instance only in one that hapned at the writing hereof; viz. that an
Apothecary gave strong Purging Pills on the Fit day of a gentle
Quartan Ague, which turned it into a violent Fever, to the great
hazard of the Patients life.

And at how easie rate they practise, many of their Bills brought and
complained of to our College, (in some whereof I have seen Fees set
down for Visits) witness, wherein upon a slight disease 5 l. hath been
demanded for four days practice. And I have heard one of them brag,
that he commonly had from 20 to 100 l. besides presents, for cure of a
Clap (as they call it) which might have been more speedily and
securely performed for a manifold lesser sum.

I now come to answer some slight objections; as first, that Physicians
are unskillful in the Art of making Medicines; but sure those that
thus object cannot deny them that ability which Ladies, and almost all
ordinary women have; viz. of distilling of waters of all sorts, making
of Syrups, Conserves, Preserves, Powders, Trochiscs, Electuaries (and
what not) and as many think, more cleanly and neatly then the
Apothecaries; and some of them Ointments, and Plasters, in which two
lyes their main skill. Some whereof, to those that understand not the
way of dissolution of bodies, and the nature of their mixture may be
difficult. Yet this defect they may supply by lessening the number of
ingredients, and may perform more with 2, or 3 Simples, then with the
larger Compositions, as 'tis manifest in the use of Galbanum alone,
now used and found better then Emplastrum Hystericum, consisting of 21
ingredients.

And though as matters now stand, Physicians have not the honour to be
counted superiour to Apothecaries in their Art, yet every one knows