154 
ON  METHYLATED  SPIRIT. 
of  the  hand,  it  leaves  an  unpleasant  odor,  it  is  not  fit  for  use."  A 
still  finer  test  of  the  flavor  may  be  found  in  the  employment  of 
white  bibulous  paper ;  a  little  may  be  poured  upon  a  piece  of  it, 
and  its  flavor  watched  until  it  evaporates  so  as  to  leave  the  paper 
dry.  If  the  flavor  continues  the  same  throughout,  the  proof  is 
complete  that  it  is  pure,  for  the  oils  referred  to  are  more  persist- 
ent than  the  chloroform,  and  when  it  has  evaporated,  their  odor, 
if  present,  will  display  itself.  The  chloroform  prepared  from  the 
methylated  spirit  stands  these  tests  as  well  as  that  prepared  from 
alcohol  alone.  Its  specific  gravity  may  also  be  referred  to. 
''The  rectified  chloroform  should  have  the  specific  gravity  1.49 
to  1.50."  (Gregory.)  That  from  the  methylated  spirit  has  the 
specific  gravity  1.50  at  the  temperature  of-  60°  Fahr.  It  is 
necessary  to  mention  this,  for  it  has  happened  that  some  have 
tried  the  gravity  without  paying  any  attention  to  the  temperature, 
and  expected  to  find  it  exactly  the  same  in  the  dog  days  as  in 
the  most  intense  frost.  Chloroform  from  methylated  spirit  will 
be  found  to  stand  this  test  also  quite  as  well  as  that  from  alcohol ; 
and  any  chloroform  found  much  under  1500  at  60°  Fahr.  should 
be  rejected  as  in  some  way  contaminated.  But  nothing  is  so 
important  as  the  application  of  the  article  in  medicine  and  sur- 
gery, and  it  is  very  satisfactory  to  be  able  to  say  that  the  chloro- 
form thus  prepared  has  been  found  equally  effectual  and  equally 
safe  with  that  prepared  from  alcohol  alone.  Nothing  was  want- 
ing but  this  test,  and  this  has  been  applied  so  as  to  leave  no 
doubt  whatever  regarding  it.  It  has  been  used  in  many  cases, 
and  its  effects  found  not  to  differ  in  any  way  from  those  of  chloro- 
form prepared  from  alcohol  alone.  I  need  only,  however,  say 
that  it  has  been  used  in  the  Royal  Infirmary,  under  the  eye  of 
Professor  Syme.  In  a  recent  operation  of  a  protracted  nature, 
in  a  case  of  necrosis,  it  was  applied  with  entire  success,  and 
to-day  I  had  an  opportunity  of  witnessing  the  operation  of  ex- 
cision of  the  shoulder-joint  performed  in  the  theatre  of  the 
hospital  by  that  accomplished  surgeon.  The  operation  was  per- 
formed in  his  usual  dexterous  manner  and  promises  a  perfect 
cure,  and  to  witness  the  patient,  a  young  woman,  lying  unmoved 
on  the  operating  table,  entirely  unconscious  of  the  progress  of 
the  surgeon's  knife,  and  in  a  state  of  as  calm  and  quiet  repose 
as  if  she  had  been  merely  enjoying  a  refreshing  sleep,  was  a 
