NATIONAL LIBRARY OF MEDICINE
Bethesda, Maryland
!i^.l&
The Authentic k
NARRATIVE
Of the SUCCESS of
TAR WATER,
In curing a great NUMBER and
VARIETY of DISTEMPERS;
WITH
REMARKS:
ByTHOMAs Prior,Efq\
Carefully Abridged.
To which are lubjoined,
Two LETTERS from the Author of Siris :
Shewing the Medicinal Properties of TAR WATER, and
the bell Manner of making it.
■ I ■ Hi i. .. .1 .„■>,.,
To do good, and to communicate, forget not. Heb. xiii. 16.
^——— ———.———i I I H I ■■ I -»■ I
LONDON, Printed 1746.
BOSTON: N. E.
Re-printed and Sold by Rogers and Fowle in Queen-Street
MDCCXLIX.
'4 *
(iii)
\Advertifement.
THE narrative of the following cafes, 63V. was firft publifhM at Lublin,
by Thomas Prior, Efq; a public-fpirited gentleman of that city, with the
following dedication.
To bis Excellency Philip, Earl of Chefterfield, Lord Lieute-
nant General, and General Governor of Ireland.
" TJI^H ftations furnilh great opportunities of doing good, where there
" XT is a head to difcern, and a heart to apply. Your excellency is emi-
" nent for both. Since your arrival in this kingdom, you have acquired
" a thorough knowledge of its interefts, which you apply to the fervice of
" his majejty and the public, in iuch a manner, that your administration will
" be always remembered with gratitude and honour. Your management, fo
" generous of your own, and fo frugal of the public treafure, joined with
*' a conduct fo open and fincere, without theleaft tincture or fufpicion of pri-
'* vate views, leave us at a lofs to determine, which to admire moft, the true
" policy, or the probity of our governor.
" That benevolent and difinterefted fpirit, which diftinguifhes your cha-
" rafter, hath emboldened me to addrefs this fmall treatife to your excel-
<* lency ; which, as it is calculated to promote the public good, coincides fo
ts far with your own views, as to feem entitled to fome ihare of your pro-
" tedion and patronage."
/ am, with the great eft ReffeSf,
Tour Excellencfs moft obedient,
and moft humble Servant)
Thomas Prior*
Mr. Prior declares ( and there is no reafon to fufpect his veracity ) that his
fole motive in collecting and publifhing the following cafes was the public
good.
Some gentlemen- who have received benefit by Tarwater, finding it tedi-
ous to recue the cafes correfpondent to any ailment, propofed this fcheme,
defigning, inflead of being at fo much trouble, to difpofe of a book, whsn
they fee a proper object, that the perfons aggrieved may judge of the cafes
inoii near to their own, and take or reject the water accordingly, with their
eyes open, and from their own conviction, rather than the importunity of
another.
That there are not more cafes publifhed of perfons cured in England
by Tarwater, out of the multitudes that have received benefit from it, is no
wonder, fm.ee no body has taken the trouble to collect them j and many, than
iv PREFACE.
have been fent to the public papers, have never appeared. The following,
which is of that number, fhall conclude our preface.
JJ&AUTHOR */, &c.
SIR,
HAving received great benefit by Tarwater, I prefume that the publica-
tion of my cafe may be of fervice to others in the like difoider, in-
afmuch as it may induce them to experience the virtues of that benign, fa-
lutary draught, and fo be a means of reftoring them to a vigorous and happy
ftate of health. In May laft I was fuddenly indifpos'd ; I wafted daily, and
became feeble and liftlefs ; my appetite fail'd me; what I eat did but juft
keep me alive, my ftomach ( which for fome time before had been weak )
having almoft loft its natural faculty of digeftion. During my indifpofition
I had a very bad ptifical cough, and continued wafting till September ; when,
being brought very low, I withal felt my lungs very much afteded, and was
afraid of a confumption, which likewife was dreaded by all my friends. I
then prepar'd fome Tarwater, according to thebifhop's diredions, and drank
of it, near half a pint at a time, three or four times a day, all the month of
September. I had not drank it paft a fortnight before health began to appear
in my countenance, my ftomach was fo much flrengthened that I could eat
with pleafure, and I ^.-Jw chearful and adive. In the next fortnight I
quite loft my cough, was freed from the terrible apprehenfion of a tabes,
and am now, I thank God, perfedly hearty ; and all through the wonder-
ful efficacy of that fovereign remedy 1 arwater,
■-------^uo non prtefentzus ullum
duxilium venit •
Oh learned Berkley f who enough can praife
Thy gentous labour ? thy'inftruciive page,
Our fteps direding to this fource of health ?
The fair and beauteous pine in vain had fhed
Its precious juice, till thou, with curious fearch,
Explor'd its virtuous qualities, and taught
Mankind the wholfornc fecret. Thou haft done
A deed well worthy everlaiting fame .'
Peakirk, near Peterborough,
Jpril 10, 1745.
J. Landem."
An authentick Account of the Effeels of
T A R-W A T E R.
'AVING published in
the Dublin Journal,
July 3. 1744, remarks
on an advertiiement,
and on certain affida-
vits, concerning the effeds of Tar-
water in Stephens's hofpital, and hav-
ing promifed to communicate to the
public, an account of feveral perfons,
who have been entirely cured, or
greatly relieved by the ufe of Tar-
water only, together with their names,
places of abode, and nature of their
ailments ; I now addrefs myfelf to
the performance of my promife.
2. Many very freely communicated
their ailments and reliefs ; fome who
had received benefit onthefirft drink-
ing of it, chofe to poftpone fending
their accounts, till they had received
the full benefit they expeded. Some,
efpecially of the female fex, were un-
willing to have their names mentioned
in public. Some cafes required along
trial, before any judgment could be
formed, or a cure effeded. It was
alfo fuggefted by thofe who decryed
its ufe, that whatever feeming benefit
fome might have received on their firft
drinking, yet that towards the fall of
the leaf, or the winter following,
they would feel fatal confequences
from it, infinuating, that it was dan-
gerous to drink it in the dog-days, or
in cold weather, by which means fe-
veral were prevailed upon to lay afide
the drinking of it for fome months ;
but finding no fuch confequences, they
have fince refumed the drinking of it
with great advantage.
3. For thefe and many other rea-
fons the publication of thefe cafes has
been fo iong deferred; but many thou-
sands having now drank Tarwater,
and great numbers received benefit ;
fince time, experience, and many
tryals ( the fureft guides in cafes of this
nature ) have eftablifhed the credit and
uie of this medicine, it. would be a
prejudice to the public, and an injury
to mankind to defer any longer the
publication of the many unexpeded,
and furprizing cures effedled by Tar-
water. And as particular inftances
and fads make ftronger imprefiions
than general aftertions and reafonings
can do ; it is with great fatisfadion I
can inform the public, that I am fur-
nifhed with a great number of authen-
tic accounts of the effeds of Tarwater
( more perhaps than ever happened in
the cafe of any other medicine in fo
fhort a time ) and that chiefly from the
patients themfelves,moftof them men,
of charader and integrity, who, be-
fides the pleafure of recounting the
benefits they received, had no other
view in communicating their cafes, but
to promote the good of others, who
might labour under the fame disorders.
4. With the fame view, I can af-
fure the public, that I have moft im-
partially laid before them the fads
communicated to me, in the letters of
the gentlemen, who have been fo good
as to give a detail of their own difor-
ders, or of thofe of their neighbours,
and of the benefit they received ; the
originals of which may be viewed in
my hands.
5. From
6 Advertlfement againjl Tarwater conjiderd.
5. From fome, I had the accounts
of their cafes from their own mouths;
and any one maybe fatisfiedfrom the
perfons themfelves, whofe names are
mentioned ; and tho' others are, at
their defire, omitted, if any fhould be
defirous to know them, I fhall be rea-
dy, for their private fatisfadion, to
inform them.
6. Many cafes occurred of perfons,
troubled with colds, coughs, difficulty
of breathing, want of reft and appe-
tite, which were foon removed by the
ufe of Tarwater; but as thefe ailments
might be removed by exercife, air,
proper dyet, or other medicines, with-
out Tarwater, I have omitted moft of
thofe cafes, tho' the quicknefsand eafe
with which they were relieved, and
the number of the cures muft greatly
recommend the ufe of this medicine.
The inftances produced therefore, are
for the moft part cafes of the moft
grievous and dangerous diftempers,
acute and chronical; fuch as the gout,
king's evil, inveterate fcurvies, and
ulcers, confirmed afthmas, fevers, pleu-
rifies, rheumatifms, colics, C5V. which
rarely give way to any medicines; but
yielded to the power and efficacy of
Tarwater, as will appear by the fub-
fequent narrative.
7. I fhall beg leave, by way of in-
trodadion, to republifh the affidavits
and rpy remarks thereon, which gave
the firft occafion of writing on this
fubjed, together with fome observa-
tions publifhed in England, relating to
that affidavit.
8. Remarks on a late advertlfe-
ment, and upon certain affidavits
mentioned therein, concerning
the effeds of Tarvv^ter in
Stiphn/s's hofpital.
9. The advertijement was publifhed
in the "Dublin Journal, June 2, 1744,
in the following words,' We are very
' well inform'd that many voluntary
' affidavits have been made before al-
' derman Walker, of the unfuccefsful
' ufe of Tarwater in Dr. Stephens's
' hofpital, by numbers of patients in
' that houfe, fetting forth, that, after
' a longferies of ufmg Tarwater in the
* moft ftridi and regular manner, none
1 found themfelves in any wife better,
' but many of them much worfe ; and
' that thefe affidavits are in the hands
' of the vifitors of the hofpital, and
* may at any time be viewed by the
' curious in this matter.'
1 o. Being furprized to hear that in
Stephens's hofpital alone, none found
themfelves better, and many worfe,
by the ufe of Tarwater, when, at the
fame time, great numbers both in
town and country had received great
and furprizing benefit thereby ; my
regard to truth and the good of man*
kind induced me to make enquiry in-
to the contents of thofe affidavits, on
which fo much ftrefs had been laid.
11. I accordingly addreffed myfelf
to the vifiting phyfician of the hofpi-
tal, who fhewed me the original af-
fidavits,and declared the advertifement
was publifhed without his knowledge.
12. I fhall here publifh one of the
affidavits.
County"! Sylvefter Doivdal, one of
of the (the patients in Stephens's
City of \ hofpital, came this day be-
Dublitt. J fore me, and made oath,
that he conftantly drank the Tarwater
by the diredions of Dr. Lehunte, for
about nine weeks, and depofed that
he hath not found any benefit thereby.
Sworn before me the His
2 5 th of May, 1744. Syl O Dqvuda!.
William Walker, Mark.
13. The
'Affidavits againfi Tarwater invalidated.
13. The dodor informed me, that
faid Doixidal had an impofthume in
his ftomach, and faid that fome, who
were ordered to drink the water, neg-
leded it.
14. The other five affidavits were
to the following purpofe.
15. " James Martin in a high le-
profy fwears he drank Tarwater near
6 weeks without benefit.
16. " Bartholomew Hughs, in an
afthma and confumption of the lungs,
drank Tarwater 7 weeks without be-
nefit, as to hisjhortnefs of breath, which
was his princ'pa: diforder.
17. " Mary Malone, for the itch,
drank the Tarwater 5 weeks without
benefit; but being put into another
courfe for 3 weeks, finds herfelf much
better.
18. " Patrick Skaghnuffy, for an
Snveterate itch, drank Tarwater 6
weeks, found himfelf much worfe ;
but being put into another courfe
finds himfelf much better.
19. " Ma. — in the foul difeafe,
drank Tarwater 6 weeks, and found
lierfelf much worfe ; but being put
into another courfe, finds herfelf much
better."
20. So far the affidavits, whereof
4 were made by perfons that could
not write.
21. An oppofition to a medicine of
this nature, muft have been either
needlefs or criminal : if the medicine
be bad, it will die away of itfelf; if
good, it is plainly unwarrantable to
cppofe it. How far this oppofition,
coming from the quarter, that may be
fulpeded of intereft in the matter, can
be reconciled with the rules of pru-
dence, is fubmitted to the public con
iideration: the dodor, a man of worth
andi&ll, afled very properly, and
with good intention in prescribing this
water, to be taken even in the worft
cafes ; but the ufe others have made
of it, gives room for the following
remarks.
22. The advertifement fays,' many
' voluntary affidavits have been made
' by numbers of patients in the hofpi ■
' tal, fetting forth, that '* after a long
" feries of ufing Tarwater, in the n-.oft
" ftricl and regular manner, none
" found themfelves in any wife better,
" but many of them much worfe" ;
now the ajj.davits, which were but 6,
have not thofe affertions ; not a word
of a long feries, or the moft ftria and
regular manner, or that none received
benefit; fo that the ddvertilimint doth
no way tally with the ejj davits, nor
can be fupported or warranted by them.
Six of the moft defperate cafes in the
whole hofpital, were culled out, and
made the only tefts of the virtues
of Tarwater, upon fo fhort a trial as 5
or 6 weeks; altho'thediftempers were
inveterate, and chronical, and plainly
required a length of time, to effed a
cure. What medicine could ftand, if
a few infiances of its unfuccefs were
fufficient to deftroy its credit ? or what
would become of phyficians, if the
failing of the medicines they prefcribe,
fhould be urged againft them ?
23. It does not appear, by the af-
fidavits, that juftice was done to Tar
water in quantity, in time, in accom-
panying it with any outward vvafh of
Tarwater, as was proper in outward
fores, or in acknowledging that it con-
curred in the cure of the itch; in which
cafe, by driving the venom from the
blood to the furface, it will increafe
the fores for a time, and make igno-
rant patients think themfelves worfe.
And probably this preyed their cure ;
for
8 Tarwater cures Paljy, Colic, Scurvy,
for asfoon as they were anointed with
ferimflone, they found themfelves bet-
ter ; is this fair dealing ?
24, For the fake of truth, we fhall
publifh a lift of thofe within our know-
ledge, who have been either intirely
cured, or greatly relieved by the ufe
of Tarwater alone, with the places of
their abode, and in what ailments
they received benefit ; that every o-
ther perfon who may have the fame
fort of aiiment, may know what per-
fons to apply to, and be informed of
the particulars of their cure, and there-
by may have an opportunity of ob-
taining the like relief themfelves.
25. By what we have already ex-
perienced, and daily do experience of
the good effeds of Tarwater, we have
great reafon to be perfuaded, and to
rejoice, that the world is bleft with a
medicine, fo^fftfaWtasfeldomto fail
of fuccefs, fo general as to relieve in
moft difeafes, fo fafe as never to be at-
tended with danger, and yet fo cheap,
as to be in the power of the pooreft
perfon to purchafe.
26. The faid advertifement from
Stephens's hofpital, being publifhed in
the Englifh news-papers, moved a
gentleman in the North of Englandto
fend a letter to the publishers of the
Nevjcaftle Journal, which they iniert
ed with this preface.
27. There appears fo benevolent a
defign in the following letter, that
mould we delay the publication of
it, we might be accufed, not only
of ingratitude to the ingenious au-
thor, but of injufticeto the public.
Gentlemen,
2 8. TWas moved with no little indig-
X nation and concern, at reading
a fly inveterate paragraph againft Tar-
water, in a late Nenvcaftle Courant',
publifhed originally in the papers of
Dublin : What quarter it fhould come
from there, together with the purpofes
intended it fhould anfwer, are plain
enough to be gueffed at : to obviate,
therefore, as much as in me lies, the
ill effeds of fo malevolent a defign, I
think myfelf indifpenfably obliged, as
well by the ties of juftice and grati-
tude, to the excellent writer upon the
extenfive virtues of Tarwater, and dif-
coverer of its powerful effects, as by
thofe of charity and benevolence to my
fellow creatures and fufferers, to make
known to the public, thro' the means
of your paper, theineftimable benefits
that have accrued to me and,mine
from the ufe of it.
29. I had long laboured under thefe
following complicated diftempers,/tf/-
fy, colic, rheumatifm, gravel and piles j
in all which cafes I found furprifing
relief from Tarwater, and that in con-
fiderably lefs time than a month from
beginning to drink it. And it has
worked ftill greater effeds upon my
wife, who was infefted to the highefr.
degree, with that Englijh plague, the
Scurvy, together with a large train of
diforders, naturally incident to fuch a
height of it ; from which, by the fame
means, and in the fame time, me
is recovered in fuch a manner, as a-
mazes all who were acquainted with
her condition ; and that for the time it
has been effeded in, both fhe and my-
felf are reftored to health, in a degree
infinitely beyond our moft fanguine
expedations; the truth whereof I am
ready to atteft; moreover, I have been
a witnefs of its extraordinary falutary
effeds in fome of my acquaintance to
a degree little fhort of bur own. So
happy an experience, therefore, both
in
and the fHofi inveterate AJlhma. g
in myfelf and others of its wonderful 3 i. This inftance mews that many
operation and force, leaves me not the different ailments in the fame perfon,
leaft room to doubt that Tarwater is may be all cured at the fame time by
the moft fovereign, and extenfive re- the fame medicine.
medy, and cure for difeafes in gene- 32. William Ward of Cockerton, in
ral ; fafeft to be taken as well as the the county of Durham, Efq; having
eafieft in the operation, that ever was alfo feen the faid advertifement and
found out in the wholeMateriaMedica; remarks in the Nenvcafte Journal, was
and as fuch, may be recommended to pleafed to communicate his cafe and
the world, notwithftanding the finifter relief in feveral letters, according to
paragraph above mentioned. And, if it the progrefs of his cure.
is not an abfurdity to fuppofe fuch a
thing in nature as a Panacea, nothing, From Mr. Ward"* letter, dat. Jund
furely, ever bid fo fair as this for that 8, 1744.
tharader before.--In my thus praifing 33. " I began to drink Tarwater
Tarwater, I think I cannot be fuf- for an Jfthma this day-fortnight, and
peded of being aduated by any other take it night and morning a glafs,
intcreft than the general welfare and whereof three make a pint. I find it
happinefs of the human fpecies, will- opens my body gently, about twd
ing them to fhafe and enjoy the pre- ftools a day ; but I have had my fits,
cious effeds of it equally with myfelf. as often and violently as before. I am
1 purpofely forbore, Gentlemen, not fo weak as to think I was to have
troubling you with this fooner, be- found a perceptible benefit in fo fhort
caufe I would firft be well warranted a fpace, but fhall ftill continue it; I
in my own mind for whatever I had have had my afthma upwards of 12
to fay upon the fubjed, that I might years, but not fo violent, as at pre-
not, in the leaft, invade the bounds of fent, and for 7 years laft ; in which
truth, which in all cafes, and efpeci- time I have not been in bed, or at
ally in fo delicate an affair as this, e- moft not above 3 or 4 hours, once in
very one ought to be very cautious of. a year, when I have flattered myfelf
30. I fhall conclude with the good with being tolerably well ; and then
bifhop's own words, " Men may cen- as foon as I awaked, I found I was
" fure and objed as they pleafe, but quite loaded with phlegrti, tho' a dry
" I appeal to time and experiment, afthma ; fo that I was obliged to gee
" Effeds mifimputed,cafes wrong told, up and have recourfe to a pipe of to-
" circumftances overlooked, perhaps bacco, which I ufe all the time I am
" too, prejudices and partialities a- ill, for I have no eafe when 1 do not
" gainft truth, may for a time prevail fmoak. I am feldom without a fit
" and keep her at the bottom of her above three or four days, and con-
" well : from whence, neVerthelefs, tinue as 16ng in it, and as foon as rain
" fhe emergeth ,fooner or later, and comes I am eafy ; I have it alfo a-
" ftrikes the eyes of all, who do not gainft the leaft change of wither,
"keep them fhut." lam, gentle- - My father has it, and my grand-
men, yours &c. ......County of mother died of it; fo that I have it-fs
Durham* * --- """' • hopes Of a cure as it feems to be here -
------ g , ditary.
to,
io Its good EffeBs
ditary. I have tryed many of the
moft eminent phyficians in England,
but never found benefit. I have had
iffues in my fhoulders, and at prefent
one under each breaft, but cannot fay
I reap any advantage. The medi-
cines I have taken are innumerable."
Jrom Mr. WardV letter, July 27,1744.
"TPHE firft month I took it, my
■*■ fits were as violent and fre-
quent as ufual. Thefecond month I
had not one fit, but one night, which
was very eafy ; and I believe I might
have continued to have found a daily
benefit, if I had not been obliged to at-
tend at the ailzes ; where I have re-
ceived a moft violent cold, which has
brought on both my afthma and a
cough. So that at prefent I am very
ill, but am taking all the care I can
jiovv to recover myfelf, for I found fo
much pleafure in that month's eafe,
that no temptation can induce me to
fwerve from rules. I can't fo much
as lie back in an eafy chair ; for I
have a table fet by the fide of my chair
■with pillows on it, fo I lay my arm on
them, and my head on my arm ; and
if I am very ill, can't even reft that
way 9 fo that no bed can be contrived
for me to reft on yet; and tho' I fay
above, that I had not a fit for a month,
yet if I lay back in my chair then, it
made me uneafy in two minutes: I
drank Tarwater frequently in the day,
but not a quarter of a pint at a time,
for I find it agrees better with my fto-
mach, than drinking a larger quanti-
ty ; and in the day, I may take fuch a
quantity 5 or 6 times, as agrees with
me. I muft beg to take notice of one
very great effed it has had on me
{ which I hope is a good fymptom.)
35. Befoie I drank the Tarwater,
my feet were always as cold as ice, fo
that I had not the leaft perfpiration in
them ; for if I had not wafhed them
for a year, they were as clean and dry
a^ the back of my hand : but now, in
the laft month, I was fo eafy, I found
my feet fweat very copioufly, and
found in wearing a pair of new ftock-
ings only a week, that all the foals
were worn, and mouldered away ;
and what was left was very red, as if
I had burnt them.
36. I beg pardon for dwelling fo
long upon this particular, as it was fo
furprizing ; and my apothecary telling
me, when I related it to him, that he
was fure I fhould be cured by drinking
the Tarwater, as it had this effed ;
for it was what he and all my phyfi-
cians had drove at, to make me have
a perfpiration in my feet, which was
never in their power to get, not even
by fitting with my feet in warm water.
From his letter of 'September 18,1744.
37. " As to my prefent ftate of
health, I have the pleafure to tell you
I was in bed the ioth,i ith,i2th, and
15th inftant at night ; I went to bed
about 8 o'clock, and lay until 7 the
next morning, as well as ever I was
in my life; and found when I awaked,
I was lying on my back j and am
quite another man."
From his letter of January 16, 1744.
38. " I find the leaft cold does me
harm, and therefore keep clofe to my
houfe, which is no inconveniency to
me, fince I am all air and vivacity,
which before was a meer ftate of he-
betude. I was obliged to go on the
4th of November laft into Northumber-
land, when it was very cold with
fnow ; and as the roads would not ad-
mit of wheels, I was compelled to go
en
m Diftempers of the Breajl,
ii
on horfe-back ; and when I had rode
a mile eafy ( for it is only fince I took
Tarwater I could ride above a mile
on horfe-back ) I found I was able to
go fafter, and put on fo faft, that I
obferved by my_ watch, that I rode at
the rate of 6 "miles an hour. My
journey was 36 miles, which I com-
pleated between the hours of 10 in the
morning, and 4^in the afternoon,
without drawing bridle ; I refted one
day, and came home on the 6th of
November in the fame time.—This I
declare upon my honour to be fad,
and which was as great a furprize to
myfelf as others."
39. So extraordinary a cafe as this,
and fo well vouched by the patient
himfelf, gives us reafon to believe,
that any afthma whatfoever may be
cured by a courfe of Tarwater, and
at the fame time fhews that people
ought to wait for the effed of this me-
dicine, and not lay it afide on a fhort
tryal ; tho' if Mr. Ward had drank a
greater quantity of Tarwater, and a-
voided catching cold, he would have
been much fooner relieved.
As I have more accounts from Eng-
land, fhewing the power of Tarwater
in a high degree, I fhall introduce
them before I mention lrijh cafes.
Extrad of a letter from John Hard-
cajlle, Efq; of Houghton, in the
county of Durham, a civilian.
40. " My diforder began with vio-
lent pains in my breaft, which, being
removed by fomentation, were fuc-
ceeded by a great cough. I was in
fome time almoft freed from it : but
within two or three days after it was
flopped, I was fuddenly feized with a
palpitation of the heart in a very high
degree, which Iafted with very little
intermiffjon for two days. That dif-
order being partly calmed by bleed-
ing, my cough returned again with as
much force as ever. I became much
emaciatdiL loft my appetite, grew
very weak, and had frequent fweats;
my urine was loaded during this ill—
nefs with a large quantity of red mat-
ter, which when evaporated to dri-
nefs, did not feem to the touch,to be
of the nature of fand or gravel, but
rather like loam or fine clay. The
phyfician declared my cafe fcorbu-
tic, and treated it according1'/. As I
had been long following the prefcrip-
tions of a phyfician, I cannot impute
my recovery with any certainty whol-
ly to Tarwater. But I think, the
fenfible and almoft immediate altera-
tion I perceived in myfelf afttr taking
it, leaves me no room to doubt, that
alteration was caufed by the Tar. Jt
refreshed my ftomach with a kindly
and agreeable warmth, reflored my
appetite, and in all probability caufci
a good digeftioh : as th^fe gradually
increafed, my cough declined, my
fweats abated, and my ftren^th re-
turned.
4r. An account of. the extraordi-
nary virtues of Tarwater in the cure 0:
a great numberof negroes in the fmall-
pox, fworn before the mayor of Liver -
pool, at the public fefiions, where M,.
Conliff, Mr. Armitage, Mr. Reed, and
Mr. John Atherton, merchants, were
prefent, and who were fatisfied of the
truth of the particulars, before it was
confirmed bv oath, as follows :
4?. 'HR~"M ' Little Foften of Liver-
J[ v- /, Jofeph Drape mailer,
in the year 1742, made a voyage to
Guinea, and having, taken in 216 ne-
groes, before he left the coaft, he had
the misfortune to fee the fmall-pox
bre%fc
»
—■~^^^™ ' ' 54> 55>,56> 57-are verfes> ^f-
in
14 Vomiting, Wafling,
in praife of the bhhop, copied from
the news papers.
Remarks by Philanthropes.
58. Upon fome hints I took from
fedions 29 and 49 of Siris, I refolved
to attempt a folution of myrrh, I put
a drachm of coarfe myrrh into half a
pint of Tarwater, and fet it in a pint
bottle, in a degree of fire, equal to
that of a hot fun ; and in 3 days I ob-
tained a perfed folution.
Of this infufion, I mix about half
an ounce in each half pint of Tarwater,
which I daily drink, fo mixed, with
good fuccefs. It makes the Tarwater
much more pleafant, giving it an a-
greeable, fub acid, bitter tafte.
Par. 59. mentions another procefs
lefs accurate.
60. Suppofes this mixt liquor to be
a good vulnerary water.
61. Next follow the lrijh cafes,
communicated by gentlemen of known
integrity.
A letter from the rev. Mr. Nat. France
of Toaghall'va. the county of Cork,
July 6, 1744.
