er for the Head, an
Apothecary would not make it, because prescribed by me; and I have
been informed that many of them agreed they would make nothing for
such Physicians as made their own Medicines; a poor and pitiful
revenge, to their own loss and discredit.

Another Scandal is, the fewness of my Medicines. 'Tis true my Closet
is not open to every bodies Eye, nor have I so many and large Pots and
Glasses, or fill'd with as good as nothing, or the same Medicine, in
several with different Titles, neither are any of mine guilded to make
a shew with; yet I dare offer to view with the best of their Shops,
for number of good and really useful Medicines fit to answer presently
any Physicians intentions, for internal remedies. And this will be
attested by some of my learned Collegues, who have seen and perused
them. Whereas the Shops contain only some general Medicines, whereof
few single Physicians make use of one quarter in their practice, and
upon most particular cases are compell'd to prescribe what is not
readily dispensed in the Shops. Others insinuate my seldom change of
Medicines. To which I answer, that where all circumstances are the
same, and a good success follows, I neither do, nor will much vary,
the easiest thing in the World to be done, both to colour and tast.
For such changes (necessary to be used in Shop-practice) without
manifest reason, clog a Patients Purse and Stomach, may not suit with
the Patients Disease nor Constitution. And doubtless every Physician
writes at first what he conceives most fit, and proper in the Case
proposed; and if this agrees fully to his expectation, runs some
hazard in the alteration, which he is necessitated to do in the
Shop-way, for many reasons before-mentioned. Besides, who scruples to
take the Medicinal Waters of Epsom, Barnet, and Tunbridge, many weeks
together? or who refuseth a constant unalter'd Diet-Drink for some
Months, or Years together? And do not Apothecaries in all Diseases of
the Lungs, fly to their pectoral decoction for all persons, and for
the same person at all times, unless perhaps with the addition of a
little China to it?

Some Patients of the middle rank have by these and such like Artifices
been drawn from me, but have soon returned, being undeceived by the
fulsomness, charge, and the non-success of the Shops.

Now these things I have here published to this end alone, that both
Physician and Patient may take notice of them; the former to neglect
and