I have recently come across several different depictions of this icon in type specimen books. Anyone know what it means?
Sure enough. I did a Google Image search on Cod liver oil and found this page showing a figurine for Scott's Emulsion (cod liver oil) from 1890. This was their trademark since 1886, according to the article there.
And it's still used as it's trademark today, as shown on this pharmacy site.
Captured from web.archive.org on 18 May 2005. view this capture