M. Guibourt, twenty-five years ago (Pharm. Jour., vol. ii., 336) recorded 17.65 per cent. of pure resin, obtained from an ordinary specimen of officinal jalap.

Having a quantity (56 lbs.) of fine selected Vera Cruz jalap in process for the production of resin when I saw their letter in the Journal, I determined to note accurately the quantity of resin, free from matter soluble in water, and in a dry and pulverulent state; this was 21 per cent., or 6 per cent. more than the maximum found by Mr. Smith.

Tampico jalap of the finest quality has not given me the fortunate results of Mr. Southall, for I have never obtained more than from 12 to 15 per cent. of resin; nevertheless, by selecting very heavy pieces, probably 2 or 3 per cent. more might be obtained.

It is quite possible to obtain 33 per cent. of alcoholic extractive, even when in a dry state; but this extractive is not wholly resin, for from it there can be easily separated, by means of water, 15 per cent. of saccharine matter, and the greater part in the state of grape sugar. This, doubtless, has been Mr. Southall's source of error; he has evidently taken the alcoholic extractive as pure resin, whereas the half is nothing more than sugar. This saccharine matter exists in the officinal jalap, but in a somewhat different proportion; four selected tubercles (very heavy) gave 20 per cent. of pure dry resin, associated with which, in the alcoholic extractive, was 9 per cent. of sugar. The sum of these two very nearly coincides with the 30 per cent. of Mr. Southall, as obtained by him from the Vera Cruz variety.

Thinking it likely that resina jalapa was to be met with in an impure state in pharmacy, four samples were obtained in town from first-class sources (wholesale and retail); these upon examination proved that the suspicion was not unfounded.

No 1. Resinous. Translucent at edges. Brittle. Made from Vera Cruz.

78 p. c. resin,

4. 15 p. c. sugar, S

Very opaque. 7 p. c. moisture. Tampico.

This substitution of Tampico for Vera Cruz jalap has doubtless been caused by the praise lately bestowed upon the former.

I cannot agree with Mr. Southall that both jalaps and their respective resins are equally active, inasmuch as the resin in Tampico jalap is present invariably in much smaller quantity, and is chemically different from the true resin of jalap, for it is almost wholly soluble in ether, whereas in the other only 12 per cent. is dissolved. This soluble portion is known as jalapic acid, the insoluble as jalapin* (this test affords a ready means of distinguishing it from other resins, such as guaiacum, scammony, etc.). Jalapin is known to the chemist as rhodeoretin, from the rose-red color produced by the action of oil of vitrol upon it, and in this reaction it is resembled by the Tampico resin, which seem similar to that obtained from the Ipomoea orizabensis, the male, fusiform, or stalky jalap of Guibourt, whose resins from this reaction was named para-rhodeoretin.

In odor, Tampico jalap much resembles peat fuel,-peat probably is used in the drying of the root; this peculiar smell is very characteristic; it clings to it even after it has been dried in a stove for a considerable time; in its powder it is easily recognized, and even its extract and resin retain the odor to a slight extent; but it is not impossible that this peculiarity is due to volatile oil, as a species of the Order Convolvulaceae yields a volatile oil (Rhodoriza).

Since making the above experiments, Mr. D. Hanbury has kindly lent me a paper entitled, "Etude sur les Convolvulacées Purgatives," by M. Ambroise Andouard. The author states, that Tampico jalap is that described by the late M. Guibourt as "jalap digité majeur; analyses of some specimens indicate 5 per cent., the finest examined yielded 14 per cent. He fully coincides with the opinions of Guibourt, who says that Tampico jalap should not be used in the preparation of medicines, in which jalap is a constituent. He (the author) does not think that this jalap should be even classed with the false jalaps, such as the male or fusiform jalap, or the rose odor jalap. The resin he states is purgative, for he himself has tested its efficacy in a few cases; his opinions are also confirmed by other experi

A large proportion of jalapin used in this country is supplied by the German market,-and is nothing more than the decolorized resin of either Tampico or the fusiform or male jalap.

menters; but he considers this jalap as an inferior kind. In concluding his essay, M. Andouard says, that the jalaps of pharmacy are reduced to two,-the tuberous and the fusiform ; the Tampico is an inferior kind, and should only be used in the state of resin; and that it is necessary for the pharmaceutist to know when to use the one and the other.

Pharmacologists cannot agree as to the plant that yields this variety. Guibourt queried whether it was not the Ipomoea mestitlanica, which, according Choisy, is a Mexican product, known as 66 purga." This however is doubtful.

The majority of pharmaceutists, I am persuaded, will not think themselves warranted, but will decide that it is improper, to substitute in any preparation the Tampico for the true jalap, which has been so highly esteemed for more than two centuries, and whose efficacy and certainty of action is beyond the slightest doubt.

