Tar water

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Against allopathy

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Tar water was a quack remedy popular in the mediaeval period, consisting of pine tar and water.

By all accounts it was foul-tasting and of course entirely ineffective, so it died out, but enjoyed a brief resurgence in the 18th and 19th Century; it was heavily promoted by Bishop Berkeley,[1] notably in his book Siris (1744).

It is mentioned in Great Expectations: young Pip and his brother in law Joe were often force fed it by Mrs. Joe.

[edit] External links

An authentick narrative of the success of tar-water, in curing a great number and variety of distempers : with remarks and occasional papers relative to the subject : to which are subjoined, two letters from the author of Siris, shewing the medicinal properties of tar-water, and the best manner of making it − Thomas Prior, 1746

[edit] Footnotes

  1. Homeopathy and Its Kindred Delusions, Oliver Wendell Holmes.
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