ourse, which before 'twas put in
practice they derided, now used is railed at, will undo them. I answer
that if needs, one or the other must be ruined, 'tis more reasonable
that the Apothecary should suffer then the Physician, because the one
acts but his duty, and for the publick good, but the other are
transgressors of the Law, and act above the Sphere of their skill, and
do many prejudices to the precious lives, and healths of men; and the
rather, because 'tis in their own power to prevent this mischief, by
stinting the number of their Servants (as 'tis in foreign parts, and
in England also, in very many if not most other Trades. Nay our State
allows but a set number of Printers) for they acknowledg themselves,
that the exceeding increase of their number must necessarily in a
short time bring them all to shifting and beggery, and a greater want
of skill then what they now pretend to. But to answer this Objection
more fully, I affirm Apothecaries have made and do make use of several
other ways of subsistence; besides their bare trades (none of which
Physicians can use) viz. some of them in this City as well as in the
Country, sell Grocery-wares, and by both together, gain Estates.
Secondly, They barter in Drugs and other Commodities, selling them
amongst themselves, and to other Tradesmen. Furthermore, they are now
building a Laboratory to make all sorts of Chymical Medicines,
intending to supply the whole Nation with them, which must necessarily
undo all the Chymists in London; and whether in time they will not
distil Strong-waters, &c. (an easie thing for them to undertake) and
by this means to ruine the Corporation of Distillers of Strong-waters,
I leave to the said Company to conceive as they please. However, this
I have heard several of them say, that they resolve to buy all sorts
of Drugs, and make a Magazine of them, as well as of the greater
Compositions, at their own Hall; and to sell them to the Members of
their Company, whereby the Trade of the Druggist, must be much
lessened, if not totally over-thrown. So little regard have they of
any other employment but of their own, yet all these things they may
do without any offence against the Laws of the Land. Why then should
they, who have so many ways of subsistence, envy, and usurp unlawfully
over the single and lawful way granted Physicians for their
livelihood? Or why would they repine, and revile them for advancing
their Art, the publick health and profit, an