A miscellany, containing several tracts on various subjects. By the Bishop of Cloyne:

Farther THOUGHTS ON TAR-WATER.

AS the many Experiments that are daily made of the Virtues of Tar-Water, furnish new Discoveries and Reflexions, some of these I have thrown together, and offer to the Public in hopes they may prove useful.

It is a frequent Complaint, that Tar-Water is made of bad Tar, being of a reddish Colour, sweetish or disagreeably insipid. But though the Dregs of Tar are often foul, and make foul Tar-Water, and though Tar already used is often made use of by un∣fair Dealers a second, if not a third Time, which produceth a vile Potion, void of the genuine Flavour and Virtue of Tar-Water. Yet I apprehend these Defects may sometimes be ascribed, rather to the Vessel wherein the Tar-Water is made, than to the Tar itself.

Tar-Water being made in an earthen Vessel un∣glazed, or that hath lost Part of its Glazing, may extract (as it is a strong Menstruum) from the Clay, a fade Sweetishness, offensive to the Palate. It should seem therefore that the best Way of making Tar-Water is in a Stone Jug, or earthen Vessel through∣out

well glazed, and, as it will not fail to extract a Tincture from any metallic Vessel, it should be warmed in a well glazed Pipkin, rather than a Sauce-pan.

By increasing the Proportion of Tar to the Water, and by stirring it longer, Tar-Water may be made strong enough for a Spoonful to impregnate a large Glass, a Thing very useful on a Road.

Those who in chronical Disorders, or as a Pre∣servative, have for a long time drunk Tar-Water, must in acute Cases drink the more.

Tar-Water must be drunk warm in Agues, Small-pox, Measles and Fevers, in Colics and Disorders of the Bowels, in Gout also, and Rheumatism, in most other Ailments cold or warm, at the Choice of the Patient.

In Fevers the Patient cannot begin too soon, or drink too much. By undoubted Experience it is found to cool the hot, and warm the cold, and to be a most successful Medicine in Fevers, notwithstand∣ing its great Virtue in Palsies and Dropsies.

When not long since an Inflammation attacked the Throat, Breast, and Lungs of Children, and became general in my Neighbourhood, Numbers were recovered by the Use of Tar-Water, nor did I hear that any miscarried who used it, though many perished who did not.

Nor is it a Medicine less proper and efficacious in old Age. At the same time that this inflammatory Distemper raged among the Children, a Woman in her sixty-eighth Year, from violent Cold was seized at once with Ague, Colic, and Jaundice, of all which Maladies she was cured in a Fortnight, by drinking three Pints of warm Tar-water every Day. Numberless such Instances daily occur, which shew it to be a safe and efficacious Medicine both for old and young.

Evacuations by Sweat, which usually render Pa∣tients very weak and dispirited, have not the same bad Effects when produced by Tar-Water, which I have frequently known to give high Spirits in all the Stages of a Fever, and under the lowest Regi∣men, therefore old People and weak Persons, who cannot well bear common Evacuations, are best cured by Tar-Water, which in some Sort seemeth to renew those who are worn out with Age and Infirmities.

Tar-Water is of singular Use in strengthening the Stomach and Bowels, and agrees particularly well with Infants, taken either by themselves or by the Nurse, and best by both. Though as it throws the ill Humours out into the Surface of the Skin, it may render them for a Time, perhaps, unseemly with Eruptions, but withal healthy and lively. And I will venture to say, that it lays in them the Prin∣ciples of a good Constitution for the rest of their Lives.

Nor is it only useful to the Bodies of Infants, it hath also a good Effect on their Minds, as those who drink it are observed to be remarkably forward and sprightly. Even the most heavy, lumpish, and un∣promising Infants, appear to be much improved by it. A Child there is in my Neighbourhood, of fine Parts, who at first seemed stupid and an Idiot, but, by constant Use of Tar-Water, grew lively and observing, and is now noted for Understand∣ing beyond others of the same Age.

