USE ABUSE OF METHYLATED SPIRIT. 
565 
whatever mistakes have subsequently been made respecting the uses ot 
methylated spirit, can easily be traced to a desire on the part of the Board 
of Inland Revenue to give every possible facility to trade. In some instances 
they have found the concessions have been prejudicial to the interests of the 
revenue. In 1856 the representatives of almost every branch of trade iii 
Avhich alcohol was used were unanimous in praising the measure ; but then it 
might have been said, with some degree of truth, that those who so vehe¬ 
mently praised, did so from selfish motives only, and entirely overlooked the 
fact that the amount of duty remitted on methylated spirit must be made up 
to the national exchequer from other sources. Ten years later we are still 
able to praise, and to say that although the quantity of spirit manufactured 
in the United Kingdom in 1866 is less by more than three million gallons 
than it was in 1857, and the quantity methylated has increased from 210,000 
to 1,000,000 gallons, yet the income derived from spirits has increased more 
than a million and a half sterling in the same period, b}^ raising the duty on 
this article of luxury to ten shillings a gallon. The rapid increase in the 
consumption of methylated spirit for the purposes for which it was originally 
intended, is a sure proof of the benefit its use has conferred upon the public; 
and perhaps no class of the community has derived greater advantages from 
its employment than the manufacturing chemist ; but at the same time we 
are grieved to admit, no class has so much abused the privilege. In the 
face of the opposition of the Colleges of Physicians of London, Edinburgh, 
and Dublin, pharmaceutical preparations both for external and internal use 
were prepared from methylated instead of from pure alcohol. Serious 
doubts were entertained of the efficacy of such medicines, but their cheapness 
appeared to overrule other considerations; and we know they have been ex¬ 
tensively used, not only by chemists and druggists, but also by members of 
the medical profession, especially^ in infirmaries and similar institutions. 
From medical preparations of methylated spirit there was soon a descent to the 
manufacture of other compounds which partook more of the nature of bever¬ 
ages than medicines. Such were Indian Brandee, Indian Tincture, Grindee, 
hiskee, and the like,—names which have been described as “ more sug¬ 
gestive of the gin palace than of the druggist’s shop.” We are aware that 
only a few chemists resorted to these latter practices, but many used me¬ 
thylated tinctures, etc., in dispensing. We have every reason to believe 
that the alteration which has now been made in the law, restricting the use 
of methylated spirit to the purposes originally contemplated by the Act of 
1855, will completely put a stop to the improper uses which have recently 
been made of dut 3 '^-free spirit, and that the members of the drug trade as a 
body will assist to the utmost of their power in carrying into effect the regu¬ 
lations which have been found necessary, alike for the credit of pharmacy 
and the protection of the revenue. 
