Farther thoughts on tar-water.

George Berkeley

Date:: Printed in the year MDCCLII. [1752]

Credit: Farther thoughts on tar-water. Source: Wellcome Collection.

19/22 page 25

$Purge. The prefent is but one of feveral Inftances, wherein the Dropfy hath been cured by Tar-Water ; which I never knew to fail in any Species of that Malady. I am very credibly informed, that an aged Clergyman of Maidftone in Kent, being reduced to the laft Extremity by the Gout in his Stomach, after having tried ftrorg Liquors, and the Methods ufual in that Cafe without Succefs, betook himfelf to drink a vail; Quantity of warm Tar-Water, {till replenifhing and letting it take its Courfe ; by which it pleafed God to deliver him from the Jaws of Death. A Gentleman in the County of Clare, near Ennis, had a Fever and Pleurify, and Inflammation of the Lungs, being at the laft Extremity, and given over by two Phyficians, he was advifed to drink Tar- Water, which he did, eight Quarts. Next Morn¬ ing one of the Doffcors asking at what Hour his Patient died ? to his great Surprife found he was recovered. This I had from a Parliament-Man his Neighbour. When the yellow Fever (as it was called) raged in the Weft-Indies, the Negroes, with a Tub of Tar-Water in their Quarters, did well: but fome of the better Sort mifcarried, among whom the Phyfician himfelf lay at the Point of Death ; but his Brother recovered him by pouring down his Throat in Spoonfuls, fome of the fame Liquor that recovered the Negroes. The Facft was related to me by a Gentleman who was then in the Ifland of St. Chriftopher*j, and knew it to be true. A Phyfician himfelf, not long fince allured me, he had cured an Ulcer in the Bladder, by ordering his Patient to drink Tar- Water, when he had tried all other Methods in vain, and thought the Cafe ^curable ‘ , But$

Farther thoughts on tar-water.

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