I posted a query about oil of tartar a couple of years ago and received some
strong advisories against its use from chemistry knowledgeable listers. It is
basically hydrated potassium carbonate, and extremely caustic. The pure salt left in
open air is hydrophillic enough to absorb moisture and turn into a caustic paste.
I, too, have a problem with cyclically recurring hardened skin on my fingertips,
and I thought oil of tartar might do the trick. I spoke to a local pharmacist about
it, and he referred to a 19th c. pharmacopeia to see how to make it. When he saw what
it was, he politely declined to prepare any for me. Apparently, it will do more than
just soften the skin--it will remove it.
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From: "Vance Wood" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Date: 2003/10/24 Fri AM 03:23:07 EDT
To: "lute list" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: Right Hand Questions
I was reading through Varietie of Lute Lessons the other day, as I
occasionally do, to see if I could pick up something I may have missed
previously. I noticed a mention that some players during the period soaked
their hands in a concoction call "Oil of Tartar". Does anyone know what
this is, what is it supposed to do, and is it effective? The author of this
section, I believe Besard, claimed no first hand experience with it but it
was mentioned.
Another point for your comments, observations and criticism,-- if any. I
have noticed that when I wash my hands in very hot water to the point where
I can feel the grain of my finger prints I get a far better sound on the
Lute with the right hand . I am assuming that the lack of oils on my
fingers allows the finger prints to gain some sort of purchase on the
strings instead of sliding across them. Has anyone else found this to be
true and if so how do you maintain this condition through a session lasting
more than fifteen minutes? Or as I suspect what am I doing wrong ?
Vance Wood.
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