THE MANUFACTURE OP COD-LIVER OIL. 381 



I will, therefore, only mention its chief parts, and the manner of using 

 them. They consist, then, of a melting kettle, a water-kettle, and a fire- 

 place, constructed of thick iron plates, and so arranged, that the one can he 

 placed on the other, and with the joints are perfectly close. 



The fire-place, which stands on the ground, consists of two parts, a 

 cinder-hole, grate and doors, and also a pipe to increase the draught, and 

 carry off the smoke. It should he constructed within of brickwork. The 

 water-kettle must be provided with a funnel above, and with cocks on the 

 side to ascertain the quantity of water. On this again is placed the 

 melting kettle, which, on being filled up, descends into the water-kettle, 

 yet without touching the surface of the water. 



The operation is performed as follows : — the liver is taken as fresh as 

 possible, that is, as soon as it is taken out of the fish, and is then washed 

 and cleaned with water, and the gall-bladders removed ; it is then cut up 

 into small pieces, and thrown into the kettle. When this is nearly two- 

 thirds full, the fire is lighted underneath, and the water in the kettle is 

 brought to a boiling state, which must be kept up as long as the process 

 of melting lasts. The whole mass must be constantly stirred and pressed 

 wuth a large wooden spoon, in order to promote the separation of the oil, 

 which is gradually poured into a cask through a strainer as it melts. 



The process must be continued in this manner till all the oil is 

 extracted from the liver. 



The remaining portion of the liver is then taken out of the kettle, and 

 laid on one side in order to yield the brown or tanner's oil, after the manu- 

 facture of the best and purest oil is completed. 



The apparatus must be set up as near the fishing ground as possible ; 

 for it is expedient to get the liver as fresh as possible from the fish, as it 

 soon becomes decomposed ; and absorbs the acid properties of the air, 

 and becomes rancid. The oil is then placed in casks, secured with a tight- 

 fitting bung for transport to Christiania, where it undergoes a further 

 purifying process by means of filtration, which, however, has no influence 

 on its composition ; it is then bottled off, and has a flavour and appear- 

 ance like the accompanying samples. To prevent imposition, my oil is 

 sold in glass bottles stamped with my name, and sealed. 



As Norway is nearly the principal country for the production of cod- 

 liver oil (in good years from 12,000 to 16,000 hogsheads of both sorts are 

 exported, a large portion of which is employed for medicinal purposes *), 

 it appears to me to be unreasonable, that we should require to import this 

 drug from England, and that, too, at a price of 4s. per pint, or about 100Z- 

 the hogshead. 



Cod-liver oil manufactured according to my method may be sold profit- 

 ably at half the above price, and has, moreover, the advantage of being a 

 genuine article, while that which is imported into the country from abroad 

 passes through many different hands, and is exposed to the risk of being 



* Thus in 1852 a single firm exported about 600 hogsheads for this purpose. 



