[ Reprinted from The Medical News, May ar, 1892.] 
ANALYTIC NOTES ON COMMERCIAL COD-LIVER 
OIL EMULSIONS. 
HENRY LEFFMANN, M.D., 
AND 
WILLIAM BEAM, M.D., 
OF PHILADELfftlA. 
The excellence of an emulsion of cod-liver oil 
depends, of course, upon the proportion of oil 
present and upon the perfection of the emulsifica- 
tion. The latter condition may be roughly esti- 
mated by the facility with which the oil separates 
on standing, but the proportion present can only 
be determined by analytic methods. Since these 
preparations are extensively employed by physicians, 
it seemed to be of interest to determine the strength 
of commercial varieties, some of which make defi- 
nite claims as to quality. The analytic investiga- 
tions here noted were carried out by the most 
approved methods for fat-extraction, as applied in 
milk-analysis. The samples were obtained from a 
wholesale house and in the original packages. Care 
was taken to mix each sample thoroughly before 
making the analysis. 2 
Brand. 
Per cent, of 
oil claimed. 
Per cent, 
of oil 
found (bv 
volume). 
Remarks. 
" Williams's emulsion of 
cod-liver oil with hypo- 
phosphite of lime." 
50 
49-9 
" Phillips's palatable emul- 
sion of cod-liver oil." 
50 
49 5 
Pancreatized. 
" Scott's emulsion of pure 
cod-liver oil." 
50 
49 5 
" Hydroleine." 
66.6 
44-2 
Pancreatized: 
contains sali- 
cylic acid. 
"Maltine with cod-liver 
oil." 
30 
35-9 
Much maltose. 
" Baker's emulsion of cod- 
liver oil with hypophos- 
phites." 
" (second sample) 
50 
10.7 
50 
18.0 
"Baker's pure cod-liver 
oil with extract of malt." 
8.4 
Much maltose. 
" Wilbor's pure cod-liver 
oil and phosphates." 
... 
37-3 
"Wampole's perfected and 
" the cura- 
None. 
14 per cent. 
tasteless preparation of 
cod-liver oil." 
tive agents 
from 25 per 
cent, pure 
Norwegian 
cod-liver 
oil." 
alcohol. 
The sample (Wampole's) last named is accom- 
panied by a circular stating that "the oil in this prep- 
aration is in positive solution, " and also a certificate 
from a professional chemist to the following effect: 
" I have examined the sample which you sent me, 
marked Wampole's perfected and tasteless solution 
containing the essential curative agents of cod-liver 
oil, and I find that it contains combined phosphorus 
in several forms, and the peculiar principles of wild 3 
•cherry bark, and it also carries an amount of com- 
bined iodine, such as is found in a volume of cod- 
liver oil equal to 25 per cent, of the solution ; that 
is, one tablespoonful of the mixture carries the 
amount of combined iodine found in a teaspoonful 
of cod-liver oil." The sample analyzed by us con- 
tains 14 per cent, of alcohol and no appreciable 
amount of iodine. 
It is not inopportune to discuss briefly some 
of the chemical questions relating to the therapeu- 
tic value of cod liver oil. It is probable that the 
modern knowledge of causation and nature of 
phthisis, recognizing it as definitely due to a specific 
germ, will modify materially the therapeutic im- 
portance of such a substance as cod-liver oil, but 
incidental to the supposed especial nourishing 
function of the fatty matter, it has often been sug- 
gested that some accessory ingredients may be of 
value. 
For instance, iodine has often received credit, 
but it has been known for a long time that the 
proportion of this element is extremely minute, 
ranging from 0.001 to 0.004 per cent. It is evi- 
dently impossible to attribute the med'cinal value 
of the oil to the traces of iodine present, unless we 
are willing to accept the absurd doctrine of infini- 
tesimals. The proportion of iodine in dried cod- 
fish and in herring is considerably greater than in 
the oil. 
Theoretic considerations would lead to the view 
that the best emulsions are those made with pan- 
creatin, in association with the least possible quan- 
tity of gum, glycerol, or sugar. The piesence of 4 
any considerable amount of the more easily fer- 
mentable sugars, such as maltose or glucose, must 
be regarded as objectionable. The presence of sali- 
cylic acid and of notable proportions ®f alcohol 
will be still more serious, for, as we have elsewhere 
shown, the former interferes decidedly with the 
action of the pancreatic ferment, and the latter 
should certainly not be employed except under 
specific and regulated conditions of dosage. Thus 
" hydroleine,'r an otherwise satisfactory emulsion, 
(although not found to contain the amount of oil 
indicated in the published formula)1, is objection- 
able from the presence of salicylic acid, and in the 
Wampole preparation we have, in addition to the 
fact that it contains no appreciable amount of oil,, 
the presence of 14 per cent, of alcohol as a most 
serious drawback to its use.