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
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

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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    Saat Be re ABP BN Ty. we Be @ compound muddy liquor, are alfo rejected by confent as an internal medi- cine, for reafons much of the fame nature. So that we are reduced to feek the medical virtues of Tar in the clear, greenifo, acid liquor: and here @nly he believes they will be found to refide. That this feems to, be the native, nourifbing Jap of the vegetable ; and confifts of a pure water, im- pregnated with the penetrating, adlive, acid falts of the wood, by means whereof the fine? parts of the ¢fential oil are perfectly diffolved, and moft intimately united therewith, foas to rife together with the {malleft‘heat, unhurt bythe fire. Mean time, shis oi/ is altogether indif- cernible to the eye, unlefs by its matural greenifh colour. And that rhis compound therefore appears to be 8 true, wolatile, fluid, acid foap; and both from its compofition and experience will be found an excellent atte- wuating, deobfiruent, alterative medicine. ‘‘ That for trying the goodnefs of Zar before, or Tarwater after it is made, he recommends to pour a little thereof on fome bits of chalk; if an effervefcence does nat prefently follow, then we may be fure the Tar or Tarwater is not fit for our ufe ; but the ftrongerthe effervefcence proves, fo much the better are they to be accounted. «© That he has all along taken it for granted, that ‘Tar is poffefled of excellent virtues, which it communicates to cold water by infufion ; that this cannot be denied, becaufe a multitude of fads have appeared to vouch it, fice the firft publication of the benevolent Bifhop of Cloyne’s learned, ‘© That as experience is the fureft teft, he appeals to the immemorial practice of thofe who live near the places where Tar is ufually made < who, inflructed by chance, and convinced by experience, ufe Tarwater for all complaints ; they drink the pure acid liquor which fwims natu- rally onthe furface of the Tar, after all.the gro/s parts have fubfided, and the ethereal oil is fkimmed off. Some take it alone, others mingled with alittle water, And it has alfo been Jomg ufual, even among us [in and about London] for confumptive, decayed, worn out people, to repair to the Red-Houfe at Deptford, as their laft refort, there drink the clear Jiquor from the barrelled Tar, and be cured.” And he thus concludes—* I fhall efteem myfelf very happy, if any thing [have faid may contribute to make this excellent medicine fill more