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Venice treacle

Theriac \The"ri*ac\, Theriaca \The*ri"a*ca\, n. [L. theriaca an antidote against the bite of serpents, Gr. ?: cf. F. th['e]riaque. See Treacle.]

  1. (Old Med.) An ancient composition esteemed efficacious against the effects of poison; especially, a certain compound of sixty-four drugs, prepared, pulverized, and reduced by means of honey to an electuary; -- called also theriaca Andromachi, and Venice treacle.

  2. Treacle; molasses.
    --British Pharm.

Venice treacle

Treacle \Trea"cle\ (tr[=e]"k'l), n. [OE. triacle a sovereign remedy, theriac, OF. triacle, F. th['e]riaque (cf. Pr. triacla, tiriaca, Sp. & It. triaca, teriaca), L. theriaca an antidote against the bite of poisonous animals, Gr. ?, fr. ? of wild or venomous beasts, fr. qhri`on a beast, a wild beast, dim. of qh`r a beast. Cf. Theriac.]

  1. (Old Med.) A remedy against poison. See Theriac, 1.

    We kill the viper, and make treacle of him.
    --Jer. Taylor.

  2. A sovereign remedy; a cure. [Obs.]

    Christ which is to every harm treacle.
    --Chaucer.

  3. Molasses; sometimes, specifically, the molasses which drains from the sugar-refining molds, and which is also called sugarhouse molasses.

    Note: In the United States molasses is the common name; in England, treacle.

  4. A saccharine fluid, consisting of the inspissated juices or decoctions of certain vegetables, as the sap of the birch, sycamore, and the like.

    Treacle mustard (Bot.), a name given to several species of the cruciferous genus Erysimum, especially the Erysimum cheiranthoides, which was formerly used as an ingredient in Venice treacle, or theriac.

    Treacle water, a compound cordial prepared in different ways from a variety of ingredients, as hartshorn, roots of various plants, flowers, juices of plants, wines, etc., distilled or digested with Venice treacle. It was formerly regarded as a medicine of great virtue.
    --Nares.

    Venice treacle. (Old Med.) Same as Theriac, 1.

Usage examples of "venice treacle".

Mr Giffard and Stephen were fairly well acquainted - well enough, in any case, for Giffard's initial embarrassment to persuade Stephen that this was not an ordinary visit nor a request for the loan of a carboy of Venice treacle or a hundredweight of portable soup and some lint.

To her emergency supplies she had added ginseng drops, most effective in treating the flux, and Venice treacle for childĀ­.

Taken with good Venice Treacle, it is good against Plague, driving forth the Malignity by sweat.