838 
On the Edulcoration of Fish- OIL 
may be met with in the fifth volume of the Transactions 
of the Linnaean Society. 
I am informed, that in India, a circle of lord Dundon- 
ald ? s coal tar drawn on the floor round boxes and other 
furniture, will effectually preserve them and their con 
tents from the depredations of the white ant. 
It appears, that most insects are fond of sugar and mu- 
cilage ; which is the probable reason why that wood is 
most subject to be penetrated by worms, which is felled 
when it most abounds with sap. In such cases, it might 
be well to try the effects of washing the wood, previously 
to the use of the varnish, with a solution of arsenic in hot 
water, in the proportion of one pound to ten gallons ; or 
with a strong decoction of coioquintida or bitter apple, or 
white hellebore ; after which the wood must be complete- 
ly dried before the application of the varnish in the man- 
ner before directed. All these preparations are extreme- 
ly cheap, and are either destructive or offensive to insects, 
and therefore will, probably, be an effectual defence 
against any injury from that cause. 
C. H, Parry, 
Circus , September 30, 1807 
No. 65. 
On the Edulcoration of Fish-OiL By Robert Dossie, 
Esquire 
Explanation of the Principles on which the Purification 
of Fish- Oil may be performed, and of the Uses to which 
it is applicable . 
THAT the foetid smell of fish-oil is chiefly owing to 
putrefaction, it is unnecessary to show ; but, though this 
* Tilloch, vol. 15, p, 105. From the Transactions of the Society for the En- 
couragement of Arts, Ifc. vol. xx.— So far back as the year 1761 the Society voted 
him a bounty of one hundred pounds for this communication, though they did 
not publish it till 1802 . 
