hey still
continue to do in Foreign Countries) and not committing the
preparation to raw Boys, or Apprentices, which is the true interest of
the Patient they should do here likewise. But in process of time,
Physicians in acute diseases having taught them somewhat, sent them to
visit their Patients, to give them the best account they could of the
estate of their health, and effect of their Medicines. And of later
years some Physicians took them along with them in their Visits,
whereby they acquired a little smattering of diseases, by which means,
and their continual officiousness, they insinuated themselves into
Families, and by applying (right or wrong) the terms of Art they had
learned from the Physicians, they made people believe they had
acquired some skill in the Art, and afterwards began to venture a
little at practice, and but until these 10 years last past kept
themselves within some bounds and limits; but since that time have
daily more and more incroached upon our Profession, being assisted by
a greater familiarity of conversation with younger Physicians. And in
the Plague time they took upon them the whole Practice of Physic,
which ever since they have continued, being much helped also therein
by the dispersing of Physicians into places unknown to their Patients,
by the Fire, but above all by the burning of the College, by means
whereof their Government and view of their Shops have been omitted,
insomuch that now they are past all restraint, having insinuated and
(as they think) rooted themselves by the aforesaid Artifices, so that
there remains now no other real remedy but that proposed.

Now here I shall take occasion in a short digression, to discourse
briefly the reason, why in all Ages there have been so many pretenders
to Physic, and why some of them have got reputation in the World. One
hath been mentioned before, viz. the great charges sick men are put
to, caused by the separation of the Physician from the Apothecary. But
the principal reason is, the want of knowledge in most persons, both
of the materials used, and the grounds for which they are applyed.
Insomuch that there are but few that can judg, and distinguish rightly
of either, and no wonder therefore that in their reasonings they
commit more absurd mistakes, or Paralogisms then in any other Art
whatsoever, and censure Physicians by the success alone. Which my Lord
Verulam accounts the great unhappiness both of the States-man and the
Physician