62. Reading an advertifement in
the Dublin Courant of July 3, I
thought myfelf bound by the ftrongeft
obligation, gratitude for.an ineftima-
ble benefit received, as well as for
the good of mankind, to give teftimo-
py to the truth. Upwards of 20 years
I have laboured under a dreadful dif-
order, occ:.iu,c zc by a prevailing acid
in my ftomach. For many weeks to-
gether, I never rcfe from fleep, with-
out violent vomiting, and ficknefs j
rarely free from a heart burn, and
that commonly ending in a violent
cholick ; nervous diforders, frightful
fpafms, a frequent palpitation of the
Jieart in bed ; my diforder baffled the
and Decay of Sto?nach,
art of phyfic. The Pyrmovt and Ger-
man fpa-water, a conftant ufe of gum-
pills for the nervous complaint, gave
fome little relief, but were very far
from rooting out the caufe. I induf-
trioufly fhun'd every acid. I have
drank Tarwater thefe 3 years paft,
and, I blefs God, have no complaint,
no heart-burning, no vomiting in the
morning, which almoft deprived me
of my fight ; no nt. *ous diforder,
unlefs occafioned by a violent cold,
from which I am quickly relieved, by
taking a plentiful draught of Tarwater.
Laft fiimmer indeed I laid afide Tar-
water for 3 months, believing I did
not need it, and that it would ceafe
to be efficacious by conftant ufe. My
colick, heartburn, and nervous fpafms
then return'd as violent as ever. I a-
gain had recourfe to Tarwater ; its
happy effed was beyond exnrdation,
in a few days it perfedly re"'v d me.
I do now, and fhall, for tho : :..-. inder
of my life, make it my > ning
draught ; having no othc: c; plaint
againft it, but this one; tha by creat-
ing an appetite, which it never fails to
do, and caufing a good digeftion, it
renders me more corpulent, than.I
cou'd wifh to be. Nat. France.
63. A letter from the corporation of
Augher in theC. of Tyrone,July 7,1744.
Moft of us, having for many years
been greatly afflided with cLo.iical
difeafes, fuch as inveterate fcurvy. and
rheumatick pains, cjsV. were indued,
from the high charader gi cu to Jac
Tarwater, to make trial thereof.
Thofe who had any out-breaking,
found, after a fortnight's trial, tho
fpots rather more inflamed and pain-
ful, but afterwards daily growing
cafier and better. Some of us who
vvers
Scorbutic and rheumatic Difeafes, j 5
were feized with the rheumatifm found for 8 years, and confented to Tar-
after the like time a fenfible remiffion water, has frequently expreffed his
of the pains ; we in the gout refolve great furprize at her being fo much
to continue the regular and conftant better, tho' fhe takes feveral other
ufe of that moft excellent remedy, and kinds of phyfickby his diredion ; heir
all of us do, in the moft a,Tueen's county, being about 43, la-
boured under a violent cough, and op-
preffion on her ftomach for 10 years,
without intermiffion,fo that fhe loft her
appetite, her body was emaciated,and
her fpirits low ; but by drinking Tar-
water 6 weeks conftantly every morn-
ing, the cough and oppreffion on her
ftomach were intirely removed, her
appetite reftored, her fpirits became
brifk,and her whole conftitution won-
derfully improved.
80. A letter from Mr. Henry Gervais
of Lijmore in the county of Water-
ford, Sept. 15, 1744.
Mr. Bryen, who is an attorney in
lord Burlington's manor-courts, after
riding 5 miles about 2 years fince,
without a great coat, in a winter's
night of very heavy rain, and fo fud-
dled, that when he came home,
he could not put off his cloaths,
threw himfelf on his bed, where
he flept about 6 hours, and when
he awoke, was in an high inflam-
mation, and not able to fpeak. A
worthy phyfician, by bleeding, blift-
ering, &c. brought fome prefent re-
lief j but a violent cough foon enfued,
with a grievous pain in his fide, {pit-
ting of blood, and large fweats ; fo
that having fuffered much, and gone
thro'the apothecary's fhop for a courfe
of 6 months, and exhaufted his little
fubftance, the phyficians in,aconful-
tation pronounced that he would die
tabid. The patient in defpair had
recourfe to Tarwater, by which he
recovered his appetite and reft, was
free from the pain in his fide, and as
well in health as he could wifh.
81. Mr. Gervais mentions his own
cafe thus : ' I was under great appre-
henfions from the reliques of the In-
fluenza, which feized me in a moft
heavy manner, and left an acute pain
in my head, violent palpitation in the
heart,a conftant pulfation m the brain,
and fpafms thro' my whole body.
llagherty cum Jociis had me in hand for
months ; gum-pills and fpirits of vi-
triol I almoft lived upon, and to no
purpofe ; but now by the ufe of Tar-
water, lam, (God bepraifed) re-
ftored to good fpirits and health.'
82. He alfo mentions the cafe of
Mrs. C ■— of Limerick, who was
many years afflided with a fcurvy in
fo high degree, that fhe had been
quite flay'd from head to foot, fo that
for many months fhe lay in cere cloths,
and could not turn in her bed, but as
fhe was help'd by the fheets; all re-
medies proved ineffedual, but qy
driiking Tarwater for 10 weeks, fl>e '
has got a new fkin, her fores have
ceafed to run, and her health is
throughly retrieved.
Mr. Gervais fent the following cafe
drawn up by Dr. Wm C—of Mallovj.
8 3. Carrol Daly of Ardprior in the
C. of Cork, aged about 28, on exer-
cifing feverely in the year 1742, was
feized with a violent cough, ftreight-
nefs in his cheft, difficulty of refpira-
tion,and difcharged large quantities of
blood from his lungs ; in which fta'e
he remained near 6 months, without
other affiftance than what his pot r
neighbours could adminifter ; till u:
length quite emaciated, and in a hec-
tick ftate, with flulhings in his face.
fuccecderi
18 Preventive of
fucceeded by rigors and conftant night-
fweats, he applied to the neighbour-
ing phyficians, who recommended a
courfe of pedoral and balfamick me-
dicines, with tindure of jefuits bark,
and a milk-diet, which regimen he
ftridly obferved above 10 months ;
when finding little amendment, and
no hopes of recovery, he applied to
me ; I recommended his continuing
the fame method for fome time long-
er, which he fubmitted to, without
further benefit, than that his fweats
fomewhat abated. He was now fet
down as incurable, when hearing fo
much of the virtues of Tarwater, and
willing to try it, as every thing elfe
failed, I recommended the conftant
ufe of it to him ; at firft it difagreed
prodigioufly, inducing frequent nau-
fea's, iicknefs in the ftomach, and a
lax, which in his condition I was
very apprehenfive of ; I made fome
lighter, which, in a few days, was fo
reconcileable to his ftomach, that he
took it in large quantities, and is now
perfedly recovered from all hisfymp-
toms, only a fmall cough, which he
is fubjed to, on taking cold, or any
irregujarity.
84. Letterfrom Mr. Wm Peacocke,
merchant in Abbey-ftreet, Dublin,
Sept. 22, 1744.
My brother, Marmaduke Peacocke,
jnerch. for feveral months had a great
cough, little appetite, and a great
lownefs of fpirits; he could not walk
without fweating, and was very much
emaciated ; he applied to fome phyfi-
cians to no purpofe,but drinking Tar-
water morning and evening, in lefs
than 3 weeks, was as heal as ever,
and in great fpirits.
85. Laft fpring I had the gout
coming on me ; I was feizer? with
cramps in my legs moll violently for
Gout and Gravel,
feveral nights, loft my appetite, my
ftomach was faint and weak, with
great tendernefs in my feet; thefe are
always forerunners of the gout with
me. My brother perfuaded me to
drink Tarwater, morning and even-
ing, and it occafioned great perfpira-
tion in my feet, and in 3 nights I had
no cramps, no tendernefs in my feet,
I had a good appetite and digeftion,
and was every other way very well,
drinking it fo for 2 months, after-
wards only every morning, and am
now ( thank God ) as well as any one.
JVm Peacocke.
86. A Letter from Stephen Bernard,
Efq', member of parliament, from
Youghall, Od. 2,1744.
I have taken Tarwater 3 months,
morning, noon, and night, half a
pint each time warm ; which has re-
lieved me from a ficknefs in my fto-
mach, which I had for 6 years paft,
and fo feverely the two laft, that
fcarce a day pafs'd without violent
heavings, at leaft twice, and a loath-
ing of all fuftenance ; which reduced
me fo low, as utterly difabled me from
ufing any exercife. I was alfo fubjed
to a giddinefs, which encreafed, not-
withftanding a courfe of vomits ; in
lefs than a week after I drank Tar-
water, I found my ftomach relieved,
I had an appetite, and the giddinefs
is almoft gone. Ste. Bernard.
P. S. A fervant of mine for years
was troubled with a confumptive
cough.and is quite recovered by Tar-
water.
87. From Charles Coote, Efq-, mem-
ber of parliament, Coothill, Odo-
ber 6, 1744.
I drink Tarwater conftantly ; my
diforder is nervous, and I have gravel
to a great degree, but without pain.
Cures a violent Scorbutic Humour.
19
I difcharge great quantities by urine,
and my ftomach, digeftion, and whole
frame, ufed to be greatly difordered
when I was loaded with it, the ufe of
this water not only difcharges it, but
I find myfelf better in fpirits, and di-
geftion.
88. Mr. Denaldfon, of Cavan, long
afflided with the gout in an extreme
degree, drank Tarwater fome months,
and from a clofe confinement to his
bed and chair, is now walking about
the ftreets, and does not remember
when he was able to do fo for many
years paft.
89. Mr. Waren, agent to alderman
Davjfon, was afthmatick, and feemed
to be confumptive to the laft degree,
but recovered of all his complaints,
folely by the Tarwater.
90. A poor fellow of this town,
afthmatick, and almoft incapable of
any adion, is now reftored by it.
91. My brother in law, Mr. Pratt,
who has been extreamly ill many years
of fcorbutick diforders, and has in
vain drank all the waters in Europe,
drank weak Tarwater a good while,
(the ftrong difagreeing with him ) and
is quite recovered. Cha. Caote.
92. A letter from Wm Ryves, Efq;
from Caftlejane near Tipperary,
Odober 11, 1744.
My tenant John Cornick, a mower
and plowman, by heats and cold, ac-
quired a cough, which continued on
him feveral months, and fometimes
difabled him from following the plow ;
but about March laft, he was obliged
to keep his bed, notwithftanding he
had the advice of two phyficians j and
being worn away to a perfed fkin and
bone, they pronounced him very near
his end. About July laft, he took
Tarwater, twice or thrice a day j for
the firft week he coughed prodigiouf-
ly, and brought up great quantities
of fetid corruption j every day after,
his cough abated, and his ftomach in-
creased, and at the end of 3 weeks
drinking, he was able to walk half a
mile with pleafure, which he did e-
very morning between his firft draught,
and breakfaft ; and in 5 weeks time,
had gathered a good deal of ftrength;
in fhort.his cough is gone.and he finds
himfelf hearty.
93. Edvj. Moore, Efq; of Moore's
Fort in the C. of Tipperary, was ex-
treamly out of order, and by the phy-
ficians judged to have an ulcer in his
bladder, and was preparing to go to
fome waters proper for him ; he had
quite loft his ftomach and complexion,
but by the ufe of Tarwater for 5 or
6 weeks, is not only quite well of his
diforder, but has recovered his fto-
mach and complexion. My wife has
drank it for fome time for a little bark-
ing cough, which fhe has had thefe
3 years paft, which afflids her moft
as fhe gets up in a morning ; fhe has
found fuch an abatement of it, that I
do not doubt but in a little time fhe
will be quite free. Wm Ryves.
94. A letter from Wm Connor,£/fj
from Bandon in the C. of Cork,
Odober 23, 1744.
There are many inftances in this
neighbourhood of perfons benefited by
it, but none more fo than one of my
daughters, who had laboured under a
kind of hyfterick and nervous diforder
for fome months, which afflided her
with a palpitation and difficulty of
breathing,infomuch that fhe frequent-
ly imagined fhe was expiring ; fhe is
now ( God be praifed) quite free, and
attributes her cure folely to that moft
excellent remedy, Tarwater.
95* My
20 Remarkable Inftances of the fame,
95. My brother, Mr. George Connor,
had been feveral years afflided with
a fcorbutick diforder, and finding no
relief from the phyficians, went to
England, where he ufed the bath and
other waters, without any benefit ;
upon his return to Ireland his dif-
temper became fo violent, that his
phyficians were for fending him to
Bsith again, when by chance he met
with Sin's ; this put him on making
and drinking Tarwater, which quite
recovered him in 6 weeks. His cafe
was wonderful, his body was all over
one continued fore, he was obliged to
fhift himfelf 4 times a day, and his
fhirts flood on end, ftiffened by cor-
ruption ; his limbs and body were
wrapped up in linnenfpread with fuet,
to keep any thing from touching him.
The fharp humours ufed to run thro'
his cloaths on the ground. He could
neither digeft, fleep, or reft. The
firft effed of the Tarwater was that an
incredible number of blind boils ap-
peared in the fkin over his whole bo-
dy, and very fore, by which the mor-
bifick humour was driven to the out-
ward parts ; but by conftant drinking
thefe boils grew milder, and by de-
grees healed and dried away, fo that
in lefs than 6 weeks he was quite
eafy. On firft taking the water, he
was very , coftive for feveral days,
which frightened him, and made him
take fome gentle opening purge. But
this rather retarded his cure, for
where the Tarwater throws out the
venom into the fkin, it fhould not be
difturbed by the revulfion of purga-
tives, tho' fuch cafting out may natu-
rahy produce a coftivenefs. It is not
to be reckoned a bad effed, but a
good fymptom ; it fhews that nature
is throwing out the bad humours thro'
the fkin, a;.d not by ftool; z^d when
it has fufficiently done that fervice, in
which it ought not to be difturbed,
the body will naturally return to its
ufual difcharges.
96. A letter from Cornelius Townf-
end, of Betfborough in' the C. of
Cork, Efq; Odober 30, 1744.
About 15 years ago, and about the
3 2d of my age, after a moft remark-
able good ftock of health from my
infancy, I was firft feized with a vio-
lent heart-burn, and foon after had
flight fits of the rheumatifm, which
in a few years became very violent,
and then getting the better of my of-
ten envied good conftitution, a moft
inveterate fcurvy appeared,particular-
ly on my temples and forehead ; my
fits of the rheumatifm were in the be-
ginning irregular, and did not hold
above a month or fix weeks at a time,
but about eight years ago they be-
came regular, and ufed to confine me
to my bed during the whole winter
and fpring, and always began with a
light fever, and terrible head ach,
which genera'ly held for the firft 9 or
10 days. I have been likewife fub-
jed to a fcurvy in my gums, and in
fpight of all my care, apt to get cold,
which frequently afflided my lungs
and glands,and occafioned a deafnels;
about 3 years ago I began the ufe of
Tarwater, which within a month car-
ried off the heart burn ; and foon af-
ter the fcurvy in my gums, temples,
&c. began to leffen, and about that
time twelvemonth was quite gone ;
it has alfo carried off the inflammation
of my glands, and I am not fo apt to
get cold,or be very deaf as formerly ;
and when thro' carelefl'nefs I get ei-
ther, I am under no apprehenfion a-
bout any ill confequences, finding that
honeft Tarwater does thebufinefs. My
fits
Tarwater cures HeSlics, 21
fits of the rheumatifm,fince the ufe of
Tarwater, have indeed been as tedi-
ous, with as great a weaknefs in my
knees and ancles as ever, fo that I am
not able to ftand,but not near fo pain-
ful, and I am almoft free from the fe-
ver and head ach. I am now under a
courfe of bathing my legs in warm
Tarwater, by diredion of the bp of
Cloyne, and hope in fome time to be
able to give you an account of its
fuccefs. From the beginning of my
diforders, I have had fuch a coftive
conftitution, that I feldora had the be-
nefit of nature, without the help of
eleduaries, or fome other openers,;
my fundament was fo inflamed with
piles, that I was very apprehenfive of
a fiftula, my flefh was bloated and
tender ; I was fubjed to a palpitation
of the heart, cramps, meagrims, &c.
from all which (I thank God ) I am
quite free by the conftant ufe of Tar-
water only.—The famous Dr. Barry
put me under a courfe of rhubarb and
fulphur, for upwards of 2 years ; and
other phyficians fince put me under
different courfes of phyfick for my
rheumatick and other diforders, but
all to no purpofe.
97. A gentlewoman in my family,
who had a paralytick diforder, and
the fcurvy, to a great degree, with
many diforders in her ftomach, for
which fhe ftuck to the Mallovj waters
for feveral feafons, and was only, for
the prefent relieved thereby ; and my
wife, who has been tormented with
the fcurvy, hyftericks, &c. are both
recovered by Tarwater.
98. One Mrs. Buftid, who lives
near Killmallock, had a heart-burn for
fome years to fuch a degree, that, in
her ftrainings, ike would frequently
difcharge blood out of her ftomach ;
fhe was fubjed to a racking pain in
her bowels, had a ga..gu- in her
mout^ and her teeth were all loofe ;
fhe was given over by all the fkilful
perfons in her neighbourhood j but,
hearing of the benefits I received by
Tarwater, began to drink it, and
foon found herfelf much better. This
an apothecary in Killmallock hearing
fent her word, fhe was ill advifed to
take it that way, and ordered her to
mix her tar with hot water, which fhe
accordingly did ; but it operated fo
violently by purging up and down,
that fhe was at death's door; however,
fhe afterwards found, that taking it,
even that way, did her vaft fervice ;
fhe is now perfedly recovered, and
firmly refolved never to take the ad-
vice of an apothecary again. I could
mention feveral more, who, by my
advice, in various diforders, received
very great benefit, or were perfedly
cured by drinking Tarwater.
Corn. Town fend,
99. Communicated by a phyfician in
Nov. 1744.
" I v/as confulted by a man 35 years
old, who from a pleuritic diforder, im-
perfedly cured,fell into ahedic fever,
attended by a defperate ,cough, with
this dreadful fymptom,an ulcer in the
left lobe of hjs lungs, which plainly
appeared, from his being at firft- at-
tacked by the pleurify in the left fide,
from almoft an impoffibility of lying
on the right, from a vaft heavinefs.and
fuffocating burthen in the left part of
his thorax ; till relieved in fome mea-
fure by throwing up a vaft quantity of
fetid purulent matter, intermixed with
pure blood, (I may fay ) J"anguinefpu-
mo/o, fojiiiUy called by the great Hip-
pocrates ; which excretion generally
happened to him o.^ce a month or
there
2 2 Lownefs of Spirits, and Bloody Flux,
there abouts, and which had always
like to have fuffocated him. This
evacuated pus muft have been gather-
ed in its proper veficula, which being
external in the lobe was ufually broke
by a ftrong fit of coughing, or fome
other violent fhock of nature. Upon
further examination, I found he had
cold nodurnal fweats, and almoft all
the figns of the fades Hifpotratica.
The prognoftic I formed was very
doubtful, as his cafe was both danger-
ous and difficult. I ordered him im-
mediately to drink Tarwater, and as
the indication required, I prefcribed
fome balfamicand detergent pills, be-
sides fome ftomachic medicines, as he
had almoft entirely loft his appetite ;
I alfo ordered him to take a ride,
morning and evening. I can now with
great truth and pleafure affure you,
that he is quite recovered ; which I
muft in juftice attribute to the Tarwa-
ter, the other medicines prefcribed
before having little or no effed. I
have tried this medicine of Tarwater
in 2 cafes of the afthmatic kind, and
3 acute ones, in all which it had won-
derful fuccefs."
Ibo. Extracl of a letter from Henry
Edgeworth of Lizard in the C. of
Longford, Efq; member of parlia-
ment, dated Nov. io, 1744.
*' Few men of my age and tempe-
rate way of life, have been more af-
flided with the rheumatifm ; efpecial-
ly in the winter feafon.and in change-
able weather : and after the violence
of the fits abated, it frequently and
almoft thefe 14 years paft, about
which period of time I was firft at-
tacked by that inveterate enemy, left
me in a worfe condition ; even pain
cannot in my apprehenfions in any fort
be compared to the exceffive lownefs
and dejedion of fpirits I laboured
under till I took Tarwater ; and tho'
my affairs permitted me not to ufe it
regularly,yet it has not only mitigated
the violence of the rheumatifm, but I
have not had the leaft return of any
dejedion of fpirits this whole winter.
101. From Charles Tottenham, of
Tottenham Green in the C. of Wex-
ford, Efq; member of parliament,
Nov. 18, 1744.
" Wm Cooper, my fervant, on
Tuefday Qc?. 9. fell ill of a violent fe-
ver, ftitch and pleurify ; on Wednef-
day and Thurfday was bled, his blood
very bad each time; on Wednefday even-
ing he began to drink warm Tarwa-
ter, and on thurfday at noon had
drank above 2 quarts, when his ftitch
and fever left him, he fweated great-
ly ; he continued free from pain till
Saturday morning, at which time his
ftitch returned,his lungs fo greatly op-
preffed, that he could ,fcarce breath,
his infide very fore, and his head very
painful. On Saturday evening a blif-
ter was put on between his fhoulders;
he continued very ill till Sunday even-
ing, at which time his blifter began to
run, on which he had immediate eafe;
he continued the Tarwater, and by 11
o'clock tha| night, his head was free
from pain, his ftitch and cough gone,
flept well that night, and on Oil. 20.
was as hearty and as heal as ever. He
is near 60, has had a violent cough,
and bad lungs 30 years paft, until now.
102. From Mr. Geo. Johnfon, a young
officer in the army, Nov. 25, 1744.
" I was greatly afflided with the
bloody-flux from Feb. 1742-3, to the
beginning of May, 1744, the greateft
part of which time, I was fo ill, that
I was notexpeded to live, nor could
I eat or drink any thing that would
flay
Blotches and Ulcers. 23
Ray upon my ftomach; nor had I any that inftead of comforting her, it threw
cafe during the whole time,but when her into a cold fweat ; I advifed
I ufed to ride, which I did 3 or 4 her to go home and take it as warm
weeks fucceflively, 3 or 4 times dur- as fhe could bear it ; fhe did fo, an4.
ing my illnefs, on bufinefs; a week or in a week came to me for more. By
6 days after which, I was tolerably that time, the fwelling had much fub-
eafy, and could eat pretty hearty, af ■ fided, and fhe could fee with both her
ter which tho' I took feveral things, eyes. I gave her a gallon of water
and by the beft advice, I ftill grew more, and in a month fhe came to me
worfe. I took Tarwater, once a day, quite well, no fwelling in any part of
for near a week, in the beginning of her body, only a rednefs in her face
April, 1744, but it would not ftay on juft as after the fmall-pox. She con-
my ftomach, and made me fick ; fo I tinued well till laft fummer, when fhe
left it off for about 3 weeks; but con- had a fmall return of the diforder,
tinuing to grow worfe, I again took it which was cured the fame way, and
in May following with fuccefs, twice is at this time feemingly well. The
a day, and with a dofe or two cure was prodigious, and what I ef-
of rhubarb, after 3 weeks, (1 thank teemed almoft miraculous, becaufe I
God) was perfedly well. had known the woman's ailment a long
103. From the Rev. Mr. Tho. Col- time, which I judge to be a fcurvy,
lier, of Aunfield, in the C. of occafioned by poor living, and at-
Wexford, Jan. 24. 1744. tended by a dropfy.
Catherine Dobbin, a poor woman, 104. The next cafe I tried was a
had for 3 years been troubled every violent pain in the ftomach, which had
fummer with very ugly inveterate greatly troubled a young gentlewoman
blotches and ulcers, efpecjally on her 12 months, for removing which, fhe
face; I advifed her to a courfe of had taken feveral things to no pur-
marfh, or wild celery-tea, which gave pofe ; one gallon of water cur'd her.
fome relief for the prefent, but fhe 105. A third patient was Edmund
grew worfe every fummer, the ul- Dunfy, an old labouring man, fo
cers increafing in Number and fize. weakened by a long dry cough, that I
Juft after I had read Siris, fhe came took him to be on the extreme verge
to my door, her face and body fwell- of life. He was fo weak, that he was
ed to a monftrous fize, hardly any eyes affifted in coming a quarter of a mils
to be feen, and in as loathfome a to my houfe, and was obliged to flop
way as ever I faw one in the worft at every fourth ftep : I gave him a
ftage of the fmall-pox. She told me pitcher of Tarwater, and in about a
flie was dying, and begged a little month he came to know if I had any
charity; I had fome Tar-water juft work for him, his cough quite re-
made, and gave her 2 quarts, defiring moved, and with a ruddy healthy
her to drink it, and come to me a- countenance ; he has been fince la-
gain ; I did not fee her for a week, bouring conftantly.
and then fhe told me, fhe had tried to 106. A fervant-maid in this parifh,
take the water, and it was fo cold on was feized about a month paft with a
fcer ftomach, that it almoft killed her; violent itching all over her body,
which
24 Inveterate Coughs and Colds.
which in 4 days broke out all over her water, in a few days, carried them off,
in watery puftules, and threw out a Since I firft took it, I have not had
fcalding fharp corroding liquor, which the leaft touch of the gout, and my
burnt the fkin wherever it touched it; fpirits are more lively. I look on my
fo that the poor creature was almoft cure to be the more extraordinary,
diftraded : with great perfuafion fhe confidering my great age, being 74.
took Tarwater, and by the time fhe Pey. Fox.
bad finifhed 2 bottles the puftules* dif- no. A letter from the Rev. Mr. Roger
appeared, and fhe is now free from Lyndon, of Ballyfax in the C. of
a'i the fymptoms, and in very good . Kildare, March 26. 1744.
health. Laft fummer, and fometimes be-
107. A letter from Col. Nich. Loftus, fore, I found myfelf under feveral dif-
of Loftus hall in the C. of Wex- orders, as gravel, pains in my back,
ford, Efq; member of parliament, confining me fome fhort times to my
Feb. 1. 1744. be<^> great want °f appetite, frequent
I have drank Tarwater thefe 3 dizzinefs in my head, unfeafonable
months paft, half a pint morning and fleepinefs, forenefs in my gums, and
evening, with great fuccefs ; my dif- the loofening and falling of fome of
order was fevere pains in all my bones my teeth, infomuch that I could
and joints, which I believe were rheu- fcarcely chew my meat ; and by fuch
matick, and was very apprehenfive of great uneafinefs in my mouth, I was
the 'fciatica, having had a fevere fit of often reduced to broths, and other
it laft fpring. I had a ftiffnefs in my foft aliments. All thefe diforders, I
limbs, that made walking very un- was informed, proceeded from the
eafy, which I ufed much before. My fcurvy ; and therefore I was refolved
pains are now all vanifhed, and I can to try Tarwater. I began to drink
walk as well as ever. Some have it laft Michaelmas ; and continued it
taken it in the gout, and their fits to the middle of this month : I foon
have been much lighter. found benefit, and, I blefs God, have
108. I have a fervant who had a not now any of the diforders before-
verv violent afthma, whom I made mentioned : I can walk great lengths,
drink it, and he hath been fince fur- have a conftant and good appetite,
prizingly relieved. Nicholas Loftus. can eat my meat, with teeth well-
109., A letter from Peyton Fox, Efq; faftened and eafy. Roger Lyndon.
o/Weftmeath, Feb. 15. 1744. m. A letter from John Ufher, of
Laft winter I had fuch a violent Lifmore, in the C. of Waterford,
cold and cough* as confined me with- Feb. 4. 1744.
in doors for 5 months, and found net A foldier in Capt. Burftonh compa-
the leaft benefit from remedies, of ny, in Gen. Frampton's regiment, be-
which I took a vaft quantity : I took ing afflided with a fpitting of blood
Tarwater, which perfedly recovered and purulent matter,for a confiderable
me, and do not find I am {o apt to time (which diforder was occafioned
get cold as I was, tho' by venturing by a peripneumony, or pleurify.about
too much in my garden in damp 2 years ago) and having alfo a violent
weather, I got two colds; but theTar- cough, and ftrong night fweats, (y™?-
The Virtues of
toms of a deep decay, which quite
emaciated him, Mr. Cha. Smith, apo-
thecary in Dungarvan, ordered him
to drink Tarwater, made with lime-
water, which is a great drier of ul-
cers : he had not ufed it long, when
he found his cough and other fymp-
toms left him entirely, and in a fhort
time he grew furprizingly fat and
healthy.
