As cod-liver oil is extremely repugnant to many patients, it is desirable to prescribe it in as agreeable a form as possible. It can easily be taken in gelatin capsules containing 20 to 40 minims of oil and a minim or two of guaiacol. Quickly stirred up in a hot whisky-puncb, it may be swallowed without appreciation of the taste of the oil. It may be taken on beer, the oil covered with the foam, and carefully prevented touching the glass. A wine-glass may be thoroughly moistened with ale or beer, and the dose of oil just enveloped in the beer, when it may be tossed into the throat without perceiving the taste of the oil; or the oil may be taken in sufficient lemon-juice in the same way. It may also be taken in black coffee. A very good disguise is that of Carlo Paresi, by which it is made to have the odor and taste of coffee. To 400 parts of cod-liver oil are added 10 parts of animal charcoal and 20 parts of ground roasted coffee. The mixture is digested in a water-bath at a temperature of 50° to 60° C, and after standing three days is filtered and put in well-stoppered bottles. It is said that 10 drops of chloroform to 100 grammes of the oil will render it palatable. One part of essential oil of eucalyptus to 100 parts of pale oil makes a mixture in which the odor and taste of the oil are entirely extinguished. Two drachms of cod-liver oil may be mixed with a drachm each of compound spirits of lavender and brandy. Emulsions of cod-liver oil are now prepared with glycerin and yolks of eggs, and suitably flavored. The various emulsions with lime are also much prescribed. Cod-liver oil saponified by lime has been brought forward by Prof. Van den Court, of Brussels, as a remedy of especial efficacy in phthisis. Lastly, cod-liver oil has been used instead of lard or butter in the preparation of rolls, which are readily eaten by children. The addition of ether to cod-liver oil promotes its digestion. Bernard long ago made the observation that ether stimulates the pancreas and increases its secretion, thus contributing to the emulsionizing of the fats. The combination of ether and cod-liver oil has been especially urged by Dr. B. Foster. The committee of the New York Therapeutical Society report that the addition of fifteen minims of ether to each half-ounce of oil enables the patient to take it, if it had previously disagreed.

Authorities referred to:

Anstie, Dr. Francis E. Neuralgia and the Diseases that resemble it, Macmillan & Co., London, 1871.

Bennett, Dr. J. Hughes. Oleum Jecoris Asclli as a Therapeutic Agent in Certain Forms of Gout, Rheumatism, and Scrofula, London, 1841.

Day, Dr. George E. Chemistry in its Relation to Physiology and Medicine, London, 1860, p. 174.

Flint, Dr. Austin, Jr. The Physiology of Man, vol. ii, p. 372, New York, 1873.

Gubler, Dr. Adolph. Commcntaires Thérapeutiques, etc., Paris, 1868, p. 156.

Lehmann, Prof. C. G. Physiological Chemistry, Philadelphia, 1855, vol. i, p. 221, et seq.

Nothnagel, Dr. Hermann. Handbuch der Arzneimittel, Berlin, 1870, p. 661, et seq.

Ranke, Prof. Dr. Johannes. Grundzüge der Physiologie des Menscken, Leipzig, 1872, p. 289.

Ringer, Dr. Sidney. Handbook of Therapeutics, p. 247.

Simon, Dr. Franz. Animal Chemistry, Syd. Soc, vol. i, p. 206.

Trousseau et Pidoux. Traité de Thérapeutique et de Matiére Médicale, huitiéme édition, vol. i, p. 304.

Williams, Dr. J. C. B. and Dr. Theodore. Consumption.