Infants are easily brought to take it by Spoon, and even grow to a Liking of it, and as their Disorders arise chiefly from Indigestion, they receive the great∣est Benefit from a Medicine so well calculated to strengthen the Intestines, and preserve them from Fits. In a word, if it were the common Practice to accustom Infants from the Beginning to take Tar-Water,

this would greatly conduce to the Health both of their Minds and Bodies. There is, I am verily persuaded, no one Thing in the power of Art or Nature, that would so generally and effectually contribute to repair the Constitutions of our Gentry and Nobility, by strengthning the Children, and casting off in their Infancy those Impurities and Taints, which they often bring into the World.

An Infant may take one Quarter of a Pint in the Day, warm, by Spoonfuls; less may do good, and there is no fear of Excess. When I consider the private Woe of Families, as well as the public Loss occasioned by the Death of such an incredible Number of Infants, under two Years of Age, I cannot but insist on recommending Tar-Water, both as a Remedy and Preservative in that tender Age, which cannot bear the common Treatment and Methods of Physic, or with safety take those Drugs which are fitter for grown Persons.

Another Reason which recommends Tar-Water, particularly to Infants and Children, is the great Security it brings against the Small-pox, to those that drink it, who are observed, either never to take that Distemper, or to have it in the gentlest Manner.

There is no Distemper more contagious and de∣structive than the Small-pox, or more generally dreaded, attended with worse Symptoms, or that leaves behind it worse Effects; I observe at the same time, that Tar-Water is in no other Case a more safe and sure Remedy than in this; of which Captain Drape's Certificate, sworn to before the Mayor of Liverpool, in the presence of several principal Persons of that Town, is a most evident Proof.

That one hundred and seventy Persons, seized at once with the Small-pox, deprived of all Conve∣niencies,

and in the worst Circumstances of a nar∣row Ship and hot Climate, should all recover by the single Medicine of Tar-Water, except one who would not drink it, is a matter of Fact, so plain and convincing, and so well attested, as to leave no Doubt in Minds free from Prepossession, about the Usefulness and Efficacy of Tar-Water in the Small-pox; a Point I had been before sufficiently convinced of, by many Instances in my own Neighbourhood.

It hath been surmised by some celebrated Phy∣sicians, that one Day a Specific may be discovered for the peculiar Venom of the Small-pox. There seems to be some Reason for thinking that Tar-Water is such a Specific. I say this on good Grounds, having by many Experiments observed its Virtue in curing, as well as in preventing, that cruel Dis∣temper; during the whole Course of which, it is to be drank warm; a moderate Glass (about Half a Pint) every Hour, in common Cases, may suffice, in bad Cases more may be given; there is no Fear of Excess.

Those who endeavour to discredit this cooling Cordial, and salutary Medicine, as an Inflamer of the Blood, do very consistently decry its Use in the Small-pox; but there can be nothing more clear, full, and satisfactory than Captain Drape's Affida∣vit, to convince reasonable People of the great and surprising Efficacy of Tar-Water, in the Cure of the Small-pox; and consequently of the ground∣lesness of that Report, which ascribes a heating or inflaming Quality to it. And yet that groundless Report hath hindred many from reaping the Benefit they might otherwise have done, from the Use of this Water, which is of excellent Virtue in all kinds of inflammatory Disorders, Fevers, Quinsies, Pleu∣risies, and such like of the hot and inflamed Kind,

whereof the Public as well as myself have known a Multitude of Examples.

I ask whether the Fact sworn before the Magi∣strates of Liverpool, be not a sufficient Answer to all that is objected, from an inflaming Quality, to Tar-Water. Can any Instance be produced in the whole Materia Medica, or History of Physic, of the Virtue of a Medicine tried on greater Numbers, or under greater Disadvantages, or with greater Success, or more credibly attested. I wish for the common Good of Mankind, that the same Ex∣periment was tried in our Hospitals. Probably the World would soon be relieved from that great and general Terror of the Small-pox.

When I hear of the Devastations made by this Distemper, in great Cities and populous Towns, how many Lives are lost, or (as may be said) thrown away, which might have been in all likelihood easily preserved, by the Use of a Medicine, so cheap and obvious, and in eyery one's power, it seems Matter of great Concern and Astonishment, and leaves one at a loss to guess at the Motives, that govern hu∣man Actions in Affairs of the greatest moment. The Experiment may be easily made, if an equal Number of poor Patients in the Small-pox, were put into two Hospitals at the same Time of the Year, and provided with the same Necessaries of Diet and Lodging, and, for further Care, let the one have a Tub of Tar-Water and an old Woman; the other Hospital, what Attendance and Drugs you please.