112. Rich. Kearney, fervant to Mr.
Barhon in Dungarvan, was for many
years afflided with a cough and diffi-
culty of breathing, which arrived at
length to a confirmed and violent
afthma, fo that upon the leaft preffure
of the atmofphere he was conftantly
vifited with his diforder, and difabled
from rendering his mafter any fervice:
about 4 months fince, he began to
drink Tarwater, and had not ufed it
above a fortnight, when, to his fur-
prize.he found a great heat and fcald-
ing in his urine, and a Gonorrhoea of
a moft virulent colour enfued,.which
fo frighted him, that he left off drink-
ing the Tarwater ; but upon his urg-
ing him, he again took to it, and in
about a month, not only thefe fymp-
toms left him entirely, but, in a great
meafure, his cough and afthma. He
ftill ufes the Tarwater, and is much
'recruited in ftrength and flefh, fo that
laft week he walked up a fteep hill
nimbly in a few minutes, which, he
affured me, before he took the Tar-
water, he could not crawl up in an
hour. Mr. Smith the apothecary afk'd
if formerly he had not fome venereal
taint, which he did not deny, and he
attributes the above fymptoms to fome
remains of that diftemper, which the
Tarwater carried off; it wrought him,
and ftill doth, much by urine.
John Vfier.
J D
Spruce-Beer. 25
113. Mr. Vfher alfo communicated
the effeds and virtues of fpruce-beer,
which he juftly reckons to be a kind
of Tarwater, both proceeding from
the juices of the fir kind : he writes
" that having an eftate on the coaft
of Waterford, from whence many of
his tenants go yearly to the fifhery of
Newfoundland, he obferved, that fuch
of them as went out meagre and pale,
like fkeletons, and troubled with itch
and fcurvy, always returned fat, with
ruddy complexions, and good health,
notwithftanding their fatigues there ;
and on enquiry found that they all at-
tributed their recovery to their con-
ftant drinking fpruce Beer ; for as
foon as they arrive there, they cut the
branches of the black fpruce fir, and
therewith make their beer ; this they
drink during their ftay, and in their
return, bring great quantities of the
branches with them to make fpruce-
beer after their arrival, which they are
very fond of; and notwithftanding
they live on fait provifions many
months, and have frequently thick
fogs on the banks, yet they are no
way troubled with fcurvy, itch, or
any eruptions whatsoever. They fay
farther, that the people are very pro-
lific, and that no part of the world
has fo many children as St. John's in
Newfoundland, confidering the num-
ber of inhabitants; probably from
the conftant ufe of fpruce-beer, or
their living fomuch on fifh, or both."
114. The way of their making Jpruce-
beer.
Let 16 gallons of water be well
boiled for 3 or 4 hours in a pot,along
with a good quantity of the branches
of the black fpruce fir cut into fliorc
pieces, as much as will fill the pot;
it is boiled enc.igh, when the baik of
the
26 Tarwater cures
the fpruce flips readily off the flicks
between your fingers. The fpruce is
then taken out, and a gallon of mo-
laffes put to the water, which is fuffi-
fcient to make a 66 gallon cask, but
a greater quantity of molaffes'for a
larger cafk. The water is to be well
ftirred, and well boiled once after the
molaffes is in ; it muft then be put in-
to the cafe, which is to be filled up
With cold water, to be well ftirred with
a ftick at the bung, and, by the help
of old grounds remaining in the cafk,
Will immediately ferment; next day
the bung is to be clofed up, and the
day after will be fit for ufe. But if
you have no grounds of a former
brewing, then put a fmall quantity of
barm to it, which will in one night
fufficiently ferment it ; next morning
Clofe it up,and it will be fit for ufe the
day following, and hold good a fort-
flight. If you would make fpruce-
beer to laft feveral months, you muft
add a greater quantity of molaffes,
2, 3, or more gallons,and more fpruce
to give it a ftronger body.
115. Letter from the faid Mr. Ufher,
April 6, 1745.
I have been, for 12 or 14 years,
troubled with a diforder in my nerves;
it came on gradually, but at laft to
fuch a pitch, that there was feldom
a night that I have not been obliged
to get out of my bed, and walk a-
bout the room for fome minutes,before
I could compofe myfelf to reft; efpe-
cially on the leaft excefs in drinking,
or the leaft cold. As I was ready to
drop afleep, my mind ufed to be ex-
tremely agitated, in a manner not to
be described ; I ufed to feel at the
fame time a thrilling down my thighs;
and a defire to ftretcb, as in an ague
fit, which relieved me for a moment;
nervous Diforders,
the bed was then intolerable,nor could
I find relief but by getting up and
walking about, tho' I have bore it
with the utmoft pain for above an
hour. I was at Spa, and took all the
nervous medicines from divers phyfi-
cians to no purpofe. Dr. Lacky's ad-
vice concurred with my own inclina-
tions to drink Tarwater ; and I fo-
lemnly affirm, that in a fortnight's
drinking it, I never had a Angle re-
lapfe from that day to this, which has
made my life comfortable, as I ufed
before tO dread the approach of night.
This I the rather infift on, as I am
Very fure I never drank a drop of good
Tarwater : for a cafk of tar I had
from Cork, I am now confident, had
been all ufed before.
116. P. S. Two women have been
cured of an inveterate Fluor albus,
even by bad Tarwater, and in a fhort
time.
117. Letter from Mr. Lewis Loyd of
Kinfale, March 8, 1744.
A poor labourer of this town, ren-
dered incapable to get his bread, by
a moft violent itch in both legs; after
the advice of dodors, furgeons and
apothecaries,and falivation had prov'd
ineffedual, being advifed to rub the
fores with Tarwater, was in 3 or 4
days perfedly cured.
118. Letter from the Ret/. Dean Ifaac
Gervais, of Lifmore, May 8, 1745.
In July laft, I advifed a fitter of
mine, now in years, who bad been
long afflided with an inveterate rheu-
matifm, to the ufe of Tarwater, and
in a few months fhe was able to walk
without flicks, tho', for a long time,
fhe could not go acrofs her room.
119. That is not all, fhe had be-
tides for near 2 years been grievoufly
tormented with a cruel and unquench-
able
Aues, Fevers, Stitches y 27
able thirft, to which the other difor- and towards the latter end of May,
der was nothing, in comparifon. It was able to bear the fatigue ofnurf-
was become the plague of her life, ing a foundling child, left at her door.
She had done all that could poffibly and walked with it feven times in that
be devifed to get the better of it; but month, to and from Bleffmgton, which
in vain, till, by the bleffing of God is a journey of more than 3 miles.
On the ufe of Tarwater, her thirft She paffed the laft winter and fpring
gradually leflened ; fo that, at pre- without any diforder but a coagh, ac
fent, (lie is perfedly eafy, and fo ef- odd times, upon catching cold ; which
fedually cured, as fhe feems almoft to was always removed by a bottle or
have loft her appetite to drink itfelf. two of Tarwater.
If. Gervais. 121. James Dooling, near the fame
120. Catherine Cardy near Bleffing- town, labourer, aged about 35, taken
ton in the C. of Wicklovo, 41 years of with a fever in the fpring of 1744,
age, troubled with a cough, ftuf- which increafed with a loofenefs, that
fing in her cheft, and fhortnefs of his life was defpaired of; on the 9th
breath, all the winter of 1742, not day he took Tarwater, on the 13th
free from thefe complaints in the lum- the fever turned : in a week more he
mer of 1743, and feeling them more got out of bed, and walked about his
feverely in the following winter; but cabbin ; in another week he went a-
in the fpring of 1744, affeded with broad, and foon after to his work,
them all in the higheft degree, la- looking clear and ruddy, and of a
bouring under a difficulty of breath- healthful countenance.
ing, without appetite, not being able 122. AnneOfbome, near Bleffing-
to work or walk,or lie down at night, ton, about 50 years oid, troubled with
getting little or no fleep, her body e- ftitches at times, for 4 or 5 years,
maciated, her breaft, neck and face, kept her bed for 3 months in the win-
fwelled ; and her lips black, and ter of 1743, labouring under ftitches,
fcarceable tofpeak. She began with a cough, and fhortnefs of breath,
Tarwater April 4, 1744, and thought without appetite or fleep, and worn
herfelf recovered with drinking 6 bot- away to fkin and bone, drank Tarwa-
tles ; but finding aftreightnefs in her ter, night and morning, the begin-
breaft, after leaving it off 4 days, fhe ning of April 1744, and with 8[quart]
took 2 bottles more, and became quite bottles was perfedly recovered. Ac
well. The firft morning fhe fpit a firft, (he threw up a great deal of foul
quart of tough phlegm, and ropy mat- ftuff from her ftomach : in 3 takings
ter, with much coughing. She cough- her ftitches left her; fhe foon recovered
ed for 10 mornings after with lefs and her appetite and reft; and was able tea
lefs fpitting : in this time her com- lie down in bed ; her cough ceafed,
fdaints wore off: in 3 days fhe could fhe gained ftrength and flefh, and
ie down in her bed, and fleep all walked abroad in 3 weeks tims.
night ; her ftomach came to her, and 123. Eleanor Dowling, about 3^,
fhe recovered her ftrengtb,and freedom troubled with a hard cough, for m
of breathing; fo that, on the eighth years together, worn away by it
day, fhe walked a mile up hill, and greatly, and troubled with a v/heex-
back again, without being djfordered, ir£
>>M
2 8 Regulates and ajfuages Fits of the Gout)
ing and fhortnefs of breath, by drink-
ing Tarwater in the fummer of 1744,
all the above complaints wore off e-
qually to her furprize and joy.
124. Joan Ardle, a gatherer of
rufhes for candles, fluffed up and
choaked with a cough, without fto-
mach or fleep, and her hufband af-
feded much the fame way, both cured
by 2 bottles of Tarwater : they are
aged perfons.
125. Lawrence Kane, pedlar, about
50 years old, laboured under an ague,
about Hollandtide, 1743, which was
followed by a fevere cough, that held
him for 6 months ; he drank but 2
bottles of Tarwater in May, 1744,
and found himfelf perfedly recovered.
126. Bryan Mee, troubled with a
pain in his ftomach, and lofs of appe-
tite, cured with 1 bottle of Tarwater.
127. Three children in one family,
between 6 and 8 years old, took the
fmall pox in the fummer of 1744, and
came very fafe thro' it, without any
other preparation or medicine than
Tarwater, which they had drank
conftantly from April foregoing, and
continued it during the whole time of
their illnefs, except about 2 days,
when the pocks in their mouths and
throats became fore, and broke, and
fmarted by the Tarwater ; they have
gone on drinking Tarwater ever fince
without any reluclance to, or mifchief
from it; on the contrary, they cry, if,
by any accident, they do not get it at
the ufual times ; and by the conftant
ufe thereof, one of them hath been
kept from the returns of a threatening
fever, to which he. was fubjed, and
had been feized by it 3 times in 6
months. t Another was troubled with
lumps under his jaw, and other glan-
dular fwellings, which fince his drink-
ing Tarwater, are almoft gone ; and
all three have better ftomachs and
more fpirits, and are much freer from
coughs and colds than formerly.
128. A letter from a gentleman of cha-
railer and integrity, June 18, 1745.
What Mr. Arthur Hill told you, of
the benefit I have received by Tar-
water, is fo much fad, that I now en-
joy a very good ftate of health.
129. About 25 years ago, I had
the firft regular fit of the gout, which
ufed to lay me up frequently after, in
Autumn and Spring efpecially ; but
never affeded me higher than my feet
or ancles, untill 1738, when I was
feized with a moft violent fever,which
occafioned my being feverely blifter'd
on my legs, which gave the humours
a courfe that way, and being mixed
with gouty matter,prevented the fores,
made by the blifters, from healing,
tho' all care was taken by the phyfici-
ans for that end : after I recovered
from my fever, it was thought that
this prevented the regular fits of the
gout, which I ufed to have, and made
it fly about my body and head, from
whence indigeftion, lownefs of fpirits
and fweatings followed ; and at length
I ufed to be frequently feized with a
fwimming in my head, efpecially af-
ter eating, which would continue un-
til I had lighten'd my ftomach by puk-
ing : in hopes to get better relief for
thefe diforders from the phyficians in
town, I went to Dublin in 1742^4
by the diredions pf two there, juftly
efteemed for their knowledge, I went
thro' a courfe of gentle phyfick, and
was forbid every thing of nourifhment,
but light, white meats, and a little
port-wine, until Summer 1743, wnen
they ordered me a courfe of Spa water
with exercife. Thefe rules I obferved
pretty
Breaks and heals
29
pretty carefully, and found myfelf a
good deal reliev'd from my lownefs
of fpirits, and the giddinefs in my
head, until the Autumn following,
when I had a fevere return of both,
to which, I believe, my great hurry
and fatigue contributed not a little.
This put me under a neceffity of re-
turning to my courfe of phyfick dur-
ing the Winter 1743, and until May
1744, when I read the worthy bifhop's
treatife on Tarwater, whereupon I al-
tered my intention from Spa, to Tar-
water, and drank about half a pint in
the morning,and as much in the even-
ing, not eating before or after for 2
hours, which foon produced a regu-
lar and pretty fharp fit of the gout in
my feet and ancles, and feem'd to
warm me, and increafe my fweatings.
In about 2 months after I had a re-
turn of the gout, but much gentler,
and my fweatings abated. Then I
had a violent itchinefs over all my
body and limbs, which was followed
by blotches and eruptions on the fkin.
In Autumn I got fome cold, and I be-
lieve had lived too freely for an inva-
lid, which was attended with a little
of the fwimming in my head, and dif-
order in my ftomach ; but I had fo
much faith in Tarwater, that I made
ufe of it warm, inftead of fack whey
or tanzey and fack, which 1 former-
ly ufed to take, with intention to re-
pel the gout; and thro' this laft fevere
winter, I have continued in very good
fpirits, freed from the diforder of my
head and ftomach, tho' I have not
confined my felf to any regular diet ;
and notwithftanding I am much thin-
ner of flefti.I^find myfelf much ftronger
and abler to undergo fatigue than at
any time fince my fever.
130. A collier, forced to quit his.
labour by an afthmatic diforder, is
wonderfully recovered, tho' he ufed
it but a fortnight.
131. A gentleman was often feized
with a violent palpitation in his heart,
and had taken feveral medicines for it,
but it was rather increafing ; when he
made ufe of Tarwater about 3 weeks,
and recovered.
132. I have heard of many perfons
being relieved by Tarwater, under
very different diforders, tho' I am fur-
prized they fhould; for if the common
people do not immediately receive all
the relief they wifh and promife to
themfelves upon once or twice drink-
ing of it, like a charm, they give it
up, not confidering what the bifhop
has fo plainly urged ; that in all chro-
nical cafes it is an alterative, that re-
quires time to change the mafs of blood.
133. The cafe of Mr. John Brooks, en-
graver, on Cork-hilf, Dublin, [no
in the Strand, London) communica-
ted by himfelf to Tho. Prior, Efq;
June 22. 1745.
In November 1744, he was feized
with ftitches, and a pleuritic fever,
which continued 8 or 10 days ; he
was blooded once, and became better,
but going abroad too foon, caught
cold,and was much worfe than before,
being feized with more violent flitches,
oppreffion on his cheft, difficulty of
breathing, with fuch profufe fweatings
as to wet his bed cloaths twice a night,
which reduced him to fkin and bone,
without appetite or reft, fothat it was
thought he could not live an hour, as
he could hardiy draw his breath ; he
was advifed to go out of town to the
park, and drink Tarwater, which he
did at the rate of 3 pints a day for 10
days, warm, at going to bed, and get-
ting up, and cold at other times, at 8
different
30 Impofthumes
different times a day ; along with
which he only took fhin gruel, or
chicken broth. At the end of 10 days
he was able to go abroad, the Tar-
water having removed his ftitches,
fweatings, and made him breathe as
free as ever. He was advifed to ride,
which he did, and on the firft day of
riding an impofthume broke, which
lay upon his lungs ; the firft thing
thrown up was a bag which contained
the impoftumated matter, which was
followed by a great difcharge of cor-
rupted fluff mixed with blood : he was
immediately feized with a violent fpit-
ting of blood, which continued feve-
ral days, and was blooded, but ftill
continued to drink the Tarwater as
before, which he found to heal his
lungs, and flop his fpitting of blood,
and in a fortnight's time got into fo
good a ftate of health as to be able
to purfue his bufinefs, being as well
as ever, and his fpirits and appetite
rather better.
134. Mr. Benj. Prince, of Great-
Britain-fir eet, Dublin, an officer in the
excife, had for 4 years been troubled
with violent pains in his back and kid-
neys, and frequent colics ; he ufed to
have 2 or 3 fharpfits of the gout every
year, and, after a fever, had a fixed
pain in one of his arms,fo that he was
not able to lift it up ; he had loft his
appetite, fpirits, and reft ; but being
advifed to drjnk Tarwater to get him
a ftomach, he began in June 174.1,
with half a pint every morning. In a
fortnight the pain in his arm abated,
and foon after went off, fo that he got
the full ufe of it; in lefs than a month's
drinking he voided, by urine, a great
deal of flimy matter, and in 2 or 3
months, after frequent ftoppages of
urine, he had great pains in his reins,
of the Lungs,
and at laft difcharged a ftone as large
as an olive-ftone, which was 9 days
paffing; after which he voided, at
times, 25 gravel ftones, of different
fizes, 9 at once, and frequently fmall
gravel or fimd all jagged and pointed,
which feem'd to be broken off from a
larger body of ftone : he is now at
eafe as to h's gravel, and but fel-
dom trouble- with colics, and what
pain he has that way, he imputes to
the remainder of the gravel, not yet
difcharged ; he had no fufpicion, be-
fore he drank Tarwater, and difcharg-
ed gravel, that his pains arofe from
the ftone or gravel ; he thought his
diforder was nothing but a colic, for
which he took many things, to no
purpofe. He has not had the leaft
fymptom of the gout fince he firft drank
Tarwater, which is near 15 months
ago ; and he never fails to drink it
conftantly every day, finding that he
has thereby got a good ftomach, high
fpirits, and good fleep, and imputes
all his relief to Tarwater only.
Auguft 15. 1745.
135. Mr. John Powcll,\ivlng at the
glafs ware-houfe in Crow-ftreet, Mer-
chant, had the gout for near 20 years,
off and on, but in the winter, 1743,
he had a violent fit which lafted 1 z
weeks : He was alfo troubled with
violent pains in his bowels, for 2 years
before that time, which hetho't was a
colic, had no appetite, a bad digeftion,
and little fleep ; he had thofe fits of
the colic twice or thrice a week, each
fit lafting 24 hours with racking pains,
fo that it was thought that his life was
in great danger. In the beginning of
1744, he was advifed by his phyfician
to drink the water, which he did, a
pint a day, taken morning and even-
ing ; in 3 weeks his pains began to a-
Bones corroded with the Kings Evil; 31
bate,and in fix weeks all his colic pains hofpital a year without benefit, and
went off, and he has not had the leaft had almoft loft one of his eyes by the
fit ever fince : hefeldom fails to drink evil; Mr. Prior being informed that
the water every morning, and refolves this boy was in danger of having his
to continue the conftant ufe of it, ha- eye rotted out of his head by the evil,
ving got a very good ftomach and di- direded the wrift plaifter to be' applied
geftion, and fleeps very well ; nor has to him, which was attended with fuch
he had the leaft fyrnptom of the gout fuccefs, that in a fortnight's time, in
ever fince he began to drink Tar water, the latter end of the year 1743, the
but the full ufe of his limbs, and walks evil was quite driven from his eye";
as well as ever he did, and imputes but the boy continuing full of running
all his cures to Tarwater only. fores, and great pain in one of his
136. James Brown, about 10 years arms, of which he had little ufe ; in
old, to whom the late E. of Kildare April 1744, he gave him Tarwater to
left an annuity of 20 l.for his father's drink, a pint a day ; in a little time
faithful fervices under him, was mi- he difcharged 2 fplinters of bone,black
ferably afflided with the king's evil and carious, from his arm, whereby
for 4 years, and being long under the he had immediate eafe there, and
care of furgeons in Dublin, was fent continuing to drink Tarwater, and
in Auguft 1744, to his relations in the wafh his fores with it alfo,in 2 months
county of Cork ; he there had many time all his fores healed up, his appe-
running fores in his arms, hands and tite and ftrength returned, and he was
feet, and fwellings on each fide of his perfedly recovered, and continues
throat without appetite or digeftion. very well, and now lives with Mr.
He was immediately put into a courfe Barry Colles, attorney, at Stephen's
Of Tarwater ; drank about a quart a Green.— Thefe inftances, and many
day, a naggin [ half pint ] at a time, more fhew that the king's evil, hither-
and after fome days drinking the wa- to reckoned inrurable,may, in a fhort
ter, they wafhed his fores with ftrong time, by the method before mention-
Tarwater, and for a plaifter ufed the ed, be perfedly cured.
oil of Tar, which was flcimmed off The rev.dean Madden, c/Molefworth-
the water, fpread on linen : the effed ftreet, Dublin, in July 1745, corn-
was, that in a fortnight's time moft of municated the 9 following cures.
his fores were healed up," and fwell- 138 The rev. Mr. Geo. Philips,of
ings gone, and in lefs than 6 weeks Jnn-flreet, Dublin, was feized with a
time he was perfedly recovered, and violent pleuritick ftitch ; being then
now continues very well, with good 3 miles from Dublin. He fent fo? a
appetite and fpirits; he continues to furgeon to bleed him ; who being long
drink Tarwater, but in fmaller quan- in coming, and his pain increafing, he
titles. drank freely of Tarwater, warm, and
137. Michael Carney of Proteftant in a few hours his pain and the pulfe
Rowe, Dublin, about 16, was troubled leffened, fo that when the furgeon
with the king's evil 6 years, having came, it was refolved not to bleed
running fores in his arms, neck, legs him. He continued to drinkTarwater,
and body, and had been in Mercer'% and in a few days was quite well.
139. Jdn
32 Removes pleuritic Stitches^
139. John Waller of St. Anne's
Dublin, aged 67, had in Spring 1745,
a violent cough, and a general failure
of nature, that all who faw him gave
him over. He drank Tarwater, and
in 5 weeks went about his bufinefs,
and continues hearty and well.
140. Mrs. Stearoi Ginnets in the C.
Of Meath,had the worft fymptoms of
the moft violent fcurvy, her hands and
arms black, fo that a mortification was
apprehended. She drank Tarwater
for feveral months ; Jt ftruck fo viru-
lent a humour out in her face and arms,
that no one could know her ; fhe was
not difcouraged, but continued to
drink it, and in a few months more
her fkin was entirely clean. Before
fhe drank Tarwater, flie was often
fickand low fpirited ; while fhe drank
it, fhe was hearty, and has continued
ivell many months.
141. Mrs. Woodrof, who lives near
Cork, was troubled with a rheumatifm
in her head, dropfy in her legs, and an
afthma, from which fhe was relieved
in 2 months time by drinking Tar-
water, and has been well thefe two
years.
142. The rev. Mr. Tho. Goodwin, of
Dawfonftreet, Dublin, was relieved
of a megrim and a fleepinefs by Tar-
water, and continues well, June 29.
*74S-
143. Mr. Palma the mufician, trou-
bled with a rheumatifm, his limbs
fwollen fo, that he could not walk,
was cured in a months time.
144. The rev. Mr. Edm. White, of
the C. of Wexford, was in like man-
ner relieved of violent pains in his
limbs, and a colic of a long ftanding.
145. Mr. Jones of Grafton-ftreet,
near 70, who had for feveral years a
violent afthma, attended with a great
cough, and frequent fpitting of blood
and corruption in great quantities,
finds himfelf greatly relieved, in every
refped, by Tarwater ; and he neither
fpit corruption, nor blood laft winter.
146. Mr. Wollafton of Trim, (. ,.k
to Mr. juftice York, afthmatick, for a
long time, and not able" to live in Dub-
lin, was relieved by Tarwater in 6
weeks time, and continues well. Thus
far dean Madden.
147. The wife of Mr. Wm. Fitzge-
rald of Ballyrone in Queen's county,
was for 7 years afflided with violent
hyftericks, pain and wind in her bow-
els, which often deprived her of her
underftanding, fo that flie was utterly
uncapable of minding her affairs, and
a fervant was employed to prevent her
laying violent hands on herfelf. Many
phyficians in Dublin and the country
had her under care, an£l prefcribed
many medicines, which had no effed;
at laft fhe drank Tarwater, and in a
few days found fome benefit, and by
continuing to drink it for a confidera-
ble time, fhe is now perfedly recover-
ed, and free from all her ailments;
the only inconvenience fhe had from
Tarwater is,that as it gave her a good
appetite,fhe is grown more fat and cor-
pulent than fhe was before, or defires.
148. The faid Mrs. Fitzgerald had
a fon, who fome years ago was griev-
oufly troubled with a running fore in
one of his arms,and the humour which
iffued out was fo corrofive, that it eat
into the flefh, and fpread all over his
arm, notwithftanding all the pains
taken, and plaifters applied to flop the
progrefs of it, whether it was a tettar
or cancer, or what elfe fhe could not
tell; fhe recolleded wh^t fhe had
formerly been told, that a plaifter of
tar had been ufed with fuccefs on fuch
occafionsj
Inveterate Jaundice, 33
bScafions ; accordingly, fhe put fome receiving any benefit by the medicines
tar into a pot over the fire, and added he took, fo that it was thought he
fome mutton fewet to it, and having could not live ; his father advifed him
gently boiled and mixed them well to- to drink Tarwater, which he negled-
gether, fhe made a plaifter and fpread ed to do for fome time, but finding
it thin on linen, and applied it to the his diforder increafe, he drank about
running fore as hot as the child could half a pint warm every morning as
bear ; the effed was, that in 10 days foon as he got up, and in 6 days time,
time, all the fores were healed up, found himfelf much eafier j he then
and the arm entirely cured, and con- obferved, that the Tarwater had
tinued fo ever after. thrown out a great rafh, like an itch
149. Letter from ;.'. - ~"v. Mr. Robert or fcurf on the furface of his body,
Brereton, of Burton in the C. of which alarmed him at firft, and in-
Cork, Nov. 9, 1745. clined him to lay it afide, but finding
I had been greatly afflided with a himfelf ftill better, and that the ve-
jaundice for 2 or 3 years, which re- nom of the diftemper was call off that
turned on me feveral times in that pe- way, he continued the water, and in
riod, and was always attended with 6 weeks perfedly recovered from all
•exceeding lownefs of fpirits. I was his ailments.
advifed by my phyficians to enter on 152. Mr. DavidSimms, thepresby-
a courfe of fteel preparations ; but terian minifter at Carlow, was long
unwilling to undergo a tedious courfe troubled with an afthma and difficulty
of phyfick, I had recourfe to Tarwa- of breathing and fpeaking, fo that it
ter, from which in 5 or 6 weeks I was thought by all who faw him that
found great relief,; and at length a he could not live long ; but by drink-
perfed ftate of health, and good fpi- ing Tarwater a confiderable time, he
rits, Which I now enjoy. is quite recovered.
