Sometimes the dose of the oil excites a most distressing nausea. This may perhaps be prevented by a judicious modification of the vehicle. It may be floated on an aromatic water, on a bitter infusion, on milk, on wine, or on cold tea, to suit various tastes. In other instances the dose is swallowed without inconvenience, but the patient is not fattened, nor is his condition in the least improved by it. In such incurable conditions it is probable that there is often an organic disease of the Pancreas, or a failure in the function of that gland. For it appears that the absorption of fats is effected by means of an alkali contained in the Pancreatic fluid. When there is reason to suspect this cause of the emaciation, it is advisable to saponify the oil by shaking it with a sufficient quantity of solution of Potash or of Carbonate of Soda. The dose will then be in a state of solution, and ready for absorption. Cod-liver oil may be used with advantage as a vehicle for Iodide of Iron, in scrofulous cases. Two grains of this may be dissolved in each ounce of the oil. (_Vide_ pp. 119, 191, 229.[47]) SULPHURIC ACID. Class I. Div. I. Ord. II. ACIDA. Class III. Ord. I. ASTRINGENTIA MINERALIA. This medicine acts chemically as an acid in the blood and in the secretions. When diluted it is easily absorbed, and meeting in the stomach with an acid secretion, it passes into the circulation without being first neutralized. If in small quantity, it is neutralized by the slight excess of alkali in the blood; if in larger amount, it may exceed this alkali, and displace and set free other acids in the blood, combining with their bases on account of its strong affinities. In all cases it increases the quantity of free acid in the system, and tends to render the secretions, as the urine, more acid than they were before. (_Vide_ Dr. Bence Jones's _Animal Chemistry_, p. 49.)