LordBaconspeaksoftheWeaponOintment，inhisNaturalHistory，ashavinginitsfavorthetestimonyofmenofcredit，though，inhisownlanguage，hehimself“asyetisnotfullyinclinedtobelieveit。“Hisremarksupontheassertedfactsrespectingitshowamixtureofwisesuspicionandpartialbelief。Hedoesnotliketheprecisedirectionsgivenastothecircumstancesunderwhichtheanimalsfromwhichsomeofthematerialswereobtainedweretobekilled；forhethoughtitlookedlikeaprovisionforanexcuseincaseoffailure，bylayingthefaulttotheomissionofsomeofthesecircumstances。Buthelikeswellthat“theydonotobservetheconfectingoftheOintmentunderanycertainconstellation；whichiscommonlytheexcuseofmagicalmedicines，whentheyfail，thattheywerenotmadeunderafitfigureofheaven。“[Thiswasamistake，however，sincethetworecipesgivenbyHildanusarebothveryexplicitastotheaspectoftheheavensrequiredfordifferentstagesoftheprocess。]“Itwaspretendedthatiftheoffendingweaponcouldnotbehad，itwouldservethepurposetoanointawoodenonemadelikeit。“This，“saysBacon，“Ishoulddoubttobeadevicetokeepthisstrangeformofcureinrequestanduse；becausemanytimesyoucannotcomebytheweaponitself。“Andinclosinghisremarksonthestatementsoftheadvocatesoftheointment，hesays，“Lastly，itwillcureabeastaswellasaman，whichIlikebestofalltherest，becauseitsubjecteththemattertoaneasytrial。“Itisworthremembering，thatmorethantwohundredyearsago，whenanabsurdandfantasticremedywasassertedtopossesswonderfulpower，andwhensensiblepersonsascribeditspretendedinfluencetoimagination，itwasboldlyansweredthatthecuretookplacewhenthewoundedpartydidnotknowoftheapplicationmadetotheweapon，andevenwhenabruteanimalwasthesubjectoftheexperiment，andthatthisassertion，heasweallknowitwas，cameinsuchashapeastoshaketheincredulityofthekeenestthinkerofhistime。TheverysameassertionhasbeensincerepeatedinfavorofPerkinism，and，sincethat，ofHomoeopathy。
　　ThesameessentialideaasthatoftheWeaponOintmentreproduceditselfinthestillmorefamousSYMPATHETICPOWDER。ThisPowderwassaidtohavethefaculty，ifappliedtotheblood-stainedgarmentsofawoundedperson，tocurehisinjuries，eventhoughhewereatagreatdistanceatthetime。Afriar，returningfromtheEast，broughttherecipetoEuropesomewhatbeforethemiddleoftheseventeenthcentury。TheGrandDukeofFlorence，inwhichcitythefriarwasresiding，heardofhiscures，andtried，butwithoutsuccess，toobtainhissecret。SirKenehnDigby，anEnglishmanwellknowntofame，wasfortunateenoughtodohimafavor，whichwroughtuponhisfeelingsandinducedhimtoimparttohisbenefactorthecompositionofhisextraordinaryPowder。ThisEnglishknightwasatdifferentperiodsofhislifeanadmiral，atheologian，acritic，ametaphysician，apolitician，andadiscipleofAlchemy。Asisnotunfrequentwithversatileandinflammablepeople，hecaughtfireatthefirstsparkofanewmedicaldiscovery，andnosoonergothometoEnglandthanhebegantospreadtheconflagration。
　　Anopportunitysoonoffereditselftotrythepowersofthefamouspowder。Mr。J。Howell，havingbeenwoundedinendeavoringtoparttwoofhisfriendswhowerefightingaduel，submittedhimselftoatrialoftheSympatheticPowder。Fourdaysafterhereceivedhiswounds，SirKenehndippedoneofMr。Howell’sgaitersinasolutionofthePowder，andimmediately，itissaid，thewounds，whichwereverypainful，greweasy，althoughthepatient，whowasconversinginacornerofthechamber，hadnot，theleastideaofwhatwasdoingwithhisgarter。Hethenreturnedhome，leavinghisgarterinthehandsofSirKenelm，whohadhungituptodry，whenMr。Howellsenthisservantinagreathurrytotellhimthathiswoundswerepaininghimhorribly；thegarterwasthereforereplacedinthesolutionofthePowder，andthepatientgotwellafterfiveorsixdaysofitscontinuedimmersion。“
　　KingJamesFirst，hissonCharlestheFirst，theDukeofBuckingham，thenprimeminister，andalltheprincipalpersonagesofthetime，werecognizantofthisfact；andJameshimself，beingcurioustoknowthesecretofthisremedy，askeditofSirKenelm，whorevealedittohim，andhisMajestyhadtheopportunityofmakingseveraltrialsofitsefficacy，whichallsucceededinasurprisingmanner。“[Dict。
