DIFFUSION OF ALCOHOL IN NATURE.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2253, 18 May 1881, Page 1

DIFFUSION OF ALCOHOL IN NATURE.

It was shown by M. Muntz some time ago (says the “ Time* ”) that alcohol in very small quantity could be detected in substances through the reaction which consists in changing it into iodoform. This method he has developed to extreme sensibility, so that the presence of less than one-millionth of alcohol added to water can bo proved by it. M. Muntz has lately examined various waters in this way, spring, river, sea, and rain water ; also snow. He finds alcohol in all, except in very pure spring water. By comparison with water holding known quantities of alcohol, rain water and tho water of the Seine he estimated to contain about one gram per cubic metre. Snow and cold rain seem zo rontain a little more. The proportion in sea water is much the same.

Th6re 18 evident reason to suppose that alcohol exists in the state of vapour in air. This diffusion of the substance in nature is easily explained by the destruction of organic matter by various agents of fermentation. On this hypothesis one should find a good deal of alcohol in the ground. M. Muntc states that even poor soil gives the iodoform reaction when only 100 or 200 grammes are operated with ; while mould and earth rich in organic matters contain the substance in considerable quantity. The iodoform reaction, indeed, is got with other volatile substances, such as ether, mothjlic alcohol, &e., but of all such substances ordinary or othylic acid is the only one formed in nature in large quantity, so its extensive presence is more easily explained. In the case of earth, it can be extracted and it* essential properties verified.