ON PURE METHYLIC ALCOHOL. 
369 
insoluble in ether. The rest in part crystallized from ether, and in part formed a quinine¬ 
like mass. The crystalline portion formed crystals as hydriodate, indicating the Quini- 
dine of Pasteur. The total proved to be Quinidine (Quinine?) and a trace of Chincho- 
nine, 060 per cent. 
No. .9, Ch. Pahudiana, contained more chincho-tannic acid than even the last. The 
precipitate of alkaloid was minute, and much implicated with astringent colouring- 
matter. Ether dissolved a small portion, in which, on evaporation, crystals could be 
perceived. This bark, in the state in which sent, has scarcely any bitter taste, and would 
be worthless in commerce. I cannot say what the mature bark might be after some 
years’ growth, but doubt whether it can ever repay the expense of cultivation. I may 
remark that this bark a good deal resembles that of Ch. purpurea in its external appear¬ 
ance ; and also, that the bark of Ch. micrantha now sent has much the same character 
as that which characterizes the bark of the same Chinchona as grown in South 
America. 
I find similar characteristic colouring in the leaves of the three species sent, Chinchona 
officinalis, micrantha , and succirubra. The same also seems (a little altered) to pervade 
the specimen of wood, marking a difference from the heart-wood of Ch. succirubra of 
many years’ growth which X have before examined. 
I have the honour to be, Sir, 
Your obedient servant, 
John Eliot Howard. 
ON PUPE METHYLIC ALCOHOL 
BY EMERSON J. REYNOLDS. 
Read before the Royal Dublin Society. 
A somewhat lengthy discussion has recently been carried on in the pages of some 
chemical and pharmaceutical periodicals, relative to the best method of “ cleaning,” or 
rendering inodorous, the ordinary “ methylated spirits,” in the course of which it has 
been suggested that in all probability perfectly pure methylic alcohol is as free from all 
disagreeable odour as the ordinary spirits of wine, even though the chemical text-books 
state the contrary. As, in the course of some experiments, it became necessary for me 
to prepare some perfectly pure methylic alcohol, it may not be uninteresting at the pre¬ 
sent time if I state briefly my experiences with it. 
The source from which I proposed to obtain the pure alcohol was the oxalate of 
methyl. This salt was prepared as follows:— 
The purified naphtha was distilled as long as the boiling-point remained steady at 
176° F. Equal weights of the distillate, oxalic, and sulphuric acids were now rapidly 
distilled, and the resulting oxalate crystallized from the liquid which collected in the 
receiver. The ether was then dissolved in alcohol and again crystallized; the product 
from the last operation was then rectified from oxide of lead, and finally twice recrystal¬ 
lized from alcohol. The resulting pure oxalate of methyl was then decomposed into 
oxalic acid and methylic alcohol, by two different modes of treatment: 1st. By the 
action of hydrate of potash in excess, and subsequent distillation; 2ndly. By the pro¬ 
longed action of water alone in a close vessel, and employing a moderate temperature; 
this product was likewise distilled; the reaction which takes place in each instance being 
according to the following equations :— 
K V- ( C A)" } 0 4 - 2 C A } 0 
l,j II J U 2~ K„ j U 4 + - II 
(2.) (C a? > o , 4H0 _ (c A)" \ o - c 2 h 3 1 0 
(C 2 H 3 ), j u 4 + 4J1U — Ho j u 4+ H / u 2* 
(1.) (CA) 
(Coil,) 
The dilute methylic alcohol thus obtained was then rectified from lime, and both 
specimens found to possess the following properties :—As thus prepared, it is a mobile 
inflammable liquid of low boiling-point, having a distinct and peculiar, though not dis¬ 
agreeable odour, quite different from that of ordinary alcohol, and a burning taste. No 
compound is formed with oxide of mercury soluble in potash. Finally, when treated 
with powdered hydrate of potash, and allowed to remain in contact with it for twenty- 
