Observations on the Oleum Jecoris Aselli or Cod-liver Oil: Its Nature, Properties, Mode of Preparation

The introduction of a new therapeutical agent into general practice cannot fail to interest the medical profession and the public, and, profiting by the experience attained in a consideration of the manner in which former remedies have been brought into notice, extolled for their efficacy, persevered in for a time, and then gradually permitted to fall into disuse, and finally sink into oblivion, it will doubtless be useful to review the circumstances attendant upon the proposal now so generally entertained of the administration of the cod-liver oil for a variety of diseases and disorders.

Although it is only of late that the attention of the public has been particularly drawn to this subject, principally by the zealous endeavours of the Medical Practitioners of Germany, it will be found upon inquiry that the remedy is by no means a novel proposal; nor are we even indebted to our foreign savans for its introduction. It is to be traced back to the latter part of the 18th century, at which time it was extensively used in the Manchester infirmary, and its effects, as there exhibited, have been reported by the late Dr. Samuel Argent Bardsley, in his “Medical Reports,” 1807, 8vo. This able physician, who was for many years attached to the Manchester infirmary, in which institution chronic rheumatism formed a very large proportion of the medical cases under treatment, states, that for this afflicting malady, the Oleum Jecoris Aselli, or cod-liver oil, enjoyed a high reputation in Lancashire, and that thirty years previously to the time at which he published his useful and truly practical work, it was introduced by one of the physicians to the infirmary, and that its success was such as to induce the celebrated Dr. Percival to recommend it to his notice and attention as deserving of a fair and extensive trial.