Oil expressed from the liver of the cod-fish, much used in medicine.
Recommended in 1783 by Dr. T. Percival as a cure for chronic rheumatism, but app. not taken up. Introduced into medical practice on the continent in 1825, and into English practice in 1846–7, as a remedy for consumption.
[1615. E. S., Britain’s Buss (in Arb., Garner, III. 646). Cod-fishing. Of the livers of those thirty-five Last of fish, may well be made five Tun of train oil worth at least £12 a tun.]
1783. T. Percival, in Lond. Med. Jrnl., III. 392. It will be doing some service to the healing art to communicate to the public a brief account of the oleum jecoris Aselli or cod liver oil; the salutary properties of which I believe have been little experienced beyond the vicinage of Manchester.
1846. W. H. Ranking, Retrosp. Addr. (19 Aug.) in Trans. Prov. Med. & Surg. Assoc. (1847), III. 182. The only observation worthy of notice, in reference to the treatment of phthisis is also made by Dr. Thompson … that he has derived more benefit from cod-liver oil than from any other medicine.
1870. trans. Niemayer’s Pulm. Consump. (New Syd. Soc.), 63. As if cod-liver oil could take the place of fresh air.
