OILS AND FATS, ETC. 331 



other species of white fish, some of which, or individuals nearly allied to 

 them in genus and conformation, are, it is most probable to be found on 

 every sea-coast in the world; and we have no doubt that, of those 

 containing and affording the oil in question, more than one species 

 or family will be found on the shores of India if the investigation 

 should be continued, and the supply from Europe should be deficient, 

 or the native oil can be produced at a more moderate rate. Should our 

 medical and scientific brethren in Madras, however, extend the field of 

 their inquiry, and pursue still further their experimental investigation, 

 we are firmly convinced that, ere long, they will discover fresh sources 

 for supplying this very useful and popular medicine in such quantities 

 as would enable both the Government Medical depots and the trade to 

 dispense with the necessity of importing it from Europe at a higher 

 price than it can be produced for locally, and besides protect the medical 

 community and the public from the possibility of interrupted or scanty 

 supplies. 



Cod-liver Oil was first prepared in Newfoundland from the liveiB 

 which, being extracted from the fish in the process of cleansing and salt- 

 ing, were thrown aside, and whilst putrifying in the sun, gave out in the 

 process of dissolution the animal oil, now in such high repute, but which 

 was at first prescribed by empirics and administered by ignorant persons, 

 in whose hands, however, although its action was not understood any 

 better than it now is by the educated practitioner, its use was followed 

 by many remarkable cures. It is now more than fifty years since it was 

 first brought to the notice of the profession in England, and about seventy 

 since its name first occurred in medical practice. The oil produced in 

 Newfoundland was possessed, from the process through which it was ob. 

 tained, of the most nauseous flavour and taste, and on this account it was 

 not long before the attention of persons employed in the English fisheries 

 was directed to the object of extracting it from the material in their 

 hands by a more cleanly process, and one which should afford an oil less 

 repulsive in its manufacture, and consequently in its odour. The fishes 

 from which this oil is obtainable are not confined, in their residence or 

 migrations, to any particular coast or climate, but are most probably to 

 be found in every ocean and on every seaboard on the globe ; and we 

 hope that this probability will stimulate scientific persons in all coun- 

 tries to imitate the industrious research of the Madras practitioner 

 already referred to. 



The Cod-liver Oil of Commerce is still obtained by the French fisher- 

 men at Newfoundland from the decomposition of the liver in casks 

 either in the holds of the fishing vessels or on shore near the dwellings. 

 It is an object of considerable trade, for there are exported annually 

 500,000 kilos., varying in price from lOOf. to 1501. the 100 kilos. 



Purified Cod-liver Oil for Medicinal Use. — This new industry 

 promises to attain to considerable importance at St. Pierre. It is in- 



