Epichlorhydrin, Amyl Alcohol

Epichlorhydrin has been employed as a solvent for some of the copals and other intractable resins in the manufacture of varnishes. Without further trials it would be unwise to employ this liquid in artistic painting, yet the resins dissolved in it seem to retain much of their original toughness and hardness. The same statement may be made in reference to several other similar chlorine compounds, which possess the merits of cheapness and non-inflammability.

Antyl alcohol, the chief constituent of fusel-oil, is used by picture-cleaners for the removal of discoloured varnish. Its vapour is suffocating and even poisonous.