Beast Quote by Charles Dickens
“Some medical beast had revived tar-water in those days as a fine medicine, and Mrs. Joe always kept a supply of it in the cupboard; having a belief in its virtues correspondent to its nastiness. At the best of times, so much of this elixir was administered to me as a choice restorative, that I was conscious of going about, smelling like a new fence.”
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Mystery of Edwin Drood, 1870 (fragment)
The narrator describes a dubious remedy, reflecting on its mixed reputation and personal experience with it.
In simple terms: Skepticism about a questionable medicine.
Key Takeaway
Question the efficacy of unproven treatments.
Themes
medicine
skepticism
historical health
Mood
cautious
curious
Type
historical
educational
When to use this quote
- research
- consult doctors
- avoid self‑medication
- historical study
Key Concepts
pharmacology
folk remedies
critical thinking
Questions to Reflect On
- What modern alternatives exist for this condition?
- How do you evaluate health claims?
A Different Perspective
Historical remedies often lacked scientific validation.
![“[Tar water] is of a nature so mild and benign and proportioned to the human constitution, as to warm without heating, to cheer but not inebriate.” quote by George Berkeley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/b4b/george-berkeley-8287_benign_tar-water-is-of-a-nature-so-mild-and-ben_299364.jpg)
![“No visiting angel, or explorer from another planet, could have guessed that this bland orb [Earth] teemed with vermin, with world-mastering, self-torturing, incipiently angelic beasts.” quote by Olaf Stapledon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d65/olaf-stapledon-9950_angel_no-visiting-angel-or-explorer-from-anoth_12107.jpg)
