hich consist of fine volatil parts, and even in drying and
pounding, or the least boiling exhale and evaporate, and therefore in
the common way of ordering them, lose their whole vertue or most of
their efficacy, and alter in their properties. From which by several
methods known to some Physicians, very generous and singular Medicines
may be produced.

He need not use so large Compositions consisting of such confused and
contrary ingredients, and will find good reason to lay aside those
unintelligible and unreasonable Compositions of Mithridate, and
Treacle, and the so much magnified Treacle-water, and will substitute
better in their places, of smaller charge, and less trouble; and this
all Physicians I have conversed with, and the College it self, by
their Book published for the common good, in the year before the
Plague, and all those Physicians in this City, who make or intend to
make their own Medicines, do confess.

But here Apothecaries open wide, and cry out that the Physicians are
great Cheats, and envious persons, for continuing such flat Medicines,
and not recommending to the World, or rather their Shops, our greater
secrets. The answer is easie, that the Medicines in our Pharmacopaea,
are the best of any other Pharmacopaea in the World, both for their
goodness, and well preparing of them, whether they be Chymical, or
Galenical; and therefore the same scandal will ly on all Pharmacopaea's
whatsoever. Secondly, I say that within these few last experimental
years, the practical part of Physic hath been much improved (as well
as Anatomy) especially by such as have put their hands to work; and
therefore till such improvement, this could not be well amended.
Furthermore, in making new Dispensatories, a full content must be had,
and 'twere not fit to move where the motion were not like to take
place, for though private men invent new ways of compounding and
preparing, and using their own invented Medicines, yet 'twill require
a long time to make them publickly known, and brought into common use,
and till that be done 'tis not possible to have them brought into a
common Dispensatory; besides, no man would make a motion for such a
reformation, unless he were well furnished with specificks, and then
'twill be required of him to expose them to the whole World, which how
incongruous it will be, every man may easily conceive; hereto add,
that the Apothecaries think themselves able enough by this present
Dispensatory, to