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Facts and Observations. 
ON METHYLATED SPIRIT OE WINE. 
We know no valid objection to the methylated spirit of 
wine being used generally, by the members of our profession, 
in their pharmaceutical compounds. 
The compound which is now sold under this name, at a 
price about one third of that paid for rectified spirit of wine, 
consists of wood naphtha, or pyroxilic spirit, added to spirit of 
wine, in the proportion of one part of the former to nine parts 
of the latter. The object which the government authorities 
have had in view, is to allow of the use of a fluid for scientific 
and chemical purposes free of duty, and at the same time, by 
admixture, to prevent its being resorted to for drinking 
purposes ; so that the revenue may not be seriously 
affected by the act. This is both wise and liberal, and there 
is no doubt that the result will prove a boon to many manu- 
factures, and that many pharmaceutical compounds will be 
lessened in price by it. Already ether and collodion are 
made from it of excellent quality, and other compounds we 
may confidently hope will quickly follow. 
It is now several years since, that the pyroxilic spirit alone 
was employed by us as a solvent for the gum-resins, and 
found to be an admirable topical application for wounds, 
abrasions, &c. Its use as an internal remedy has also been 
often suggested by us. 
A disposition to group or classify substances seems to have 
obtained among chemists of late years. Among the com- 
pound substances so arranged, we find what are called the 
ethyle and methyle series, not here to speak of any others. 
These may be viewed as organic bases, or compound radicles, 
consisting of carbon and hydrogen, and by their combining 
with oxygen, chlorine, iodine, &c., they form a class of sub- 
stances analogous to haloid salts. 
Alcohol, or spirit of wine, belongs to the ethyle series ; 
corresponding with which we have methyle series, to which 
pyroxilic spirit belongs. 
Methyle is a compound of C 2 H 3 =15. Symbol, Me. 
Its oxide , or methylic ether , is obtained by the action of four 
parts Acid. Sulph., on one part pyroligneous spirit, aided by 
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