According to Nicloux,1 small quantities of methyl alcohol in blood may be estimated by adding to the blood six or seven times its volume of a saturated solution of picric acid, and distilling the mixture. If a fractionating apparatus of suitable type is employed, all the methyl alcohol is obtained in the first portion of the distillate measuring one-fifth of the original volume. In this distillate, the methyl alcohol is determined by oxidation with potassium dichromate, as described later on for ethyl alcohol (p. 209). With urine or any other liquid of the organism except blood, it suffices to use an equal volume of the picric acid solution.

When dealing with body-tissues, a quantity of 10 to 20 grams is taken, placed in about 40 c.c. of the picric acid solution, and cut into small pieces under the liquid. The mixture is then distilled and the distillate oxidised as above described.