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105. The hardness of ftubbed vulgar conftitutions, renders them infenfible of a thousand things, that fret and gall thofe delicate people, who, as if their skin was peeled off, feel to the quick every thing that touches them. The remedy for this exquifite and painful fenfibility is commonly fought from fermented, perhaps from diftilled, liquors, which render many lives wretched, that would otherwife have been only ridiculous. The tender nerves, and low fpirits of fuch poor creatures, would be much relieved by the use of tar-water, which might prolong and cheer their lives. I do therefore recommend to them the ufe of a cordial, not only fafe and innocent, but giving health and spirit as furely as other cordials deftroy them.

106. I do verily think, there is not any other medicine whatsoever, fo effectual to reftore a crazy conftitution, and chear a dreary mind, or fo likely to fubvert that gloomy empire of the fpleen (a), which tyranifeth over the better fort (as they are called) of thefe free nations; and maketh them, in fpight of their liberty and property, more wretched faves than even the fubjects of abfolute power, who breath clear air in a funny climate, While men of low degree often enjoy a tranquillity and content, that no advantage of birth or fortune can equal. Such, indeed, was the cafe, while the rich alone could afford to be debauched; but when even beggars became debauchees, the cafe was altered.

107. The public virtue and spirit of the British legiflature, never fhewed itself more confpicuous in any act, that in that for fuppreffing the immoderate ufe of fpirituous liquors among the people, whofe ftrength and numbers conftitute the true wealth of a nation: though evafive arts

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will, it is feared, prevail so long as diftilled fpirits of any kind are allowed, the character of Englishmen in general, being that of Brutus, Quicquid vult, valde vult. But why fhould fuch a canker be tolerated in the vitals of a ftate, under any pretence or in any shape whatfoever? Better by far, the whole prefent fet of diftillers were penfioners of the public, and their trade abolished by law; fince all the benefit thereof put together would not balance the hundredth part of its mifchief.

108. To prove the deftructive effects of fuch fpirits with regard both to the humane fpecies and individuals, we need not go fo far as our colonies, or the favage natives of America. Plain proof may be had nearer home. For, albeit there is in every town or district throughout England, fome tough dram-driuker, fet up as the Devil's decoy, to draw in profelytes; yet the ruined health and morals, and the beggary of fuch numbers evidently fhew that we need no other enemy to compleat our destruction, than this cheap luxury at the lower end of the state, and that a nation lighted up at both ends muft foon be confumed.

109. It is much to be lamented that our Infulars, who act and think fo much for themselves, fhould yet, from groffnefs of air and diet, grow ftupid or doat fooner than other people, who, by virtue of elaftic air, water-drinking, and light food, preferve their faculties to extreme old age; an advantage which may perhaps be approached, if not equalled, even in thefe regions, by tarwater, temperance, and early hours; the laft is a fure addition to life, not only in regard of time, which, being taken from fleep, the image of death, is added to the waking hours, but also in regard of longevity and duration in the vulgar fenfe.

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fenfe. I may fay too, in regard of fpirit and vivacity, which, within the fame compafs of duration, may truly and properly be affirmed to add to man's life it being manifeft, that one man, by a brifker motion of his fpirits and fucceffion of his ideas, fhall live more in one hour, than another in two; and that the quantity of life is to be estimated, not merely from the duration, but also from the intenfenefs of living. Which intense living, or, if I may fo fay, lively life, is not more promoted by early hours as a regimen, than by tar-water as a cordial; which acts, not only as a flow medicine, but hath alfo an immediate and cheerful (4) effect on the fpirits.

110. It must be owned, that light attracted, fecreted, and detained in tar (b), and afterwards drawn off in its fineft balfamic particles, by the gentle menftruum of cold water, is not a violent and fudden medicine, always to produce its effect at once, (fuch, by irritating, often do more mischief than good) but a safe and mild alterative, which penetrates the whole fyftem, opens, heals, and strengthens the remote veйfels, alters and propels their contents, and enters the minuteft capillaries, and cannot therefore, otherwife than by degrees and in time, work a radical cure of chronic diftempers. It gives nevertheless speedy relief in moft cafes, as I have found by my felf and many others. I have been furprized to fee perfons fallen away and languishing under a bad digeftion, after a few weeks recover a good ftomach, and with it flesh and strength, so as to feem renewed, by the drinking of tar-water. The ftrength and quantity of this water to be taken by each individual person is best determined from experience. And as for the time (b) 8, 29, 40.

(a) 66.

of

of taking, I never knew any evil enfue from its being continued ever fo long; but, on the contrary, many and great advantages, which fometimes would not perhaps begin to fhew themfelves till it had been taken two or three months.

111. We learn from Pliny, that in the firft fer!ment of new wine or muftum, the ancients were wont to sprinkle it with powdered rofin, which gave it a certain fprightlinefs, quædam faporis acumina. This was efteemed a great improver of its odour and taste, and was, I doubt not, of its faJubrity alfo. The brown old rofin, that is to fay, harden'd tar, as being more eafily pulverized and fifted, was moft in requeft for this purpose. They ufed likewise to season their wine veffels with pitch or rofin. And I make no doubt, that if our vintners would contrive to medicate their wines with the fame ingredients, they might improve and preferve them, with lefs trouble and expence to themselves, and lefs danger to others. He that would know more particulars of this matter may confult Pliny and Columella. I fhall only add, that I doubt not a fimilar improvement may be made of malt liquor.

112. The prin of Theophraftus and refina of Pliny are sometimes ufed in a general fenfe, to fignify all forts of oily vifcid exfudations from plants or trees. The crude watery juice, that riTeth early in the fpring, is gradually ripened and infpiffated by the folar heat, becoming in orderly fucceffion with the feafons an oil, a balfam, and at laft a refin. And it is obferved by chemifts, that turpentine diffolved over a gentle fire, is, by the conftant operation of heat, fucceffively transformed into oil, balfam, pitch, and hard friable refin, which will incorporate with oil or rectified fpirit, but not with water,

113. Sir

113. Sir John Floyer remarks, that we want a method for the ufe of turpentine, and again, he who fhall hit, faith he, on the pleasanteft method of giving turpentine, will do great cures in the gout, ftone, catarrhs, dropfies and cold fcurvies, rheumatifms, ulcers, and obftructions of the glands. Laftly, he fubjoins, that for the use of altering and amending the juices and fibres, it must be given frequently, and in fuch fmall quantities at a time, and in fo commodious a manner, as will agree best with the stomach (a), ftay longeft in the body, and not purge itself off; for large dofes (faith he) go through too quick, and befides offend the head. Now the infufion of tar or turpentine in cold wa ter feems to fupply the very method that was wanted, as it leaves the more unctuous, and grofs parts behind (b), which might offend the ftomach, inteftines and head; and as it may be easily taken, and as often, and in fuch quantity, and fuch degree of strength, as fuits the cafe of the patient. Nor fhould it feem, that the fine fpirit and volatile oil, obtained by infufion of tar (c) is inferior to that of turpentine, to which it fuperadds the virtue of wood foot, which is known to be very great with refpect to the head and nerves; and this appears evident from the manner of obtaining tar (d). And as the fine volatile parts of tar or turpentine are drawn off by infufion in cold water and eafily conveyed throughout the whole fyftem of the human body; fo it fhould feem the fame method may be used with all forts of balfams or refins whatfoever, as the readieft, easiest, and most inoffenfive, as well as in many cafes the moft effectual way of obtaining and imparting their virtues. (b) 47. (c) 7, 42, 58.

(a) 9.

(d) 13.

114. After

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