In all obstinate Sores and Ulcers, I very much re∣commend the drinking of Tar-Water, and washing them with a strong Lotion of it, will hasten the Cure.

One of the most painful and dangerous Cases is that of a Woman's fore Breast. How many poor

Creatures after long languishing in Misery, are obliged to suffer the most severe chirurgical Opera∣tions, often the cutting off the entire Breast? The Use of Tar-Water in those Cases hath been attended with such Success, that I do earnestly recommend the drinking thereof, both as a Cure and Preserva∣tive, as a most effectual Medicine to remove the shooting Pains that precede a Cancer, and also to cure the Cancer itself, without Amputation. Can∣cerous and sore Breasts are such cruel Cases, occa∣sioned by so many internal Causes, as well as out∣ward Accidents, that it is a necessary Piece of Hu∣manity, to contribute all we can to the Prevention and Cure thereof.

In the King's Evil, Leprosy, and foulest Cases, Tar-Water cannot be too much recommended. The poor Vagabonds of Ireland, are many of them in∣fected and eaten up with the foul Disease, which with them passeth for a Canker, as they call it. Several Instances of extraordinary Cures have been performed on such Persons, by drinking Tar-Water copiously, for some Weeks or Months together, without Confinement or other Restraint, than that of a regular cool Diet. It is indeed a Specific, both for this and all other Taints and Impurities of the Blood.

An Extract of Siris was made, and Accounts of the Effects of Tar-Water were reprinted in America, in which Continent, as well as in the Islands, much Use hath been made thereof, particularly by those who possess great Numbers of Slaves: Of this I have been informed by Letters, and by Word of Mouth, from Persons belonging to those Parts, who have assured me of the extensive and successful Use of this Medicine in many Cases, and more especially in the most inveterate Kinds of the soul Disease.

I need not say how dearly they purchase Health who obtain it by Salivation, and yet long and se∣vere as that Course is, it is often unsuccessful. There are Instances of such as having passed through it with much Misery and Patience, have been after∣wards cured by the simple Use of Tar-Water.

The King's Evil, so lothsom in its Symptoms and Effects, and withal so difficult, if at all possible, to cure by any other Method, is most surely and easily cured by the Tar-Water, even when the Pa∣tient is far gone, even when he derives it from his Ancestors. A Quart per diem for a few Months, I have known to cure the most deplorable and abandoned Cases.

How many wealthy Families, otherwise at their Ease, are corrupted with this Taint in their Blood? How many want Heirs and Husbands, through this odious Malady? A Specific for this Disease alone, would be justly esteemed a most valuable Secret, and the plenty and cheapness of the Medicine ought not in Reason to make it less esteemed.

Salivating, Bleeding, and Purging, are attended with great Hardships and Inconveniencies (even where the Patient recovers) reducing the Strength and Spirits of those who use them, whereas Tar-Water greatly adds to both.

In Fractures and Wounds, a Quart or two drank daily, while the Patient is under Cure, doth very much assuage the Pain and promote his Recovery, both as by its balsamic Nature it disposeth the Parts to heal, and also as it lessens if not totally prevents the Fever.

A poor Boy in Cloyne, having fallen from a Tree, broke both Arm and Wrist. This Accident was concealed or neglected for two or three Weeks; he was then put under the Care of a skilful Bone∣setter,

who finding the Bones knit and grown crooked, and that it would be necessary to break them again, in order to set them right, and withal considering the hot Season of the Year (in July) he apprehended his Patient's being thrown into a Fe∣ver that might prove fatal. But the Boy being made to drink copiously of Tar-Water, this pre∣vented or lessened the Fever in such sort, that the Bones were broke and set again, and the Cure pro∣ceded as easily and speedily as Could be wished.

I have known several Instances of Bruises and Wounds cured by Tar-Water. A Person in my Neighbourhood ran over by a Horse was much bruised, and cured only by drinking Tar-Water. Another knocked down with a Mallet, thereupon thrown into a violent Fever, and given for dead; another wounded with an Axe, so that his Life was thought in danger, were both recovered by the Use of Tar-Water; which, as it is sovereign against Gangrenes and Fevers, hath great Success in all Sorts of Wounds, Contusions, and Fractures, being taken throughout the whole chirurgical Process, along with whatsoever other Methods or Remedies are applied.

