A Short View of the Frauds and Abuses Committed by Apothecaries - As well in Relation to Patients, as Physicians: And Of the - only Remedy thereof by Physicians making their own - Medicines. by Christopher Merrett
page 52 of 67 (77%)
page 52 of 67 (77%)
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the matter, although some of them at Coffee-Houses, and in other mixt
Companies, by venturing so boldly have been met with and baffled, and made to depart thence with shame and discredit enough, which their friends and acquaintance take little notice of. Add hereunto their exposing to view their Compositions of Treacle, Mithridate, Diascordium and Alkermes, which all their friends, and neighbours one time or another must see; (being set off by some very curiously) and seeing cannot but admire the great charge, art, and labour of the Apothecary, and perhaps hear his learned Lecture upon them, whereby they imply their great skill, knowledg in the virtues of these ingredients, and consequently an ability to practise with them; all which are below the dignity of a Physician; and therefore a long time is necessary for him to gain acquaintance, wanting the fore-mentioned opportunities the Apothecaries enjoy. Lastly, Their painted Pots and Glasses, with false Titles on them, more win the vulgar then a Physicians Library of far greater value. As to their incapacity for Practice, 'tis manifest by their education, and ignorance of all those things which are required in an able Physician, viz. the knowledg of Arts and Languages; by the former whereof men learn the way and rules of observing, and improvements to be made thereon; by the latter, what the learned searchers of Nature have in all Ages taken notice of, necessary, and little enough in an Art so difficult as that of Physic. They are wholy ignorant also of all Philosophy, and the very Elements of the Art, and therefore unskillful in knowing diseases; and more surely their causes, whereto respect is to be had, as well as to the diseases, to which, fit remedies are to be applyed. For want of Anatomy know neither the part affected, nor how 'tis affected; much lets any thing of Chirurgical directions. And through their ignorance in Philosophy, and Arts, they |
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