Tar in a jar

Malt and Cod liver oil, yummy, but then my brother and I grew up during the war years, I was always hungry!

I loved cod liver oil & malt. We had it daily at school until it changed to the cod liver oil capsules. Milk of Magnesia I thought was disgusting, but effective. I seem to recall that my Nan used ‘white horse linament’ for aches and pains. The mind boggles! 😳😂

Our parents all grew up without the NHS for health problems, and used other means of treating minor conditions even once the NHS was in being.

Goodness, memories standing in tge kitchen every morning when Mum administered the spoonful of government issued cod liver oil and malt extract. The oil, yuck, but did like the malt extract which may have been the tar in a jar as dark, thick and gloopy and of course came in a jar.

My mother loved the malt too.
I have a memory of my brother and myself, sitting, side by side, be force fed the cod liver oil, then being given malt, followed by the orange juice.

Indian Brandy (or Brandee) for tummy aches of all kinds Not sure if this was just a northern thing? Didn't actually have any alcohol in it, but it was very warming and really worked. You diluted a spoonful in warm water and sipped it. Can't get it anywhere now. Shame.

Riboflavine liquid was another thing.

I think tar in a jar was called Vimaltol or Virol? I do remember oonce tipping the jar up over my sister's head and the lid came off! Serious trouble!

When I had whooping cough Mum took me on the bus to the nearest gas works to inhale the tar fumes. Can't remember why it was the gas works. A man there gave me sixpence and a length of plaited tarred rope to put under my pillow. Seems quite bizarre now.

I loved Virol. Except it's probably why I'm still so -er - big and strong

My friend took black molasses as a teenager as a treatment for acne. I wonder if that was tar in a jar.

Lovely thread!

Radio Malt 👍👍 but Minadex, Parrishes Food and Milk of Magnesia 😡😡😡
Also Senatogen 😡😡😡 anyone else remember that?

I loved cod liver oil and malt! I was a skinny, kid who didn’t like food but I loved CLO and M. As I paid my dinner money every morning at registration, I always picked up a jar of this nectar!
I suppose mum had to pay, I can’t remember.

Sulphur ointment for boils. Milk of magnesia for indigestion. Suck a clove for toothache. Friars balsam, a few drops in a bowl of warm water, lean over bowl, cloth over head and inhale for....don't remember. Syrup of figs.

Oh yes ‘white horse Linament’ The smell !!!

We hated liquid cod liver oil so were given it in the shape of tiny 'cod liver balls'. They were brown and extremely hard.

I hated those too and dropped as many as I could get away with under the dining room table.

As we didn't have a dog, I am not sure how I expected my mother not to notice!

Not a food/health benefit but does anyone remember liberty boddices?

If we ran out of toothpaste in the 50s, my mother would dip a toothbrush in bicarbonate of soda to clean teeth. Oddly, I now use a bicarb based toothpaste.

I love all of them, malt, syrup of figs, rose hip syrup, Seven Seas cod liver oil which I still take a spoonful of today and, yes, Liberty bodices with rubber buttons.
Ido remember those tiny glass juice bottles with a teat. We’re they called ‘dinkies’?

My mum used to give me a spoonful of malt every day when I was little. I loved it!

My mum used to make milk poultices. And if she had a headache she would put a cloth soaked in vinegar on her forehead.

I am member my mum getting delicious orange juice from the clinic and also vile Maltoline 😣 in a tin.

Maddyone - ditto. I still love (original) Lucozade to this day tho I have to be careful as I am now type 2 diabetes.
I was found in bed in 2001 after being unconscious for 4 days. Once I finally woke in hospital (thanks to a neighbour who missed me) the first thing I asked for was Lucozade!
I remember being given Malt which I dislike, tho my sister loved it.
I think memories of such things depends on vintage! I’m 76.

Yes I remember Bengers .. I loved it!

I can see Virol now - a dark brown, rounded jar with a greenish metallic label if I am remembering correctly. It was melted toffee - and I could happily have eaten the whole jar! Does anyone remember the National Health orange juice? It came in plain medicine bottles, from the baby clinic, and had to be shaken well because when it settled, half the bottle was sugar.

Maybe liking virol or not is akin to liking or hating marmite....