Page images
PDF
EPUB
[ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]

9.

from the fubject, the more do they poffefs of it's
fpecific qualities. Now the moft eafy feparation
is by infufion of tar in cold water, which to fmell
and taft fhewing it felf well impregnated, may
be prefumed to extract and retain the moft pure
volatile and active particles of that vegetable balfam,
Tar was by the ancients esteemed good
against poifons, ulcers, the bites of venomous
creatures, alfo for pthifical, fcrophulous, paralytic
and afthmatic perfons. But the method of ren-
dering it an inoffenfive medicine and agreeable to
the ftomach, by extracting it's virtues in cold wa-
ter, was unknown to them. The leaves and ten-
der tops of pine and fir are in our times used for
diet-drinks, and allowed to be antifcorbutic and
diuretic. But the most elaborate juice, falt, and
fpirit of those evergreens are to be found in tar;
whofe virtues extend not to animals alone, but alfo
to vegetables. Mr. Evelyn in his treatife on Forest
trees obferves with wonder, that ftems of trees,
fmeared over with tar, are preserved thereby from
being hurt by the invenomed teeth of goats and
other injuries, while every other thing of an un-
Etuous nature is highly prejudicial to them.

·

10. It seems that tar and turpentine may be had more or lefs, from all forts of pines and firs whatfoever; and that the native fpirits and effential falts of thofe vegetables are the fame in turpentine and common tar. In effect this vulgar tar, which cheapness and plenty may have rendered contemptible, appears to be an excellent balfam, containing the virtues of most other balfams, which it eafily imparts to water, and by that means readily and inoffenfively infinuates them into the habit of the body.

11. The refinous exfudations of pines and firs are an important branch of the materia medica,

and

[merged small][ocr errors]

and not only useful in the prefcriptions of cians, but have been alfo thought otherwif ducive to health. Pliny tells us, that wines time of the old Romans were medicated with and refin; and Jonftonus in his Dendrog obferves, that it is wholefome to walk in gro pine trees, which impregnate the air with ba particles. That all turpentines and refins are for the lungs, against gravel alfo and obstruc is no fecret. And that the medicinal proper thofe drugs are found in tar-water, without ing the blood, or difordering the ftomach, i firmed by experience: and particularly that cal and afthmatic perfons receive fpeedy and relief from the use of it.

It

12. Balfams, as all unctuous and oily medi create a nauseating in the ftomach. They c therefore be taken in fubftance, fo much long, as to produce all thofe falutary effects, w if thoroughly mixed with the blood and they would be capable of producing. therefore be a thing of great benefit, to be a introduce any requifite quantity of their vo parts into the finest ducts and capillaries, fo to offend the ftomach, but, on the contrar comfort and ftrengthen it in a great degree.

13. According to Pliny, liquid pitch ( calls it) or tar was obtained by fetting fire to lets of old fat pines or firs. The first running tar, the latter or thicker running was pitch. phraftus is more particular: he tells us the donians made huge heaps of the cloven trun thofe trees, wherein the billets were placed beide each other. That fuch heaps or pil wood were fometimes a hundred and eighty round, and fixty or even a hundred high: that having covered them with fods of ear

3

[ocr errors]

P

prevent the flame from bursting forth (in which cafe the tar was loft) they fet on fire thofe huge heaps of pine or fir, letting the tar and pitch run out in a channel.

14. Pliny faith, it was cuftomary for the ancients, to hold fleeces of wool over the steam of boiling tar, and fqueeze the moisture from them, which watery fubftance was called piffinum. Ray will have this to be the fame with the piffelæum of the ancients; but Hardouin in his notes on Pliny, thinks the piffelæum to have been produced from the cones of cedars. What use they made of thefe liquors anciently I know not but it may be prefumed they were used in medicine, though at prefent, for ought I can find, they are not used

at all.

15. From the manner of procuring tar (a) it plainly appears to be a natural production, lodged in the veffels of the tree, whence it is only freed and let loofe (not made) by burning. If we may believe Pliny, the first running or tar was called cedrium, and was of fuch efficacy to preferve from putrefaction, that in Egypt they embalmed dead bodies with it. And to this he afcribes their mummies continuing uncorrupted for fo many ages.

16. Some modern writers inform us that tar flows from the trunks of pines and firs, when they are very old, through incifions made in the bark near the root; that pitch is tar infpiffated; and both are the oyl of the tree grown thick and ripened with age and fun. The trees, like old men, being unable to perfpire, and their fecretory ducts obftructed, they are, as one may fay, choaked and ftuffed with their own juice.

17. The method ufed by our colonies in Ame rica, for making tar and pitch, is in effect the fame with that of the ancient Macedonians; as

[blocks in formation]

appears from the account given in the Phi Tranfactions. And the relation of Leo A who defcribes, as an eye witness, the n tar on mount Atlas, agrees in fubftance, methods ufed by the Macedonians of old people of New England at this day.

18. Jonitonus in his Dendrographia, nion, that pitch was anciently made of well as of the pine and fir grown old and fhould feem indeed that one and the fa was used by the ancients in a large fenfe comprehend the juices iffuing from all th Tar and all forts of exfudations from e are, in a general acceptation, included name refin. Hard coarfe refin or dry made from tar, by letting it blaze till the is fpent. Liquid refin is properly an o juice oozing from the bark of evergreen ther fpontaneously or by incifion. It is t be the oil of the bark infpiffated by the it iffues from the tree it is liquid, but bed and hard being condenfed by the fun or by

19. According to Theophraftus, refi tained by ftripping off the bark from p by incifions made in the filver fir and pine. The inhabitants of mount Ida, h itripped the trunk of the pine on the funn or three cubits from the ground. H that a good pine might be made to y every year; and indifferent every other the weaker trees once in three years; three runnings were as much as a tree c It is remarked by the fame author, th doth not at once produce fruit and refin former only in its youth, the latter in its

20. Turpentine is a fine refin. Fou this are in ufe. The turpentine of Chic

[merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors]

rus which flows from the turpentine tree; the Venice turpentine which is got by piercing the Larch tree; the Strafburgh Turpentine which Mr. Ray informs us is procured from the knots of the filver fir; it is fragrant and grows yellow with age: The fourth kind is common turpentine, neither transparent, nor fo liquid as the former; and this Mr. Ray taketh to flow from the mountain pine. All these turpentines are useful in the fame intentions. Theophraftus faith the best refin or turpen-. tine is got from the Terebinthus growing in Syria and fome of the Greek iflands. The next beft from the filver fir and pitch pine.

21. Turpentine is on all hands allowed to have great medicinal virtues. Tar and it's infufion' contain those virtues. Tar-water is extremely pectoral and reftorative, and, if I may judge from what experience I have had, it poffeffeth the most valuable qualities afcribed to the feveral balfams of Peru, of Tolu, of Capivi, and even to the balm of Gilead; fuch is it's virtue in afthmas and pleurifies, in obftructions and ulcerous erofions of the inward parts. Tar in fubftance, mix'd with honey, I have found an excellent medicine for coughs. Balfams, as hath been already obferved, are apt to offend the ftomach. But tar-water may be taken without offending the ftomach: For the ftrengthening whereof it is the beft medicine I have ever tried.

22. The folly of man rateth things by their fcarcenefs, but Providence hath made the most ufeful things moft common. Among thofe liquid oily extracts from trees and fhrubs which are termed balfams, and valued for medicinal virtues, tar may hold it's place as a most valuable balfam. It's fragrancy fheweth, that it is poffeffed of active qualities, and it's oilinefs, that it is fitted to retain them. This excellent balfam may be pur

B 2

chafed

« EelmineJätka »