News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1889-08-29
THE BIRCH TREE,
And the Substances That Are De-
rived From It.

A casual glance at the surroundings
of any timber country, notably along
the creeks and ravlnes, reveals the fact
| that at least some birch twigs have with
stood the onslaught of country peda
| goguCS, who from times remote have
been identified with the legend of birch
| oil and elbow grease as an acceleratOr to
| the sluggish school boy as he stumbles
| along over the obstacles on the side of
science hill. Many twiSs remain, and
outside their legendary historic value
| suggested in the foregoing, the twigs
and bark have really an intrinsic value
not sec md to many of the most valuable
| plants.
Even the leaves and young shoots
| secretc res nous substance, having an
acid reaction, which, under the long
| legged names of the pharmacist, is sold
as medicinal preparation for as high
as SIC per fluid ounce. The inner bark
secretes a bitterish alkalo.d not unlike
cin,.hona in its nature, and is used
largely as an adulterant for quinine in
many parts Of Europe. The so called
" Cinchona Mixture " has been found
by analysts to consist, in many instances.
of the alkaloid found in the inner bark
of the humble birch tree
The outer bark, sub ected to dry dis
tillation, yields peculiar cmpyreumatic
OIL having the peculiar odor of Russia
leather, and the secret of preparing
skins, and that, too, of the very poorest
uality of skins, being taken from cattle
that have persisted on those barren,
desolate plains, is the only obstacle,
thus far, to prevent American artisans
competing with Russia and Austria in
fine leather goods.
1t is not necessary, however, to go
into chemical technicalities and details
in order to arrive at profitable solution
of the uses of birch twigs and birch bark,
when the larger timber is being cut away
and hauled to the saw mill and turning
lathe. 1t is stated that the oil of winter
green, so useful, fragrant and expensive,
is nearly always adulterated with birch
oil, much of it even is birch oil pure and
simple, but it is sold as wintergreen oil,
and is wintergreen oil to all intents and
purposes, having, when properly pre-
pared and refined, the same properties,
viz: specific gravity, LIB; boiling
point, 40 degrees, and mixes readily
with alcohol, chloroform, ETC.
The appliances necessary for the pre-
paration of this oil are ne Their intricate
HOl CuStly, DtluS SltuplN IL 1dISe bttD
supplied with coil and steam connec-
ton. Of course, we are not expected to
go into all the details of manufacture.
Only brief outlines can be given.
The birch limbs, twigs, bark and even
the leaves, if a mere commercial oil is to
he made, are gathered and placed in
this large tub containing the coil for
steam heating, and as fast as the mass
accumul&tes, it is kept covered with
water, and the tub, being supplied with
a tightfitting lid, or manhole, should
be opened as little rs possible. After
becoming nearly full, steam is turned
on, and the batch kept about blood
warm for twenty, four hours. This will
dissolve nearly all the oil and resinous
matters, which, being precipitated,
causes the mass to assume very sticky
consistency. Steam may now be turned
on, and the mass brought to boil for
moment or two. With n wooden con
nection, with a small barrel or key, the
tank is made tight and brought to a
boil; the steam, having previously dis
solved the oils, etc, will now vaporize
them, and will cOndcnse in the last
named key. After Il few hours tho job
is done, the keg is bunged or corked up,
and is ready for shipment as commercial
wintergreen oil, though made from
birch refuse continually in the way. -
Lumber Trade Journal.