Production of Isinglass on the Coasts of India, 95 



casionally nearly transparent in some, having something of an oily 

 feel when rubbed, and exhaling a fishy odour when in mass. Some 

 of the specimens are whitish in appearance, from a little adhering 

 chalk, which was sprinkled on the soft substance to assist its drying, 

 and to prevent the masses adhering together. As this is easily 

 brushed off, and is, moreover, insoluble in water, it will not in any 

 way interfere with the article when brought into use. 



The Isinglass cut into threads is unsuitable for the English market, 

 notwithstanding that Isinglass for retail is cut into fine threads, 

 as more convenient for general use, and for making jellies and soups, 

 in consequence of the extensive surface which is exposed, rendering 

 it more easily and quickly soluble. But there is a great prejudice 

 in the wholesale market to buying things in a cut or powdered state, 

 in consequence of the innumerable methods adopted, for falsifying and 

 adulterating almost every drug. Machinery is used in London for 

 cutting the Isinglass into threads of any degree of fineness, and as it 

 is impracticable at present to rival this in India, besides having to 

 contend against a prejudice if sent in this state, it is preferable, and 

 will be cheaper, to prepare the article and send it as sheet Isinglass, 

 that is in the form of the slit sounds themselves, or their purest 

 membrane washed, cleaned, and dried in the best manner. 



It has been stated that several parcels of Isinglass from Calcutta 

 have already been sent to the London market Though we are not 

 acquainted with the prices which all have brought, yet we have the 

 fullest evidence respecting the cost and the out-turn of one large 

 sample ; and that the price was small, compared even with the origi- 

 nal outlay. But other parcels have sold at a higher price. 



Many circumstances tend to produce an unfavourable effect on the 

 price of an article exposed for sale, independent of the intrinsic va- 

 lue. In the first place, it is new and unknown ; this will of itself 

 repel many ordinary purchasers, because they are unacquainted with 

 its peculiarities, and do not consider it worth the trouble and expense 

 of submitting to experiment, more especially as they do not know 

 whether they may meet with it again as a regular article of com- 

 merce. Others, again, who are willing to submit it to trial, will 

 only do so, when they can obtain it at a sufficiently cheap rate, and 

 therefore take advantage of its unknown condition to depreciate its 



