nsulted in the beginning of Diseases, to the
safety and little expence of the Patient, who will not go first to the
Apothecary, who practiseth on him till the Case is desperate, and then
calls in a Physician when 'tis too late; and if he dyes, the Physician
must carry away the disgrace alone; but if he recover, the Apothecary
if he be so minded, by some trick will share with him in the honour:
and by this resort of people to the Apothecaries in beginning of
Diseases; we meet with few Cases of easie Cure, but are chiefly made
use of in dangerous Diseases, or those of short period, or such as are
accompanyed with great pains and torments, to our great and continual
anxiety.

The Physicians experience hereby as 'tis surer, so 'twill be greater.

He will make use of no Medicines but the choicest, and when they are
in their full vigour, and such as are durable, and after once or twice
Tryal of them, will seldom fail in his expected success; which cannot
be certainly had without some tryal. For though a man buy the choicest
ingredients, viz. Sena, which may appear to the Senses very good, yet
he cannot positively say, how well, nor yet what quantity of it will
work, till he hath made use of it. But afterwards he may confidently
apply the whole parcel he hath bought to his purpose. The like may be
instanced in a crop of Wheat or Barley, which the skillfullest
Husband-man cannot tell how they will yield for Bread, or Malt, till
he hath used them. Now how is it possible that a Physician can with
any certainty make use of several Shops, since there is so great
difference in the ingredients? and 'tis certain the same Medicine made
by several Apothecaries, shall differ much in colour, smell, and tast,
and consequently effect too; which cannot proceed from any other cause
then the difference of the ingredients themselves, or by omitting some
ingredients, or by substituting one thing for another; or by distinct
ways of preparing them. The same also may be said of Compositions,
much more of Chymical Medicines so much sophisticated, and of so much
danger and hazard, if not well prepared, which he cannot discover till
he hath seen the effect of them, unless it be such as he makes
himself, nor those neither till he hath made some tryal of them.

He will much inlarge Materia Medica, Chymistry and Pharmacy, and
discover the grounds of them, and wherein the efficacy of remedies
lyes, and thereby lay open a whole Ocean for new discoveries,