Posted by Mike Field on April 05, 2009 at 22:27:08 user mikefield.
In Reply to: Re: Charcoal burning in the US ? posted by David Bamford on April 05, 2009 at 17:40:23:
Indeed they did. And still do -- witness "Pinetarsal" soap, readily available in pharmacies here.
But they also used coal tar as well. I distinctly remember as a kid having some sort of black coal tar distillate painted on eczema that had developed on my legs. (I have to report that it was useless for its intended purpose, but that I liked the smell.)