140 
EXTRACT  OP  COD  LIVER. 
tion,  and  acts  through  its  tonic  effect  in  the  process  of  assimilation  and 
nutrition.  Some  also  believe  it  to  unite  these  properties  in  its  therapeutic 
action.  Now,  if  it  be  true  that  the  various  principles  which  have  been 
attributed  to  this  oil  are  derived  from  the  fluids  of  the  hepatic  organ,  is  it 
not  probable  that  the  pure  oil  itself,  as  secreted  in  the  cells  of  the  liver,  is 
not  imbued  with  them  to  much  extent,  and  that  it  is  only  when  the  tissues 
are  '^broken  up  in  the  extraction  of  the  oil,  that  the  latter  assumes  these  in- 
gredients ?  This  at  least  is  reasonable,  and  if  these  ingredients  be  really 
important,  why  should  we  not  expect  valuable  curative  results  from  an 
extract  embracing  the  soluble  constituents,  not  oleaginous,  of  the  cod  livers  ? 
The  following  paper  referring  to  this  subject  is  not  satisfactory,  but  will 
serve  to  introduce  the  subject  to  our  readers. — Editor  Am.  Jour.  Pharm.J 
# 
To  the  Editor  of  the  Chemical  News  : 
Sir, — Will  you  kindly  grant  me  space  in  your  columns  for  a 
few  observations  in  reference  to  your  necessarily  brief  report  of 
the  Pharmaceutical  Society  of  the  6th  inst.,  at.  which  the  claims 
of  the  new  extract  of  cod  livers  were  discussed  ?  My  apology 
for  again  intruding  on  you  must  be  the  general  interest  of  the 
discovery  that  the  watery  constituents  of  cod  liver,  which  have 
been  hitherto  deemed  of  no  value,  and  'thrown  away,  are  really 
richer  in  medicinal  substances  than  cod  liver  oil. 
The  28  lbs.  of  cod  liver  from  which  Mr.  Squire  was  only  able 
to  produce  1  lb.  of  aqueous  matter  must  have  lost  much  of  their 
water  before  coming  into  his  hands.  The  15  lbs.  of  liver  which 
remained  after  the  withdrawal  of  the  12  lbs.  of  oil  and  1  lb.  of 
water  evidently  still  contained  much  aqueous  liquid. 
The  waters  of  cod  liver,  when  skilfully  obtained,  constantly 
yield  15  per  cent,  of  extract.  Mr.  Squire  seemed  to  have  got 
no  more  than  12  per  cent. 
The  extract,  when  properly  prepared,  contains  fully  78  per 
cent,  of  organic  and  inorganic  matters  (exclusive  of  oil) ;  while 
cod  liver  oil,  according  to  the  best  knowTn  analyses,  contains  only 
1-024  per  cent.  Hence,  in  one  tablespoonful  of  the  latter,  which 
comprises  240  grains,  there  are  present  scarcely  2J  grains  of  the 
organic  and  inorganic  matters  of  which  the  extract  is  almost  en- 
tirely composed. 
What  is  the  chemical  and  medicinal  nature  of  this  extract  ? 
On  the  authority  of  the  French  analyses  and  official  report,  I 
assert  that  it  is  composed  of  the  very  substances — namely,  fish- 
