THE ALUMNI JOURNAL 139 



larger amounts the acids will prevent the reaction entirely. The 

 other impurities of commercial sulphuric acid, arsenic, selenium, lead, 

 and sulphur dioxide showed no marked influence on the reaction. 



Under the conditions here described, it was possible to detect as 

 little as o.ooi grm. of methyl alcohol in i c.c. of the ethyl compound. 

 Experiments were made with acoholic solutions of chloroform, chloral 

 hydrate, acetone, camphor, phenol, resorcinol, methyl salicylate, tinc- 

 tures of arnica, ginger, benzoin; soap and chloroform liniments, with 

 negative results. A good reaction was obtained in each case when 

 I drop of a lo per cent, alcoholic solution of methyl alcohol was added. 

 A notably different behavior was observed with benzaldehyde, which, 

 vhen treated, gave a green-blue zone; on warming, the entire liquid 

 acquired an indigo-blue color. 



Conclusion. — If the described method has any merit or advantages 

 they would seem to consist of the following: 



1. The use of a small quantity of the sample (o.i c.c. of i per cent, 

 methyl alcohol gave a good reaction), other tests requiring lo to 50 c.c. 



2. Simplicity and ease of execution. No special apparatus is 

 required. 



3. Rapidity; 10 to 25 min. in all being consumed. Much time is 

 thus saved when a number of tests are made. 



4. Detection of small quantities, o.ooi grm., and even less. 



It is hoped that the method will be found useful and that it may be 

 modified to become of value for quantitative determination of methyl 

 alcohol. 



SUBDUED SABBATH-BREAKING. 



Of Sabbath-breaking north of the Tweed there is the story of 

 the Scot and his wheelbarrow, which has been fathered upon Sir 

 Archibald Geikie. Donald was hammering away when his wife 

 came to the door. 



"Mon," she said, "ye're making much clatter. What wull the 

 neebours say?" 



"Dom the neebours," said the busy one. "I maun get ma' barra 

 mendit." 



"Oh, but Donal', it's vera wrang to work on Sawbath," expostu- 

 lated the good wife; ''ye ought to use screws." — San Francisco 

 Argonaut. 