150. Mr. Ralph Crofts of Lifcarrol The rev. Dr. Bacon, -/, of the drank Tarwater a pint a day for 6
diocefe of Derry, had an afthma of weeks, without much benefit as to
she oppofite kind, could not live in the weaknefs and pains in his limbs,
foggy air, and was obliged to remove but got much better appetite and)
to a friend's houfe fituated upon a hill, fpirits. However he perfifted, and in
He drank Tarwater, and returned to 3 months time, he found his fwellings
his own dwelling quite well. abate, his limbs grow ftronger every
156. Mr. Cunningham, colledor of day, and foon after all the fwellings,
Penpatrick in Scotland, had been ftiffhefs, hardnefs and pains in his>
troubled with the gout many years, limbs went off; and continuing ftill to
but the laft two he was confined to his drink Tarwater, he can now walk
bed and chamber for many months, without pain, and is in great fpirits.
not being able to walk, having fuch a 159. Mrs. Duggan, midwife, in
jiliffnefs in his knees after the fits were Great Britain ftreet, Dublin, had long
over; in May 1743, he was advifed a violent inveterate fcurvy, with a
by Mr. Makenny a furgeon to drink great oppreffion in her cheft and heart,
Tarwater; in a little time he was freed and difficulty of breathing; fhe had
from a difficulty of breathing, and loft all appetite, fhe took many things
finding his limbs grew eafier and without advantage, at laft Tarwater,
ftronger, he drank it till winter, and half a pint every morning, and before
in the fpring following had the full fhe drank 3 gallons, all the fcorbutick
ufe of his limbs, and could walk as heat, and grofs humours were driven
well as ever he did. out on the furface of her body, and
157. Mr. John Milton, confedioner continuing ftill to drink it, all the
in Caple-ftreet, Dublin, was afflided fymptoms went off.fhe breathes freely,
with the gout ever fince he was 16, recovered her appetite, never was in
being laid up 3 or 4 times in a year, better health or fpirits, and refolvea
and in fpring 1745, 8 weeks; it left never to be without Tarwater.
fuch a weaknefs, that he was hardly
able to crawl for along time. He 160. A Letter from Mr. James Han-
began Tarwater in July 1745, and ning, of Cloyne in the C. of Cork,
drank it to the middle of Nov. half Dec. 17, 1745.
a pint in the morning, and the fame My daughter Mary, about 11 years
at night; which has fully reftored him old, had laft May a fever ,after which,
to the ufe and ftrength of his limbs, fhe was entirely deprived of the ufe
and removed all his other complaints, of her tongue and limbs, being una-
as of great pains in his bowels, and ble to fpeak, ftand, or put her hand
hardnefs in his belly. to
Good in difficult Fevers ;
35
to her mouth, all her joints making
with the palfy. She took medicines
prefcribed by a phyfician, and was
often exercifed in open air, but all to
no purpof e. We put her into a courfe
of Tarwater the beginning of Nov.
laft, and fhe has ever fince drank a
quart a day, which in 5 weeks has fo
far recovered her, that fhe can fpeak
and read plain, feed herfelf, ftand and
walk without help, and even go up
and down flairs, to the amazement of
all thofe, who had feen her carried a-
bout dumb and helplefs like an infant.
One of her arms continues fomewhat
weak, and fhe has a weaknefs too in
one of her legs, but fhe daily grows
better, and I hope Tarwater, with
God's bleffing, will petfed her cure.
James Hanning.
l6l. An extraordinary fever cured by
Tarwater, dated Dec. 20, 1745,
A youth about 15, being feized
with a fever in April 1745, an old
French woman, who was appointed to
attend him, with diredions to give
him Tarwater (the only medicine pre-
fcribed) about a pint every hour, gave
him a much fmaller quantity, and in-
dulging his appetite, fed him fecretly
jive days together, with roaft beef,
ieafoned pye, cheefe, ale, and fuch
like diet inftead of water-gruel, which
alone had been ordered.
162. This unnatural diet terribly
inflamed his fever, that for 13 days
together,'he took no nourifhment of
any kind but Tarwater, whereof he
drank about a gallon every day,which
made him fleep, and kept up his fpi-
rits in a furprizing manner. Having
fo long failed, he at length took 3
little Naples bncji'.r, with 2 or 3 fpoon-
fuls of fack and water, which increaf-
ed his fever, and dubrdsred his heada
but he was foon quieted by Tarwater.
While he regularly took this whole-
fome draught, he flept found every
night. But one day being difgufted
at Tarwater, it was changed for fage
and baulm-tea, which he drank plenti-
fully, on which his fpirits funk, he
loft his colour, and pafled the night
reftlefs ; all which fymptoms were
removed next day by Tarwater.
163. After this, his diftemper took
feveral ftrange and violent turns, be-
ing fometjmes attended with the word
fymptoms. He was at times fpeech-
lefs, convulfed, and delirious. In the
delirium Tarwater could not be given,
he was then bliftered, and the blifters
not rifing, he was brought with fome
difficulty to drink his Tarwater again ^
which had a fpeedy good effed. And
in general, upon negleding to give
him Tarwater, the feverifh fymptoms
of heat, anxity and difficult refpira-
tion became very troublefome, being
conftantly heightened by omitting,
and as conftantly allayed by returnii.g
to drink it.
164.—This illnefs lafted ioweekn,
and probably fuch a cafe was never
known before, for I believe no patient
was ever dieted in the firil days of 4
fever on fuch ftrong f«od, which n.v
t«re is accuftomed to loath at thois
feafons. But Tarwater gives an ap-
petite even in fevers.
165—Tarwater, during its long
conflid with the venom of the difeai\
operated in divers manners, as a car-
diac, difphoretic, ftidorific, emetic,
carminative and paregoric,feeming '.q
adapt itfelf to the feveral fymptoms
and ftages of his malady, and for tiiu
moft part gave him a great flew of
fpirits, a florid lively look, a clean
well coloured tannic, ;vif.h fuch -:'■„
3 6
Cures Chincough,
gour in his voice and^eyes, as aftonifh-
ed all who faw him, and knew how
long he had been ill, and how little
nourifhment he had taken. On fome
days he drank greedily, even 10 or
12 quarts of Tarwater, calling for it
with great impatience, even tho' it
vomited him ; whereas, both before
and after his illnefs, he fhewed the
greateft loathing of it.
166.—In the laft ftage of the fever,
his face and body fwelled, and an e-
ruption all over both, like cohering
fmall-pox, which lafted a week. For
2 or 3 days of this period, he drank
. fparingly of Tarwater, perhaps not
more than a quart a day. But during
all that time, he conftantly,by his own
choice, held his mouth to the fpout of
a tea pot half filled with hot Tar-
water, fucking the vapour, which, he
faid, he found very comfortable.
167. — At the clofe ,of the tenth
week, he fell into a moft copious
fweat, and next day his puftules were
gone, his fever left him, not fpiritlefs,
puny and pale, but as lively and hail,
in appearance, as ever, tho' after an
jilnefs, that for length of time, and va-
riety of defperate fymptoms, furpaff-
ed any I remember to have met with
in the hiftory of fevers.
168. — He did not continue in this
healthy ftate, for the very fame day,
he expreffed earneft defire to change
his bed and linen, and altho' it was
done with the utmoft caution, yet it
gave him a frefh cold, which feized
his head, and produced a new fever
with a raving, that continued many
weeks, in all which time, he could
not be prevailed on to taken one glafs
of Tarwater. But at length by a pro •
per ufe of affes milk, and ground-
ivy, with a careful regimen, h^ vyas
recovered, fo that he was peifuaded
to drink daily 4 glafles of TarwatciC
which, with God's bleffing, reftored
his ftrength, and completed his re-
covery.
169. Col. John Cuftis, of Williamf-
burgh in Virginia, one of the council
of that province, ( as he writes July
10, 1745. to Mr. Peter Collinfon, of
Grace-church ftreet, London, ) got a
great cold, which threw him into the
chin or hooping cough, which caufed
cruel fevers ; when the cough was
gone, he was troubled with a prodigi-
ous fpitting, and having taken great
dofes of elixir of vitriol to allay his in-
tenfe thirft in his burning fpver, it
fo relaxed his falival glands, that he
feared they would never come tp
their due tone again, nor perform
their proper offices ; he had ftudied
phyfick more than 40 years, and h^d
the opinion of Dr. Brown, of Mary-
land, deemed the greateft phyfician in
America, that the feat of his diftem-
per lay in his falivary glands, and
that k was dangerous to flop the fpit-
ting. This he found by woful expe-
rience, having ftopt it by taking an
ounce of diacodium going to bed,
which flung him into fevers, faintings,
and many other diforders, fo that he
was obliged to procure the fpitting
again ; he was once fo reduced, that
he could not get up when down, nor
was able to put on his cloaths,and had
no appetite for any fort of food. But
reading oneday in the magazine,(fays
he) I found the virtues of Tarwater,
which 1 verily believe faved my life.
I had not taken it a week, before I
began to have an appetite to viduals,
and continued taking it 3 months,
night and morning, which miracu-
loufly reftored me j fo that I can now
eat heartily what my palate choofes,
tho*
fore Throats, Inflammatory Itch, 37
iho' I cannot tafte any thing, but fait,
fweet, or four, and I blefs God, I am
much mended. My fpitting continues
with a great difcharge, but eating fup-
ports that difcharge, and I refolve to
take nothing that may leflen my fto-
mach, the faliva not performing its
due office, keeps my palate and throat
always hot and dry, tho' I have not
any fever, which the dodors tell me
I muft bear ; but I hope time and
Tarwater will entirely free me from
that uneafinefs.
170. The rev. Mr. Syon Hill,chav-
lain to the work-houfe in Dublin,hav-
ing had great opportunities of know-
ing the effeds of Tarwater, both in
the faid houfe, and all over the city,
where he had difperfed above iooo
gallons, has communicated' tha fol-
lowing cafes :
IN April 1744, after reading the
t^atife on Tarwater, curiofity, as
Well as humanity, prompted me to
make tryal of its effeds; having it in
my power, as chaplain to the work-
houfe, to make experiments on a cut into little bits amj
given
38
Evil, Worms,
given them, to render the water a-
greeable.
175. At this t\me,Mary Mac Culla,
a girl about 9 years old in the work-
houfe, was confined to her bed for
fome time, with a moft violent fcur-
vy ; fhe had little appetite, full of
pain, becaufe flea'd in feveral parts by
repeated rubbings of brimftone ; at
laft flie fell into a moft languifhing
way, taking neither fufficient food,
nor reft to fupport nature, every day
declining, fo look'd on by all who
faw her, as paft all hope. Neverthe-
lefs, by taking Tarwater a week, fhe
recovered wonderfully ; and by con-
tinuing it, her fores foon dried and
fcaled off, and fhe looked as one out
of the fmall-pox, her appetite return-
ing, fhe revived immediately, and is
at this day, May the 6th, 1745, one
pf the ftrongeft children in our houfe.
176, John Hall, about 9 years old,
in April 1744, could neither fleep,
nor eat fufficient to keep him alive,
ftill moaning, and complaining of his
belly, which was greatly fwelled ; in
all human probability, he would foon
have died, had he not been relieved
by Tarwater, which caufed him to
void a large quantity of worms, fince
which he is well : this child's mother,
a nurfe in the work-houfe, being call-
ed on by the governors for her folemn
feftimony, depofed, that her fon foon
after taking Tarwater,voided a cham-
ber-pot fiiil of worms, fome alive ;
and further, that fhe herfelf was re-
lieved, from a violent pain in her fide
and ftomach,by a wonderful difcharge
both ways, caufed by 2 quarts of Tar-
water taken in 4 days.
177. James Ellis, another lad in
the work houfe.about 13, whofe hands
for a long time were in a manner ufe-
lefs by a running evil, was perfectly
cured by this medicine. Another boy
in the fame houfe, George Dortonf
whofe glands beneath the chin were
greatly fwelled and inflammed, ever
oozing forth putrid matter, naufeous
to all beholders, took Tarwater one
month only, which dried up his fores,
and is now very well.
178. A young woman named Ma-
ry-Ann Empty, of Glandorkin, about
4 miles from Dublin, was frightfully
afflided with an evil in many parts,
efpecially her face; by drinking Tar-
water, the ulcers in her face and jaWs
made a great difcharge of matter, and
in it a flat bone about an inch long,
not quite fo broad, Hack and jagged:
after which fhe grew well, and is very
little disfigured, and by continuing to
drink Tarwater, was perfedly cured
of the evil.
179. A lad, fon to a fervant of al-
derman Kane, Dublin, received a con-
tufion in one of his hands ; his cure
not perfeded,the fore broke outatoain
on the back of his hand, and in his
heel, both thought incurable, but fub-
mitted to Tarwater.
180. Anne Maddin, filler to a wo-
man who nurfesfor Mr. Putland, had
a very fore hand fo fwelled and in-
flamed, that the furgeons believed it
mortified, and doomed it to be cut
off; the dodor that attended, ad-
vifed to try Tarwater, which fhe did j
is well, and can ufe it like the other
hand.
181. Peter Evard, flocking-wea-
ver, to he heard of at the Ship, in
Old Corn-market, Dublin, was fo ul-
cerated all over his body, and many
parts eat away with the fcurvy, that
he could not, work ; was in the infir-
mary feveral months in vain ; fo rec-
koned
Ulcerated Legs,
koned amongft the incurables j he
took Tarwater, foon recover'd, and
now follows his trade. His mother,
an aged woman, long afflided with
afthma, drank it alfo and was re-
lieved.
182. A gentleman, bred an apothe-
cary, had an inflamed fore throat,
that he could not fwallow his fpittle,
and had a great lump in his neck,
which he thought to get Iaunced, left
it fhould choak him ; he took a little
Tarwater, which relieved him imme-
diately, and he felt no more of his
frightful lump, but continues eafy and
well. From this and many other in-
ftances, I fnd nothing ever relieved a
fore throat fo foon and fo effectually as
Tarwater.
184. Mrs. Catharine Williams, of
Dirty-lane, Thomas ftreet, had one of
her legs fo long ulcerated, that it was
doomed to be cut off; yet was made
perfedly found by this powerful me-
dicine in a fhort time, without any
external application.
184. Mary Philips, of the work-
houfe, for a long time had loft in a
manner the ufe of a leg, with a con-
ftant numbnefs of tingling, as if it
were afleep ; fhe could not walk on it
but with difficulty ; if fhe ftirred quick
me felt moft acute pain ; fhe was
often forced to fit up in bed many an
hour by night, moaning and rubbing
it; but by Tarwater that numbnefs
is entirely gone, and tho' fhe walks
ever fo quick or long, feels no man-
ner, of pain.
185. A fjbn »f Mr. B—y, Iron-
monger, in Thomas ftreet, was infed-
ed with a dry fcurf in the fcarf-fkin,
like a leprofy ; no advice was want-
ing, yet he found no relief : his mo-
ther aiked the dodor, if fhe might
, dry Scurf, 39
give him Tarwater," Ay, ay," fays
he, " if you have a mind to kill your
" fon; what nature kindly throws out,
" you will certainly cork up by the
" fearing quality of Tarwater j " ne-
verthelefs, Tarwater was ventured
upon, with the utmoft dread; but be-
hold in a fhort time the lad became
perfedly clean and healthy, and ftill
continues fo.
186. Robert Scot, Tape weaver,
at Johnfton's in James's ftreet, was
cured fuddenly by this powerful medi-
cine, of an old ulcer in the thigh,
and relieved from a confumptive
cough, which fo weakened the poor
man, that he was not able to work.
187. Mrs. Bermingham, at Mrs.
Becks in James's ftreet, who had for
many years an acute pain in her fide,
fuppofed to be an impoftume, drink-
ingTarwater was fuddenly relieved by
a difcharge of an incredible quantity
of matter upwards; fince which time,
tho' much in years, fhe enjoys the
comforts of life.
188. Elizabeth Wood, at Mr. Mac
Guire's, the corner of Meath-fireet,
was relieved by Tarwater from an old
afthma and dropfy, with which fhe
feemed every moment ready to ex-
pire, but is now hearty and ftrong.
189. William Billingfly,ofthe work-
houfe, was troubled with fwellings and
violent pains in both his legs and feet,
which fuffered him neither to work,
nor walk ; but after taking this medi-
cine only one month, he grew fo well
and hearty,that he wove in the work-
houfe 4 yards of check-linen each
day.
190. John Rofe, now in the work-
houfe, was a long time bed-rid, with
cramps all over him, from whence
the pain was fo acute, that his pite-
ous
4o Cramps, Hoarfenefs, Deafnefs*
ous moans difturbed all about him;
but by taking Tarwater one month,
his diforder vanifhed.
191. Robert Turnbowl, a boy of
the fame houfe, by ufing this power-
ful medicine one month, recovered a
total lamenefs in his legs, and now
goes tolerably.
192 John War burghs of the fame
was frightfully afflided with an inflam-
mation in his head, his eye lids were
fo fwelled, that he was led about, be-
ing as dark as one ftone - blind ; on
taking Tarwater 3 Days, the inflam-
mation fo cooled, that his eyes were
perfedly reftored ; however, his fore-
head, chin, and the hack of his head,
were covered with a large and ftrange
eryfipelas ; all which in 3 days time
fcaled off, and the boy continues very
well.
193. Richard Keeves (in the houfe)
had 2 bleeding ulcers in his thigh,
which did not permit him to fleep,
work or walk, both which were cured
in a fhort time by this medicine with-
out any outward application.
194. A gentlewoman on Arbour-
hill, fuffered a great deal by an ulcer
in her leg, and after many coftly ex-
periments, was injoyned patience, as
being incurable. She drank Tarwa-
ter, and was cured.
195. An officer in the barracks, for
a long time felt, after walking a little
way, a grievous pain in the back-fi-
news of his legs, but on drinking Tar-
water, walks as well as ever.
196. Matthew Lynch, aged 70, now
living at Mr. Floyde's in Kilmainham,
was lately afthmatick to a great de-
gree, and fo afflided with the piles,
that he was always feared to death,
whenever he had a call that way, the
pain was fo great; but by the power-
ful help of Tarwater, he is not only
relieved from all bis old diforders,;
but feems to have regained new life
and vigour.
197. The reader of Chrift Church,
had an hoarfnefs a confiderable time,
but it was cleared away by Tarwater.
198. Mr. John Pur cell, fon to ths
treafurer of the work-houfe, feemed
for fome time to be in a declining
way, from a confumptive cough, and
frequent flitches ; but by taking this
reftorative, voided feveral large
worms, and recovered.
199. Jane Hamilton, being griev-
oufly afflided with a fcald-head, for
which fhe was 4 years in Mercer's ho-
fpital, without effed, was admitted in-
to the work-houfe, where for feveral
years all methods of cure were pur-
fued, to as little purpofe. I gave hfcr
Tarwater, morning and evening for a
month ; then I had her head wafhed
and rubbed twice a day with a fpunge
dipp'd in warm ftrong Tarwater,
made of a quart of tar, and 2 quarts
of boiling water, till all the fcurf
came off ; the girl is now perfedly
clean, healthy and ftrong, with a
thick head of hair, as if nothing had
ever ailed her, to the admiration of
all, who knew her before.
200. Mrs. Eager, of Mullineback,
near Thomas -ftreet,threw up, from time
to time, fuch vaft quantities of blood,
that fhe was as pale as a ghoft, and fo
feeble, that fhe could fcarce ftand ;
but taking Tarwater, became a hearty
ftrong woman.
201. Mr. William Dickifon,oppofitC
James's church, was very deaf ; he
took Tarwater, and his chin broke
out, after which he could hear as well
as ever.
202. Nov. 3 laft, a furgeon oi Dah-
lia
Inward Pains, Cachexies,
41
fin paid me a vifit, to thank me for
a moft wonderful cure performed by
my Tarwater ; he affured me, a per-
fon in this town had the foul diforder,
which fo infeded the whole mafs,that
part of the nofe was loft, before he
was called in ; and the infedion was
fpread, fo that in one of the calves of
his leg he could thruft his fid, and
the whole back was as bare as a eafed
rabbit ; as alfo the head and glands
were fo inflamed, he often fpent 2
hours about this one fubjed ; but
having tried in vain all methods in
pradice, I gave my patient your Tar-
water ; the fudden effeds of which
aftonifhed me, all the ulcers appear-
ing more cool and kindly ; I then be-
gan to conceive fome hope. After
taking a gallon of the water, I found
my patient full of complaints, very
fretful, and uneafy, protefting never
to touch one more drop of Tarwater,
becaufe the laft night's operation.was
fo violent and fearching ; I ftrove to
get the better of this rafh diflike, by
Slewing the true reafon, and future be-
nefit of this ftrong operation, but to
no purpofe; fo Tarwater was omitted
48 hours, when all the ulcers became
once more putrid, demonftrating an
abfolute neceffity of returning to Tar-
water ; after fome ftruggle my patient
took it again, and now I affure you,
is perfedly recovered, the nofe ex-
cepted ; and this whole cure, as ftrange
as it is, was accomplifhed by your
Tarwater, and no other medicine.
Now, Sir, continues the furgeon, I
intreat you to inform me how you
make your water, as I imagine it will
be of great fervice to the moft wretch-
ed of mankind : I informed him of
the fort of Norway Tar I made ufe
of, and how I prepared the water.
103. A gentleman on Arbour hill
was fo afflided with inward pains,
and emaciated to fuch a degree, that
he was obliged to part with his com-
miffion, when commanded lately a-
broad. All other medicines and ad-
vice failing, he drank Tarwater of his
own making, which he affured me had
almoft poifoned him, without any
manner of relief. He fent to me for
fome of my Tarwater ; On taking
which for fome time, his pains im-
mediately vanifhed, and never return-
ed, and he is become an hail brifk
ftrong man.
204. Mrs. Dickfon, at Mrs. Ford's at
Jfland bridge, had a long time a fre-
quent colic, and inveterate fcurvy,
which infeded her body, and face,
but was cured by this medicine only.
205. Mifs Martha Dowers, in Plun-
ketftreet, was long afflided with an
inveterate fcurvy, over her whole bo-
dy, and for years continued fo, tho'
all methods were tryed; at laft fhe took
Tarwater,which effedually cured her.
206. Mr. William Fofter, brewer in
James's ftreet, Dublin, forely afflided
with fwellings in his legs,and a fevere
cough ; he took but 1 gallon of Tar-
water, and the fwellings and cough
are gone.
207. MeffieUrs M -ffy and Boucher,
in the C. of Limerick, from long con-
finement, contraded fuch ill habits of
body, that their phyficians declared
they could not live, if confined in the
place where they were, fo were
brought into my neighbourhood,where
hearing of my Tarwater, they fent
for fome, which they drank, and
were reftored furprizingly in a fhort
time, after every other nie;hod pre-
fcribed by the belt phyficians had
failed.
F 20S.
42 Eating Ulcers of the Kings Evil,
208. A gentlewoman was attacked,
ih Sept. 1745., with a fevere ague-fit,
st 3 in the morning, which fhook her
2 hours. I gave heranaggin of Tar-
water, On which fhe flept for fome
time ; at 9 the fame morning prepar-
ing to rife, fhe could not ftir her left
leg, being greatly fwelled and in-
flamed. She kept her bed for fome
time, and ftuped her leg with fpirits of
wine, but took nO medicine inwardly
but Tarwater, by which means, fhe
had no other ague fit, and her leg be-
came as found as the other.
200. Mifs Hannah Hartnell, at Mrs.
Green's in Ransford ftieJ, Ncv. 6,
1745, ^H "*1 or* the fmall pox ; her
parents having a good opinion of Tar-
water, were willing tomakeufe^of it ;
accordingly I ordered half a pint to
be given her warm every fixth hour ;
the child took it, and it fat well on
her ftomach, till the third day, when
fhe threw it up foon after it was down,
with a load of phlegm ; by which
means an oppreffion and pain in her
Homach ceafed, of which fhe continu-
ally complained before. On that
day, fhe had a violent lax, which
Continued about 20 hours, ftill fhe
took her Tarwater as before, but as
flie threw up moft of it, I ordered a
third of warm water to be mixt with
ft, to make it weaker, which caufed
it to fit, and fhe was not fick, or made
ihe leaft complaint, until Nov. 17,
being the i 3th day; when I found her
in a moft hopelefs way ; the difcharge
at her nofe and eyes was ftopt, which
before was Very large, for the pock
being confluent, never filled, but dif-
charged itfelf that way, and her hands
appeared livid ; the child was cold,
with little or no pulfe, an hoarfnefs,
and cough. I examined how this
frightful alteration happened, and
found, that, by accident, water was
fpilt in the child's bed, out of which
fhe was taken, tho1 in a cold frofty
day, and continued fo till all the wet
things were dried. My hope was now
fmall, but I warm'd a naggin of Tar-
water, and obliged the pOor child to
fip it, little by little, till fhe got all
down, and it ftaid with her. The
mother went into the bed, took the
child in her arms to infufe heat, and in
fome time the child grew warm and
eafy, fell into a fine fweat, and flept
for about 2 hours, after which, the
former difcharge from both nofe and
eyes burft forth anew, which produced
a fpeedy recovery. What is moft afto-
nifhing in the whole procefs, for 21
days, fhe Was not once fick, or made
the leaft complaint, the 3d and 13th
days excepted. She took no manner
of medicine, but only Tarwater, not
one drop of fack or fack-whey, her
common drink was two milk whey,
or boiled milk and water, of which
fhe took plentifully, and always warm ;
fhe is now livelier and heartier than
before fhe lay down, being only the
23d day,this 28th of November 174$.
210. Mr. Wm Charleton, in Nov.
1745, was attacked with a violent
fever, of which he feem'd to get the
better, but relapfed immediately, and
feemed paft hope ; as an addition to
his diforder, having an inflamed ulcer
in his throat, that he could not
fwallow ; upon taking Tarwater his
Ulcer vanifhed, his appetite returned,
and his fever entirely left him.
211. John Mac Donald was mi-
ferably eat with the king's evil in
many parts of his body, it confumed
half his face, fo that he was naufeous
both to himfelf and others. Being in
the
Inveterate Gout, 43
the country, in hopes of relief, he let
out for Dublin, and by accident met
the bp. of Cloyne, who advifed him to
Tarwater, and gave him fome money
to provide it. The lad negleded this
good advice, but got admiffion into
one of the infirmaries, where being
twice falivated, but nothing better,
be was turned out as incurable ; he
then came into the work houfe as a
vagabond, where he was falivated al-
fo, but his evil ftill cqntinued obfti-
nate, without the leaft fign of relief ;
as he was crawling about, I took no-
tice of him, and advifed him to Tar-
water ; he complied, and in the fpace
of a fortnight, found moft fenfible re-
lief, fo continued taking it about fix
weeks longer, which cured all the
ulcers of his body ; but where they
were, the fkin is drawn up in wrinkles,
tho' without any weaknefs or pain.
Thus far Mr. Hill.
212. ExtraSI of a letter from a
gentleman, relating his ovm cafe, De-
cember 10, 1745.
About a year ago I firft meddled
with Tarwater, only playing with it.
I found it good for a flow digeftion,
and a ftrengthener of a weak ftomach.
I was troubled with the piles,and with
a pain in the lower part of my hack,
in both which cafes it befriended me.
Being at eafe, I thought no more of
Tarwater, till July laft, when the
pain in the lower part of my back af-
flided me fo violently, as to caufe me
to apply to a phyfician, from whom
I gathered, that what I had deemed
to be of the gravel kind, was gouty.
