ALCOHOL. 113 



The strong liquors brandy, gin, rum, and whisky contain from 45-55 per cent, cf 

 absolute alcohol. A mixture containing less than 20 per cent, is not directly useful in 

 zoology. 



262. The Leading Characteristics of Alcohol. Ethyl alcohol 

 has twelve prominent characteristics, of which one half are desirable 

 and the other half undesirable from the zoological point of view : 



It is simple, cleanly, colorless, and fragrant, generally obtain- 

 able, and as a preservative absolutely efficient. 



On the other hand, it is costly, volatile, inflammable, and decol- 

 orant, quick to absorb water from the air, and under certain con- 

 ditions corrosive of some metals. 



263. Alcohol should be used with discretion, always closely 

 covered, secured from fire, and kept in vessels of glass, hard wood, 

 copper, zinc, or galvanized iron. 



264 The Cost of Alcohol. This, of course, is an extrinsic feature, and varies much 

 in different parts of the world. In most civilized countries, to the actual cost of its pro- 

 duction is added a heavy government tax, and the retail price in the United States is about 

 82.50 per gallon, or 50-75 cents per liter. 



This high price of the liquid best adapted for the preservation of specimens has directly 

 and seriously retarded all anatomical and zoological progress. At various times between 

 1863 and 1879, at the request of the late Prof. Louis Agassiz and others, with the co-opera- 

 tion of the Hon. S. Hooper and others, Congress wisely made provisions (U. S. Revised 

 Statutes, 3297), by which, under very stringent conditions and with heavy pecuniary lia- 

 bilities in case of the slightest misapplication, museums and other educational institutions 

 " may withdraw alcohol from bonded warehouses without payment of tax, for the sole and 

 exclusive purposes of use in the chemical laboratory, or for the preservation of Natural 

 History specimens belonging to such institutions." The cost of alcohol so obtained is 

 about one sixth of the retail price. See Appendix. 



The instructions for so obtaining alcohol for scientific purposes are printed in No. 7, 

 Series 7 of the U. S. Revenue Department, p. 43, which may be had from the Collectors. 



Since no variation from the prescribed forms is permitted, great care must be taken in 

 making out the application and bond ; those who obtain alcohol annually will save trouble 

 and sometimes serious delay by having the forms printed. 



After making out the form of the application and bond, and inserting the names of the 

 two sureties, some proprietor of a bonded warehouse should be asked to set aside the num- 

 ber of barrels (40-45 gals, each) of alcohol desired, and to send a memorandum of the 

 marks and other items required in the papers. If the forms are printed, a copy of the 

 application form may be sent, so that the various numbers may be filled in, together with 

 the number of the collection district in which the warehouse is located. This copy should 

 be retained for reference in making the assurance afterward required. 



The papers should then be promptly filled out, care being taken that the signatures of 

 the sureties coincide as to initials and abbreviations with the names as entered in the body 

 of the bond. The papers are to be transmitted to the Commissioner of Internal Revenue 

 throujrh the Collector of the district in which the institution is located. If the papers 

 have been properly made out, the permit may be received within ten days. 



No form is prescribed for the assurance of the Revenue Department that the alcohol 

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