HOW COD ARE CURED. 293 



texture. When carefully prepared, it is quite pure, nearly 

 inodorous, and of a crystalline transparency. The specific 

 gravity at temperature 64 is about -920. It seems to 

 have been first used medicinally by Dr. Percival in 1782 for 

 the cure of chronic rheumatism ; afterwards by Dr. Bardsly 

 in 1807. It has now become a popular remedy in all the 

 slow-wasting diseases, particularly in scrofulous affections of 

 the joints and bones, and in consumption of the lungs. The 

 result of an extended trial of this medicine in the hospital at 

 London for the treatment of consumptive patients shows that 

 about 70 per cent gain strength and weight, and improve in 

 health, w r hile taking the cod-liver oil ; and this good effect 

 with a great many is permanent. Skate-liver oil is also 

 coming into use for medicinal purposes, and I have no doubt 

 that the oil obtained from some of our other fishes will also 

 be found useful in a medicinal point of view. 



The codfish is best when eaten fresh, but vast quantities 

 are sent to market in a dried or cured state : the great seat 

 of the cod-fishery for curing purposes is at Newfoundland. 

 But considerable numbers of cod and ling are likewise cured 

 on the coasts of Scotland. The mode of cure is quite simple. 

 The fish must be cured as soon as possible after it has been 

 caught. A few having been brought on shore, they are at 

 once split up from head to tail, and by copious washings 

 thoroughly cleansed from all particles of blood. A piece of 

 the backbone being cut away, they are then drained, and after- 

 wards laid down in long vats, covered with salt, heavy weights 

 being placed upon them to keep them thoroughly under the 

 action of the pickle. By and by the fish are taken out of the 

 vat, and are once more drained, being at the same time care- 

 fully washed and brushed to prevent the collection of any 

 kind of impurity. Next the fish are pined by exposure to the 

 sun and air ; in other words, they are bleached by being 

 spread out individually on the sandy beach, or upon such rocks 



