BOTANIC MATERIA MEDICA, 389 
ing to the class Pisces (fishes) and the order 
Sturiones (sturgeon), which are found abund- 
antly in the Black and Caspian seas. Isinglass 
is but the dried air bladder (also known as 
sound) of the fish, which bladder enables the 
fish to rise or sink in the water at will. The 
isinglass is also prepared in this country (New 
England) from the sounds of the hake (gadus 
merluccius), which is quite abundant in the 
waters along the New England coast. In com- 
merce isinglass is known as the leaf, book and 
Staple isinglass; the first is found in separate 
sheets, the second in two or more sheets, folded 
together, whilst the last named staple isinglass 
is folded or rolled into various forms. This 
membranous tissue occurs as a horny or pearly 
substance exhibiting either a creamy or a yel- 
lowish, semi-transparent appearance, the odor 
of which is feeble and the taste insipid and 
Sticky. 
The constituents of isinglass are principally 
made up of g/utin, say about 95 per cent; the 
balance, 5 per cent, is made up of membrane 
and salts. Medicinally, isinglass is of little use, 
Save as a protective and nutritive agent, form- 
ing also the basis of the English court plaster. 
Gelatin, Gelatina.—Obtained from boiling 
and evaporating the bones, skins and cartilages 
of the various animals slaughtered for the mar- 
ket. This substance closely resembles isin- 
glass, and is used for the same purposes, ex- 
cept the inferior qualities, which are known in 
commerce as white and common glue. The 
better qualities are used domestically as a jelly 
and medicinally to form capsules, in which are 