40, Aldersgate Street, E. C.

Lon. Pharm. Jour., Dec. 1867.

LOFODEN NORWEGIAN COD-LIVER OIL.

BY ROBERT HOWDEN.

The information in this paper relating to Lofoden cod-liver oil is supplied on the authority of four gentlemen in Norway,-Captain H. Olsen, of the Royal Navy, Commanding Officer of the Government Surveillance at Lofoden; Captain Heyerdahl, of the Royal Navy, engaged on the same station; Mr. Möller, a pharmaceutist, of Christiania, who has devoted many years of a long life to the subject, and Mr. Sharp, an English merchant at Christiania. To the latter gentleman, my friend Mr. Sharp, I am under particular obligation, for he not only translated a series of questions prepared for the purpose into the Norweigan language, but placed himself in direct communication with those gentlemen whom he considered, by their official position or personal experience, able to supply accurate and intelligent information. He further translated their replies into English, thereby furnishing the basis of the present communication.

Every year, early in the month of January, the cod-fish begin their great migration from the deep sea. Moving in a northeasterly direction, they approach the coast of Norway and concentrate themselves upon the Lofoden Islands, entering the estuaries by the Westfjord. These islands are situated near the northern extremity of Norway, about 150 miles within the Arctic Circle. The Westfjord is a sheltered bay extending for thirty miles between the islands and the continent.

The cause of this great migration of the cod is probably due to the instinct of propagation. The roe is specifically lighter than sea-water and floats upon it, hence the fish seek those shallow and more quiet waters where their ova may be securely hatched, protected equally from the strong northerly winds of the glacial regions and from the impetuous currents and waves of the Atlantic by the lofty wind-guards and natural breakwaters they find in the Lofoden Islands. In this favorable locality, after the roe is hatched, they leave their young fry.

Immediately on the appearance of the immense shoals of cod at Lofoden, a remarkable result ensues,-all other kinds of fish disappear with one consent. The exact cause of this curious phenomenon is not yet understood, but literally it is the fact that the very herrings used as bait can no longer be taken in those waters, but have to be imported from a distance, and are sold to the fishermen as articles of trade. Two important consequences attend this singular circumstance; one, that the fecundated roe, secure from the predatory attacks of many voracious enemies, has a favorable opportunity for development, whereby a large supply of this valuable fish is maintained; the second, that no other fish than.cod can be taken in the nets, and consequently, no other livers than those of the cod can be employed in the preparation of the oil.

As soon as the cod are known to have arrived, the fishing begins without delay. But during the month of January, the results are neither large nor important, as those engaged at first are only agricultural laborers and peasants living near the coasts. Fisherman by vocation, many of whom come from considerable distances, begin to arrive towards the end of the month, when the great fishing commences; the exact date slightly varies in

different years, but it may be approximately given as the first week in February. The total number of men then assembled is estimated at 25,000. The quantities of cod are prodigious, their numbers incalculable; a good or a bad season does not depend on the variable supply of fish,—that is apparently always the same, and beyond computation, but upon the weather, as every rough day prevents the open boats putting out to sea, occasions a serious loss to the whole fishery.

Three different methods are employed in the capture of the cod; the deep line, the long line and nets. When caught in nets, the fish are, with few exceptions, dead on being drawn out of the water; this is generally the case also with the long line, especially if stormy weather has delayed the fishermen in taking it up; with the deep line the fish are all secured alive. They are never killed, but left. to die of themselves, which they do during their transit to the shore; so that a catch of fish is always brought on land dead, by whatever method it may have

been taken.

In Lofoden, the common and almost only bate is the herring, Clupea harengus; as herrings must be purchased, it sometimes happens that worms, mussels, or the cod-roe are employed. The fisherman who are obliged to use these obtain far less fish than those who can afford herrings, as the cod being assembled for the purpose of breeding, are not very much inclined to feed. The best bait of all, and the favorite food of the cod, is the capelin; but by a very old Norwegian law, made long before the principles of commercial liberty were understood and practiced, its use is prohibited at Lofoden because being obtained with difficulty, and only by few persons, the fortunate fishermen who had any, not only caught fish as fast as they could take them from the water, but gave the cod a disgust for all other kinds of bait, to the prejudice of their indignant neighbors.

Every afternoon, at a given signal from the surveillance, those fishermen having nets or long lines, row out one or two sea miles to their fishing-grounds, set their tackle, then row back and pass the night on shore. Next morning, the signal being again given, they all row as before, take their catch and return with it during the forenoon. The fishermen with deep lines remain all day at sea,