* a 
PINUS SYRVESTRISS ORD. I. Conjfere. ae 
properties, and all sites i Wording the ee products of the 
turpentine kind, yet as it has been found that some species produce 
these different articles of the Materia Medica in greater purity, or in 
more abundance than others, we have sccordiigly assigned to each, 
the respective article which it best supplies. This tree not only fur: 
nishes most abundantly the Pix liquida, or Tar,  but-also from it 
may be obtained the common turpentine, and. the white aud idlar ” 
resins. 
The manner in which the Tar is procured i is ig Lote the. tree 
into pieces, which are inelosed in a large oven constructed. for the 
purpose, with a channel at the bottom. A sufficient degree of heat 
is then applied, by which the tar is forced. out of the wood, and 
runs off by the sda at the. mga a process termed astitiatie, 
per descensum. 
Tar, which is well known. from: its economical uses, i is. properly 
an empyreumatic oil of turpentine, and has been much used a8 a 
medicine both internally and externally, Tar ‘water,* or water im- 
pregnated with the more soluble parts of tar, was sometime ago a 
very popular remedy in various obstinate disorders, both acute and 
chronic ; especially in small-pox, scurvy, ulcers, fistulas, rheumatism, 
asthma, coughs, cutaneous complaints, &c. and though its medicinal. 
efficacy was greatly exaggerated by the publications of Bishop 
Berkeley, Prior, and others, yet Dr. Cullen acknowledges: that: he 
experienced this preparation in several cases to be a valuable 
medicine, and that it “ appeared to strengthen the tone of the 
stomach, to excite appetite, promote digestion, and to cure all 
symptoms of dyspepsia. At the same time it manifestly, promotes 
the. excretions, ey that of urine: and 1 the same may. be 
* The proportions that have heen commonly Gait are two pounds of tar 
to a gallon of water; which are to be well stirred together, then suffered to settle 
for two days, and the clear liquor poured off for use. Froma pint to a quart, 
according to circumstances, may be taken in the course of twenty-four hours. 
Dr. Cullen thinks with Mr. Reid, that the acid principle gives the virtue to tar — 
water; and hence the Bishop of Cloyne properly preferred the Norway tar to 
that of New England, as the former contaius more acid than the latter. 
‘4 
