Cure performed, especially where Physicians have been concerned,
though the Patients neglect or obstinateness, have been the sole cause
of this non-performance, and by their continued detraction from
Physicians, and applauding themselves, hoping by the former, that
people will think such Mountebanks able to do better Cures then
learned Physicians, and then they can easily insinuate themselves
superior to such Mountebanks, and consequently to Physicians. By the
latter, they seek to depress, and level us to themselves, being
conscious they can never rise to that worth and ability, required in a
Physician.

Another manifest sign of their endeavour to usurp our Practice is,
their absurd calling the sick their Patients, for 'tis most certain
that in all reason and language the Physician and Patient only have
relation to each other, but not to the Apothecary, who is but a
Tradesman, and manual Operator. Now a Tradesman and his Customer, or
Chapman, are Relatives each to other, but those Apothecaries who
intrude themselves and usurp on our profession, may call their
Customers Patients, and that in a true literal sence, when by their
ignorance they make them really sufferers under them; and if they deny
Apothecary and Patient to be non-sence, they shew themselves pitifully
ignorant in the Laws, and Rules of Reason, or else profess themselves
Physicians. And the like non-sence they commonly utter by calling
Physicians that make their own Medicines, Mountebanks and Quacks,
whereas none can be such but those who practise without Lawful
Authority, as the Apothecaries, &c. do; and they are not ignorant in
this their malice, that the Law of England would punish them roundly
for so saying. And were I troublesome or vindicative, I could make
some of them examples, but I freely remit the slanders in this kind
that are past.