On the Operation of Medicines. 409 



whitenefs hath been fhewn to arife from olea- 

 ginous particles (not unaflimilared chyle) float- 

 ing in the circulating fluids*; and may ferve to 

 explain a fad, recorded by a writer of good 

 authority, on the natural hiftory of Aleppo, 

 that '' in certain feafons, when oil is plentifully 

 *' taken, the people become difpofed to fevers 

 *' and infarftions of the lungs; which fymptoms 

 " wear off by retrenching this indulgencef." 

 Some years ago cod-liver oil was annually dif- 

 penfed, amongft the fick in our hofpitaj, to the 

 amount of fifty or fixty gallons. The tafte and 

 fmell are extremely naufeous; and it leaves upon 

 the palate a favour like that of putrid fiQi. This 

 remedy is mofl falutary when it operates by 

 perfpiration ; and the fweat of thofe to whom it 

 is adminiftered, always becomes ftrongly tainted 

 with it. An oil of the fame kind forms no 

 inconfiderable part of the food of many northern 

 nations; and it is faid to penetrate and imbue 

 the deepeft recefles of the body:};. 



In the Philofophical Tranfaflions for 1750, 

 (vol. I. part. II. p. 295.) Dr. Wright relates 

 an experiment to prove that chalybeates do not 



• See Hewfon on the Blood, p. 146. 

 t See Ruflels Hiftory of Aleppo. 

 I Oil was formerly adminiftered in pregnancy, by Sir 

 William Hamilton, and other experienced phyficians, to 

 promote eafy delivery ; But modern theory has fuperfedcd 

 their obfervaiion and experience ! 

 Vol. III. p ^^^^^ 



