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
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page 6 of 67 (08%)
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done every man may conceive to be effected by the following Artifices.
More particularly, the Frauds by them committed relate either to their falsifying of Medicines, or secondly, to the number of their Bills, and prescriptions, or thirdly, to the prices of them. First, They use Medicines quite contrary to the prescription, Myrtle-leafs shewed the Censors for Sena, a Binder for a Purger. Mushroms of the Oak, &c. rub'd over with Chalk for Agaric, which Mr. Evelyn in his late publisht Book of Forest Trees, pag. 27. observes, to the great scandal of Physic as he adds; Hemlock-Dropwort Roots for Pæony Roots, Poysons for wholesome remedies; Privet by some, by others Dog-berries, for those of Spina Cervina, no Purgers for a strong one. Sheeps Lungs for Fox Lungs, the Bone of an Oxe Heart for that of a Stags Heart, Damsons for Damasc Prunes, Syrup of Limons, for that of Citrons, Bryony Roots for Mechoacan, &c. Secondly, They falsify the grand Compositions of the London Dispensatory. It being a common trade with them to buy unsound, and decayed Simples of some Druggists, and to return them back so much of the composition as will pay for the Simples. Secondly, whereas Apothecaries are bound to shew publickly to the Censors of the College, and the Master and Wardens of their Company, Mithridate, Diascordium, Alkermes, &c. Yet for all this some of them privately make a great deal more of the Composition then is shewed, of unsound Drugs, and some without any view at all; others put in the Scrapings that ought to be thrown away; and by these Arts they under-sell, and ruine one another, selling the Composition at a lower rate then good Ingredients cost them; and with these complaints they daily mutiny amongst themselves. |
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