Manchester Memoirs, Vol. Ixii. (191 7), No. 5 



V. Somatose. 



By William Thomson, F.R.S.E., F.I.C., F.C.S. 



(Received and read January 8th ig/8.) 



The substance sold under the name of Somatose was invented by 

 a German and prepared by a well-known German firm (The Bayer 

 Co., Ltd.) some years ago. It was put up in small square tins 

 containing - 2 ozs. and sold at 3/2 per tin, i.e. 25/4 per lb. It was 

 claimed for it, that although taken in small doses of two or four 

 level teaspoonfuls per day for adults, equal to 6 to 12 grammes, i.e. 

 from one-fifth to two-fifths of an ounce, it rapidly increased the 

 weight of the person taking it, and was specially recommended for 

 invalids, and for all sorts of disease. 



At one time, probably on the reputation of the name of the manu- 

 facturer, it was largely used and frequently recommended bv 

 medical men. 



Somatose was manufactured from the refuse left after extract- 

 ing meat with warm water. The solution thus obtained, after 

 concentration, constituted the meat extract which is a good tonic, 

 but cannot be regarded as a food. 



The insoluble refuse or fibrine was no doubt suitable for food, 

 if used at once, or if preserved in tins, although it would be some- 

 what tough, but it was not always so used in the Argentine. It 

 was often disposed of by being thrown into the sea. 



The process devised by an ingenious German was, to heat the 

 fibrine with water under a pressure of 90 lbs to the square inch i.e. 

 at a temperature of 320 degrees Fahrenheit for some time, when 

 a large part of it went into solution. The solution was filtered from 

 the insoluble tissue and fat and evaporated to dryness. This left 

 a brittle brownish residue which on being powdered constituted 

 Somatose. 



