Summary
Surgical spirit is a clear, colorless medical grade alcohol used as a topical antiseptic.
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It is also known as denatured alcohol and is used to clean wounds, prepare skin for surgery, and as a general antiseptic for the skin.
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Rubbing alcohol is either an isopropyl alcohol or an ethanol-based liquid, with isopropyl alcohol products being the most widely available.
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The comparable British Pharmacopoeia (BP) is surgical spirit.
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Rubbing alcohol is denatured and undrinkable even if it is ethanol-based, due to the bitterants added.
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According to
