Methanol

Wood-spirit, or methyl-alcohol (methanol CH₃OH), is a constituent of wood-naphtha, a product of the destructive distillation of wood. It rarely occurs in commerce in a state even approaching to that of purity. It is miscible with water in all proportions, but not with fixed oils. When free from water it may be used as a solvent for some resins, and for removing discoloured varnish from oil-paintings. Methylated spirit now contains in 100 measures 9 1/2 measures of crude wood-spirit and 1/2 measure of petroleum oil, the remainder being rectified spirit of wine.