OCR Text |
Show 786 SCOTCH FIR. SCOTCH FIR. tirely as it is from the latter; and he also properly supports it by this, that any other parts of the tar water which maybe found in it, unless carefully separated, are commonly very hurtful. Upon the first introduction of tar water some physicians were of opinion, that it derived part of its virtue from some oily mat. ter in its composition; but it would not be difficult to show that this, in manyrespects, is very improbable; and that, upon the contrary, the presence of these oils, as Mr. Reid has par ticularly pointed out, is frequently pernicious, But, to super. sede all controversy on this subject, [ can assert from muchexe perience, that the tar-water, as it abounds in acid, andis more free fromall oily matters, is the moreeffectual medicine: and I have this clear proof of it, that when, instead of extracting the acid byinfusing the tar in water, I procuredit bydistillation fromsolid fir or other woods ; and, by taking onlythe first part of the distillation, I obtained the acid as free as possible from all oily matter. JI found that by employing this acid as a medicine properlydiluted with water, every virtue appeared that was ever found in any tar water. In this practice I founda particular advantage, as I could, by a proper rectification and concentration, bring the acid into a small bulk ; which being readily portable, is, on occasion of journeys or other circumstances, rendered very convenient. But it is very necessary to observe here, that this acid, to be rendered a very useful remedy, must e always largely diluted with water; and how muchthe water mayfavourits operation in every respect will be sufficiently obvious. Tar Ointment. (UnguentumPicis. L. D.) 787 against some cutaneous affections, particularly tinea capitis. For this purpose a plaster is made and put over the whole head at bed-time, andin three days after torn off with violence, so as to extract the hair from the roots. The head must be first shaved. This must be last tried; after the citron ointment (ung. hydr. nitrat,) applied at night, aud washed off every morning with soap and water, and afterwards bathed in vinegar, have failed. Lunar caustic, where the disease is of small extent, is the best application. An ointment of tar is directed in both Pharmacopwias, which has been chiefly employed in cutaneous disorders. Dr. Cullen says, “* T have met with an empirical practice with respect to tar of a singular kind. A leg of mutton is laid to roast; and whilst it continues roasting, it is basted with tar instead of butter. Whilst the roasting goes on, a sharp skeweris frequently thrust into the substance of the mutton, to give occasion to the tunning out of the gravy; and with the mix ture of the tar and gravy to be found in the dripping-pan, the body is to be anointed all over for three or four nights successively, whilst for the same time the same bodylinen is to be worn. This is alleged to be aremedy in several cases of lepra; and I have had oneinstance of its being employed in a lepra icthyosis with great success 5 but for reasons readily to be apprehended, I have not had opportunities of repeating the practice.” Weshall nowextract from the most splendid and elaborate Monograph, onthe genus Pinus, (pine tree,) that has ever issued from the press in this or anyother country, the other uses detived from this extensive genus, as communicated to that eminent botanist A. B, Lambert, esq. by his learned friends Dr. Maton and Mr. Davis. Take of tar, mutton suet, prepared, Melt them together, and strain: of each half a pound: YettowResin. The mode of preparing this substance is minutely described by the French author whose name we have mentioned above *. He informs us, that the resinous juice is put into a large copper placed over a furnace, which last is usually constructed with a ‘OW wax, two parts: These compositions cannot be considered as differing essentially from each other. As far as they have any peculiar activity, this entirely depends on the tar. [rom the empyreuma- tic oil and saline matters which it contains, it is undoubtedly of some activity. mixture of clay, sand, and straw. Great careis taken that the Sides of the furnace should adjoin close to the copper, lest the smoke of the fuel should mix with that of the resinous juice; for, Without such a precaution, the heat of the furnace wouldnot fail Accordingly, it has been successfully employed * Duhamel, tom. ii, p. 145. |