Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1889-10-03
THE BIRCH TREE.
And the Various Substances That
Are Derived from IL.

And the Various SubStan coS That
Are Derived from 1t.
A casual glance at the surroundings
OF any lumber country, notably along
/ the creeks and ravines, reveals the
fact, says the New York Lumber Trade
Journal, that at least some birch twigs
have withstood the onslaught OF coun-
| try pedagogues, who from time remote
have been identified with the legend OF
birch-oil and elbow-grease as an accel-
orator TO the sluggish school-boy as he
stumbles along over the obstacles on
| the side Of science hill. Many twigs
remain, and outside their legendary
historic value suggested in the forego-
in. the twig5 and bark OF the common
birch (Betula alba) have really an in
trinsic value not second TO many OF the
most valuable plants.
Even the leaves and young shoots
secrcte resinous substance having an
acid re-ction which under the long
legged names of the pharmacist Is sold
as a medical preparation for as high as
SIC per fluid ounce. The inner bark
secretes bitterish alkaloid not unlike
cinchOLa 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 subjected to dry dis
tillation yields peculiar empyre IL
matte oil, having the peculiar odor of
Russia leather, and the secret OF pre-
pairing skins, and that, too, OF the very
poorest quality of skins, being taken
from cattle that have persisted on those
barren, desolate plains, Is the only OBJ
stacle thus far to prevent American
artisans competing with Russia and
Austria in fine leather goods
1t is not necessa ry, however. to go
into chemical technicalities and details
in order to arrive at q profitable solu-
ton of the uses of birch twigs and
birch bark when the larger timber is
being cut away and hauled TO the saw
mill or the turning-lathe. The oil OF
wintergreen (Oleum gaultheria), 80
useful, fragrant and expensive, is
nearly always adulterated with birch
oil. much OF 1t even is birch oil pure
and simple, but is sold as wintergreen
|
and purposes. having, when properly
prepared and refined, the same proper
ties-viz., specific gravity, 1,l73; boil
ing point, Alp degrees, ana mixes
readily with alcohol, chlorof>rm, ETC.
The appliances necessary for the
preparation of this oil are neither in
tricate nor costly, being simply a large
tub supplied with coil and steam
connection. OF course we are not ex-
pected to go into all the details OF
manufacture. Only brief outlines can
be given.
The birch limbs, twigs, bark. and
even the leaves, il a mere com mercial
oil is to be made, are gathered and
placed in this large tub, containing
the coil for steam-heating. and as fast
as the mass accumulates il Is kept
covered with water, and the tub, being
supplied with a tight-fitting lid. or
manhole, should be opened as little as
possible. After becoming nearly full
steam is turned on and the batch KEEP
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 a moment or
two. With a wooden connection with
n small barrel or keg the tank is made
tight and brough: to a boil; the steam,
having previously dissolved the oils,
ETC., will now vaporize them and will
condense in the last-named keg. After
IA few hours the job is done, the keg is
bunged or corked up, and is ready for
shipment as commercial wintergreer
oil. though made from birch refuse
continually in the way.