However, \ determined now to ufe
Tarwater in earneft, which I did
pretty regularly, and, by the divine
bleffing, with advantage to my heajth
and ftrength, freedom of fpirits and
chearfulnefs. I, alfo, almoft left off
flefh meat, malt-liquor, wine and cy-
der : indeed, I find little inclination
to drink except at meals.nor want any
cordial, whilft in the ufe of Tarwater,
I was near 30 years old, when an ul-
cerous ailment came upon me in my
feat j and 'tis now fomewhat more
than 30 years, that it hath been a
running iffue, more or lefs, fome time
in every moon pretty plentifully dif-
charging a purulent matter ; but this
difcharge is now flopped by the Tar^
Water. Such is its wonderful force in
fweetening the blood and juices.
213. Mr. James Hanni::gtof Cloyne,
was feized with a violent fever in No-
vember 1743, his feet and legs were
at firft extreamly cold, his head much
difturbed, and he loft all appetite; be
took Tarwater in plenty, and in iq
days his fever, and all other bad fym-
ptoms went off, and in a fortnight he*
was perfedly recovered,
214. Mr. Clitn-nt Fofter of Clcyrs,
was in fummer, 1744, feized with 2
fever, which made him incapable of
bufinefs : he drank Tarwater, and in
10 days his fever turned to an ague,
which, on once taking the bark, was
perfedly cured ; he ufed to have one
Or two fits of the gout every year,but
had no return of it fince he drank
Tarwater.
215. Robert Dillon of Clonbrock in
the C. of Galway, Efq; member of
parliament, had been afflided with the
gout 15 years, which became more
violent every year, and confined hiip
for many months together, with great
pain, and fuch weaknefs in his. limbs,
that he could hardly walk; and when
the fit ceafed, he was troubled in a
morning with a loading in bis ftq-
niach,and a diicharge of a great deal of
phlegm,
44 dead Agues,
phlegm, be had no relief from any
medicine he took; in fummer, 1744,
he began Tarwater, which he has
continued for a year and half without
intermiflion, half a pint in the morn-
ing, and as much every night ; the
loathing in his ftomach is gone, and
tho' he has now and then the gout, it
is but feldom, and iafts but a fhort
time ; with little or no pain, and he
now enjoys good appetite and fpirits,
tho' his limbs are ftill weak, but he
thinks himfelf happy in comparifon of
his former condition.
216. Henry Left range of the King's
county, Efq; member of parliament,
had been troubled with the gout for
1 o years, and about 4 years ago was
feized with the fmall pox,from which
he recovered with great difficulty; for
a year after he had no return of the
gout, but for the laft 3 years the gout
reurned upon him with more vio-
lence, fo that he had a fit every au-
tumn and fpring ; the fit in laft fpring
lafted 3 months, and deprived him of
reft, appetite, and fpirits ; he began
to drink Tarwater in fummer 1745,
which he has continued ever fince,
with fuch good effed, that he has had
no gout in the ufual feafon, nor any
fymptom of it, and enjoys a good ap-
petite, flow of fpirits, has the full
ufe and ftrength of his limbs as much
as ever, and refolves to drink Tar-
, water conftantly.to which he imputes
all his recovery.
217. Col. Charles Tottenham of Tot-
tenham-green, in the C. of Wexford,
Efq; member of parliament, had been
afflided with a dead ague for 5 years,
without cold fits, but the hot were
very violent, with prodigious fweats,
which wafted and weakened him
greatly ; he loft his appetite and fpi-
Violent Coughs,
rits, and tho1 he took great quanti-
ties of the bark,found himfelf worfe;
he confulted the phyficians in Dublin,
and took their prefcriptions without
any relief. In fummer, 1744, he had
recourfe to Tarwater,which he drank
cold, half a pint in the morning, and
as much at night for a month or fix
weeks, and found that it griped him
very much, and gave him no relief;
on which he difcontinued it: but find-
ing that his diforder grew worfe, and
hearing that it was advifed in cafes of
agues, colics, and fevers, to drink
Tarwater warm, and in fmaller quan-
tities at a time,he drank it milk-warm,
found it agree with his ftomach, and
got immediate relief, and continuing
to drink it plentifully, has entirely got
the better of his dead ague, and re-
covered his appetite, fpirits, and reft,
and attributes all to Tarwater, which
he refolves always to drink,as it is no
way difagreeable to him.
218. Mr. Wm.Willan, tape-wea-
ver, in Thomas ftreet, Dublin, for many
years had been afflided with the gout,
which gave him much pain, and fre-
quently confined him to his chamber ;
he drank Tarwater, and is now able
to attend all his bufinefs abroad, with-
out pain from the gout.
219. Capt. Solomon Debrifay, of
Dublin, was troubled with a fcorbu-
tical diforder above 20 years, for
which he took feveral medicines, in
England, France, and Ireland ; and
tho' he fometiraeshad fome abatement
of his diforder, yet at laft it grew very
violent, breaking out into running
fores, and fcurff, attended with great
pain, fo that he could hardly ride or
walk. In September, 1744, he got
alfo an inflammation of the lungs, and
violent cough, by catching cold, for
which
ContraElkn of Be
which he was blooded and vomited ;
and when he had got the better of the
inflammation, he took Tarwater to re-
move his cough, at the rate of a pint
a day, which in a little time carried
off his cough ; and finding the water
to agree with him, and that it made
him eafier in the fcurvy, he continued
the drinking of it for fix months, by
which means he was entirely cured
of the fcurvy, without the leaft fore or
fpot remaining.
220. Mr. George Rumford, aged 75,
who lives at the Black-pits, Dublin,
was in the year 1744, feized with a
moft violent cough, attended with a
continual fpitting of corrupt fluff and
phlegm. He took every thing the
dodors ordered, without the leaft be-
nefit, on which they gave him up ; he
drank Tarwater, a pint each day, till
he had ufed 3 gallons; in which time.
he was quite recovered,and reftored to
a good appetite,and is now in a great
flow of fpirits.
221. James Reyly, fervant to Mr.
Phepoe brewer in Mill ftreet, was in
the year 1745, afflided with an afth-
ma, fhortnefs of breath, the fcurvy in
his face, and a great cough, at the fame
time his belly, thighs, and legs were
fwollen to a monftrous fize, fo that he
could fcarce walk or breathe, and he
loft all appetite ; he took many things
without benefit, and he drank Tar-
water about a pint a day, until he had
made ufe of a gallon, by which time
his breath was reftored, his cough was
gone, and all the fwellings in his body
and limbs fell away, and he foon was
able to go thro' his bufinefs as well as
ever.
222. Mr. Enoch Mafon, who lives
with Mr. Burfquot, clothier, near Ef-
fex-bridge, had been troubled with
rheumatic pains in his joints for 15
wels, Deafnefs, 45
years, which he could not remove by
any of the medicines he took ; but in
1 744, his diforder appeared in a new
form; he had great difficulty of breath^
ing, fo that he could not lye down in
his bed for 6 weeks, his belly was
drawn up, and he fuffered great pains;
the phyfician called it a contraction of
the bowels ; he could not fleep by
reafon of his pains and difficulty of
breathing, and tho' he took many
compofing draughts, which made him
doze, he got no refrefhment : he went
thro' the common courfe of phyfick,
vomitting and other prefcriptions,with-
out relief; his cafe was judged defpe-
rate, and he was advifed to go into
the country and drink milk, which
might prolong his life for fome time,
but without any hopes that he could
laft long. He heard of Tarwater, and
drank a pint a day ; which in a little
time removed the contradion in his
belly, reftored him to a freedom of
breathing, and brought him to a good
appetite, fo that he mended every
day, and continuing to drink the wa-
ter, obtained a perfed cure.
223. Mr. John Wilkinfon, clerk in
the furveyor general's office in the
caftle of Dublin, broke his leg by a
flip in the ftreet, which confined him
3 months; by lying fo long on his
back in bed, he got the gravel, which
gave him great uneafinefs, and by
catching cold, he loft his hearing. To
eafe him of his gravel, he took Tar-
water, and when he had drank a gal-
lon, to his furprize, found his deaf-
nefs carried off, and continuing to
drink it, which he found very diure-
tic, he voided a fmall craggy ftone
and a great deal of gravel, and is
now entirely well.
224. Matthew Haynes, fword cut-
ler, on the Blind-quay, was for 15
months
4.6 Scrophulous Sores, Wens,
months fo fore and ftreightened all laft fpring, and foon after was quite
over his body that he could not bear cured. Wm. Pleafants.
his'apron or cloaths on without pain ; 226. Mr. Patrick Butler, fhoetna-
he had loft his appetite and reft, and ker in Crane-lane, Dublin, had been
was brought fo low, that he was not afflided with the rheumatifm feveral
able to work, or even to go up or years, about 2 years ago he was laid
down flairs without help ; and tho' he up 3 months together, and for 8 days
was oppreffed with phlegm, he dared could not ftir hand or foot ; when the
not cough or fpit, on account of the violence of the fit abated in 1744, he
great pain caufed thereby in his breaft made ufe of Tarwater, which in a lit-
and body. Being advifed to drink tie time gave him great relief; he per -
Tarwater, he incautioufly drank near filled in the ufe of it, and has got the
a pint at once cold, which he in flan t full ftrength of his limbs, and if he
ly threw up, together with a great deal gets any twitching in his limbs by cold
of phlegm. He thought himfelf a or fharp weather, Tarwater immedi-
dead man, and was for fending for a ately relieves him.
clergyman to pray with him ; but in a 227. Wm. Heany, journeyman to
few minutes after he found himfelf faid Mr. Butler, was in 1744, feized
much eafier in his ftomach, and mend- with fuch violent pains in his legs, that
ed all the day. This reconciling him he could not walk, reft, or work. He
to Tarwater, he drank it milk-warm, drank Tarwater, and found in a little
twice a day, half a pint each time, time all his pains go off, and was re-
and continuing it, all the fores in bis ftored to the full ufe of his limbs.
breaft and body went away, he breath- 228. Mrs. Bonvillet, in Kings ftreet,
ed with eafie, and recovered his reft 28 years ago had the misfortune to fall
and appetite, and works at hjs trade down flairs, and pitched upon her
as formerly, fhoulder,but as the pain foon went off,
225. A letter of Wm. PleafantV of fhe did not take any care about. A
Knockbeg in the C. o/Xarlow, Efq; pimple came in that part, but finding
February 4, 1745. no pain fhe negleded it, till the year
A boy who drove my plough, la- 1744.it had formed a wen of an enqr-
boured under a fcrophulous diforder, mous fize, which fpread from her
or king's evil; he had many fores a- fhoulders to one of her ears, and un-
bout his jaws and neck, for fome der her arm pit.as large as the mould
years. His mother applyed different of a hat, fo that fhe was obliged to
kinds of herbs to them, which eafed enlarge her cloaths to cqver it ; but as
a little, but had no other effed. At fhe had no pain, fhe negleded all
my recommendation, fome gentlemen thoughts of preventing its progrefs,
of fkill in Dublin gave him fome me- which might have been eafily effeded
dicines, but they proved ineffedual. in the beginning; but in 1744, fhe
He try'd Tarwater, and had not drank found herfelf troubled with lownefs of
a gallon when the ulcers began to dry, fpirits, want of appetite and reft,which
and his face, which was very much greatly reduced her ; for removing
fwollen with his diftemper, began to thefe fhe drank Tarwater, for a con-
reaffume its natural form, He left me fiderable time, The firft effed w?s»
Excrefcences, paralytic Diforders, 47
flie recovered her appetite.got reft and half a pint a day, he foon found a
fpirits; as fhe found it did her fo great abatement of the fwelling and
much fervice, fhe ftill drank it for fe- uneafinefs in his leg, and to his great
veral months, and obferved the great furprize the excrefcence on his head
wen on her fhoulders began to grow grew eafy and melted away.
loft, and decreafe. This encouraged 230. The wife of Mr. Morgan,czt-
her to continue drinking the water, ten-maker, at Nicholas-gate, had been
afid in a few months after the wen was troubled with a paralytic diforder for"
reduced to a fourth of its firft fize, fome time ; her fingers were fo drawn
daily grew fofter, and feemed to have up, that fhe could hardly open them,
fome floating roots in it : finding her- and fhe could fcarce walk, her feet
felf eafy, and in fo good a way, fhe were fo weak, cold and ftiff; fhe was
laid afide Tarwater, and the wen be- apprehenfive that fhe fhould quite lofe
gan to grow hard and fwell again ; the ufe of them, and have a palfy all
Upon which, fhe refumed her Tarwa- over her body, as nothing that fhe
ter, drinks near a quart a day, and took gave her any relief ; fhe drank
finds that the hardnefs and fwelling Tarwater, and in 6 Weeks recovered
greatly abate ; and hopes by perfift- the ufe of her fingers and hands, got
ing to get quite rid of her wen. Her ftrength, warmth, and fupplenefs in
hopes are the greater, from the bene- her limbs, and by continuing it, has
fit a French gentleman received in a recovered the full ufe of them, and
parallel cafe: a great lump by degrees now walks with.eafe.
grew on the crown of his head,which 231. Mr. Hewetfon, above 70, of
became at laft as large as an egg, that Schoolhoufe-lane, had been many years
he could hardly keep his hat on, and troubled with the gout, which every
tho' not attended with pain, was very winter laid him up for feveral months;
troublefome. He took Tarwater for in fummer 1744, he drank Tarwater
fome other diforder, from which he for feveral months running; the effed
Was relieved, and found at the fame was, he had no fit of the gout in the
time, that this lump or wen foftened, winter 1744, and got a good ftomach
and by degrees vanifhed. and fpirits, and walked tolerably well
229. Mr. John Wilme, filverfmith, without pain ; in fummer 1745, he
in Coles-alley, got a hurt in his fhin- drank fome Tarwater, but laying it
bone, which caufed a running and quite afide for 6 months together, in
fwelling, and being laid open by a winter 1745, on catching cold.he had
furgeon, was healed i but after that, a return of the gout, tho' with little
a humour flowed,and fwelled the part, pain ; it is probable, that, had he
and gave him great uneafinefs. At continued taking Tarwater in fuffici-
the fame time, an excrefcence came ent quantity, and avoided catchiug
on the crown of his head, which grew cold, he would either have had no fit
to the fize of a fmall egg, at leaft an at all, or a flight one.— In fuch cafes,
inch high, and was fo fore, that he Tarwater fhould be drank warm before
could hardly bear a hat on his head, the fit, in the fit, and after the fit, at
He tookTarwater for the firft ailment, leaft a pirit a day ; a quart wculd be
3 months, and tho' he drank fcarce much better.
i / lis mau mi i iitv*mm^^^^m^r+ » a^m \
48 Acute
232. Mr. Francis Wilfon, fadler in
Chapel'-ftrat, had been troubled with
a fluffing, wind and oppreffion in his
ftomach five years, attended at night
with a" difficulty of breathing, and
a great cough in the mornings, which
made him ftrain and heave, and de-
prived him of his ftomach and digef-
tion ; in 1743, he was feized with
the gout, and again in 1744, which
was followed by the gravel. In 08.
1744, he began to drink Tarwater
about half a pint a day, which he con-
tinued till Chriftmas following, with
fuch good effed, that in 3 weeks time
he found great benefit, and foon after
was free from the oppreffion in his
ftomach, breathed freely, recovered
his appetite, loft his cough, and dif-
charged a great deal of gravel without
pain, and has had no return of the
gout ever fince.
234. Mr. Pafqualino, the mufician,
now in Dublin,onThurfday, Jan. 23,
1745, having played a part in Mr.
Handel's grand Oratorio of Deborah,
and being in a great heat and fweats
was after the performance expofed to
a cold air near half an hour, by which
he was immediately ftruck with a cold
fhivering, and could not fleep one
wink that night. In the morning he
had a violent head acb, cholic pains,
and great heat all over his body.which
obliged him to keep his bed. By 4
o'clock in the afternoon, his fever
grew fo high, that he became a little
delirious; his wife had a mind to fend
for a phyfician, but as he had been
cured of a fever before by drinking
Tarwater.he ordered that it fhould be
got for him in plenty, and nothing
elfe ; he began to drink it about 5
o'clock milk-warm, near half a pint
every quarter of an hour, and con-
Fevers,
tinued it at that rate till 8 o'clock next
morning, bating fome inter minions,
when he got alittle fleep ; tho' he had
given diredions to his fervant, to a-
wake him if he fhould happen to fleep,
and make him drink the water ; he
computed, that in the faid time, he
drank 8 quarts : the effed was, that
during the whole night, he was in
high fpirits, had a great perfpiration,
and by 8 o'clock in the morning, his
heat and fever had quite left him, and
he was perfedly eafy, and very hun-
gry. He kept his bed that day by
way of precaution againft catching
cold,free from all fymptoms of a fever,
and on Sunday went abroad, being
perfedly recovered,
234. A gentlewoman near Syca-
more-Alley, Dublin, had been troubled
with fits, which came upon her all at
once without any previous fymptom,
and deprived her of her fenfes for 3,
4, or five minutes at a time ; they be-
came more frequent, and flie was ap-
prehenfive that fhe would be carried
off in one of them. She took feveral
things to prevent their return, without
any effed. She had no opinion of Tar-
water, but to fatisfy her friends.drank
near a pint a day for 5 days, in July
1745, and had no return of her fits,
and got a good appetite and fpirif ;
but found a great itching all ove- ner
body, and foon after, black fpots on
her arms, fhoulders, and body. She
then thought fhe was poifoned by Tar-
water, and exclaimed againft it; but a
friend finding that fhe was in good fpi-
rits, told her, that the water having
driven that humour out on the furface
of her body, had done her all the fer-
vice imaginable, and encouraged her
to perfift in drinking it; fhe continued
to do fo for 2 or 3 months in fmall
quantities,
Strangury, Diabetes, Coflivenefs, 49
quantities, and the black fpots firft moved her ailment. She foon after
became yellow, and by degrees dif- became pregnane and imputes it ta
appeared ; fhe has had no fits fince Tarwater ; her hufband alfo drank it.
drinking Tarwater, but by getting a There are many other inftances of
greater appetite,is grown much fatter, perfons who unexpededly became
235. A captain of a man of war with child, as they believed, from the
had been troubled with the fcurvy fe- ufe of Tarwater.
veral years, had taken many medi- 242. A young lady was cured by
cines, went to Bath, and drank the Tarwater of a long and violent head-
waters, but to no purpofe 3 his dif- ach.
order rather increafed, and broke out 243. A poor woman, whofe legs
in fores and fcurff over his arms and were monftroufly fwollen,and ulcerat-
other parts of his body, efpecially his ed, applyed Tar as afalve orpou tice,
head, which he could not fuffer to be and drank Tarwater at the fame time,
fhaved; by taking Tarwater 6 weeks, and was foon perfedly cured.
all the fores, fpots and fcurff went off, 244. A gentleman's fervant had
and he became as hale and clean a3 the misfortune of a coach-wheel run-
ever,with a great increafeof appetite, ing over his foot, which was thereby
236. Two fifters,at the fame time, terribly bruifed and fwollen. A poul-
drank Tarwater, one for a ftrangury, tice of tar was applied, which foon
the other for a diabetes, and both put an end to both fwelling and pain.
were cured, in a little time, of thofe 245. A rnaid fervant, who had a
oppofite diforders. tetter in her arm, confulted a country
237- A gentlewoman had a deaf- praditioner, who applied the blue
nefs; fhe had drank Tarwater in fmall ftone, upon which her arm fwelled up
quantities feveral weeks with no ef- to her fhoulder, and vvas pained to
fed, but doubling the quantity, vvas fuch a degree, that her mailer appre-
foon after cured. hended flie might lofc it. He made
238. One gentleman was cured of her wafhand foment it with hot ftrong
an habitual coflivenefs by Tarwater, Tarwater, and apply a plaifter or poul-
and another was made coftive by it. tice of warm tar, which fpeedily cur-
239. Two gentlewomen,near Toug- ed her.
hall, were likewife affeded in differ- 246. A gentleman in an eminent
ent ways, one was made coftive, and ftation, troubled with a fixed pain in
the other loofe by Tarwater. his fide for 2 years, took federal mr-
240. An old beggar-woman^ with & dicines without benefit. He drank
moft fhocking cancerated breaft, was Tarwater for a confiderable time, and
in a few days much better by drink- is at perfed eafe.
ing and wafhing the fores with Tar- 247. A perfon ill of the ague, was
water_ cured by drinking Tarwater warm in
241. A woman that was twice mar- the cold fit.
ried, and yet never was with child, 248. Several children have died of
took Tarwater for a diforder fhe la- fore throats, but thofe who drank a
boured under, and conftantly drank it gallon of warm Tarwiter a day, im-
for a confiderable time, which re- mediately recovered.
G z.y\
jo Venereal Diforders, Fevers^
249. Great has been the efficacy of with an inflammation of the lmrgsi
Tarwater in the cure of venereal dif- fhort coughs, pain in the throat and
Orders, gleets, ciff. but in fuch cafes breaft, difficulty of breathing, glazed
names are not to be mentioned. One eyes, fcarlet cheeks, and burning heat.
quart a day at 6 or 8 glaffes, without He was put to bed, and drank Tar-
any other medicine, avoiding the water 5 pints the firft day, and about
catching cold, and improper food, has 2 quarts the fecond, at a glafs every
been foflnd to work a perfed cure, half hour. The firft day, it produced
250. A gentlewoman, in the C. of an extraordinary difcharge of urine ;
Cork, had hurt her leg, which being the fecond, it threw him into gentle
negleded, a gangrene was apprehend- fweats, eafed his fymptoms, and kept
ed ; fhe had a phyfician and furgeon him in high fpirits, and good appetite 1
from Cork, who after fome months on Friday he was paft all danger. On
|rtiyficking, catting and tenting, aban- drinking water coloured with milk
coned her, declaring fhe muft never (which he defired) he conftantly re-
hope to recover her leg, which was lapfed, and was as immediately eafed
wafted and ufelefs, and left her with a upon taking a glafs of pure Tarwater.
running ulcer kept open with tents. The child fenfible of this, cryed out,
Che left off every thing but Tarwater, "Mamma, What-is this Tarwater
whereof fhe took 3 pints daily in 9 " made of, that it is fuch a fudden
glaffes, and in 3 weeks was quite "cure?"-------It was of this diforder
Cured, fo the furprize of all the neigh- that the late bifhops of Ofifory and
bourhood. . Elphin died : Anders no diftemper is
251. A maid fervant was feized more threatening th;.n an inflammation
with a vehement fever and ftitch, on of the lungs, bleedings are prefcribed
the 19th of April 1714, in the morn- for it by phyficians", even to 70 or 80
ing; her face as red as crimfon, her ounces; but without bleeding or bli-
fwlie exceeding high, fcarce able to ftering, or any other medicine, Tar-
utter a word for the great oppreffion water alone effeds the cure.
about her heart, and her blood and 253. A boy was feized with a vio-
flefh hot in an extreme degree. Her lent fever, having wetted his fhoea
cafe was defperate from the manner of and flockings (a new thing to him)
her falling ill ; which was, that the and fuffered them to dry on his feet.
flight before, after hard work, being He had firft a fhivering cold fit, then
in a fwcat, fhe drank a great quantity blood fhot eyes, wild look, burning
of cold fmall liquor, and fat in the heat all over his body ; he drank a
open cold air. bhe drank 5 quarts of gallon of Tarwater, which made him
Tarwater in ic hours, the next morn- vomit, after that he flept and fweated
ing her fever left her, and fhe was fo moft copioufly for 16 hours, and when
well recover'd, that flie got up, and ha- awoke, was very hungry, but in
Was going to work, but was ordered very high fpirits, the fever was almoft
to keep in bed a day longer, to pre- gone the third day j but he kept in
*entarelapfe. bed 2 days longer.
252. IVednrfday Aug. 1, 1744, a 254. A boy feized with a violent
key, about 9 years old, was feized fever was put to bed, and drank near
2 quarts
Small- Pox,
5*
3 quarts of Tarwater the firft hour,
and continued drinking very copioufly.
The next day he was in appearance
recovered, but was kept in bed one
day longer ; after the third day, he
was as well as ever.
255. Another lad was feized with
a racking pain all over his body, at •
tended with a hot fever ; about noon,
he was put to bed, and drank in 9
hours 25 half pints of Tarwater,
with which he did notfweat,but vent-
ed it all by urine, and his pain and
fever left him at 9 at night; next day
he was hearty.
256 A young woman was torment-
ed with a painful fwelling in her fide,
which threw her into a fever. She
drank Tarwater copioufly, and foon
found herfelf eafy and well, but fhe
applied at the fame time a plaifter of
tar and honey to the part, which
ripened, broke, arc1 then healed it.
257. A gentleman had the gout 5
days ; at firft he drank fack whey.and
his pain and fever were violent, fo as
to pafs a whole night awake and reft-
lefs. He drank large dofes of Tar-
water, which made him fleep found
every night after, and kept up his ap-
petite and fpirits, and after a few days
he was well.
258. Capt. Foulks, Mr. Philips in
Crane lane, and feveral others, in-
formed me, that having had frequent
fits of the gout,they drank Tarwater ;
and tho1 they took it in fmall quanti-
ties, found great benefit, their fits
either not returning, or with lefs pain
and fhorter.
259. A gentleman's daughter be-
ing feized with the fmall-pox.he gave
her no other medicine than Tarwater,
which flie drank all the time; fhe had
it very favourably, with UtUe or no
fieknefs.
260. A boy was very ill of a worm^
fever.when the fmall-pox feized him,
which made his cafe extremely bad,
He was treated as only ill of wormfj,
the fmall-pox not being then appre-
hended. He was reduced to the lowr
eft ftate, without fenfe or motion, and
many cardials were applied to bring
him to himfelf; but all tonopurpofe,
till a few fpoonfuls of Tarwater.pour-
ed down his throat without his know-
ledge, brought him to life ; and by
continuing the Tarwater, he reco-
vered daily, and was foon perfedly
well.
261. In March 1744, a boy com-
plained heavily of a ftitch about §
o'clock in the morning ; he was put to
bed, and in about an hour drank 8
glaffes of Tarwater off, 3 to a pint j
then fell into a found fleep, and at 3
o'clock in the afternoon was up, dreft
and well.
262. In April S745,alabourer be-
ing taken ill of a violent pleurify,
with fpitting of blood, went into his
bed, and drank copioufly of Tarwa-
ter, which quite recovered him.
2O3. A gentlewoman inApril 1745,
being cue in a cold, dry, windy day ;
was taken with a palfy, not being a
ble to walk or ftand upright. t»he
went to bed, drank Tarwater, a glafs
every quarter of an hour, and next
day in fmaller quantity, and the day
following was quite recovered.
264. A man fervant had a pleuri'ic
ftitch, a fever, and fpit blood. He
drank Tarwater plentifully in bed,
which threw him into a great fweat,
being impatient under this fwear, t)
cqqI himfelf, he lay almoft nnked,
which had like to have killed him.
But Tarwater, ccinogfly taken, iiCQ-
vered, ^'^ 'Rarely..
Bilious or Yellow Fever,
265. A Lawyer in Dublin, and 2
young ladies, have been cured of
fevers by the copious drinking of Tar-
water only.
z66. Several perfons, of both fexes,
have been cured of the piles, fome by
the bare drinking of Tarwater, others
by fitting at the fame time on a clofe-
ftool filled with hot Tarwater, which,
with anointing the parts with the oyl
Jkimmed off from the water, foon
healed the fores, and removed the
diforder.
267. In December 17'44, a Prolap-
fus Uteri, &c. given over as incurable
by the furgeons, was perfedly cured
by Tarwater.
268. Two perfons given over, one
ill of a palfy at Bath, and the other
of a cancer at York, were both cured
in a fhort time by Tarwater.
269. A gentleman's fon, in the C.
of Limerick, was cured of a fpitting
of blood by Tarwater.
