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Tar in a jar

(180 Posts)
vampirequeen Mon 30-Jan-23 09:35:01

DH and I were discussing the weird and wonderful treatments we were given as children. We remember cod liver oil (foul even when mixed with orange juice), Linctus, Beecham's Powders, my grandma gave me a drag of her cigarette if I had a cough to 'clear my chest', bicarbonate of soda, kaolin and morphine, warm lemonade when we'd vomited, and tar in a jar.

We've wracked our brains as to what tar in a jar really was. It was foul tasting and was, maybe, some type of tonic. We think it was some sort of malt mixture but aren't sure.

Does anyone remember it and/or know what it was?

Milest0ne Wed 01-Feb-23 14:11:47

I loved malt and cod-liver oil and NHS orange juice which was given to my brother in the 50's.
I also remember "sunlight" treatment. Children who had been ill went to the sunlight clinic. We stripped down to our knickers. put on a pair of dark goggles and then walked round and round a vertical column of light. I remember the smell which can sometimes can occur at the seaside so I gather that it was ozone. I don't know if it did us any good

GrauntyHelen Wed 01-Feb-23 14:08:50

Don't know about tar in a jar but loved the NHS OJ Rosehip syrup and Malt that I had daily in the late 60s

Lindyloud Wed 01-Feb-23 13:44:41

Loved cod liver oil & malt!
My Nan has a quarter bottle of whisky & brandy for Medicinal’ use only! A measure of whisky in a cup of tea was called ‘Co-op tea’ (have no idea why perhaps a Midlands thing??) for colds and a measure of brandy to sooth an upset ‘tummy!’ Yes children had small measures of both! This was in the 50’s .

missdeke Wed 01-Feb-23 13:36:48

I remember them all, I liked Virol sometimes and sometimes I didn't, definitely like Marmite. I also remember G Medicine (Galloways cough syrup}, Liquafruta, Zambuk for chilblains and also a square of exlax when we arrived on hoilday in case the local water didn't agree with us.

lizzypopbottle Wed 01-Feb-23 13:18:39

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

Rosina Wed 01-Feb-23 13:16:18

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.

suelld Wed 01-Feb-23 13:13:43

Yes I remember Bengers .. I loved it!

suelld Wed 01-Feb-23 13:12:45

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.

Peaseblossom Wed 01-Feb-23 13:08:49

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

MayBee70 Wed 01-Feb-23 12:56:39

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

Startingover61 Wed 01-Feb-23 12:34:48

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

Kalu Wed 01-Feb-23 12:33:17

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’?

Boolya Wed 01-Feb-23 12:32:36

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.

Candelle Wed 01-Feb-23 12:13:04

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?

Gingster Wed 01-Feb-23 12:04:12

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

fluttERBY123 Wed 01-Feb-23 12:03:23

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.

Gingster Wed 01-Feb-23 12:02:18

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.

winterwhite Wed 01-Feb-23 11:52:12

Lovely thread!

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

inishowen Wed 01-Feb-23 11:43:16

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

tattygran14 Wed 01-Feb-23 11:39:57

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

Hattiehelga Wed 01-Feb-23 11:39:54

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.

grannysue101 Wed 01-Feb-23 11:38:50

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!

jaybee66 Wed 01-Feb-23 11:33:36

Riboflavine liquid was another thing.

Moggycuddler Wed 01-Feb-23 11:28:19

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.

Annewilko Wed 01-Feb-23 11:26:06

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.