　　desSciencesMedieales。]
　　Theking’sphysician，Dr。Mayerne，wasmademasterofthesecret，whichhecarriedtoFranceandcommunicatedtotheDukeofMayenne，whoperformedmanycuresbymeansofit，andtaughtittohissurgeon，who，aftertheDuke’sdeath，soldittomanydistinguishedpersons，bywhoseagencyitsoonceasedtobeasecret。Whatwasthiswonderfulsubstancewhichsoastonishedkings，princes，dukes，knights，anddoctors？Nothingbutpowderedbluevitriol。Butitwasmadetoundergoseveralprocessesthatconferredonitextraordinaryvirtues。Twiceorthriceitwastobedissolved，filtered，andcrystallized。ThecrystalsweretobelaidinthesunduringthemonthsofJune，July，andAugust，takingcaretoturnthemcarefullythatallshouldbeexposed。Thentheyweretobepowdered，triturated，andagainexposedtothesun，againreducedtoaveryfinepowder，andsecuredinavessel，whilehot，fromthesunshine。
　　Ifthereseemanythingremarkableinthefactofsuchastonishingpropertiesbeingdevelopedbythisprocess，itmustbefromourshort-sightedness，forcommonsaltandcharcoaldeveloppowersquiteasmarvellousafteracertainnumberofthumps，stirs，andshakes，fromthehandsofmodernworkersofmiracles。InfacttheUnguentumArmariumandSympatheticPowderresemblesomemorerecentprescriptions；thelatterconsistinginaninfinitedilutionofthecommondoseinwhichremediesaregiven，andthetwoformerinaninfinitedilutionofthecommondistanceatwhichtheyareapplied。
　　Whetherphilosophers，andmoreespeciallymetaphysicians，haveanypeculiartendencytodabbleindrugsanddosethemselveswithphysic，isaquestionwhichmightsuggestitselftothereaderoftheirbiographies。
　　WhenBishopBerkeleyvisitedtheillustriousMalebrancheatParis，hefoundhiminhiscell，cookinginasmallpipkinamedicineforaninflammationofthelungs，fromwhichhewassuffering；andthedisease，beingunfortunatelyaggravatedbythevehemenceoftheirdiscussion，orthecontentsofthepipkin，carriedhimoffinthecourseofafewdays。Berkeleyhimselfaffordedaremarkableillustrationofatruthwhichhaslongbeenknowntothemembersofoneofthelearnedprofessions，namely，thatnoamountoftalent，orofacquirementsinotherdepartments，canrescuefromlamentablefollythosewho，withoutsomethingoftherequisitepreparation，undertaketoexperimentwithnostrumsuponthemselvesandtheirneighbors。TheexaltedcharacterofBerkeleyisthusdrawnbySirJamesMackintosh：Ancientlearning，exactscience，polishedsociety，modernliterature，andthefinearts，contributedtoadornandenrichthemindofthisaccomplishedman。Allhiscontemporariesagreedwiththesatiristinascribing“’ToBerkeleyeveryvirtueunderheaven。’
　　“Eventhediscerning，fastidious，andturbulentAtterburysaid，afteraninterviewwithhim，’Somuchunderstanding，somuchknowledge，somuchinnocence，andsuchhumility，Ididnotthinkhadbeentheportionofanybutangels，tillIsawthisgentleman。’“
　　ButamongthewritingsofthisgreatandgoodmanisanEssayofthemostcuriouscharacter，illustratinghisweaknessuponthepointinquestion，andentitled，“Siris，aChainofPhilosophicalReflectionsandInquiriesconcerningtheVirtuesofTARWATER，anddiversotherSubjects，“——anessaywhichbeginswitharecipeforhisfavoritefluid，andslidesbygentlegradationsintoanexaminationofthesublimestdoctrinesofPlato。Toshowhowfaramanofhonestyandbenevolence，andwithamindofsingularacutenessanddepth，mayberunawaywithbyafavoritenotiononasubjectwhichhishabitsandeducationdonotfithimtoinvestigate，IshallgiveashortaccountofthisEssay，merelystatingthatasallthesupposedvirtuesofTarWater，madepublicinsuccessiveeditionsofhistreatisebysoillustriousanauthor，havenotsaveditfromneglectanddisgrace，itmaybefairlyassumedthattheyweremainlyimaginary。
　　Thebishop，asisusualinsuchcases，speaksofhimselfasindispensablyobliged，bythedutyheowestomankind，tomakehisexperiencepublic。Nowthiswasbynomeansevident，nordoesitfollowingeneral，thatbecauseamanhasformedafavorableopinionofapersonorathinghehasnotthepropermeansofthoroughlyunderstanding，heshallbeboundtoprintit，andthusgivecurrencytohisimpressions，whichmaybeerroneous，andthereforeinjurious。
