TAR. 



forms an excellent application in different difeafcs of various 

 kinds of animals, efpecially thofe of the flcin. 



Tar, Barbadoes. See Bitumen, and Petroleum Bar- 



hadenfe. 



Tau, Mineral. See Bitumen. 



T AV.-lVater. As the cold infufion of tar has been for- 

 merly much in vogue, and has been recommended by one of 

 the moll learned and ingenious writers of the age, it may 

 not be improper to give fome account of its virtues from 

 the bilhop of Cloyne's Siris, or chain of refletlions con- 

 cerning the virtues of tar-water. 



In fome parts of America, tar-water is made by putting a 

 quart of c«ld water to a quart of tar, and ilirring them well 

 together in a veffel, which is left ftanding till the tar fmks 

 to the bottom. A glafs of clear water being poured off for 

 a draught, is replaced by the fame quantity of frefh water, 

 the veuel being fhaken, and left to (land as before. And 

 this is repeated for every glafs, fo long as the tar continues 

 to impregnate the water fufficiently, which will appear by 

 the fmell and talle. 



But as this method produces tar-water of different degrees 

 of ftrength, the author fays he chufes to make it in the 

 following manner : Pour a gallon of cold water on a quart 

 of tar, and ftir and mix them thoroughly with a ladle or flat 

 ftick, for the fpace of three or four minutes ; after which 

 the veffel muft ftand eight -and-forty hours, that the tar may 

 have time to fubfide ; when the clear water is to be poured 

 off, and kept for ufe, no more being made from the fame tar, 

 which may ftill ferve for common purpofes. 



This cold infufion of tar hath been ufed in fome of our 

 colonies as a prefervative or preparative againft the fmall- 

 pox, which foreign praftice induced the bifhop to try it in 

 his own neighbourhood, when the fmall-pox raged with great 

 violence. He fays the trial fully anfwered his expeftation ; 

 all thofe within his knowledge, who took the tar -water, 

 having either efcaped that diftemper, or had it very favour- 

 ably. Several were preferved from taking the fmall-pox by 

 the ufe of this liquor ; others had it in the mildeft manner ; 

 and others, that they might be able to take tlie infection, 

 were obliged to intermit drinking tar-water. He fays, he 

 has found it may be drank with great fafety and fuccefs for 

 any length of time, and this not only before, but alfo during 

 the aforefaid diftemper. 



The general rule for taking it is, about half a pint night 

 and movning, on an empty ftomach, which quantity may be 

 varied according to the cafe and age of the patient ; provided 

 it be always taken on an empty ftomach, and aboOt two hours 

 before or after a meal. 



It has been found, that feveral perfons infefted with cuta- 

 neous eruptions and ulcers were immediately relieved, and 

 foon after cured, by the ufe of this medicine. It is faid, that 

 even in the fouleft diftempers, it proved much more fuccefs- 

 ful than falivations and wood-drinks had done. It alfo fuc- 

 ceeded, beyond expedtation, in a tedious and painful ulcer- 

 ation of the bowels, in a confumptive cough, and (as ap- 

 peared by expectorated pus) an ulcer in the lungs, in a 

 pleurify and peripneumony. And when a perfon who had 

 been for fome years fubjedl to eryfipelatous fevers, perceived 

 the ufual forerunning fymptoms to come on, the drinking of 

 tar-water prevented the eryfipelas. 



Tar-water cures indigellion, and gives a good appetite. 

 It is an excellent medicine in an afthma ; it imparts a kindly 

 warmth, and quick circulation to the juices, without heat- 

 ing, and is therefore ufeful, not only as a peAoral and bal- 

 famic, but alfo as a powerful and a fafe deobftruent in ca- 

 cheftic and hyfteric cafes. As it is both healing and diu- 

 retic, it is very good for the gravel. The bilhop fays he 

 Vol. XXXV. 



believes it to be of grtat ufe in a dropfy, haN-ing known it 

 cure a very bad anafarca in a perfon whofe third, though 

 very extraordinary, was in a fhort time removed by the 

 drinking of tar-water. From the fuccefs of this medicine in 

 five or fix inftances, the bifliop believes it to be the beft and 

 fafeft, either for preventing the gout, or for fo ftrengthcning 

 nature againft the fit, as to drive it from the vitals. 



