An authentic narrative of the success of tar water, in curing a great number and variety of distempers; with remarks ... Carefully abridged / To which are subjoined, two letters from the author of Siris: shewing the medicinal properties of tar water, and the best manner of making it.

Thomas Prior

Date:: 1793

Credit: An authentic narrative of the success of tar water, in curing a great number and variety of distempers; with remarks ... Carefully abridged / To which are subjoined, two letters from the author of Siris: shewing the medicinal properties of tar water, and the best manner of making it. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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$felf and others, of its wonderful ope- gation and force, leaves me not the _leakroom todoubt tha: Tarwater is the moft fovereign and extenfive remedy and cure. for difeafes in general; fase to be taken, as well as the ea/eff in the operation, that ever was found out ia the whole Materia Medica; and as fuch, may be recommended to the world, notwithftanding the finifter para- graph above mentioned. And, if it is not an abfurdity to fuppofe uch athing in nature as a Pazacea, nothing, furely, ever bid fo fair-as this for that character before.—In my thus praifing Tarwater, I think Icannot be fufpected of being ac- tuated by any other intereit than the general welfare and happinefs of the human fpecies, willing them to fhare and enjoy the precious ef- feéts of it equally with myfelf. I purpofely forebore, Gentlemen, troubling you with this fooner, be- caufe I would firft be well warrant- ed in my own mind for whatever I had to fay upon the fubject, that I might not in the leaft invade the bounds of truth, which in all cafes, and efpecially in fo delicate an af- fair as this, every one ought to be very cautious of, Nein _ 30. 1 fhall conclude with the good Bifhop’s own words: ‘* Men may cenfure and object as they pleafe, but I appeal to time and experiment. Effects mifimputed, cafes wrong told, circumftances - averlooked,. perhaps too prejudices and partialities again{t truth, may, for a time, prevail and keep her at the bottom of her well: from whence, neverthelefs, fhe emergeth fooner or later, and {trikes the eyes of all, who do not keep them fhut.. I am, gentlemen, yours, &¥c.” —=County of Durham, 31. This inRance fhews that ma- ny different ailmentgin the fame perfon, may be all cured at the fame time by the fame medicine. _ 32. William Ward, of Cockerton, in the county of Durham, Eiq; hav- ing allo feen the faid advertifement and remarks inthe Newca/ile Four- ial, was pleafed to communicate his cafe and relief in feveral letters, according to the progrefs of his cures From Mr. Ward's letter, June 8, 1744. 33. 1 began to drink Tarwa- dad night, and take night and morning a glafs, whereof three make a pint. £ find it opens my body gently, about two ftools a day; but L have had my. fits, as often and as violently as be- ore. Il amnot fo weak as to think E was to have found a perceptible be- nefit in fo fhort a fpace, but fhall fill continue it; I have had my afthma upwards of 12 years, but not fo vio- lent as at prefent, and for feven years laft ; in which time I have not been, in bed, or at moft not above 3 or 4 hours, once in a year, when i have flattered myfelf with being tolera- bly well; and then as foon as Ia- waked, 1] found I was quite loaded with phlegm, though a dry allhma 5 fo that] was obliged to get up and have recourfe to @ pipe of tobacco, which I ufe all the time I am ill, for 1 have no eafe when I do not fmoke. Iam feldom without a fit above three or four days, and con- tinue as long in it, and as foon as rain comes | am eafy ; 1 have it ale fo againft the leaft change of wea~ © ther, | ‘* My father has it, and my grand- mother died of it ; fo that Lhave lefs hopes of a cure, as it feems to be hereditary. Ihave tried many of the-moft eminent phy ficians in Exg- have$