270. An infant had a cough from
its birth ; thofe who faw it, thought
it could not live: Tarwater was given
it, the nurfe drank fome alfo ; the
cough went off, and the child is now
lively.
271. A lady, who has long had a
cancer in her breaft, and fuffered
greatly ; by taking Tarwater, the on-
ly thing fhe has found good from, is
freed from pain.
272. A gentleman,in theC. of Li-
inerick, was cured by Tarwater of an
impofthume in his head.
273. A lady was cured of a megrim
and inveterate head-ach by Tarwater,
and feveral other perfons who ufed
to be troubled withadizzinefs in their
heads.
274. Afhip being bound fromPorto-
bello to Jamaica, and being detained
long in the paffage, the crew,wanting
water, were reduced to great diftrefs,
which threw many of them into the
bilious or yellow fever. To their
great comfort, a heavy rain fell, they
catched all they could, and the deck
of the fhip, and cordage having been
new tarred to preferve them againft the
heat of the climate, all the water they
got was impregnated with the tar ;
they drank plentifully of it, and all
thofe who were ill of the bilious fever
recovered, to their great furprize, as
it is reckoned a moft fatal diftemper.
275. A boy had a fore in his leg,
which was alfo inflamed and hard; he
waflied it with Tarwater, and apply'd
the oil of Tar, which foon recovered
him.
276. A man of Toughall, deaf ma-
ny years, by drinking Tarwater much
improved in his hearing, and has
hopes of relief by a longer u(e of it.
277. A gentleman, who had a pain
in his right'fide for1 15 years, confult-
ed many phyficians, and took a world
of drugs to no purpofe ; but on taking
Tarwater( tho' a bad fort )for 4 weeks,
found himfelf greatly relieved.
278. A woman was given over,
upon the retention of the after-birth
by the unfkilful management of the
midwife ; fome advifed Tarwater, it
recovered her contrary to all expec-
tation.
279. Margaret Mafterfon, a young
woman at Dr. Wynne's, at Harold's
crofs, near Dublin, informed me, that
one day in the fpring about 5 years
ago, fhe walked very fall from Ha-
rold's-crofs to Crumlin church, which
is about 2 miles, and being in a great
heat and fweat, fhe fat on the ground
in the church-yard for above half an
hour, which gave her a great cold,
with
Diabetes, Cancer
with pains in her right fide, and low-
er belly, fo exquifite, that fometimes,
for 20 days together, fhe could not
get the leaft fleep; fhe loft her flefh and
appetite, and was reduced to a fkele-
ton. She could not ftand upright,
and walked double, nor could {be bear
any carriage, every motion put her to
the rack, and fhe was forced to con-
fine herfelf for the moft part to her
bed, and even there, was not able to
ftir a limb, when her pains came up-
on her. Nothing that fhe took did her
any fervice : fhe was in Mercers ho-
fpital 3 months, without benefit from
the phyficians and furgeons there,who
at firft thought fhe was troubled with a
ftone, but afterwards agreed that fhe
had an ulcer in the bladder. After
fhe left the hofpital, fhe was falivated,
and took many things by the advice
of phyficians ; but nothing gave her
eafe, and fhe was judged incurable.
She continued in this miferable condi-
tion a long time, fhe had alfo a fort
of diabetes, or involuntary,and almoft
conftant difcharge of water. In fum-
mer 1744, flie drank Tarwater, and
in a few days received great benefit,
and in a few weeks all her pains and
ailments went off ; fhe recovered her
appetite, flefh, reft, and limbs, and
Walked as well as ever, to the great
furprize of the furgeons.
♦ 280. A tradefman in the earl of
Meath's liberty,was in the year 1744,
greatly affiided with a powerful dif-
fharge of bloody urine, which fome-
times appeared as clear blood as any
that comes from a vein. He could
not walk a quarter of a mile, but in
great pain, and he wafted away. He
continued in this condition feveral
months together, and took many
things for a cure, without effed ; at
/aft he drank Tanvater, and foon
in the Breafl; 53
found benefit, which encouraged him
to continue it, and he was foon per-
fedly recovered of his ailment.
281. A gentlewoman, who lives
near Dublin, was for many years af-
flided with a cancer in her breaft,
which had been cut by furgeon Dobbs;
but it grew again, and was exceffive-
ly painful, fo that fhe refolved to un-
dergo another cutting, and came to
town for that purpoie ; but the fur-
geon finding that fhe had got a violent
cough, would not venture to cut her
breaft till her cough was removed,and
adviled her to go to the country to be
cured of her cough. She was there
perfuaded to drink Tarwater on that
account, which fhe did with fuch ef-
fed, that fhe foon got rid of her
cough ; and finding that Tarwater
agreed with her ftomach, and made
her breaft eafier, fhe continued the
drinking of it for a confiderable time,
by which means her breaft grew eafy
and foft, and fhe mended daily to
her great comfort and furprize.
282. A copy of a letter from the rev.
Mr. Thomas Dawfon, of Tallow,
in the C. of Waterford, February
25, 1745.
1 take leave to fend you the follow-
ing cafes, wherein, among feveral o-
thers of my neighbourhood, Tarwa-
ter has proved fuccefsful.
283. The wife of John Guinane,
of Tallov.-, in the C. of Waterford,
merchant, was violently feized with
hyfteric fits in the year 1744, attend-
ed withlaughing,crying, and frequent
fvvoonings, which continued for feve-
ral months, tho' phyficians by various
medicines endeavoured to cure her of
them. She bathed in the falt-water,
purfuaut to their advice, for a confi-
derable time ; but received very little
benefit. At laft fhe drank Tarwater.
inimw r /■/ ■■/ ,m n i i i™p\»™^ » » km* \
54 Confumption, Stone and Gravel,
and after 3 months perfedly recover- likely to do fo, till they are all carried
ed her health. off ; for which purpofe, he finda
284. Tho. Lowris, of Tallow, in the Tarwater to be very ufeful. He af-
C. of Waterford, was in a deep con- fured me, that, fince he began to
fumption, and fo greatly emaciated, drink Tarwater, which he conftantly
and yellow, that all who faw him, doth, he has not been confined one
feemed to defpair of his life. About day with the gout.
2 years ago, he began to drink Tar- 286. A gentleman who had gone
water, and having in a few months thro' a courfe of Stephens's medicines,
received great benefit thereby, he took Tarwater, which he found more
continued ever fince to drink the fame fuccefsful in the gravel.
regularly, and has perfedly recovered 287. Some gentlemen, who, on
his health and complexion. catching cold, ufed to have chopp'd
285.A gentleman, near Caple-ftreet, lips, which they could not heal by
for feveral years ufed to be troubled any falve, were eafed by bathing their
with fits, which gave him great un- lips with .Tarwater, and they who
eafinefs in his ftomach, and were at- had fore and running noftrils received
tended with a violent pain, which ran the fame benefit, by bathing them with
along the bottom of his belly, and the water. Thefe flight inftances are
fixed itfelf in his left hip, with a great mentioned, only to fhew the healing
inclination to puking. He thought it quality of Tarwater; and it is alfo
was a windy colic, and accordingly found by experience that a plaifter of
took many things, but without any tar is a fafe and effedual cure for fores
benefit. He found that he grew and fwellings in the backs of horfes.
worfe, and that his fits returned upon Several gentlemen informed me, that
him more frequently, and with more they gave 2 or 3 quarts of Tarwater a
violence. He ufed alfo to have fits of day to fome of their horfes which had
the gout in his feet. Having read the great colds and diforders ; the effed
treatife on Tarwater in April 1744, was, that they foon recovered. Per-
he refolved to drink it, and he had not haps it may be advifable in all diftem-
taken it above 3 weeks, before he pers of brute creatures, vjhere the blood
had a fenfible benefit, and, continu- is corrupted, as in glanders in horfes,
ing it, in a little time after,to his great and in infedions of the horned cattle and
fjrprize, difcharged 2 ftones near as fheep, which- are thought to be incura-
f>ig as peas, and then, and not till hie, to give them Tarwater warm in
then, he difcovered that his diforder plenty, as it is found by experience in fo.
was the ftone and gravel; upon which ?aany inftances to correct and fweeten
the pain in the bottom of his belly the blood and juices of the body, remove
went off, he got eafe in his ftomach, obftruclions, and invigorate the fpirits.
and recovered his appetite and reft. 288. The fmall-pox having proved
He has fince voided gravel at feveral very mortal laft feafon,fome were ad-
times, and of late, 3 fmaller ftones, vifed to give their children Tarwater
which gave him pain in their pafiage. warm, and the effed was, that they
f'hcfe fits of the gravel and ftone re- who drank it before they were feized
turn now and then upon him, and are with the fmall pox, generally had it
favourably
And Diforders of the Female-Sex. 5 5
favourably ; they who took it during
the ficknefs alfo, had no appearance
of danger, the pock generally diftind,
little or no ficknefs, nor marks left by
it.—In and about Clonmell, the fmall-
pOx was fo very fatal, that above 300
died of it, moftly of the confluent
kind. Some were at laft prevailed
upon to give their children Tarwater
warm, and in plenty, as Mr. Gordon,
an eminent brewer there, did to 4 or
5 of his children, who all came off
very well. This encouraged Mrs.
Powell to give it to 3 of her children,
who had it fo favourably, that they
were hardly fick. Whereas others,
who were treated in the common way,
were for the moft part carried off by
the malignity of the diftemper; tho'
none who took Tarwater mifcarried.
289. The rev. Mr. Skelton, minifter
of Newry, made his fon about 13 drink
Tarwater, before he had the fmall-
pox, and when he was feized with it,
gave him a wine-glafs of it every 2
hours, during the diforder ; the child
was hardly fick, the pock filled very
well, and left no marks.
290. Several inftances have been
communicated by perfons of credit, of
wonderful and unexpeded cures per-
formed by Tarwater in diforders pe-
culiar to the female fex at the times of
their delivery ; alfo in provoking the
menfes when wanted, and in restrain-
ing them when immoderate.
291. Several gentlewomen in this
town, having been troubled with rheu-
matic pains, oppreffion and load in
their ftomachs, want of appetite and
reft, ftreightnefs in their chefts, cough,
and fcorbutical diforders, were cured
or greatly relieved by Tarwater, tho'
drank in fmall quantities. Several
gentlemen were affeded the fame
way, and received the like benefit.
292. As every city and large town
in the kingdom can furnifh many in-
ftances of great and unexpeded cures
performed by Tarwater alone, every
one may be fatisfied of the truth, who
will give himfelf the trouble of enquir-
ing. It has often grieved me, to hear
of perfons dying of acute diforder?,
which were fuddenly and effedually
cured by Tarwater, as appears from;
feveral cafes in this narrative; See feci.
80, 101, in, 121, 133, 161, &c.
234, 251-2-3-4-5-6,260 1 2: which
is publifhed that every one may be
fully apprized of the power of" this
water, and make trial of it in like
diforders.
293. The gentlemen of the faculty
who are men of fuperior fkill and a-
bilities, can and will, without doubt,
apply and improre thefe hints and ex-
periments. But tho1 I am no phyfici-
an, I may relate matters of fad con-
cerning the effeds of Tarwater, as
they were communicated to me by
gentlemen, or from patients them-
felves. I have mentioned fome cafes,
where the names of perfons and places
are omitted ; but thefe I had from
gentlemen of integrity and credit,
whofe letters are now in mycuftody j
if any fhould be defirous to know the
names, or places of abode, that are
omitted, I fhall, for their private (&•
tisfadion, gratify them.
REMARKS.
294. Having slofed my regifter of
cafes, I fhall beg leave to make some
Remarks. I. It muft be matter
of furprize, to find, that in the fpace
of one year and an half, fuch a num-
ber and variety of diftempers have
been cured, or greatly relieved by thi$
one medicine. Thoufands have re-
ceived
5 6 Remarks on the feveral Cafes.
ceived benefit, and daily do receive
benefit in England, Ireland, Holland,
France, Portugal, and Germany, by the
ufe of Tarwater., The treatife on it,
called Sin's, has been tranflated into
the French, Low-Dutch, German and
Portugucfe languages, and extrads
thereof have been publifhed in the
Magazines. (See Gent. Mag. April
1744.) Ey fo general a publication,
the ufe of Tarwater, as a medicine,
came to be univerfally known, and
being flrOngly recommended by the
author, from his own experiences, for
the cure of feveral diftempers, many
were induced to make trial of it, and
found immediate relief : this encou-
raged others to make ufe of it alfo for
different diforders, and they received
the fame benefit.
295. The efficacy of Tarwater, in
curing mod kinds of fevers and pleuri-
fier, is confirmed by fo many trials,
that they who are acquainted with this
pradice, think themfelves in little
danger from fevers ; the larger the
quantity of Tarwater taken in fevers,
the fooner the recovery. If but 2 or
3 quarts a day, the fever may laft 4
or 5 days; but if 4, 5, or 6 quarts, or
more, be drank warm in 24 hours, the
fever is quite carried off in a day or
two. There is no inftance of danger
or harm done by any quantity taken;
on the contrary, patients in fevers are
in higher animal fpirits, the more they
drink, the water paffing thro' their
bodies by urine or perfpiration, as fall
as it is taken in, and thereby carrying
off the noxious humours, and venom of
the diftemper the fooner. The pati-
ents at the fame time get found fleep,
and a better appetite than is ufual in
fevers. My correfpondents farther af-
fwe me, that they never knew an in-
ftance where warm Tarwater wjS
given betimes in a fever, and in due
quantity, that it failed of fuccefs. —
It is judged, that the greater part of
grown people die of fome kind of
fever ; therefore, nothing would fave
more lives, than this water duly pre-
pared and taken.
296. II. The next remark I fhall
make is, on the variety of diftempers
cured by Tarwater, and even fuch as
are oppofite in their nafires. This has
been judged to be impoflible by fome
who have decried the ufe of Tar-
water : tho1 fad and experience, the
fureft guides for knowing the force of
any medicine, are entirely againft
them, not only in the cafe of Tar-
water, but of feveral other medicines,
which frequently produce contrary ef-
feds in different conftitutions, and
fometimes in the fame. Some who
firft wrote and fpoke againft Tar-
water, at the fame time frankly own-
ed, that they had never made any
trial of it. How then could they form
any judgment of its good or bad qua-
lities, or exped that others fhould he
fwayed by their opinions, when no
way fupported by experiment. Some
who were offended to find Tarwater
recommended for fo many different
diftempers, for that very reafon were
for exploding it, as of no ufe in any
cafe whatfoever ; without confidering
that whatever correds and fweetens
the blood, mends the ftomach, and re-
moves obftrudions, as Tarwater ma-
nifeftly doth, muft be of ufe in all di-
ftempers, and thereby affift nature to
make a perfed cure.
297. III. The third remark I lhaU
make, is on the fafety of this medi-
cine. Some phyficians advife and
prefcribe it; Others fay, that it is
- ■ - ■- - --- •" ■ go0»
Tarwater excellent in
good in many cafes, and that they do
not find it do harm in any. Some
fuggeft, that it is dangerous in inflam-
matory cafes, by an over-heating qua-
lity : but the contrary is manifeft,
from its curing fevers, pleurifies,
fmall-pox, and other inflammatory
diforders, in a fhort fpace of time ;
and it is fo far from inCreafing inflam-
mations, that it wonderfully affuages
them. Some patients, on drinking
Tarwater, were immediately feized
With a vomiting, which much alarmed
them ; but they foon found that Tar-
water, by thus difcharging a great
deal of foul fluff out of their ftomachs,
gave them immediate relief, and the
vomiting foon after flopped. Others
had a purging for a day or two, but it
foon ceafed, when it had carried off
the peccant humours, and they re-
ceived great benefit by the operation.
Some patients, who were troubled
with violent fcorbutical diforders, e-
ruptions, itch, blotches, running fores,
found, on the drinking Tarwater a
few days, that their fores, itchings,
and eruptions grew more troublefome,
and increafed on the furface of their
bodies, in greater quantity and vio-
lence, and then thought Tarwater did
them harm ; fome were fo imprudent
as to flop drinking the water, when it
was doing them all the good imagina-
ble, by driving from the blood all the
noxious humours to the furface of
the body; while others, whoperfifted
in drinking, foon found the fcurvy,
eruptions, and other blotches on their
bodies, die away and heal, to their
great relief. Some, on whom Tar-
water works by perfpiration, found,
that it made them coftive, and heated
them ; upon this, they laid it afide ;
others, who in the like cafe periifted
|jrj f^j-jrtlrtnrr *#■ Cnrxry #m-?n/1 f-rV*ifr at.
nervous Diforders, 5 7
ter the Tarwater had done its work
by perfpiration, they returned to their
natural ftate, and got the relief they
expeded. Nature does not work two
different ways at the fame time; if it
works by ftool, perfpiration ceafes for
the time; if by perfpiration, then the
Other flops. If both thofe channels
are flopped, there is no way left for
nature to difcharge the vitiated humors,
but by urine : and this is the way that
Tarwater generally operates. Thefe
are for the moft part the cafes^where-
in Tarwater has been imagined to do
harm, tho' it was doing the greateft
fervice to the patients. It is true,
that very bad Tar and Tarwater have
often been made ufe of, and as true,
that feveral perfons at the time they
drank Tarwater, indulged themfelves
in the ufe of ftrong liquors and fpirits;
and therefore, it is no wonder, if they
did not receive the benefit that other-
wife they might have got. On the
whole, I do not find any inftance,
where Tarwater ever did any real
harm ; which cannot be faid of any
other medidne.
298. IV. Chronical diforders,
wherein the whole mafs of blood and
juices of the body have been long vi-
tiated, require a length of time and
patience to effed a cure ; and if they
be very grievous, the quantity of Tar-
water to be taken in fuch cafes fhould
be encreafed from a pint to a quart a
day, beginning with a noggen or a
quarter of a pint, to find how it a-
grees with the ftomach ; and fo con-
tinuing to drink it often in fmall quan-
tities ; it being found by experience,
that the more the patients drink in
fuch cafes, the fooner they recover.
299. Scurvies make a great part of
the ailments of people, in this part of
H the
58 Fevers, and inflammatory diftempers7
the World ; and yet we find by the ed pains in fome parts of the body?
many inftances produced in this narra- Others, tortured with exceflive pains,
tive that tne worft kinds of them, at- o<-> taking Tarwater, difcovered their
tended v.ith running fores, blotches, ailment to be the ftone and gravel,
fcurff, tiff, were perfedly cured by and were relieved.
Tarwater.which heals up all the fores, 304. Many who laboured under a
and, in fome meafiire, embalms fcor- lownefs of fpirits, diforder m their
fcutic bodies alive. ftomachs, want of appetite and fleep i
300. Ulcers in the bladder, lungs, 305. Others long afflided with
Urinary paffages, venereal taints, ul- afthmas, fhortnefs of breath, and dif-
cers on the outward parts, and even ficulty of breathing, violent coughs,
the king's evil, and fcrophulous difor- wheezing, ftuffings and decays, fore
ders, commonly reckoned incurable, throats and fquinancy, have been
have yielded to the power of this wa either entirely cured, or greatly re-
ter. (See § 136-7, 177, 178, 211, lieved by Tarwater.
225. ) infomuch, that we have reafon 306. As to the gout, fome greatly
to believe, that any king's evil may be afflided with it, by the conftant ufe of
cured by Tarwater j if regularly and Tarwater, have had no return of their
plentifully taken, and the fores anoin- fits. Others, on drinking the water,
ted with the oil fkimr:ed from the found the fame benefit; but by laying
Tarwater. it afide too foon, or on catching cold
301. It has cured alfo fcald heads, their fits returned, yet not fo violent
inveterate itch, and even cancers. nor lafting. Thefureft way of deal-
302. Nervous cafes are obftinate, ing with the gout, is not only to drink
yet we find that hyfteric fits, and pal- the water before and after,but during
lies have been cured by Tarwater a- the whole time of the fit, a quart a
lone. Mr. Hanging's daughter men- day, warm, which gives fuch a dif-
tioned feci. 160, p. 30. who could charge by perfpiration or urine, as re-
ncither fpeak nor move a limb in lieves nature, and removes the pains.
Novemb. laft, is now in March fol- But if gentlemen will ufe ftrong liquors,
lowing perfedly well. A Woman,who and high feeding, the fame caufe will
was troubled with fits for above a ftill produce the fame effeds.
twelve month, which often returned, 307. As to the fmall-pox, with
and caufed her to lie fpeechlefs and which 9 parts in 10 of all people are
fenfelefs a long time together, took feized, the great number of negroes
Tarwater, a quart a day, and has cured on the coaft of Guinea, feci. ^2,
had but one fit in 3 weeks paft, and 43, and others mentioned feci. 260,
that occafioned by a fright :others,long 288, evidently fhew, that Tarwater
troubled with fits, have had no re- is a fafe and efficacious medicine in
turn of them after drinking freely of this fatal dHlemper.
Tarwater. 3og. But the greateft and moft ufe-
303. Many perfons have been cur- ful difcovery of this, or perhaps any
ed of diforders in the bowels, colics, other age, is that of Tarwater's cur-
megnms, inveterate head-achs, agues, ing, fo fuddenly and effedually, all
rheumatifms, exceffiye thirft, and fix- forts of fevers, pleurifies, and inflam-
matory
•' A.
inflammatory
matory diftempers,whereby two thirds
of mankind are carried off.
309. But to giveTarwater fair play,
due caution fhould be had, that
the water be good in its kind, that
it be given warm to the patient,
in bed, at the beginning of the fever,
half a pint or more every half hour,
according to the ftrength of the pati-
ent, 6 or 8 quarts in 24 hours ; and
no other medicine be taken with it ;
that care be taken againft catching
cold ; that when the fever abates, no
nourifhment be given but what is very
light and cooling ; and that when the
fever is gone, the patient keep his bed
a day or two longer, free from noife
and people's talking, to prevent a re-
lapfe.—Patients in fevers cannot drink
too much Tarwater, there is no danger
from excefs, the more they drink the
fooner they are cured ; it hath been
often obferved, that the heat and
thirft they have on fuch occafions fo
reconciles the water to them, that
they can drink a great quantity with-
out difguft j they have generally a
great flow of fpirits during the whole
time they drink, get intervals of fleep,
and when the fever abates, they have
commonly keen appetites,which ought
not to be indulged too foon or too
much. It is amazing to fee with what
fpeed and fuccefs Tarwater, taken co-
pioufly, as above-mentioned, cures
the moft violent pleurifies, without
blifters or medicines, and without
bleeding, which in common pradice
is exceflive. It is faid, Mr. Hamilton,
colledor at Cork, had 150 ounces
taken from him in a pleuritic diftem-
per, of which he died. It is proper tQ
repeat and inculcate the advantage of
being cured by a cordial, rather than
by evacuations, which at beft leave a
diftempers, 59
patient weak and languifhing for years,"
Nothing is fo dangerous as negled-
ing the beginnings of fevers. Some
people are apt to go abroad with fevers
upon them, which inflames, and ren-
ders them very dangerous. The beft
courfe is to go to bed, and drink Tar-
water, but no fermented or diftilled
liquors.
310. Some cannot comprehend it,
but nothing hinders why Tarwater,
which drank daily in fmall quantities
proves a gradual cure for chronical ills,
may not alfo, if drank in very large
quantities, prove a fpeedy cure for a-
cute cafes, fuch as all kinds of fevers.
311. Seafaring men, whofe live?
ought to be preferved with the utmoft
care, are fubjed to many diftempers,
befides thofe common to other men,
which they contrad by the change
and inclemency of the weather in
long voyages, by the heat or cold of
the climate, by great fatigues, fal$
provifions, clofe fuffocating air in the
fhips, cifc which prodifce fevers, ca-
lentures, fcurvies of feveral kinds, ul-
cers, running fores, loofenefs of their
teeth, and many other diforders, for
which having little or no proyifion of
medicines, great numbers of them De-
rifh miferably. Now as experience
fhews that Tarwater cures thofe dif-
orders, every fhip fhould have feveral
barrels of good Tar, and a veffel of
Tarwater always prepared,alfo fpruce-
beer, which is a great antifcorbutic.
312. A barrel of Tarwater in every
hofpital, infirmary, and work houfe,
fhould alfo ftand ready, by which the
lives of numbers may be faved, and.
great fums in medicines. Tarwater
is introduced into the hofpitals at Lif-
bon, with great advantage. And i
am inclined to believe, that many off
thofe
/ t mmj mi i ''
A '. tmt \
60 Recommended
thofe who are lodged .in Gay's and o-
ther hofpitals- as incurables, may be
cured or greatly relieved by Tarwa-
ter, and fo make room for others to
be admitted.
313. Gentlemen who live in the
country and market-towns, ought, in
compaflion for their poor tenants and
neighbours, provide Tarwater, and
diftribute the fame liberally.
314. Tarwater is recommended to
fedentary perfons, as by its diuretic
quality it greatly prevents head ach,
bloating, dropfy, ftone and gravel.
315. V. In all odd, new and defpe-
rate cafes, where people are at a lofs
what to do, it is recommended to try
Tarwater, which has been found to
recover perfons from the brink of
death.
316. Tarwater is in great vogue at
Paris. An lrifh phyfician there pre-
scribes it to his patients with great
fuccefs, and has got into good bufinefs
thereby. — Dr. De Linden, a German
phyfician, now in London, writes thus,
1 myfelf have drank about 25 gallons of
Tarwater, every 24 hours 3 pints, and
1 never found any effed that we may
call aphyjicalheatiff the blood,notwith-
ftending I am of a very f anguine tem-
perament, and the , liaft thing occafions
in me an inflammation. Another fo-
reign phyfician writes thus: In reality,
Tarwater is of fuch a mild nature,
that it never can inflame, nor create an
inflammation in the blood. 1 have ex-
perienced it myfelf, and bleffed, thanks
he to the bijliop of his valuable difco-
ver y.
318. Several ladies, who had re-
ceived great benefit by Tarwater, at
the fame time recovered their com-
plexions and bloom ; fome found it to
agree beft with them an hour or two
by Phyficians.
after eating. An old lady has been
greatly relieved by drinking,conftant-
ly every day, no more than one wine-
glafs in the morning.
319. Several have been difappoint-
ed and abufed by bad Tarwater ; fuch
Tarwater, as is of a brown colour, or
fweetifh flat tafte, is bad ; but they
who have once drank good Tarwater,
can eafily diftinguifh the bad, which
has no fpirit. Liquid tar, which is the
firft running from the burnt billets, is
generally the beft. And yet no cer-
tain judgment can he formed of the
goodnefs of tar, by the colour or con-
fidence, till trial be made, by making
Tarwater of it. When a veflel of
tar has flood long on an end, a fedi-
ment often falls to the bottom, which
fhould not be made ufe of for Tar-
water.
320. Two phyficians prefcribed the
hark with Tarwater : but the patients
found no benefit, till they took the
Tarwater alone. Some have put a
drop of the oil of nutmegs to a glafs
of Tarwater, which made it more
palatable ; others have added a fmall
fpoonful of mead, white-wine, or
cyder, which made the draught more
agreeable ; but it is better no fpirits
fhould be taken with it, or any thing
elfe that might weaken the virtue.
321. Thofe who exped the whole
benefit of Tarwater, fhould be very
temperate in the ufe of ftrong liquors
fermented or diftilled. They weaken
the powers of Tarwater, which of
itfelf is a fufficient cordial, which a-
nimates the heart without difordering
the brain, and is an antidote againft
cold, fatigue, and thirft. It may*
therefore be of ufe in our armies and
fleets.
