66 SECTIONAL ADDRESSES. 
to meet both requirements is to denature spirit which is to be delivered 
duty-free for trade purposes, and the question of the choice of a suitable 
denaturant is by no means easy. So long ago as 1856, the Government 
Chemist of the day, Mr. Phillips, proposed the addition of 10 per cent. 
of crude wood naphtha, and this has been found satisfactory for most 
purposes. The proposal was submitted to and approved by three well- 
known chemists of that day, Graham, Hofmann, and Redwood, and this 
present year circumstances have necessitated the addition of a further 
nauseating ingredient, pyridine, in addition to mineral naphtha which 
was added in 1891. Mineralised methylated spirit which is sold without 
Revenue control, excepting that a licence is needed, contains this pro- 
portion, industrial methylated spirit 5 per cent., and power alcohol 2} per 
cent. on the alcohol. 
That some misunderstanding exists as to the facilities available for the 
use of alcohol in commerce in the United Kingdom appears from an 
article recently communicated to the Ottawa Section of the Society of 
Chemical Industry, in which are contrasted a considerable number of 
compositions approved in Canada with the apparently small number 
legalised in Great Britain. It might be well, therefore, briefly to indicate 
the position, in order to make clear the facilities that are available. 
Mineralised methylated spirit consists of a mixture of 90 parts of 
alcohol, 94 parts of wood naphtha, and half part of crude pyridine, 
together with 3th of 1 per cent. of mineral naphtha and 0-025 of an 
ounce of methyl-violet dye in each 100 gallons of the mixture. It is sold 
under licence, but is otherwise unrestricted and duty-free. 
Power methylated spirit, prepared in accordance with the following 
formula : 92 parts of alcohol, 5 parts of benzol, 0°5 part of crude pyridine, 
and 2°5 parts of wood naphtha, together with 0:025 of an ounce of Spirit 
Red III. dye in each 100 gallons of the mixture, is also sold without 
restriction and freedom from duty when mixed with 25 per cent. of hydro- 
carbons or denatured ether or some other substance approved by the 
Commissioners of Customs and Excise. 
Industrial methylated spirit, consisting of 95 per cent. of ethyl alcohol 
and 5 per cent. of wood naphtha, can be obtained for the arts and manu- 
factures under the authority of the Board of Customs and Excise, under 
bond and certain not very onerous restrictions. Between three and four 
million bulk gallons are annually used for the making of such products as 
varnishes, linoleum, soap, solid medicinal extracts, ether, toilet preparations 
for external use, fine chemicals, photographic plates, dyes, surgical dressings, 
fireworks, and for many other purposes, including its use in the chemical 
laboratories of colleges, schools and works, and for preserving museum 
specimens. It is free from duty, but must not be present in an article 
capable of internal use, either as a beverage or a medicine. 
Duty-free pure alcohol is allowed by the Board of Customs and Excise 
for scientific purposes to universities and public institutions for teaching 
and research, and specially denatured alcohol in arts and manufactures 
in which the use of the industrial methylated spirit is unsuitable. 
The pure alcohol is allowed to colleges and public institutions for 
teaching and research purposes without any onerous conditions beyond 
the keeping of a stock account. Pure methyl alcohol is permitted by the 
Board of Customs and Excise to be used duty-free in arts and manufactures 