It may likcwife be fafely ufed in inflammatory cafes ; and, 

 in faft, hath been found an admirable febrifuge, at once the 

 fafeft cooler and cordial. 



The falts and more aftive fpirits of tar are got by infufion 

 in cold water ; but the rcfinous part is not to be diffolvcd 

 tliereby. Hence the prejudice whicli fome, perhaps, may 

 entertain againft tar -water, the ufe of which might inflame 

 the blood by its fulphur and refin, as a medicine, appears 

 not to be well grounded. It is obfer\ed by chcmifts, that 

 all forts of balfamic wood affor'd an acid fpirit, which is 

 the volatile oily fait of tlie vegetable. Herein is chiefly con- 

 tained their medicinal virtues ; and this author affirms, that 

 by the trials he has made, it appeai-s that the acid fpirit in 

 tar-water poffeffes tlie virtues, in an eminent degree, of that 

 of guaiacum, and other medicinal woods. 



It is certain tar-water warms, and therefore fome may per- 

 haps ftill think it cannot cool. The more effectually to 

 remove this prejudice, let it be farther confidered, that, as 

 on one hand, oppofite caufes do fometimes produce the fame 

 effeft ; for inftancc, heat by rarefaftion, and cold by con- 

 denfation, do both increafe the air's elafticity ; fo, on the 

 other hand, the fame caufe ftiall fometimes produce oppofite 

 effefts. Heat, for inftance, in one degree thins, in another 

 coagulates, the blood. It is not therefore ftrange, that tar- 

 water ftiould warm one liabit and cool another ; have one 

 good effeft on a cold conftitution, and another good effeft 

 on an inflamed one ; nor, if this be fo, that it ftiould cure 

 oppofite diforders. 



A medicine of fo great virtue in fo many different dif- 

 orders, and efpecially in that grand enemy the fever, muft 

 needs be a benefit to mankind in general. There are never- 

 thelefs three forts of people to whom the biftiop fays he 

 would peculiarly recommend it ; fea-faring perfons, ladies, 

 and men of. ftudious and fedentary lives. See Two Letters 

 from the Biftiop of Cloyne, &c. publiftied in 1747. 



If it be aflied, what precife quantity, or degree of ftrength, 

 is required in tar-water ? It is anfwered, that the palate, 

 the ftomach, the particular cafe and conftitution of the pa- 

 tient, the very feafon of the year, will difpofe and require 

 him to drink more or lefs in quantity, ftronger or weaker in 

 degree. Precifely to meafure its ftrength by a fcrupulou» 

 exaftnefs, is by no means ncceffary. 



It is to be obferved, that tar-water fliould not be made in 

 unglazed earthen veffels, thefe being apt to communicate a 

 naufeous fweetnefs to the water. 



The fame ingenious author recommends tar-water in tlie 

 plague, and for the diftemper among the horned cattle ; with 

 what fuccefs, muft be left to experience. 



Though this medicine, fays Dr. Lewis, is undoubtedly 

 very far inferior to the charafter that hath been given of it» 

 it is apparently capable of anfwering important purpofes, 

 as a deobftruent balfamic folution, moderately warm and 

 ftimulating. It fenfibly raifes the pulfe, and incrcafcs either 

 perfpiration or the groffer evacuations. He adds, " I have 

 been informed of fome late inftances of its good effefts in 

 diforders of the leprous kind." Mat. Med. 



Dr. Cullcn thinks that the acid principle gives the virtue 

 to tar-water, and on this account the biftiop of Cloyne pro- 

 perly preferred the Norway tar to that of New England, as 

 the former contains more acid than the latter. This eminent 



O phyfician 