Tar-Water operates variously. In Dropsies and Bruises it hath been known to work by purging. The stronger Kind being used as a Wash, is good against ulcerous Eruptions. But in all Cases where the Lotion is used, I believe the drinking of Tar-Water might alone suffice, albeit the Sores may be longer withering and drying away.

There is a certain Age or Time of Life, when the female Sex runs no small Risk from the ceasing of their natural Evacuations. In this Case Tar-Water is a good Preservative, purifying the Blood, and clearing it from that cancerous Tendency, which it is sometimes subject to, about that time. I take it

to be a Specific in all cancerous Cases, even the bleeding Cancer, esteemed incurable by Physicians, hath been cured by Tar-Water.

In Diseases peculiar to Women it is of no small Use. Several who had suffered much by Accidents in Child-bearing, have found themselves relieved by Tar-Water. In all Sorts of Tumours, Wens, and praeternatural Excrescences, it hath been found an excellent Remedy.

Many dangerous Symptoms, and even sudden Death are often owing to a Polypus, in some or other of the Vessels, through which the Blood cir∣culates, than which it seems there is no inward Cause of Death or Disease more to be dreaded and guard∣ed against; how many drop down dead in our Streets, or at Table, or in the midst of Business or Diversions? how many are found dead in their Beds?

Tremors, Palpitations of the Heart, irregular Pulses, Apoplexies, sudden Deaths, often proceed from a slow, stagnating, interrupted Motion, or stoppage of the Blood, in its Circulation through the Body; and there seemeth to be no Cause so cer∣tainly productive of obstructed Circulation, as the Polypus, a Case, perhaps, much more frequent than is commonly imagined. Morgagni, the cele∣brated Professor at Padua, and most eminent Ana∣tomist, who was supposed to have dissected more human Bodies than any Man living, assured me, above thirty Years ago, that in the far greater Part of such Bodies, he found Polypuses, if not in the Ventricles of the Heart or larger Vessels, yet in some other Vessel or Cavity; to which he attributes many Disorders, and which he supposed to be form∣ed by the obstructed Motion of the Blood. To prevent this, he dissuaded from all tight Ligatures, especially in Sleep, unbuttoning the Neck and Wrist-bands of his Shirt every Night, a Practice he

had learned (as he said) from his Master, the famous Malpighi.

When the Circulation is once quite stopped, no∣thing can restore it, which would be the same thing as restoring a dead Man to Life, and in Proportion, as the Circulation of the Blood is obstructed, the Body is disordered. Total Obstruction is Death; partial Obstruction is Disease. The Polypus there∣fore is always hurtful, if not mortal. It is, indeed, matter of serious Reflexion, that we may probably carry about with us a Principle of Death, always at work within, and of a Nature so violent and sudden in its Effects, so hard to come at, and so difficult to subdue.

It may well be thought at first View, a vain Un∣dertaking, to attempt to dissolve a fleshy or mem∣branous Substance, so latent and inaccessible, by common Means or Medicines. But, as Tar-Water hath been undoubtedly known to dissolve and dis∣perse Wens, and other fleshy or membranous Tu∣mours, in the outward Parts of the Body* 1.1, having been drank and circulated with the Blood, it should seem by a Parity of Reason, that it may also dis∣solve and put an End to those Concretions that are formed in the Ventricles of the Heart or Blood Vessels, and so remove one great Cause of Apo∣plexies and sudden Death; and what cures may prevent. I have been the longer on this Subject, for the sake of many who lead sickly Lives, as well as several who are snatched away by untimely Death.

Universally, in all Cases where other Methods fail, I could wish this of Tar-Water was tried. It hath been sometimes known, that the most inve∣terate Head-aches, and other nervous Disorders,

that would yield to no other Medicine, have been cured by a Course of Tar-Water, regularly and con∣stantly pursued.

