Brimstone and treacle

Posted by James Briggs on February 04, 2003

In Reply to: Brimstone and treacle posted by 3saintjoan7 on February 04, 2003

: Just what is that stuff the charming Mrs. Squeers is giving to the hapless boys in the "Nicholas Nickleby" film?

: Many thanks!

Treacle is a form of thick sugar syrup. Brimstone is a sulphur ore, from which pure sulphur may be refined. This mixture was thought to 'do you good' in Dicken's days!