430 
ILLICIT SALE OP METHYLATED SPIRIT. 
the origin of the allowing of methylated spirit to be used at all; but in 1861 there was 
a further extension of the Act, and he would read to them the sections bearing upon the 
question before them. Mr. Watson then read the following 
Whereas by an Act passed in the 18th and 19th of her Majesty Queen Victoria, certain 
restrictions are imposed upon the sale of methylated spirits, and it is intended to remove 
such restrictions in part, and to make other regulations in regard to the sale of methy¬ 
lated spirits. 
“ Section 1. Any person not being a distiller or rectifier, or a dealer in or retailer of 
beer, spirits, wine, or sweets, may take out an excise licence authorizing him to receive 
and sell methylated spirit in the quantity allowed by this Act on payment of the annual 
duty on such licence of £2. 2s., and every person taking out such licence shall be called 
‘ a retailer of methylated spiritand so far as regards any person licensed to retail methy¬ 
lated spirit under this Act, and so far also as regards any person who shall purchase such 
spirit from such licensed person, and the spirit so purchased, sections 8, 10, and 16 of 18 
& 19 Viet. c. 38, shall be repealed.” 
Now that allowed, as the Bench would see, persons to sell methylated spirit on pay¬ 
ment of £2. 2s. for a licence. The charge against Mr. Bell was also under the 5th and 
6th sections of the said Act. The 5th section says :— 
“ Every person not being a distiller or rectifier, or other person duly authorized or spe¬ 
cially licensed to make methylated spirit, who shall sell any such spirit in any quantity 
without having in force a licence granted under this Act, shall forfeit £50 over and above 
all other penalties to which he may be liable under any other Act or Acts.” 
Section 6 says: “ If any person -whatever shall colour, purify, flavour, or prepare me¬ 
thylated spirit in any manner to fit or with intent to fit such spirit for use as a beverage, 
or for mixing with any beverage, or shall sell such spirit, whether coloured, purified, 
flavoured, or prepared in any manner or not as and for a beverage, or mixed with any 
beverage, he shall forfeit for every such offence £100, and the spirit shall also be for¬ 
feited.” 
Many complaints were made from various parts of the town, that Mr. Bell was acting 
contrary to this statute by selling methylated spirits very largely. The case was re¬ 
ported at Somerset House, and Mr. Lane, the supervisor of excise, went on the 3rd of 
August and purchased liquids which would be brought before the court. Those liquids 
have been analyzed by a chemist employed at Somerset House, and he would tell them that 
those liquids contained methylated spirit; that they were about the quality of strong gin, 
and might be used, and no doubt were commonly used as a beverage—in fact, the labels 
put by Mr. Bell upon the bottles Containing the liquids would show abundantly that they 
were intended for that purpose. He might mention that it was first permitted to sell 
methylated spirit; then experiments were made in order to prevent, if possible, it being 
used as a beverage or potable liquor. They fancied at the time that, by mixing it with 
9 per cent, of wood naphtha, it would have that effect. From these mixtures they gave 
it the name of methylated spirit, combining two Greek words to make an English one. 
But the defendant seemed to have overcome the impediment, and by doctoring it in some 
peculiar manner, had produced an article that was potable. One of the bottles contain¬ 
ing the liquor purchased by Mr. Lane had a label upon it, beginning, “ The only genuine 
and highly cordialized Indian Brandee;” m'erely substituting ee for y. Then it went 
on:— 
“Dose—For adults, one tablespoonful; 10 to 15 years, half a tablespoonful; 7 to 10 
years, one large tea-spoonful; 2 to 7 years, half a teaspoonful—to be taken in -warm 
water or gruel. Kecommended to be used everywhere; admirably adapted for every¬ 
body ; calculated to save scores of pounds in doctors’ bills; the real boon to the people 
of this country; the very best and only genuine in England. Sold at 3c?. an ounce. 
Medical Hall, 95, Friargate, Preston, Lancashire.” 
Another was printed in very large characters, and was as follows :— 
“ The original and only genuine old English Whiskee, combined with that grand sto¬ 
machic the essence of hops. Ye who suffer from gravel or pains in the back or side, try 
it; all ye who know too well what nervous affections are, try it; we say to every one who 
has a gnawing pain at the pit of the stomach, try it; all ye young women who are not 
as you ought to be, try it; yea, let everybody try it; for it is fit for the aged, safe for the 
young, gentle for the disabled, and sure for the strong. It is, indeed, the family medical 
prize medal.” 
