564 
USE AND ABUSE OF METHYLATED SPIRIT. 
The sum obtained by donations was most satisfactory, but the number of 
annual subscriptions was not much augmented; and, with the view of in¬ 
creasing these subscriptions, while the list is still open, we call the attention 
of our Members and Associates to the subject. 
We have now a very fair nucleus of a fund; and if we get a large accession 
of annual subscribers, we may possibly be able to establish residences for 
the aged and unfortunate, and schools for orphans and children of Mem¬ 
bers, somewhat similar to the Medical Benevolent College at Epsom. 
We all are but human, and may some day come on the Benevolent Fund, 
therefore let us all lend a helping hand while we can ; “ let us be up and 
doing ” while we have the power. “ One cannot help many, but many can 
help one,” as the phrase goes: 
“ All should unite and guard what all may share; 
A general good should he a general care.” 
We will not say what each should give—that we leave to the individual 
mind—but every one should give a little. “The poor widow who threw two. 
mites into the treasury gave more than they all.” The steady advance pf 
the Society, the unanimity which exists among its members, and the late 
social gathering around the festive board, as well as the much-to-be-wished 
amalgamation of the whole trade, which seems to be progressing so well, will 
be the consummation of the late founder’s wishes, and the object he had in 
view when the Society was formed. Therefore, before the list closes, let us 
hope that many more may be added to the list of annual subscribers, so that 
when any Member or Associate, their widows or children, from misfortune 
or other unforeseen circumstance, apply for aid, there will be a fund to re¬ 
lieve them. 
USE AND ABUSE OF METHYLATED SPIEIT. 
The Methylated Spirit Act of 1855 has proved a decided success. After 
being in existence for twelve years there has been ample time to test its mode 
of working, and experience only tends to increase the respect that must be felt 
for the bold originators of the plan for allowing spirits duty-free, and in a no less 
degree for those whose skill and sagacity found out the method by which such 
a boon could be conferred on the public without injury to the revenue. It 
was a subject for legislation surrounded with difficulties. To be successful, 
it was essential that the material to be employed in defiling the alcohol should 
be of such a nature that the mixture “ should be so pure as to be generally 
available for the purposes to which it was to be applied in the arts or manu¬ 
factures,” and also “ that it should not be capable of purification by any 
simple process of rectification or otherwise, so as to be made palatable.” 
Mr. Phillips, the principal of the Inland Eevenue Laboratory, was happy in 
his selection of wood spirit as the contaminating agent, because it exactly 
fulfilled these conditions ; and the experiments of Messrs. Graham, Hofmann, 
and Eedwood left nothing to be desired in the way of proof that, with cer¬ 
tain simple precautions, ethylic alcohol, when mixed with w'ood spirit, might 
be allowed duty-free. The Act 18 & 19 Yict. c. 38, embodies the conclusions 
arrived at by these gentlemen, and we require no further proof of their correct¬ 
ness than that up to the present time there has arisen no necessity for making 
a change in the law. To us there appear to be no weak points in the Act; 
