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repeated attention, especially in thefe climates, where ftrong liquors fo fatally and fo frequently produce thofe very diftreffes they are defigned to remedy; and, if I am not mifinformed, even among the ladies themselves, who are truly much to be pitied. Their condition of life makes them a prey to imaginary woes, which never fail to grow up in minds unexercifed and unemployed. To get rid of thefe, it is faid, there are who betake themfelves to diftilled fpirits. And it is not improbable they are led gradually to the use of those poisons by a certain complaifant pharmacy, too much used in the modern practice, palfy drops, poppy cordial, plague water, and fuch like, which being in truth nothing but drams disguised, yet coming from the apothecaries, are confidered only as medicines.

104. The foul of man was fuppofed by many ancient fages, to be thrust into the human body as into a prifon, for punishment of paft offences. But the worst prifon is the body of an indolent Epicure, whofe blood is inflamed by fermented liquors (a) and high fauces, or render'd putrid, fharp, and corrofive, by a stagnation of the animal juices through floth and indolence; whofe membranes are irritated by pungent falts, whofe mind is agitated by painful ofcillations of the nervous (b) fyftem, and whofe nerves are mutually affected by the irregular paffions of his mind. This ferment in the animal economy darkens and confounds the intellect. It produceth vain terrours and vain conceits, and ftimulates the foul with mad defires, which, not being natural, nothing in nature can fatisfy. No wonder, therefore, there are fo many fine perfons of both fexes, fhining themfelves, and fhone on by fortune, who are inwardly miferable and fick of life.

(a) 66.

(b) 86.

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105. The hardnefs of ftubbed vulgar conftitutions, renders them infenfible of a thousand things, that fret and gall those 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 otherwise 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 safe and innocent, but giving health and spirit as furely as other cordials destroy them.

106. I do verily think, there is not any other medicine whatsoever, fo effectual to reftore a crazy constitution, and chear a dreary mind, or fo likely to fubvert that gloomy empire of the spleen (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 naves 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 legislature, never fhewed itself more confpicuous in any act, that in that for fuppreffing the immoderate use of diftilled fpirits among the people, whofe ftrength and numbers conftitute the true wealth of a nation; though evasive arts

(a) 103.

will, it is feared, prevail fo long as diftilled spirits 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 fhape whatsoever? Better by far, the whole present 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 mischief.

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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 diftrict 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 must foon be confumed.

109. It is much to be lamented that our Infulars, who act and think fo much for themfelves, fhould yet, from groffness 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 alfo in regard of longevity and duration in the vulgar fense.

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fenfe. I may fay too, in regard of spirit 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 intenseness 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 (a) effect on the fpirits.

110. It must be owned, that light attracted, fecreted, and detained in tar (b), and afterwards drawn off in its finest 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 mifchief than good) but a fafe and mild alterative, which penetrates the whole fyftem, opens, heals, and ftrengthens the remote veffels, 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 ftrength, fo as to feem renewed, by the drinking of tar-water. The ftrength and quantity of this water to be taken by each individual perfon is best determined from experience. And as for the time (b) 8, 29, 40.

(a) 66.

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

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111. We learn from Pliny, that in the firft ferment of new wine or muftum, the ancients were wont to fprinkle it with powdered rofin, which gave it a certain fprightliness, quædam faporis acumina. This was efteemed a great improver of its odour and tafte, and was, I doubt not, of its falubrity alfo. The brown old rofin, that is to fay, harden'd tar, as being more easily pulverized and fifted, was most in requeft for this purpofe. They used 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 pntívn of Theophraftus and refina of Pliny are fometimes ufed in a general fenfe, to fignify all forts of oily vifcid exfudations from plants or trees. The crude watery juice, that rifeth 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 resin, which will incorporate with oil or rectified fpirit, but not with water.

113. Sir

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