his
means.

Secondly, By saying the Bill could never have been made without some
alteration of the Apothecary, thereby insinuating the Doctors
ignorance in compounding.

Thirdly, In saying the Doctor is not versed in Medicines, because
forsooth he varieth not at every Visit, and multiplieth not new Bills
for the Apothecaries profit.

Fourthly, In saying they teach Physicians, and help them to, and in
their practice. The first and last are vile and foolish Scandals; as
to the Second, 'tis true indeed, that younger Apothecaries recommend
Physicians to their acquaintance; but 'tis no longer then they have
learned enough (as they think) to set up for themselves.

Fifthly, In saying, they knew before-hand what such a Doctor would
prescribe, and hence it is they have nick-named some Physicians of no
mean practice, by the Medicines they frequently use, which names in
respect to the persons, I shall conceal; and of such Physicians, they
brag they can prescribe as well as they. But if a Physician advise
things unknown to them, or out of the common tract, then they say the
Doctor intends to puzzle them.

Sixthly, He will avoid the censure of his Bills, which every pitiful
fellow, nay their very Boys will absolve or condemn at pleasure, and
that openly too, nay sometimes to the Patient himself, and thereby
call in his good Apothecaries Physician. Now what a shame is it, that
a Physicians credit and livelihood, should stand at the mercy of such
pitiful ignorant, and self-ended Souls? I have heard one of them say
of the now most Eminent Practiser in London, that his Boy could write
as good a Method as he, and that he understood the practice of Physic
as well as any Physician in London except 2, or 3, though the same
person was soon made to confess, he neither knew the Disease, Cause,
nor Cure of a Pleurisy, pretended to be throughly understood by him.

Thirdly, He will avoid the trouble put upon him after he hath writ his
Bill, by the Apothecaries ignorance in not understanding it, who to be
informed came to the Doctor heretofore, with their Hats off, but now
send their Boys, who soon put theirs on. Such respect do they give
Physicians, when they come to them as to their Masters to teach them.

Fourthly, He will avoid the impertinent Visits of the Apothecaries,
and non-sensical, troublesome, and discouraging, frightful discourses
to the Patient, of whom no man can expect more then the Common Proverb
gives to Praters, and im