322. They who railed againft Tar-
water
Running Evil and Sores, 61
water on the firft publication of Siris, to Mercers hofpital, where fhe flayed
jnfifted that particular cafes, with all three weeks, and the fore under her
their circumftances, fhould have been eye was a little healed ; but in a fort-
exhibited to the publick, that they night after fhe left the hofpital, it
might examine into the truth, and be broke out again, and a fplinter 'of a
better able to judge of the effeds of bone came off from her hand. In
this water. The names of perfons, 1744 her parents gave her Tarwater,
who were alledged as inftances of the half a pint a day, and applyed a
virtues thereof, were not mentioned plaifter of tar to all the fores, and a
in Siris. On this omiffion they tri- large tent covered with the plaifter to
umphed, and treated the whole with the hole under her eye ; in a little
ridicule. But this narrative fufficient- time, a large piece of her jaw-bone,
ly fupplies that defed, and is the beft with fome of her teeth, came off, and
anfwer to all their objedions, which by drinking the water, and applying
are diredly againft matter of fad. the plaifters for near 3 months, all her
323. It is very probable that I fores healed, and fhe perfedly reco-
fhall be condemned by fome, for be- vered, and continues well.
ing fo greatly pofTefled in favour of 327. Wm Murray, 12 years old,
Tarwater. I own I am, but it is for fon of Matthew Murray, in Black-
the beft reafon in the world. I am horfe lane, had running fores in his
fully convinced of its efficacy. If hands and legs foon after the great
there are any, who have doubts, they froft, fo that he was not able to ftir a
may repair, or write to the patients foot, and had great pains in his head
themfelves, whofe names and places of for a year. The boy drank Tarwa-
abode are herein mentioned for that ter, which in a fortnight's time car-
very purpofe, and be fully fatisfied of ried off the pains, and then applied the
the truth of all, or any of the cafes Tar plaifter to the fores a little before
herein related, which it would have laft Chriftmas, whereby all the fores
been very wrong, and even criminal are healed up, leaving marks in his
in me to have fupprefied. arm. He ftill drinks Tarwater, and
324. The variety of thefe cafes finds himfelf very hearty.
will dired any perfon where to find 328. A gentlewoman,aged 21 years,
a cure in particular diforders, for from 3 years old had a running evil in
which they might not otherwife think one of her hands, and her jaws. She
of Tarwater. was at the waters of Loughleah, and
325. After the foregoing fheets long under the care of furgeons with-'
were printed off, the following cafes out benefit. Splinters of bone came
came to my knowledge. from her hands. In 1744 fhe drank
326. Martha Quark, about 11 Tarwater in fmall quantities, and ap-'
years old,now living in Dolphins barn- plied the plaifter of Tar, which in 4
lane, foon after the hard froft was af- months time healed them up, and fhe
Aided with running fores, and holes is now perfedly well.
in one of her hands and arms, and 329. James Moony, fhoe-maker, in
under one of her eyes, which con- Stafford-ftreet: in the winter after the
tinued to increafe, infomuch that it great froft, was afflided with running
infeded her upper jaw; fhe was fent fores,
62 And the Murrain among Cattle.
fores,which broke out in his left-hand,
and in his back, and difabled him
from following his trade, and for
which he tryed many things without
any benefit. He attended at the in-
firmary on the Inns-quay,for 2 months,
where many furgeons pradifed upon
him ; but got no relief, and was at
laft told by them, that there was no
Other remedy than to cut off his hand
above the wiift : upon which, he at-
tended no more. But in Augufl 1745,
he was advifed to drink Tarwater ;
which he did for 2 months, about a
pint a day, and wafhed the fores with
the fame liquor, and the effed was,
that the fores began to heal in the fe-
cond month, and moft of them were
healed up in the end of that month,
and he recovered his appetite and
fpirits, and then laid afide Tarwater,
before he was perfedly cured, having
2 fmall fores not quite healed; but he
has began to drink it again, and finds
himfelf much better, and hopes to
perfed his cure in a little time.
330. It is probable thefe 4 patients
would have been fooner cured, if they
had takenTarwater in greater plenty;
half a pint a day vvas too little : in
fuch grievous cafes, a quart a day
fhould have been taken, which might
have recovered the patients in half the
time, as we find in fedz^g, 250, 251,
255, and the water fhould not be
laid afide,till they were perfedly cured.
331. In fome hofpitals, were pa-
tients have had their hands, arms, or
legs, fwollen and inflamed with terri-
ble running fores, which ate into the
bones, and which could not be cured
by any of their medicines, the fur-
geons well fkill'd in fuch cafes, for
fear of a gangrene or mortification,
fometimes cut off the limb ; whicht
if it doth not end with the death of
the patient, reduces him at leaft to
want and beggary. Several patients
mentioned in this narrative, were con-
demned to the knife, as the only means
to fave their lives, yet they were af-
terwards recovered by the ufe of Tar-
water, and perfedly reftored to the
ufe of their limbs, without amputa-
tion : and it is to be hoped that, for
the future, we fhall hear but little of
a pradice fo fhocking to nature, fince
we find that Tarwater not only pre-
vents thofe ailments from coming to a
dangerous height, but cures them
when they do. Whereas when the
vjhole mafs of blood is corrupted, the
cutting off a limb will fcarce cure the
corruption, which will he apt to break
out in fome other part.
332. The murrain, which rages
among the horned cattle, appears by
its fymptoms to be a kind of fever; it
is recommended that Tarwater be try-
ed in the following manner: " Let the
" fick beaft have poured down its
" throat a quart of warm Tarwater,
" made ftronger than ufual, by ftir-
" ring each gallon 8 or 10 minutes,
" and this to be repeated every hour
" or two for the firft day, while the
" beaft is awake. On the fecond,let
" one half of the former quantity be
" given, and on the third day, half
" of that which was given on the fe-
" cond : which laft quantity is to be
" continued till the cure isperfededi
" during which time, the beaft fhould
" behoufed, and lie warm." I have
no experience of the fuccefs of this
method, as there is no infedion of
that kind in this kingdom,but recom-
mend it from the analogous effeds that
Tarwater hath in curing fevers and
infedions.
333.I fhall add only the two fol-
Inwincr l«»tff»rc (rr\m f-lia onflirt.. ~C Q~-jr
( 63 )
^Letter to Thomas Prior, Efq; from the
author of Siris ; containing fome further
remarks on the virtues of Tarwater, and
the methods for preparing and ufing it.
Non ftbi, fed toti.
Nothing is more difficult and di[agree able, than to argue men out of their
prejudices j 1 fhall not, therefore, enter into controverfies on this fubjed, hut if
men difpute and obj eel, fhall leave the declfion to time and trial. Siris, fed. 68.
i. A MONO the great numbers who drink Tarwater in Dublin, your
11 letter informs me, there are fome that make or ufe it in an undue
manner. To obviate thefe inconveniences, and render this water as general-
ly ufeful as poffible, you defire I would draw up fome general rules and
remarks in a fmall compafs, which accordingly I here fend you.
2. Pour a gallon of cold water on a quart of liquid tar, in a glazed earthen
veflel ; ftir, mix and work them thoroughly together, with a wooden ladle,
or flat flick, for the fpace of 5 or 6 minutes. Then let the veflel ftand clofe
covered three days and nights, that the tar may have full time to fubfide. Af-
ter which having firft carefully fkimmed it, without moving the veflel, pour
off the clear water, and keep it in bottles, wellcork'd, for ufe ; this method
will produce a liquor ftronger than that firft publifhed in Siris, but not offenfive
if carefully fkimmed. It is a good general rule, but as ftomachs and confu-
tations are various, it may admit 6f fome latitude. Lefs water, or more ftir-
ring, makes it ftronger, as more water, or lefs ftirring, makes it weaker. It
is to be noted, that if feveral gallons are made at once in the fame veflel, you
muft add 5 or 6 minutes ftirring for every gallon. Thus two gallons of wa-
ter, and 2 quarts of tar, require 10 or 12 minutes ftirring.
3. The fame tar will not do fo well a fecond time, but may ferve for other
common ufes : the putting off tar that hath been ufed, for frefh tar, would be
a bad fraud. To prevent which, it is to be noted, that tar already ufed is of
a lighter brown than other tar. The only tar that I have ufed, is that from
our northern colonies in America, and that from Nornuay ; the latter being
thinner, mixeth eafier with water, and feems to have more fpirit. If the for-
mer'be made ufe of (as I have known it with good fuccefs) the Tarwater will
require longer ftirring to make it.
4. Tarwater, when right, is not paler than French, nor deeper coloured
than Spanifh white-wine, and full as clear ; if there be not a fpirit very fenfi-
bly perceived in drinking, you may conclude the Tarwater is not good ; if
you would have it good, fee it made yourfelf. Thofe who begin with it, lit-
tle and weak, may, by habit, come to drink more and ftronger. According
fo the fcafon, or the humour of the patient, it may be drank either cold or
..... ~ " " "...... ' warm :
6 4 A Letter from the Author of Shia
warm ; in colics I take it to be beft warm. If it difgufts a patient warmi
let him try it cold, and vice verfa. If at firft it creates, to fome fqueamifh
perfons, a little ficknefs at ftomach, or naufeating, it may be reduced both in
quality and quantity. In general, fmall inconveniencies are either removed^
or borne with fmall trouble ; it lays under no reftraint, as to air, exercife,
cloaths, or diet, and maybe taken at all times of the year.
C. As to the quantity in common chronical indiftojitions) one pint of Tarwa-
ter a day may fuffice, taken on an empty ftomach, at 2 or 4 times, to wit,
night and morning, and about 2 hours after dinner and breakfaft ; more may
be taken by ftrong ftomachs. Alteratives in general, taken in fmall doles*
and often, mix beft with the blood ; how oft, or how ftrong each ftomach
can bear, experience will fhew. But thofe who labour under great and in-
veterate ?naladies, muft drink a greater quantity, at leaft one quart every 24
hours, taken at 4, 6, or 8 glaffes, as beft fuits the circumftances and cafe of
the drinker. All of this clafs muft have much patience and perfeverance in
the ufe of this, as well as of all other medicines, which, if fure and fafe, muft
yet, from the nature of things, be flow in the cure of inveterate chronical
diforders. In acute cafes, fevers, of all kinds,it muft be drank in bed nvarm,and
in great quantity, (the fever ftill enabling the patient to drink) perhaps a pint
every hour, which I have known to work furprifing cures. But it works fo
quick, and gives fuch fpirits, that the patients often think themfelves cured
before the fever hath quite left them. Such therefore fhould not be impa-
tient to rife, or apply themfelves too foon to bufinefs, or their ufual diet.
6. To fome, perhaps, it may feem, that a flow alterative in chronical cafes,
cannot be depended on in fevers and acute diftempers, which demand imme-
diate relief. But I affirm, that this fame medicine, which is a flow alterative
in chronical cafes, I have found to be alfo a moft immediate remedy, when
copioufly taken, in acute and inflammatory cafes. ItfHlight indeed be thought
ram to have tried it in the moft threatening fevers and pleurifies without
bleeding, which in the common pradice would have been held neceffary.
But for this I can fay, that I have patients who would not be bled, and this
obliged me to make trials of Tarwater without bleeding, which trials I never
knew unfuccefsful. The fame Tarwater I found a flow alterative, and a
fudden febrifuge. If the reader is furprized, I own myfelf to be fo too.
But truth is truth, and from whatever hand it comes, fhould be candidly re-
ceived. If phyficians think they have a right to treat of religious matters, I
think I have an equal right to treat of medicine.
7. Authority I have no pretence to ; but reafon is the common birth*
right of all : my reafons I have given in Siris : my motives every one Will
interpret from his own breaft; but he muft own himfelf a very bad man, who,
in my cafe, (that is, after long experience, and under full convidion of the
virtues and innocence of Tarwater) would not have done as much. All
men are, I will not fay allowed, but obliged to promote the common be-
nefit; and for this end, what I could not in confeience conceal, that I do, and
fhall publickly declare, maugre all the fpleen and raillery of a world, which
cannot treat me worfe than it hath done mv betters. 2 As
to Thomas Prior, Efq% 65
S. As the morning's draught is moft difficult to nice ftomachs, fuch may
leflen, or even omit it, at the beginning, or rather poftpone it till after break-
faft, and take a larger dofe at night. The diftance from meal-time need not
be more than one hour, for common ftomachs, when the liquor is well cla-
rified and fkimmed. The oil that floats on the top, and was fkimmed off,
fhould be carefully laid by, and kept for outward fores. In the varietv of
cafes and conftitutions, it is not amifs that there fhould be different manners
of preparing and taking Tarwater : trial will dired to the beft. ^Whether
there be any difference between old tar, or new tar, or which of all the
various tars, produced from different trees, or in different parts of the world,
is moft medicinal, future trials muft determine.
9.I have made a fecond fort of Tarwater, to be ufed externally, as a wafli
or lotion, for the iteh,fcabs, ulcers, evil, tepefy, and all fuch foul cafes, which
I have tried with very good fuccefs, and recommend it to the trial of others.
For inveterate cafes of that kind, Tarwater fhould be drank, a quart every
24 hours, at 4, 6, or 8 glaffes ; and after this hath been done, at leaft for
a fortnight, the lotion is to be applied outwardly, and'warm, by bathing, fo-
menting, and fteeping, and this feveral times in the 24 hours, to heal and
dry up the fores, the drinking being ftill continued. This water, for exter-
nal ufe, is made in the following manner : pour 2 quarts of hot boiling wa-
ter on a quart of tar, ftir and work it ftrongly, with a flat flick, or ladle,
for a full quarter of an hour 3 let it ftand 6 hours, then pour it off, and keep
it clofe covered for ufe. It may be made weaker or ftronger, as there is
occafion.
10. From what I have obferved of the lotion, I am inclined no think, it
may be worth while, in olftinate and cutaneous ailments, leprofy, and weaknejs
of limbs, to try a bath of .Tarwater j allowing a gallon of tar to every 10
gallons of boiling hot water ; ftirring the ingredients a full half hour ; fuf-
fering the veflel to ftand 8 or 10 hours, before the water is poured off, and
ufing the bath a little more than milk-warm. This experiment may bs
made in different proportions of tar and water. In Dublin many cafes oc -
cur for trial, which are not to be met with in the country. *V<
11. My experiments have been made in various cafes, and on many per-
fons ; and I make no doubt its virtues will foon be more fully difcovered, as
Tarwater is now growing into general ufe, tho' not without that oppofition
wheh ufually attends upon novelty. The great objedion I find made to
this medicine is, that it promifes too much. What ! fay the objeclors, do
you pretend to a Panacea ? a thing ftrange, chimerical, and contrary to the
opinion and experience of all mankind. Nov.-, to fpeak our, and give this
objedion, or queftion, a dired anfwer, I freely own, tnat I fufpetl Tarwater
is a Panacea. I may be miftaken, but it is worth trial ; for the chance of fo
great and general benefit, I am willing to ftand the ridicule of propefing it.
And as the old philofopher cried aloud, from the houfe tops, to his ieiJow
citizens, educate your children; fo, I confefs, if 1.had a fituarion high er.onrii,
and a voice loud enough, I would cry out to all valetudinarians upon cartel
drink Tarwater. I 1-. Havii.g
66 A Letter from the Author of Siris
. 12. Having thus frankly owned the charge, I rtuft explain to you, that
by a panacea is not meant amedicine which cures all individuals (this cOnfiffo
not with mortality but a medicine-that cures or relieves all the different
fpecies of diftempers: and if God hath given us fo great a bleffing, and made
a medicine fo cheap and plenty as Tar, to be withal fo universal in its ef-
feds, to eafe the miferies of human life, fhall men be ridiculed Or bantered
cat of its ufe, efpecially when they run no rifque in the trial ? For 1 can trulf
affirm, that I never knew any harm attend it, more than fometimes a little
n&ufea, which if the liquor be well cleared, fkimmed and bottled, need not,
I think, be apprehended.
13. It muft be owned I have not had opportunities of trying it myfelf in
all cafes, neither will I undertake to demonftrate a priori, that Tarwater is a
panacea. But yet, methinks, I am not quite deftitute of probable reafons,
which, joined to what fads I have obferved, induced me to entertain fuch a
fufpicion.
14. I knew Tar was ufed to preferve cattle from contagion ; and this may
be fuppofed to have given rife to that pradice of drinking Tarwater for a
prefervative againft the fmall pox. But as the Tarwater ufed for that pur-
pofe was made by mixing equal quantities of tar and water, it proved a moft
offenfive potion ; befides, as a frefh glafs of water was put in for each glafs
that was taken out, and this, for many days, on the fame Tar, it followed
that the water vvas not equally impregnated with the fine Volatile fpirit,
tho' all alike ftro.ngly faturated with grofs particles.
15. Having found this naufeous draught very ufeful againft the fmall-poie,
to as many as could be prevailed on to take it, I began to confider the na-
ture of Tar. I refleded that Tar is a balfam flowing from the trunks of
aged ever-greens; that it refills putrefadion ; that it hath the virtues of tur-
pentine, which, in medicine, are known to be very great and manifold; but I
obferved withal, that turpentines, or balfams.are very offenfive in the taking!
I therefore confidered diftindly the feveral conftituent parts of balfams $
which were thofe, wherein the medicinal virtues refided, and which were to
be regarded rather as a vifcous matrix, to receive, arreft, and retain the more
volatile and adive particles; and if thefe laft could be fo feparated and dif'
engaged from the grofler p^rts, as to impregnate a clear and potable liquor,
I concluded, that fuch liquor muft prove a medicine of great force, and ge-
neral ufe. I confidered, that nature was the beft chymift and preparer of
medicines, and that the fragrance and flavour of Tar argued very adive
qualities and virtues.
16. I had, of a long time, entertained an opinion, agreeable to the fenti-
ments of marry antient philofophers, That fire may be regarded as the animal
fpirit of this vifiblc world. And it feemed to me, that the attracting and fe-
creting of this fire in the various pores, tubes, and duds of vegetables, did
iropa.t 'heir fpecifick virtues to each kind ; that this fame light, or fire, was
the immediate inftrumental or phyfical caufe of fenfe and motion, and con-
fequently of Xfe and health to animals; that on account of this folar light,
©r
to Thomas Prior, Efq; 67
or fire, Pheebus was, in the antient mythology, reputed the god of medicine ?
which light, as it is leifurely introduced, and fixed in the vifcid juice of old
firs and pines, fo the fetting it free in part, that is, the changing its vifcid for
a volatile vehicle, which may mix with water, and convey it throughout the
habit copioufly and inoffenfively, would be of infinite ufe in phyfick, extend-
ing to all cafes whatfoever, inafmuch as all diftempers are, in effed, a ftruggle
between the vis vita and the peculiar miafma, or fames morbi; and nothing
ftrengthens nature, or lends fuch aid and vigour to life as a cordial which
doth not heat.
17. The folar light, in great quantity, during the fpace of many fucceflive
years, being attraded and detained in the juice of antient ever greens, doth
form and lodge itfelf in an oil fo fine and volatile, as fhall mix well with
water, and lightly pafs the prima via, and penetrate every part and capillary
of the organical fyftem, when once exempt and freed from the groffee
naufeous refin. It will not therefore feem unreafonable, to whoever is ac-
quainted with the medicinal virtues of turpentine in fo many different dif-
tempers, for which it hath been celebrated both by antient and modern phy-
ficians, and withal refleds on the naufea,pr clqg, that prevents their full ope-
ration and effed on the human body ; it will not, I fay, feem unreafonable
to fuch a one to fuppofe, that, if this fame clog were removed, numberlefs
cures might be wrought in a great variety of cafes.
18. The defideratum was, bow to feparate the adive particles from the
heavy vifcid fubftance, which ferved tq attrad and retain them, and fo to
order matters, that the vehicle of the fpirit fhould not, on the one hand, be
volatile enough to efcape, nor on the other, grofs enough to offend. For
the performing of this, I have found a moft eafy, fimple, and effedual me-
thod, which furnifhed a potable inoffenfive liquor, clear and fine as the beft
white-wine, cordial and ftomachic, to he kept hottled, as being endued with
a very fenfible fpirit, tho' not fermented.
19. I tHed many experiments as to the quantity ef water, and the time
of ftirring and ftanding, in order to impregnate and clarify it, and, after all,
fixed on the forementioned receipt, as the moft generally ufeful for making
this falutiferous liquor well impregnated, and not offenfive to common
ftomachs, and even drank with pleafure by many : in which the moft medi-
cinal and adive particles, that is, the native falts and volatile oil of the bal-
fam, being difemangled andfeparated from its grofs oil and vifcous refin, do,
combined together, form a fine halfamit and vegetable foap,^ which not only
can pafs the ftomach and Prima via, but alfo infmuate itfelf into the minuteft
capillaries, and freely pervade the whole animal fyftem i and that in fuch
full proportion and meafure, as fuiteth every cafe and conftitution.
20. The foregoing general confiderations put me upon making experir
ments in many various and unlike cafes, which otherwife I fhould never
have thought of doing, and the fuccefs anfwered my hopes. Philoio-
phical principles led me to make fafe trials, and on thofe trials is founded my
qpinion of the falutary virtues of Tarwater; which virt ie's are recommended
68 A Letter from the Author of Siris
from, and depend on, experiments and matters of fad, and neither ftand no?
fall with any theories or fpeculative principles whatever, Howbeit, thofe
theories, as I faid, enlarged my views of this medicine, led me to a greater
variety of trials, and thereby engendered and nourifhed my fufpicion, that it
is a panacea. I have been the more prolix in thefe particulars, hoping that,
to as many as fhall candidly weigh and confider them, the high opinion I
conceive of this medicine, will not feem altogether an effed of vain prepof-
feffion, or blind empiric rafhnefs, but rather the refult of free thought and
enquiry, and grounded on my beft reafon, judgment, and experience.
21. Thofe who have only the good of mankind at heart, will give this
medicine fair play ; if there be any who ad from other motives, the publick
will look fharp and beware. To do juftice to Tarwater, as well"as to thofe
who drink it, regard muft be had to the particular ftrength and cafe of the
patients. Grievous or inveterate maladies muft not be treated as common
cafes. I cured a horrible cafe, a gangrene in the blood, which had broke out
in feyeral fores,awo\ threatened fpeedy death, by obliging the perfon to drink
nothing but this liquor for feveral weeks, as much and as often as his ftomach
would bear. Common fenfe will dired a proportionable condud in the
other cafes. But this muft be left to the confidence and difcretion of the
givers and takers.
22. After all that can be faid, it is moft certain, that a panacea founds odd,
and conveys fomewhat fhocking to the ear and fenfe of moft men, who are.
wont to rank the univerfal medicine with the philofophers ftone, and the
fquaring of the circle ; whereof the chief, if not fole reafon, I take to be,
that it is thought incredible, the fame thing fhould produce contrary effedsj,
as it muft do, if it cures oppofite diftempers. And yet this is no more than!
every day's experience verifies. Milk, for inftance, makes fome coftive, and
ethers laxative : This regards the poffibility of a panacea in general ; as for
Tarwater in particular, I do not fay it is a panacea, I only fufpea it to be
fo. — Time and tryal will fhew.
z3._ But I am moft fincerely perfuaded, from what I have already feen
and tried, that Tarwater may be drank with great fafety and fuccefs, for the
cure or relief of moft, if not all difeafes ; of ulcers, itch, fcald-heads, leprofy,
kwgs-evil,cancers, the foul difeafe, and all foul cafes; fcurvies of all kinds,
diforders of the lungs, ftomach, and bowels, in rheumatic, gouty and nephritic
ailments, megrims, inveterate head-achs, epilepfles, pleurifees, peripnuemonies,
tryfipelas, fmall-pox, all kinds of fevers, colics, hyfteric and all nervous cafes ;
etyruffions, dropfies, decays, and other maladies. Note that for agues it fhould
be drank warm, and often, in fmall glaffes, both in and out of the fir, and*
continued for feveral days to prevent a relapfe. Nor is it of ufe only in the
cure of ficknefs, it is alfo ufeful to preftrve health, and guard againft infeclion,
and in feme meafure even againft old age, as it gives lafting fpirits, and invigo-
rates the blood. I am even induced, by the nature and analogy of things, and
its wonderful fuccefs in fevers of all kinds, to think that Tarwater may be
^ry ufeful againft the plague t both as a prcfervative and a cure.
24. But
to Thomas Prior, Efq; 69
24. But I doubt no medicine can withftand that execrable plague of diftille4
fpirits, which do all, without exception, ( there being a cauftic and coagulat-
ing quality in all diftilled fpirits, whatever the fubjed or ingredients may be )
operate as a flow poifon, preying on the vitals, and wafting the health and
ftrength of body and foul ; which peft of human kind is, I am told, gaining
ground in this country, already too thin of inhabitants, lam &c
A Second Letter from the Author of Siris,
to Thomas Prior, Efq;
!• "^TOUR attention to whatever promotes the publick good of your coun-
X fry, or the common benefit of mankind, having engaged you in a
particular enquiry concerning the virtues and effeds of Tarwater, you are
entitled to know, what farther difcoveries, obfervations andrefledions I have
made on that fubjed.
2. Tarwater, in the feveral editions of Siris, hath been direded to be
made by ftirring 3, 4, 5, or 6 minutes, a gallon of water, and a quart of tar.
But although it feem beft made, for general ufe, within thofe limits, yet the
ftomach of the patient is the beft rule, whereby to dired the ftrength of the
water ; with a little more ftirring, 6 quarts of good Tarwater may be made
from one of Tar ; and with 8 minutes ftirring, I have known a gallon of
Tarwater produced from fecond hand Tar, which proved a good remedy in
a very bad fiver, when better Tar could not be had. For the ufe of travellers,
a Tarwater may be made very ftrong, for inftance, with 1 quart of water,'
and a quart of Tar, ftirred together for "the fpace of 20 minutes. A bottle
of this may ferve long on a road, a little being put to each glafs of common
water, more or lefs, as you would have it ftronger or weaker. Near 10
years ago, a quart of about this ftrength was given to an old woman, to he
taken at one draught by diredion of a young lady, who had confulted one
in my family, about the method of preparing and giving Tarwater, which
yet fhe happened to miftake. But even thus, it did fervice in the main,
though it wrought the patient violently all manner of ways. Which fhews,
that errors and excefies in Tarwater, are net fo dangerous, as in other me-
dicines.
3. The beft Tar, I take to be that, which is moft liquid, or firft running
from the billets of fir or pine, which grew on the mountains : it hath a
greater fhare of thofe antifcorbutic vegetable juices, which are contained not
only in the leaves and tender tops, but in all parts of the wood ; and thefe,
together w'th the falts of wood/oot, being in the compcfition of Tar fuper-
added to turpentine, render Tarwater a medicine, If I am not miflaken,
much more extenfive and efficacious, than any that can be obtained from
turpentine alone.
4. The virtues of the wood-juices fliew themfelves in fpruce beer, made
of molafles, and the black fpruce fir in the northern parts of America ; ?.nd;
the
m^mmxwm^^m i i msi /mmm mr* iimmmm^mmmmmMW- mmm »
70 A Second Letter from the Author Siris
the young fhoots of our common fpruce-fir have been put to malt-liquor in
my own family, and make a very wholfome drink.
5. Tarwater feldom fails to cure, or relieve, when rightly made of good
Tar, and duly taken. I fay, of good Tar, becaufe the vile pradice of adul-
terating Tar, or of felling the dregs of Tar, or ufed Tar for frefh, is grown
frequent, to the great wrong of thofe who take it. Whoever hath been
ufed to good Tarwater, can readily difcern the had by its flat tafte, void of
that warm cordial quality found in the former ; it may alfo be expedient for
knowing frefh Tar, to obferve, whether a fat oilyfcum floats on the top of
the water, which is found to be much lefs, if any at all, on the fecond making
of Tarwater.
