The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1889-08-28
ras slRca TREE.
And The Ssrtea. Substances That
Are Derived From II.

Sew elk LnnaeeT Trade Journal
4 casual glance IT the surroundings
0; any timber country, notably along
The creeks AMI ray3nes. reveals the
fact that At least some birch tsies
have withsteod the onslaught of coan
try pesiaeogaes. who from times re
mote have been identified with the
legend oi birch OIL and elbow grease
As an acceserator ~ the sluggish school
boy ~ he stumhles along over the
obstacles on the side of science bill
Many tssgS remain. and outside their
legendary historic value suggested in
the foregoing. the txigs anu bark OF
the common bireh krsssi.s aisssl have.
really an intrinsic vaite not second
20 many og the most valuable plsnt..
Even the leaves ana suang shoots
secrete "A rc>inosis substance, having
an sela reaction, which. under ths
ioiig leggesi nantes of the pharmacist.
- s.sla a. medicinal preparation for
as high a. SID ner aGld ounce. The
inner bark >scretss biiterish aka.
toli uos unlike einchena IN It's nature,
and Is useI largely as an aduiteFant
for qninine in many parts Of Europe.
The So-calged "tluchona Mixture
has h~en found by analysis To consist.
in many Instances, oil the alkaloisl
found ia the inner bark ot the humble
birch tree.
The oater bark. subjected TO dry dis
fiiIaiior. yields a peculiar enapyreu-
matte oil, having the peculiar odor OF
Russia leather, AMI the secret Of pre-
paring SKINS. and that, too, OF the very
poorest quality 81 skins. being takcts
from cattle that have persisted on
those barren, deselate plains. is the
only obstacle. thus far. 10 preyrn.
American artisans competing with
Russia and Austria in tine leather
goods.
Ii Is not necessary. hoxever, to eo
into chemical techniealtles and details
IN order 10 arrive at profitable solu-
tior of the uses Of birch taigs ana
birch bark. when the lar er timber i
being cut away and hauled to the saw
mill or the turning lathe. When il is
stated that the oil OF wintersrsen
ttieafs gauifbSr9al so useful. fragrant
aud expensive, h nearly always adult
ierated with birch oil much III il even
Is birch oil pure and simple, but j.
sold as wintergreeD oil, ami is winter
green OH - all intents and purposes.
having. when properly prepared and
and refined. the same properties, viz
specific gravity. la: boiling point,
AZ ceg, and mixes readily With aloo-
mol, ehioFoiorm, etc.
Tue appliances necessary for the
preparation of this oil are neither in
lficste nor costly. being simply large
tub supplied with coil and steam
connection. Oh course We are not ex-
..ecied to go into sll the details of
manufacture. oniy brief outlines can
be given.
The birch limbs, twigs. bark aud
even the leaves, II mere commercial
oil j. TO he made, are gathered and
placed In this large tub containing the
coli Tor steam heating. and as fast a.
the mass accumnlstes il Is kept
covered with water, and the tub. being
supplied with tigh,-ntting lid. or
manhcle, shoeid be opened as little "a
possible. After becoming nearly full.
the steam Is turned on. ami the batch
kept abost tlnod warm for twenty
four hours. This will dissolve nearly
all the oil and resinous matters. which
being precipitated, causes the mass to
assume a very sticky consistency.
Steam Isay nos be turned on. and the
mass brought 10 boil for moment
or two. With wooden connection
with small barrel or keg. the tank is
made tight and brought 90 q boil; the
steam, having previously dissolved the
oils, etc, will nov vaporize them. and
will condense in the last named key.
After few hours the job IL done, she
keg Is bnnged or corked up. and T.
ready for shipment a. commercial
wintergreen oil, though made from
birch refuse continually In the way