SHEEP. 637 
gouty, and rheumatic twinges which too emphatically reminded 
the Stuart, in the autumn of his days, how “ every inordinate 
cup is unblest, and the ingredient thereof a devil’), invariably, 
whenever a deer was run down, and killed, would plunge his 
unbooted limbs within the beast’s warm, reeking entrails. This 
remarkable panacea was advised by the Court Physician, Sir 
Theodore Mayerne, as the “sovereign’st thing on earth” for 
the said rheumatic troubles. The oil of Sheep’s wool, now 
known as “ lanolin,”’ has recently come into extended medical 
use ; it is the wool fat, or swint, being prepared from the purified 
cholesterin fat of lamb’s wool; it is stable, not drying quickly, 
and not supporting germ life, being therefore an admirable 
foundation for ointments. Also, as a basic constituent of mutton 
fat (tallow), the syrupy fluid known as glycerine subserves certain 
culinary uses with remedial effects, though it takes rank more 
as a drug than as a food. Nevertheless, it is sweet to the taste, 
and makes a capital addition to foods instead of cane sugar tor 
diabetic persons; furthermore, it obviates constipation when 
taken by the teaspoonful, and repeated every two, or three 
hours if needed. It can occupy the place of cod-liver oil for 
consumptive patients who do not tolerate that fish product, 
being given to the extent of two ounces a day; it will further 
help to dissolve gravel when this is observed to occur in the 
urine; and it promotes the efficacy of red bone-marrow if 
combined therewith as a special nutriment for the recruital of 
bloodless patients after hemorrhage, or loss of blood by accident. 
Probably the virtue which glycerine exercises as an antiseptic, 
is due to the withdrawal which it effects of some of the water 
from the substance of invading microbes, such attraction for 
water being possessed by glycerine to a singular degree; it is 
undrying, and remarkably solvent. A small dose thereof will 
admirably quench intolerable thirst when the amount of Jiquids 
allowed to a patient has to be restricted. Against gall-stones, 
and the colic which they cause by their obstructive presence, 
the daily taking of from two to four teaspoonfuls of glycerine 
in some alkaline water has proved most efficacious. Also tor 
flatulent indigestion, with acidity, a dose of glycerine (one, or 
two teaspoontuls) will generally afford immediate relief. For 
a troublesome cough it is often of service to mix a tablespoonful — 
of glycerine with half a tumblerful of cold water, and to take one, 
or two, teaspoonfuls of this mixture pretty frequently. 