Wheresoever pure Blood or Plenty of Spirits are wanting, it may be concluded from manifold Ex∣perience, that Tar-Water is of singular Benefit. Several Persons have acknowledged themselves to be much fitter to go through Business or Study from the Use of it.

Nor is it only medicinal to human Kind: it is also of no small use in the Curing of brute Ani∣mals. It hath been tried on several Kinds, particu∣larly with great Success in the late epidemical Dis∣temper of our Horses. And I have been credibly informed, that being drank in plenty, it hath re∣covered even a glandered Horse, that was thought incurable.

And as it is of such extensive use, both to Man and Beast, it should seem, that a Tub of Tar-Wa∣ter constantly supplied in a Market-Town, would serve, in some sort, for an Hospital. Many other Drugs are not easily got, this is every where plenty and cheap; many are of a doubtful Nature, this of known Innocence; others soon perish, this lasts for Years, and is not the worse for keeping. This, in short, is a Medicine for the common People, being a safe and cheap Remedy; for such as cannot afford to be long sick, or to make use of costly Medicines.

A Patient who drinks Tar-Water, must not be alarmed at Pustules or Eruptions in the Skin; these are good Symptoms, and shew the Impurities of the Blood to be cast out. It is also not amiss to observe, that, as Tar-Water by its active Qualities, doth stir the Humours, entering the minutest Capillaries, and dislodging Obstructions, it may happen that this working shall sometimes be felt in the Limbs,

or discharge itself in a Fit of the Gout, which, how∣ever disagreeable, proves salutary.

I am credibly informed of several strange Con∣veyances, which Tar-Water hath found out, where∣by to discharge Impurities from the human Con∣stitution. A Person who had been in a bad state of Health above twenty Years, upon a Course of Tar-Water was thrown into a most extraordinary Fit of an Ague, and from that time recovered a good State of Health. An old Gentleman in the County of Cork, who for a long time had been a Valetudinarian, afflicted with many Infirmities, be∣ing advised to drink Tar-Water, found himself re∣lieved, but it produced and soon cured a Pthiriasis or lousy Distemper, in which the putrid Humours having discharged themselves, left him quite sound and healthy.

In a Course of Tar-Water, if any Disorder hap∣pens from some other Cause, as from Cold, from the use of strong Liquors, from a Surfeit, or such like Accident, it would not be fair to impute it to Tar-Water; and yet this hath been sometimes done.

The Effects of Vomiting occasioned by Tar-Water are not to be apprehended. Some are dis∣couraged from drinking because their Stomachs cannot bear it. But when it takes a turn towards working upwards, Nature, by that very way, hath been often known to carry on the Cure. A worthy Gentleman, Member of Parliament, came into my Neighbourhood, in the Autumn of the Year 1750; he was cachectic and extremely reduced, so that his Friends thought him near his End. Upon his en∣tering into a Course of Tar-Water, it produced a prodigious Vomiting, which weakened him much for the present; but persisting to continue the Use

thereof for about two Months, he was restored to his Health, Strength and Spirits.

Tar-Water is very diuretic, thereby preventing Stone and Gravel, and carrying off by Urine, those Salts that might otherwise occasion Fevers, Rheu∣matisms, Dropsies, Head-aches, and many other Disorders, if retained in the Blood. Hence, some have apprehended a Diabetes, from the continued Use thereof, but it is so far from causing a Diabetes, that it hath been known to cure that Disorder.

The Constitution of a Patient sometimes requireth during a Course of Tar-Water, that he take Water and Honey, also rosted Apples, stewed Prunes and other Diet of an opening Kind. A Hint of this is sufficient. If the Reader now and then meets with some Remarks, contained in my former Writings on this Subject, he may be pleased to consider, I had rather repeat than forget what I think useful to be known.

