758  Therapeutic  Action  of  Cod  Liver  Oil  { ^^m*™' 
tracted  cod  liver  with  acidified  alcohol  and  refined  the  extract,  isolat- 
ing finally  a  yellow  oil  which  crystallized  in  the  form  of  plates. 
They  called  this  substance  morrhuic  acid  C9H13X03,  assigning  to 
it  the  structural  formula  of  hydroxidihydropyridine-butyric  acid. 
Sodium  morrhuate  can  readily  be  used  in  the  form  of  a  3  per 
cent,  aqueous  solution  as  suggested  by  Sir  Leonard  Rogers.  If  a 
sediment  forms  the  supernatant  solution  can  be  used.  This  keeps  at 
room  temperature  if  0.25-0.50  per  cent,  carbolic  acid  is  added.  It 
has  a  reddish  brown  color  and  a  distinct  odor  of  cod  liver  oil,  and 
represents  the  sodium  salts  of  mixed,  unsaturated  fatty  acids. 
Deep  muscular  injections  of  from  one  to  four  cubic  centimeters 
have  been  given.  The  patient  complains  of  some  local  tenderness 
lasting  for  a  day  or  two,  but  these  reactions  are  never  severe.  In- 
travenous injections  are  well  tolerated,  larger  amounts  causing  a 
slight  headache  and  a  feeling  of  dullness,  but  general  reactions  in 
the  form  of  chills  and  fever  have  not  occurred.  We  have  not 
noticed  any  evidences  of  phlebitis  in  the  vessels  selected  for  injec- 
tions. It  has, been  suggested  that  sodium  morrhuate  given  intraven- 
ously could  possibly  lead  to  a  stimulation  of  the  immunologic 
mechanism  concerned  in  the  healing  of  infectious  processes  non- 
tubercular  in  nature.  A  limited  experience  in  this  field  has  failed 
to  verify  these  predictions.  We  have  not  as  yet  tried  out  this  new 
remedy  in  a  series  of  patients  suffering  from  pulmonary  tubercu- 
losis. 
CALCIUM  MORRHUATE. 
By  adding  calcium  acetate  to  a  solution  of  sodium  morrhuate 
containing  iy2  per  cent,  gelatin  and  %  per  cent,  carbolic  acid,  a 
suspension  of  calcium  morrhuate  was  obtained.  One  c.  c.  of  this 
suspension  contained  %  grain  of  calcium  morrhuate  and  Vro  grain 
of  gelatin;  y2  per  cent,  aqueous  formaldehyde  solution  can  be  used 
as  a  preservative.  W'hen  these  insoluble  suspensions  were  given 
intramuscularly  some  local  tenderness  developed  but  no  general 
symptoms. 
MERCUROUS  MORRHUATE. 
The  mercurous  preparation  was  found  to  be  greyish  in  color, 
homogeneous,  gelatinous  and  sticky  in  nature,  and  suitable  for 
intramuscular  medication  in  patients  suffering  from  syphilis.  It 