　　Hewouldhavedonemuchbettertohavelaidhisimpressionsbeforesomeexperiencedphysiciansandsurgeons，suchasDr。MeadandMr。
　　Cheselden，tohaveaskedthemtotryhisexperimentoveragain，andhavebeenguidedbytheiranswers。Butthegoodbishopgotexcited；
　　hepleasedhimselfwiththethoughtthathehaddiscoveredagreatpanacea；andhavingoncetastedthebewitchingcupofself-quackery，likemanybeforeandsincehistime，hewassoinfatuatedwiththedraughtthathewouldinsistonpouringitdownthethroatsofhisneighborsandallmankind。
　　Thepreciousfluidwasmadebystirringagallonofwaterwithaquartoftar，leavingitforty-eighthours，andpouringofftheclearwater。Suchwasthespecificwhichthegreatmetaphysicianrecommendedforavertingandcuringallmannerofdiseases。Itwas，ifhemightbebelieved，apreventiveofthesmall-pox，andofgreatuseinthecourseofthedisease。Itwasacureforimpuritiesoftheblood，coughs，pleurisy，peripneumony，erysipelas，asthma，indigestion，carchexia，hysterics，dropsy，mortification，scurvy，andhypochondria。Itwasofgreatuseingoutandfevers，andwasanexcellentpreservativeoftheteethandgums；answeredallthepurposeofElixirProprietatis，Stoughton’sdrops，dietdrinks，andmineralwaters；wasparticularlytoberecommendedtosea-faringpersons，ladies，andmenofstudiousandsedentarylives；couldneverbetakentoolong，but，onthecontrary，producedadvantageswhichsometimesdidnotbegintoshowthemselvesfortwoorthreemonths。
　　“FrommyrepresentingTarWaterasgoodforsomanythings，“saysBerkeley，“someperhapsmayconcludeitisgoodfornothing。ButcharityobligethmetosaywhatIknow，andwhatIthink，howeveritmaybetaken。Menmaycensureandobjectastheyplease，butI
　　appealtotimeandexperiment。Effectsmisimputed，caseswrongtold，circumstancesoverlooked，perhaps，too，prejudicesandpartialitiesagainsttruth，mayforatimeprevailandkeepheratthebottomofherwell，fromwhenceneverthelesssheemergethsoonerorlater，andstrikestheeyesofallwhodonotkeepthemshut。“Icannotresistthetemptationofillustratingthebishop’sbeliefinthewonderfulpowersofhisremedy，byafewsentencesfromdifferentpartsofhisessay。“Thehardnessofstubbedvulgarconstitutionsrenderstheminsensibleofathousandthingsthatfretandgallthosedelicatepeople，who，asiftheirskinwaspeeledoff，feeltothequickeverythingthattouchesthem。ThetendernervesandlowspiritsofsuchpoorcreatureswouldbemuchrelievedbytheuseofTarWater，whichmightprolongandcheertheirlives。““It[theTarWater]maybemadestrongerforbrutebeasts，ashorses，inwhosedisordersI
　　havefounditveryuseful。““Thissamewaterwillalsogivecharitablerelieftotheladies，whooftenwantitmorethantheparishpoor；beingmanyofthemneverabletomakeagoodmeal，andsittingpale，puny，andforbidden，likeghosts，attheirowntable，victimsofvaporsandindigestion。“ItdoesnotappearamongthevirtuesofTarWaterthat“childrencriedforit，“asforsomeofourmodernremedies，butthebishopsays，“Ihaveknownchildrentakeitforabovesixmonthstogetherwithgreatbenefit，andwithoutanyinconvenience；andafterlongandrepeatedexperienceIdoesteemitamostexcellentdietdrink，fittedtoallseasonsandages。“Aftermentioningitsusefulnessinfebrilecomplaints，hesays：“Ihavehadallthisconfirmedbymyownexperienceinthelatesicklyseasonoftheyearonethousandsevenhundredandforty-one，havinghadtwenty-
　　fivefeversinmyownfamilycuredbythismedicinalwater，drunkcopiously。“AndtofinishtheseextractswithamostimportantsuggestionfortheimprovementoftheBritishnation：“ItismuchtobelamentedthatourInsularswhoactandthinksomuchforthemselves，shouldyet，fromgrossnessofairanddiet，growstupidordoatsoonerthanotherpeople，who，byvirtueofelasticair，water-drinking，andlightfood，preservetheirfacultiestoextremeoldage；anadvantagewhichmayperhapsbeapproached，ifnotequaled，evenintheseregions，byTarWater，temperance，andearlyhours。“
　　Berkeleydiedattheageofaboutseventy；hemighthavelivedlonger，buthisfatalillnesswassosuddenthattherewasnottimeenoughtostirupaquartofthepanacea。Hewasanillustriousman，butheheldtwoveryoddopinions；thattarwaterwaseverything，andthatthewholematerialuniversewasnothing。