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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$- ‘That flames and dances in his cryf- + tal bounds; Not that Nepenthes, which the wife . “of Tone In Egypt gave to Fove-born Helena, Is of fuch pow’r’as this, to tir up angayyss To life fo friendly, or fo cool to ve thirft. 47. A letter from the Rev. Mr. Fames Menteath, from Adderbury, in Oxfordfbire, Feb. 12, 1744. “As foon asI heard of the Treatife on Tarwater, and of the directions therein mentioned, I made Tarwa- ter, and drank between 2 and gallons of it ; but felt no other ef- fect, than its increafing a good ap- petite to a ftronger, therefore gave it over ; having no need of that or any other medicine, and I only drank it to convince others that it _ecoulddothemno harm. In May Jait, being curate of this place, I was fent for to pray by a young woman, who, I was told, lay at the point of death: I found her {peechlefs, and her parents told me that a phyfician faid there was no hope of a recovery. She had fome months been troubled with a cough, and a {welling in her legs and arms, which was now become a dropfy, and feemingly in the laft ftate of a confumption, After performing my duty, I told the mother, if the would give leave, | would try a medicine, which J believed might co her fervice ; fhe readily con- fented ; and I gave her two quarts of the water, and dire@tions, that fhe fhould drink half a pint of it at atime, twice, or, if fhe could bear it, 3 times a day, warm. Aftertwo days, fhe was able to fic up, in five was brought down flairs, had fome. appetite, her cough abated, and the Swellings of her legs and arms much funk ; in 6 weeks the feemed well; but difcontinuing the water, relapfed. However, drinking it a month Jonger, fhe entirely recover- ed, and went to fervice at Michael. mas, and has been well ever fince. 48. “ Thad many patients, wha found great benefit from it; parti- cularly in the green ficknefs, when properly taken, I never found that it failed of {uccefs.” | 49. Thus far Mr. Menteath : ie is advifeable therefore, in defperate cafes, when every thing elfe hag failed, to make ufe of Tarwater, which may poflibly recover the pa- tient from the brink of death: as it has done in this and many other inftances, mentioned in the courfe of this narrative, to the great fur- prize of all. . 50. Mr. Fobn Berry, of Manchef~ ter, May 30, 1744. “I have taken Tarwater 24 mornings, and fome- times in the afternoon, for a dizzi- ne{s in my head, which I have had at times for 12 months paft, and am as well as ever I wasin my life.” — 51. A phyfician in Yoré wrote to one at Bath, Auguff ative’ 4A, lady reduced to nigh a fkeleton by a bleeding cancer, and thought on- . ly fit for Guy’s hofpital of incura- bles, by the ufe of Tarwater is fo much better, as to be thought in a fair way of enjoying a comfortable ftate of health. She has recovered her appetite and flcth, and all bad fymptoms are almoft overcome, and her breaft is become foft and eafy.” 52. A letter from Lifoon, Far.’ 24, 1744, **’Tarwater has been af great fervice here in many cafes. Itis in vogue in the Pertugal hof- pital; they gave itthe Princefs De Bocrain the {mall.pox, and fhe has done very well,” 5S$