94 MEALS MEDICINAL. 
Pinus sylvestris a fixed oil is extracted chemically by distillation, 
which oleo-resin consists of a resinous base, and a volatile 
essential oil. If the “tears,” or resin drops, which trickle out 
on the stems of pines be taken, five or six of them during the day, 
they will benefit chronic bronchitis, and will abate the cough of 
consumption. Also eight or ten drops of the pine oil given in 
a little milk three or four times a day will relieve chronic rheuma- 
tism. Wool saturated with some of this oil, and then dried, 
is made into blankets, jackets, spencers, and socks, for the use 
of rheumatic sufferers. 
Tar (Por liquida) is extracted by heat from the Scotch fir ; 
it has been long employed by doctors both externally, and 
internally. Tar-water was extolled in 1747 by Bishop Berkeley 
(Siris) almost as a panacea; he gave it for scurvy, skin diseases, 
sores, asthma, and rheumatism. It promotes several of the 
bodily secretions, particularly the urine. Tar yields pyro- 
ligneous acid, oil of tar, and pitch, also guaiacol, and creosote. 
Syrup of tar is an officinal medicine in U.S. America, for 
chronic bronchitis, and winter cough. Tar ointment is 
highly efficacious for curing some skin eruptions ; but in eczema 
no preparation of tar should be applied as long as the skin weeps, 
and is actively inflamed. Dr. Cullen met with a singular practice 
carried out regarding tar: A leg of mutton was put to roast, 
being basted during the whole process with tar instead of butter ; 
whilst it roasted a sharp skewer was frequently thrust into the 
substance of the meat to let the juices run out, and with the 
mixture of tar and gravy found in the dripping-pan the body 
of the patient was anointed all over for three or four consecutive 
nights, the same body-linen being worn throughout all this time. 
The plan proved quite successful in curing obstinate lepra. The 
Swedes call the fir “‘ the scorbutick tree” to this day. Tar-water 
is to be made by stirring a pint of tar with half a gallon of water 
for fifteen minutes, and then decanting it; from half a pint to a 
pint of this may be taken daily. Tar ointment is prepared with 
five parts of tar to two pounds of yellow wax. Said Mrs. Joe 
Gargery, in Great Expectations (C. Dickens), to her boy brother 
Pip, whom she had brought up by hand (and a hard one, too 1), 
“You come along, and be dosed.” ‘‘ Some medical beast had 
revived tar-water in those days as a fine medicine, and Mrs. Joe 
always kept a supply of it in the cupboard, having a belief in 
= its virtues correspondent to its nastiness. At the best of times 