6. This medicine of Tarwater worketh various ways, by urine, by per-
fpiration, as a fudorific, carminative, cardiac, aftringent, detergent, refiorati make it lefs offeafive, and) taken inwardly, is an admirable balfam for the
7 2 A Second Letter from the Author of Siris
lungs; and a little of this, taken together with Tarwater, haftens its effed
in curing the moft obftinate and wafting coughs; and an egg fhell full of tar,
fwallowed and wafhed down with a quart of Tarwater, night and morning,
hath been found very ufeful for the fame diforder in horjes.
15. Sitting over the vapour of the heated lotion, defcribed in my former
letter, is excellent jn the cafe of piles or fiftula ; efpecially if fomenting with
the faid lotion be added, as alfo anointing with the oil fcummed from the top
of Tarwater. Tarwater hath been muffed up the noflrils, with good fuc-
cefs, for a great heavinefs of the head and drowftnefs. It is a very ufeful wafh
for weak, dry, or itching eyes ; an excellent prefervative for the teeth and
gums ; alfo a good drink and gargle for a fore throat ; I may add, that I
have known it fucceed in cafes where it has been tried without hopes of fuc-
cefs, particularly in deafnefs. I have known life fuftained many days toge-
ther, only by drinking of Tarwater, without any other nouriihment, and
without any remarkable diminution of ftrength or fpirit ; it may therefore
be of Angular ufe, and fave many lives in the diftrefs of famine at fea, or in
fieges, and in feafons of great fcarcity. The virtue of Tarwater flowing like
the Nile* from a fecret and occult fource, brancheth into innumerable chan-
nels, conveying health and relief, wherever it is applied ; nor is it more eafy
and various in its ufe, than copious in quantity. How great havock, is made
by the fmall pox, raging like a plague, in New-England, and other parts of
America, Which yet abound with tar ! and how many thoufand failors, in all
part6 of the world, are rotting by the fcurvy with their remedy at hand !
16. Many in this Town of Cloyne have, by the copious drinking of Tar-
water alone, been recovered of the moll violent fevers, attended with the
moft threatning fymptoms, and much heightened by relapfes from mifmanage-
ment. It would be tedious to enumerate all the cafes of this kind, which
have happened at Cloyne, and in my own family ; where many fevers, pleu-
retic, as well as others, attended with violent ftitches, difficulty of breathing,
and fpitting of blood, have been cured by Tarwater ; and this I can with truth
affirm, that 1 never knew it regularly tried, in any inflammatory cafe, without
fuccefs : but then it muft be given in bed, warm, and very copioufly, with all
due caution againft cold, noife, and improper diet.
17. I have often obferved, when a patient, on the firft attack of a fever t
hath betaken himfelf to his bed, and drank Tarwater regularly and conftantly,
that he hath had fuch favourable fymptoms,fo good appetite, and fo found fleep,
that the fever pafied almoft as nothing ; nor was to be diftinguifhed other-
wife, than by a quicknefs of pulfe, a little feverifh heat, and thirft. The
more that patients in a fever, drink, the better they find themfelves ; and
their liking to Tarwater grows with their want of it, by a certain inftind or
didate of nature ; infomuch that I have known children in very high fevers,
who, at other times, could hardly be prevailed on to drink a fingle glafs,
drink 6 or 8 in an hour. 18. I
* The Nile was by the antient Egyptians called Siris, which word alfo
fignifies, in Greek, a chain, tho' not fo commonly ufed as Sira.
to Thomas Prior, Efq; 73
18. I can truly affirm that for the cafes within my own obfervation, in-
flammatory acute diftempers cured by Tarwater, have been, at leaft, ten times
the number of any other. Thefe indeed ofteneftoccur, as caufing the chief
deftrudion and general ravage of mankind j who are confequently debarred
from the principal ufe and benefit of this medicine fo long, as they give ear
to the fuggeftions of thofe, wl\o, without any experience thereof, would per-
fuade them, it is of an heating or inflaming nature ; which fuggeftion, as I
am convinced myfelf, by long and manifold experience, that it is abfolutely
falfe, fo may all others alfo be fufficiently convinced of its falfhood, by the
wonderful fad attefted by a folemn affidavit of captain Drape, at Liver-
fool ; whereby it appears, that of 170 negroes feized at once by the fmall-
pox on the coaft of Guinea, one only died, who refufed to drink Tarwater ;
and the remaining 169, all recovered by drinking it, without any other me-
dicine, notwithftanding the heat of the climate, and the incommodities of the
veflel. A fad fo well vouched muft, with all unbyaffed men, outweigh the
pofitive aflertions of thofe, who have declared themfelves adverfaries of Tar-
water, on the fcore of its pretended heating or inflaming quality.
19. The fkill and learning of thofe gentlemen, in their profeffion, I fhall
not difpute ; but yet it feems ftrange, that they fhould without experience
pronounce at once, concerning the virtues of Tarwater, and afcribe to it per-
nicious qualities, which I, who had watched its workings and effeds for years
together, could never difcover. Thefe 3 laft years, I have taken it my felf
without one day's intermiflion ; others in my family have taken it near the
fame time, and thofe of different ages and fexes ; feveral in the neighbour-
hood have done as much, all without any injury, and with much benefit.
20. It is to be noted, the fkin and the belly are antagonifts; that is, the
more paffeth by perfptfution, the lefs will pafs another way. Medicines there-
fore, which caufe the patient to perfpire, will be apt to make him coftive.
Therefore, when Tarwater worketh much by perfpiration, the body may
chance to be bound. But fuch a fymptom, tho' it fhould be attended with a
little more than ordinary warmth, need not be dreaded by the patient; it be-
ing only align, that his cure is carried on by driving the pecant matter thro'
the fkin ; which is one of the ways, whereby Tarwater worketh its effed.
And when this effed or cure is wrought, the "body of itfelf returneth to its
former natural ftate ; and if fome have been bound in their bodies, I have
known others affeded in a contrary manner upon drinking Tarwater, as it hath
happened to operate either in the fhape of a diaphoretic, or of a gentle open-
ing medicine. I have even known a coftive habit more than once remo-
ved by it, and that, when the cafe was inveterate, and other methods had
failed. *
21. I mentioned the foregoing article, upon calling to mind, that 2 or 5
patients had, for a time, complained of a binding quality in Tarwater. I
likewife remember that one in a high degree of the fcurvy was difcouraged
from the ufe of Tarwater, by its having caufed an uneafy itching all over
his .body. JBut this was a good fymptom, which ft»swed the pecant hu-
• -.....------ K raours
( 74/
mours to be put in motion, and in a fair way of being difcharged through
the fkin.
22. An humour or flatus put in motion, and diflodged from one part, of-
ten produceth new pains in fome other part ; and an efficacious medicine,
as it produceth a change in the ceconomy, may be attended with fome unea-
finefs, which yet is not to be accounted a diftemper, but only an effed or
fymptom of the cure.
23. The falts of Tarwater have nothing of the fiery and corrofive nature
of lixivial falts produced by the incineration of the fubjed ; they not being
fixed falts, made by the extreme force of fire, but volatile falts, fuch as pre-
exifted in the vegetable, and would have afcended in fmoak, if not preven-
ted by the fods or covering of the billet piles. This tho' already hinted in
Siris, and plain from the manner of making Tar, I have thought fit to repeat
and inculcate, becaufe, if duly attended to, it may obviate fufpicions about
Tarwater, proceeding only from an ignorance of its nature.
24. Every ftep that I advanced in difcovering the virtues of Tarwater, my
own wonder and furprize increafed, as much as theirs to whom I mentioned
them : nor could I without great variety and evidence of fads, ever have
been induced to fufped, that, in all forts of ailments whatfoever, it might re-
lieve or cure, which at firft fight may feem incredible and unaccountable ;
but on maturer thought, will perhaps appear to agree with, and follow from
the nature of things. For it is to be noted, that the general notion of a dif-
cafe feemeth to confift in this, that what is taken in, is not duly affimilated
by the force of the animal ceconomy ; therefore it fhould feem whatever af-
fifts the vis vita maybe of general ufe in all difeafes, enabling nature either
to afiimilate, or difcharge all unfubdued Jiumours and particles whatfoever.
But the light or aether detained on the volatile oyl, which impregnates Tar-
water, being of the fame nature with the animal fpirit, is an acceffion of fo
much ftrength to the conftitution, which it affifts to afiimilate or expel what-
ever is alien or noxious.
w%mm%mmmm$m$^
»s>!
A P P E N D I X
Containing the moft material EMraMs from TwoTraSfs wrote by
thofe learned Philofophers Dj\Stephen HALESyFellow of the
Royal Society, and A.Reid,£/^-, printed at London iniy^y:
With fome Obfervations of tie feveral Sorts ofT&z ufed in
Bofton ^.New-England. ByX P.
THE firft Trad is entituled — " An Account of fome Experiments and Ob-
" (i™afjw Qfi ^fr^L^K > wbcrtm is fkown'tbt Quantity, of Tar that
( 75 )
*c is therein : vuhich nvas read before the Royal Society. And therein the
Dr. tells us.
" That having made Tarwater in proportion of a Gallon of Water to a
** Quart of Tar.ftirring it /^.Minutes, and evaporating aPint of faid Tar water
" in a Florence-Flafk ; of that made with Norway or Swetdifh Tar, which
" was 30 Tears old and very thick and ft iff, there remained at the Bottom of
eJ the Flafk 44 Grains of thick, dark, reddifh Tar, of a bitterifh burnt Tafte
•——" with common, coarfe, ftiff American Tar, 28 Grains
----- " with ftiff Tar juft brought from Norway, 61 Grains
----- " with the old Tar ftirred half an Hour —93 Grains
----- " with the thinner Tar ftirred 8 Minutes — 26 Grains
■ " with 4 feveral Parcels of Norway or Sweedifh Tar, not fo
" ftiff, but more foft and oily than theTar above,and efteemed by the Dealers
" in Tar to be very good [ for Ropes] only between 5 and 15 Grains.
[ But the Dr. does not fay, how long Time elapfed between his ftirring of
the Tar with theWater, and hisEvapouring it: nor does he afcertain whether
thefe Tars were of the firft, middle or latter runnings from the Kiln ; in which
there is a vaft Difference, as the longer it burns, the more Pitchy the Tar
grows. ]
" That in a Pamphlet in Anfwer to the Bifhop of Cloyn, He finds that on
*f deftilling 22 Pounds of beft Norway Tar, there were of
Pounds. Ounces.
Pitch-----12. 14.
Oyl-----7. 13.
Acid Spirit-----1. 2. half
21. 13. half
Loft-----o. 2. half
22.
"That the Wateftnade with eld,ftiff, lefs unfiuous Tar feems to tafte fen-
r< fibly ftronger of the acid Spirit, than that made with thinner, more uncluous
" Tar : on which account the (liffer would be preferable, were it not that it
" communicates too much of its groffer Parts alfo to the Water, and that
" the Water made with the thinner Tar taftes much ftronger of Soot or
" Smoak than that made with the ftiff Tars.
" That infiltrating thefe feveral Tarwaters thro' filtring Paper, no Tar
« nor oily Subftance remained in the Paper ; not even of that Tarwater,
" which had 93 Grains of Tar in a Pint: Nor were the filtring Papers
«< when dry any more inflamable where the Tar had paffed than in other
" Parts which had not touched the Tarwater : Nor was the filtring Paper
" of the thinner Tar at all difcoloured, though that of the ftiff was as if
«< fmoaked. Whereby we fee how intimately and minutely the Tar is mix-
« ed with the Water : And fince Water conveys fo much Tar through
« the Filter, no Wonder it fhould alfo be a Vehicle to convey great Quan-
-- • -------- - """ ~ tities
(76)
" titles of [the fubtil Parts of] Tar into the Blood; as well as the medicinal
" Virtue alfo into the fineft and remoteft Veffels of the Body, in the fame
" Manner that the Virtues of mineral Waters are conveyed : And Tar thus
" minutely divided and blended in a great Quantity of Water, will be much
•*• lefs heating than a like Quantity of Tar taken by itfelf, as is evident
*' from many like Inftances.
" That there is a Water which feparates from Tar fometime after, the
" Tar is made [at the Kiln] and that in fuch Quantities, as to lay 3 or 4
" Inches deep on the Tar : And this Water which is fb ftrongly impreg-
" nated with the acid Spirit as to ferment with Chalk, is drank by the A-
" mericans, as a Cure of fome of their Maladies.
"That as Tar by ftirring becomes of a lighter brown Colour ; fo it will
" recover its darker Colour by ftanding, and that fooner if warmed.
" That as he made both Tar and Turpentine Waters with fweet Rain-
ft Water, in which were Water-Gnats ar\dother Infeils ; fo 'twas Very ob-
" fervable that the Water-Gnats died in 6 or 8 Hours, and the other fmall
" Itifecls in 30 or 40 Hours, in Tarwater ; yet neither of them were killed
" in the ftrongeft Turpentine-water which he made, but continued brifk and
" lively for feveral Weeks j and yet we cannot thence infer that Tarwater
*' is pernicious to Mankind.
" That Tarwater has undoubtedly proved an efficacious Remedy in many
" Cafes and Inftances. And whereas in fome Cafes it is obferved by Phy-
" ficians to be too inflammatory ; that heating Quality may be abated by the
" following Methods propofed by the ingenious Mr. Reid.
Mr. Reid's Trad is entitled, "- ALetter to the Rev. Dr. Hales, con-
cerning the Nature of Tar, and a Method of obtaining its Medical Virtues
free from its hurtful Oils, &c. — Dated London, March^: 1747." And
therein he tells us,
" That Tarwater has of late obtained fuch a Reputation, as to be ef-
" teemed by many little lefs than a univerfal Medicine. That though the
" Number and Variety of Cures performed by it, are- equally unqueftiona-
" ble and furprizing, and he is far from the leaft Inclination to depreciate
" thofe Virtues from which fo many have received Benefit, yet there want
"neither Arguments nor Examples to juftify a Sufpicion that in feveral
" Cafes Tarwater is capable-of-doing Harm, when either prepared or ufed
*f improperly.
" That the grofs, refinous Parts of the Tar can communicate nothing to
" cold Water but-what is hurtful: On which Principle it is agreed that
«' Tarwater fhould not be made twice of the fame Tar. That the light,
" athereal Oils [thereof] are fo fiery, cauftick and inflammatory, that they
" cannot be fafely adminiftrod internally without as much Caution as is ne-
" ceffary to effential Oils : And 'tis accordingly agreed that they ought to
" be feparated by fkimming or filtering. That the heavy, grofs, half-burnt
*« Oils and Gums, which fink to the Bottom of the Tarwater or of the acid
*? Juice, and therewith make- a.compound xwddyLhuor,,, ssq alfo. rejeded
by
( 77 )
'• by Confent as an internal Medicine for Reafons much of the fame Nature.
" So that we are reduced to feek the medical Virtues of Tar in the clear,
" greenifh, acid Liquor : And here only he believes they will be found to re-
" fide. That this feems to be the native, nourifhing Sap of the Vegetable ;
«« and confifts of a pure Water impregnated with the penetrating, aclive,
" acid Salts of the Wood, by Means whereof the fineft Parts of the effential
" Oil, are perfedly diffolved and moft intimately united therewith, fo as to
« rife together with the fmalleft Heat unhurt by the Fire. Mean Time,
" this Oil is altogether undifcernable to the Eye,unlefs by it; natural, green-
" ifh Colour. And that this Compound therefore appears to be a true, vola-
" tile, fluid, acid'Soap ; and both from its Compofition and Experience will
" be found an excellent attenuating, deobftruent, alterative Medicine.
" That we are juftly cautioned againft Tarwater of too deep a brown
" Colour, which is owing to the burnt Oils or muddy Liquor fwimming there-
" in : Which carries with it much of the aduft, heating, inflammatory,
" cauftick Oils and Gums. And to this we may fairly and naturally af-
" cribe all the Prejudice done by Tarwater, efpecially to hot, bilious Con-
" ftitutions. That he had lately heard an Inftance to confirm him in this
"■ Way of thinking, which deferves our Notice. A Phyfician of his A>
" quaintance at Dumfries, having endeavoured according to Art, but in
" vain, to cure a Servant Maid, quite worn out with Illnefs,. had. Recourfe
'* at laft to Tarwater, which in a very fhort Time reftored her to perfeft
" Health : The Footman obferving this good Effecl, went to the. Jar in
" which the Tarwater flood, and took a Draught of what the Maid had
" left ; which proved to be the brownijh, muddy Sediment of the Tarwater,
" for the Maii had drank moft of what was clear.: And it produced fuch
'* a terrible Inflammation in his Bowels and Blood..as had well nigh cofthirn
" his Life, which was for many Days defpaired. of, and his. Friends called
"■ in to fee him die.
" That for trying the Goodnefs of Tar before, or Tarwater after it is
" made, he recommends to pour a little, thereof on fome Bits of Chalk ;
u if an Efferveffence does not prefently follow, then we may be fure the Tar
" or Tarwater is not fit for our Ufe ; but the ftronger the Efferveffence
" proves, fo much the better are they to be accounted.
" That he has all along taken it for granted, that, Tar is poffeftexLof exr
" cellent Virtues, which it communicates to cold Water by Jnfufion ; that
" this cannot be denied, becaufe aMultitude of Fails have appeared to vouch
" it, fince the firft Publication of the benevolent Biftiop of Cloyne^ learned,
" elegant, entertaining Recommendation of it.
'* That as Experience is the fureft Teft, he appeals- to the immemorial
" Pradice of'thofe who- live near the. Places where Tar is ufually made :
" Who inftruded by Chance, and convinced by. Experience,, ufe Taru-;er
" for all Complaints ; they drink'the pure acid Liquor which.f\»irr:s natx-
"rally on the Surface of the Tar, after all the. grofs Parts have fubfided,
ll and ths-. atkcrealQH is ikimmedoff: Some take « alone, othera.mingled.
I Mi J 'Hhi i ,MAU1H\ i\ «HM \
(78;
■«f with a"little Water. And it has alfo been long ufual even among us [at
" 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 \
" Liquor from the barrelled Tar, and be cured. '
And he thus concludes—" I fhall efteem myfelf very happy if any Thing
" I have faid, may contribute to make this excellent Medicine ftill more uni-
" verfally ufeful and fafe."
OBSERVATIONS.
THE three Trads above of Mr. Prior, Dr. Hales, and Mr. Reid, with
Biihop Berkeley's Letters, coming laft Oclober among the Books of my
late dear Brother, the Rev. Mr. Nathan Prince, from Rattan, where he died ,
about the 25th of July laft ; I could not but think them of fuch great Im-
portance to the Health of my Country, efpecially in many Towns which
have no Phyficians, as to promote their being reprinted and difperfed here.
But
As the learned Writers on Tarwater in Great-Britain, feem not to be
fully apprized of the natural Hiftory of our North-American Tar ; I fhall
here venture to make a few Obfervations, (1) Of the Trees from whence it
is derived ; (2) Of the feveral Sorts of Tar made from them ; and (3) Of
my little Experience of their different Operations on the human Oeconomy.
I. As to the Trees from whence it is derived—
They are a Sort of Pines, Ever-Greens, naturally and generally grow in
the fandy Grounds difperfed through the Territories of this Northern Con-
tinent : and are called by fome Turpentine Trees, becaufe of the Plenty of
Turpentine in them ; by fome Pitch-Pines, becaufe of the Pitch made of
the Tar derived from them ; and by others, Red-Pines, becaufe of the Red-
nefs of the inner Part of the Wood, to diftinguifh them from another Sort
called White Pines, becaufe of the Whitenefs of the Wood within them.
But in thefe Turpentine Trees, at the going off of the Branches from the
main Stock, and in the middle of the Offsets, there are a Sort of woody,
clofe, compaded Bodies of a finer Grain and roundifh Form, commonly
called Pine-Knots ; of a very vifibly different Subftance from the reft of the
Tree, both in Confidence as being more folid, in Colour being darkifh
fcrown, and in vafcular Diftindion having a Rind of a fimilar Colour and
Confiftence round them. They take their Rife in a conical P >int from near
the Center of the Stock, and the Cone increafing grows larj^tl at the Off-
fet, goes into the Center of the Branch and there grows lefs again : The
Secretory Duds leading into them are abundantly finer than the Canals of
the reft of the Wood : And the Turpentine of the reft of the Tree having
only pafled through the firft Secretions, being more grofs and undigefted ;
when it rifes towards the Knots, thofe finer Strainers with the digefting Help
of the Sun-Beams fecrete a finer and purer Subftance into the Tubes of the
Knots, of a very different Smell, Tafte and Colour (from the remaining Tur-
pentine) becoming a natural Balfam, fragrant, aromatick, fpirjtuous and ac-
tive ; which feems to be the moft perfect natural Digeftion of the terebin-
thinous
r
( 79 )
;, thinous Subftance. And we may fee thefe Knots diftinguifhed in every Board
;'■ made of thefe Red Pine Trees.
;, The principal Ufe of the Knots feem to be two fold ; (i) To ftrengthen
hi the Arms of the Tree at their Offsets, and render them more fecure from
\ being fplit off by Tempefts ; (2) To be the Repofitories and Prefervatives
of this \a\\xao\eBalfam : which feems better than even the excellent Balfam of
Tolu in this refped, that the Water of ours has not like that, fuch a Sweet-
\ nefs as to pall the weakeft Stomach : And fo firm'and durable are the Knots
and Balfam in them, that though the Reft of the Tree, much fooner than
: Oaks, decays with Age while ftanding, or being blown or cut down, dry or
> green, will for all the Turpentine in it, in a few Years rot to Powder ; yet
' thefe Knots are found in the midft of the Powder intirely diftind and firm ;
' and how long they will endure the Weather, 1 have not yet difcovered.
II. As to the feveral Tars made in North-America and brought to Bofton—
There feem to be three Sorts in general, '(1) The Green Tar : So called
becaufe made of the faid Pines while green ; being barked, as they ftand,
about 8 Foot from the Ground, except a Slip about 4 Inches broad to pre-
ferve the Tree from perifhing ; then ftanding a Year, that the watery Juice
may be more evapourated and the remaining Turpentine, and fo the Tar
more thick and vefcid ; and then felled and cut into Billets for the Tar-
Kiln, covered with Sods and fet on Fire ; as Mr. Reid obferves the Acl of
Parliament direds and orders. The Juice of thefe Billets therefore muft be
■ compounded chiefly of the grofs Turpentine and a fmall Part of the knotty
' Balfam. And the Wood and its Canals, being green and open, the Juice is
by the Heat of the Fire more eafily and quickly diffolved, and the Tar lefs
burnt and cauftick : For which the Parliament therefore gives a double
Bounty. 2. The pure balfamick Tar made of the Knots intirely, pick'd up
after the reft of the Trees are rotten, and thrown to the Kiln Heap : which-.
being covered with Sods and fet on Fire ; the firft Runnings of the proper
Tar are faid to be thick and curdly, being but little heated by the Fire, have
the finer and more fpiritous Parts very little evaporated, are beft of all both
for Cordage and Medicines : And this Sort of Tar is a proper Balfam; But
the longer theKiln burns.the more the finerParts evaporate,and theRemaindeir.
grows more pitchy and cauftick ; and towards the End to fucha Degree as
to burn and hurt theCordage. Water made of the middle Runnings is there-
fore not fo good for internal Medicine ; and of the latter inwardly received,
. likely to be heating and hurtful to human Bodies. (3). The Tar made
1 partly of thefe Knots, and partly of the Facings of the Trees where they
were barked, if not of other Parts which appeared to have Turpentine in
them. And this Tar muft needs be lefs digefted and-balfamick than the
fecond Sort j though more than the firft, as being a Compound made mora
of the Knots and lefs of the Turpentine : But the firft Runnings of this
are allowable for Medicines, the middle Runnings lefs, and the* latter not at
all for internal. Wes, for the. Reafbns under the fecond Sort; Though Tar-
water, weaker or ftronger, made of the laft Runnings of every Sort, may
ppffibly be-as effectual, as any, if not more, in outward Applications.
i .__ _ ■
( 8o ;
And the Tars which chiefly come to Bofton, are the green Tars fromSouib
Carolina, and the other two Sorts both from North Carolina and from divcrfe
Parts of New-England: In particular from Dunftable and Wilmington and
other Towns above us, brought down in Carts to Miftick, and then in Boats
to Bofton ; and therefore commonly here called Miftick-Tcr. The Pines
in South and North-Carolina grow in very low Land ; but thofe in New'
England, efpecially thofe that fupply the Miflick-Tar, in higher or drier :
and the more Northward the Spruce and Pines grow, it feems as if they have
a greater and more adive Spirit. I know it is fo in Spruce ; and it is there-
fore likely in Pines.
III. and laftly, As to my little Experience of their different Operations
on the Human Oeconomy—
For fuch a diforderly Fret in my Blood as hindered me from regular
fleeping a Nights for fifteenYears, and other Ails.I began the firft of Feb. laft
with the Water I made of Miftick Tar, according to the Bifhop's Rule ; tak-
ing one Wine Glafs an Hour before Breakfaft, a fecond an Hour before Din-
ner, a third at 6 P. M. and a fourth a little before going to Bed: which
beyond my Expedation immediately refrefhed and compoied me, fo as on
that very Night I began to take my Reft and Sleep in Seafon, and fo held
on aFortnight. Then I for a Fortnight tried the North-Carolina thinnerTar,
which helped me ftill, but not fo well as the Miftick. Then the South-Ca-
rolina green Tar, which in two or three Days fo heat my Blood, and broke
my Reft as obliged me to throw it away : then 1 returned to the firft Run-
nings of the Miftick Tar, which prefently gave me Quiet again : and then I
tried the North-Carolina curdly Tar, which agrees with me near as well as the
Miftick ; but I think the Miftick has a more adive Spirit, and I feel a
greater Livelinefs, Strength and Influence of it in me almoft as foon as
fwallowed down : and this for internal Ails I prefer to the others.
And as the learned Bifhop obferves the Norway Tar to have a more effica-
cious Virtue than the South and North-Carolina,— and afcribes it to this,
that the Pines in Norway grow in higher and drier Land than thofe in Caro-
lina ; as the Juice of Apples growing in higher and drier Ground is more
digefted, fpirituous and of a finer Flavour ; For the fame caufe muft Miftick
Tar be preferable to the Carolina.— And if we could be fure of the firft
Runnings made of Knots alone, it feems highly probable that this would have
the moft efficacious and falubrious Virtue.
I think alfo that the purer the Water is, the more it draws the Spirit of
the Tar into it. Rain-water feems indeed to give the Infufion a maukijh
Tafte, much more difagreeable than good clear Water out of the Earth. And
Water beft for Tea or to boil Peafe is better than others.
To be more clear of the groffer Subftance, I leave the Tar 3 Days clofe
covered a Subfiding. And then the Tar-water being carefully Skimmed,
decanted, and corked clofe in Bottles, it a few Days after feems to grow
more cordial, adive and vivacious.
.Boston, May, zj, 1749.
T. Prince*
Book taken apart* leaves deaoldlfled
with magnesium bicarbonate* Folds
relnforoed, reseved on linen cords
with new all-rag end paper signatures*
unbleached linen hinges & hand sewed
headbands* Rebound in quarter Rus3ell's
oasis morcooe with hand marbled paper
sides & vellum corners. Leather treated
with potassium laotatt A neat's feet \aJ T
oil A lanolin* June 1577»
New York. N.Y. 10011
fr)eJ, tt'st.
&?*
Carolyn Horton 4: Assoc* j> *fS%7B
1+30 West 22 Street j -Jjf*j
C
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