the ar.s.
The result was the cOncoctiOn of the
mixture known as "methylated spirit"
which was supposed to be undrinkable,
and which, under certain conditions,
was to be sold duty free to dyers, etc.
Unfortunately the mere addition of
wood spirit To alcohol did not seem to
the authorities sufficient precaution.
Except manufacturer or dyer was able
to give security in Il 900 not to use or
allow to be used the ''methylated spirit"
for drinking purposes, further additions
were insisted upon. One of these con-
sists in dissolving in the spirit small
quantity of shellac. This addition
was proposed in the interest OF the var
nish makers, who it was enormously
supposed would be the main consumers
of methylated spirit, and to whom the
presence of shellac would be no detri-
ment. In this state the spirit is sold
under the name of "finish." This ad-
dition, for the color maker and dyer, is
one OF the most unfortunate that could
have been devised. 1t makes all cOlors
come up flatter, and gives reds especial
ly a dull blush tone. To detect shellac
in methylated spirit it is merely neces-
sary 10 add spoonful of the suspected
sample to large glass of pure water,
say condensed steam water, and stir up
well. If shellac is present it will be
precipitated, and occasion a white tur-
bidity or milkiness in the liquid. Some
times instead of shellac a small quantity
of some aniline color. blue or red, is
added TO the spirit. Whatever color is
selected will, OF course, in certain cases
prove Objectionable.
We should suggest that if any further
addition TO the methylated spirit is
really needful-which we doubt-some
thing of an intensely nauseous flavor
would be much better than colors or
resinOus substances.
On the Continent ordinary alcohol is
cheaper than wood spirit, and hence
purchasers of the latter sometimes find
it more or less adulterated with the
former. To detect this fraud Richie and
Bardy heat the suspected sample with
sulphuric acic, dilute with water, and
distil. They then mix the distillate
with peroxide of manganese and sui
phuric acid, thus converting the ethylic
alcohol into aldehyde, and add a solu-
ton of hyposulphite of soda, and finally
some magenta. If common alcohol is
present, even TO the exten; of one tenth
per cent, the magenta takes violet
color. Chemical Reuielc.