Some, endeavouring to discourage the Use of Tar-Water in England, have given out that it may indeed be serviceable in Ireland, where People live on such low Diet as sour Milk and Potatoes, but it cannot be of the same Service in England, where Men are accustomed to a more liberal and hearty Food; and indeed it must be owned, that the Peasants in this Island, live but poorly, but no People in Europe live better (in the Sense of Ea∣ting and Drinking) than our Gentry and Citizens; and from these the Instances of Cures by Tar-Water have been chiefly taken. Those who would con∣fine its Use to the moist Air and poor Diet of Ireland, may be assured that all over Europe, in France, and Germany, Italy, Portugal, and Holland, Tar-Water works the same Effect. In both North and South, in West and East-Indies, it hath been

used and continues to be used with great Success. It hath reached all our Colonies both on the Con∣tinent and the Islands, and many Barrels of Tar-Water have been sent from Amsterdam to Batavia; of all which I have had authentic Accounts. But its Use is no where more conspicuous than at Sea, in curing that Plague of sea-faring Persons, the Scurvy, as was found in the late Attempt to discover a north-west Passage; and (as I doubt not) will be found as oft as it is tried. Every Ship in his Ma∣jesty's Navy should always have a Vessel of Tar-Water upon Deck, for the Use of the Sailors, both in the Scurvy and other Maladies.

It is indeed a Medicine equally calculated for all Climates, for Sea and Land, for rich and poor, high and low Livers; being, as hath been else∣where mentioned, a Cordial which doth not heat; a peculiar Privilege this, and of excellent Use. That it is a Cordial, is manifest from its cheering and enlivening Quality, and that it is not heating, is as manifest, from its singular Use in all Cases where the Blood is inflamed. As this Medicine imparts a genial friendly Warmth, suited to the human Constitution, those who pass through a Course of Tar-Water, would do well not to in∣crease such friendly Warmth to an inflaming Heat, by a wrong Regimen of high-seasoned Food and strong Liquors, which are not wanted by the Drink∣ers of Tar-Water. There is a certain Degree of Heat necessary to the Well-being and Life of Man. More than this will be uneasy, and this Uneasiness indicates a proper Choice of Diet.

I have myself drank above a Gallon of Tar-Water in a few Hours, and been cooled and re∣covered from a Fever by it. So many Instances of the same Nature I have known, as would make it evident to any unprejudiced Person, that Tar-Water

is a cooling Medicine; of which Truth I am as thoroughly convinced, as it is possible to be of any Theorem in Physic or natural Science.

The Unsuccessfulness of other Methods, should rather be an Encouragement than a Bar to the Trial of Tar-Water. A young Lady, Daughter to a worthy Gentleman near Cork, had been long af∣flicted with a grievous Pain in her Side, and having had the best Advice that could be got, was not relieved until she drank Tar-Water, which quite removed her Pain. Some time after she was again seized with the same Disorder, but returning to the Use of Tar-Water, she grew well and still con∣tinues so.

A Woman turned out of the Infirmary at Cork, as incurable, because she would not submit to the cutting off her Leg, came to, Cloyne, where she continued half a Year drinking Tar-Water, and living upon Bread and Milk, by which Course she recovered, and went to Service.

There is at present, while I am writing, a most remarkable Case here at Cloyne, of a poor Soldier in a Dropsy, whose Belly was swoln to a most im∣moderate Size. He said he had been five Months in an Hospital at Dublin, and having tried other Methods in vain, left it to avoid being tapped. It is a Fortnight since he came to Cloyne, during which Time he hath drunk two Quarts of Tar-Water every Day. His Belly is now quite reduced: his Appetite and Sleep which were gone are restored: he gathers Strength every Moment: and he who was despaired of, seems to be quite out of Danger, both to himself, and to all who see him. It is re∣markable, that upon drinking the Tar-Water, he voided several Worms of a very extraordinary Size. This Medicine, which is observed to make some Persons costive, is to hydropic Patients a strong

Purge. The present is but one of several Instances, wherein the Dropsy 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 Maidstone in Kent, being reduced to the last Extremity by the Gout in his Stomach, after having tried strong Liquors, and the Methods usual in that Case without Success, betook himself to drink a vast Quantity of warm Tar-Water, still replenishing and letting it take its Course; by which it pleased God to deliver him from the Jaws of Death.

A Gentleman in the County of Clare, near Ennis, had a Fever and Pleurisy, and Inflammation of the Lungs, being at the last Extremity, and given over by two Physicians, he was advised to drink Tar-Water, which he did, eight Quarts. Next Morn∣ing one of the Doctors asking at what Hour his Patient died? to his great Surprise found he was recovered. This I had from a Parliament-Man his Neighbour.

