4 
ON GLYCERINE. 
“ I have now to mention some uses for glycerine, which I believe to be 
new, or to which I have seen distilled glycerine applied. 
“ A possible use, which appears worthy of experiment, is to inject it into 
the bladder for the purpose of dissolving calculous deposits ; from its 
blandness it "would not cause irritation, while, as it is a solvent of urea and 
phosphate of lime, it might dissolve them when in the bladder. Some of 
the high authorities have received glycerine for the purpose of the ex- 
periment. 
“The use of glycerine in photography having been suggested, some 
distilled glycerine has been sent to several of the best photographers and 
makers of photographic preparations. It was very well received, and con- 
sidered to promise well, and is still the subject of many experiments ; but 
as yet it does not appear that any great results have been arrived at. It is, 
however, expected to supersede the honey of Shadbolt’s process. 
“ The properties of soothing and keeping moist the skin have caused it to 
be used upon chapped hands and sun-burnt faces. It has been proposed as 
a substitute for syrup in preserving fruits. Mixed with alcohol or pyroxylic 
spirit, it has been proposed by Mr. Warren de la Rue as an economical fuel 
for spirit lamps. 
“Tor some time past, in Edinburgh as in London, it has been used in 
skin diseases ; it is now being tried in some cases of disease of the mucous 
membrane of the stomach. 
“We have been informed that in the preparation of several medicines 
glycerine may be substituted for syrup or sugar, with the effect not only of 
preserving the medicine in an active state and free from change, but also of 
very greatly improving its taste. Griffiths’ iron mixture has been mentioned 
to us as an instance of this. 
“ Glycerine appears to give the means of preservation of some objects of 
natural history without change in their colour. This is shown by the 
specimens of fish upon the table. Our first experiment was upon a 
brilliantly coloured two pound trout, caught in one of the Perthshire lochs. 
Immediately on taking it from the water, I poured a quantity of glycerine 
over it, and wrapped it in a cloth. At night the fish was cleaned and 
immersed in glycerine. Next day it was again wrapped in a saturated cloth. 
On examining it a day or two afterwards in Edinburgh, the colour on the 
scales was unchanged. When it arrived in London part was steeped in 
wat er and then cooked. Though perfectly fresh and firm, it had lost almost 
all its flavour ; the uncooked portion was immersed in glycerine, and sent to 
Professor Owen, who suggested that the brilliantly tinted fishes of the Coral 
Islands and tropical coasts might be brought home in kegs of glycerine. 
“ On the table are specimens of trout, roach, and perch, which have been, 
the trout more than two months, the perch and roach more than one month, 
in their bottles. It will be seen that the colours continue bright. 
“ I may now state, in conclusion, that though a variety of uses, actual 
and possible, for pure glycerine have been mentioned, yet when we consider 
its power as a solvent, and at the same time its blandness, and freedom from 
all irritant, exciting, acid, and fermenting properties, we must feel that not 
a tithe of its uses have yet been developed ; that in glycerine there is a wide 
field open, requiring many scientific and practical labourers, and which, once 
fully worked, will yield a tenfold crop of uses. Pure glycerine will then 
lake its proper place among the most valued of modern products; and, 
produced, as it will be, in great quantities, it will be recognised in the arts, 
as well as in medicine, as a new, real blessing to mankind.” 
As a preservative agent, Dr. W. Frazer doubts its efficacy, 