When the yellow Fever (as it was called) raged in the West-Indies, the Negroes, with a Tub of Tar-Water in their Quarters, did well: but some of the better Sort miscarried, among whom the Physician himself lay at the Point of Death; but his Brother recovered him by pouring down his Throat in Spoonfuls, some of the same Liquor that recovered the Negroes. The Fact was related to me by a Gentleman who was then in the Island of St. Christopher's, and knew it to be true.

A Physician himself, not long since assured 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 Case incurable

But it would be endless to relate the Effects of Tar-Water, in desperate Cases. The Recovery of Mrs. Wilson, Daughter to the late Bishop of London, from a lingering hopeless Disorder, was a noted Case, and attested to by his Lordship. I have even been informed upon good Authority, of two or three Instances, wherein Persons have been re∣covered by Tar-Water, after they had Rattles in the Throat.

In certain Cases, a smaller Quantity of Tar-Water hath proved ineffectual, when a larger hath perfected the Cure. A Woman of Cloyne got cold after Child-bearing, which occasioned a great Pain in her Thigh, Swelling also and Redness; she con∣tinued in great Torment above three Weeks. She then began to drink Tar-Water, but not drinking much she did not perceive much good; and when there was not any Hopes of her Life, she was per∣suaded to try what a Gallon a Day might do; upon this she grew better, the Swelling broke and ran; no Dressing was used but Tar, and no Washing but Tar-Water, until she was quite recovered.

In Ailments of an odd and untried Nature, it may be worth while to try Tar-Water. In Proof of this many Instances might be given. A Gentle∣man with a wither'd Arm had it restored by drink∣ing Tar-Water. Another who, by running his Head against a Post, had a Concussion of the Brain attended with very bad Symptoms, recovered by drinking Tar-Water after other Medicines had failed. In my own Neighbourhood, one had lost the use of his Limbs by Poison, another had been bitten by a mad Ass; these Persons drank Tar-Water, and their Cure was attributed to it.

When Tar-Water is copiously drank in Fevers, the great Danger to be guarded against, is an ex∣cessive Flow of Spirits, which excites the Patient to

talk and divert himself with Company, which may produce a Relapse; of this I have known fatal Effects.

If in a Course of Tar Water the Patient should find himself heated, let him abstain from or lessen his Dose of spirituous and fermented Liquors; for Tar-Water alone never heats.

In chronical Disorders it is not adviseable, to break off a Course of Tar-Water at once, but rather to diminish the Quantity by Degrees.

The Acid alone hath not the medicinal Virtues of Tar-Water. This is agreeable to Reason and Experience, as well as the Opinion of the ablest Judges. Doctor Linden justly observes,

"that when the empyreumatic Oil is entirely separated from the Acid, it is not in any Shape superior to any other distilled Acids or Vinegars whatsoever."

Treatise on Selter Water, p. 307.

* 1.2 That extraordinary Virtues should be contained in Tar-Water, will not seem strange, if we consider that Pitch is nothing else but hardened Tar, or Tar

drained of its Moisture; and that an extraordinary Quantity of Light is retained in the Substance of Pitch, as appears from certain Electrical Experi∣ments, which, having been made since, seem not a little to confirm what had before been suggested in Siris.

Notes

• * 1.1

  See the Effects of Tar Water, Sect 228, and 229.
• * 1.2

  Something of this Nature hath been long expected, and hoped for, if we may credit that learned Chymist Dr. Linden,

  "at last (saith he) the long delayed Wishes of the most eminent Men of the Faculty are fulfilled, in the B. of C—yne's Discovery."

  See Treatise on Selter Water, p. 303. Again (speaking of empyreumatic Oils of Plants) he hath these Words,

  "There has always prevailed a Notion among the Chymists, and particularly with Paracelsus and his Fol∣lowers, that in those Oils there lay a great Secret undis∣covered. This Notion was occasioned by the strange Effects which a small Quantity thereof hath upon the human Machine. Several have been very diligent to discover this Secret, and to find out a Method to administer these Oils with Safety; yet nothing was performed salutary, until the B. of C. discovered to us the Tar-Water, to him alone we are indebted, for rendering the empyreumatic Oils a safe Medicine, in every respect."

  Ibid. p. 302.