Page:Merret - A short view of the frauds and abuses committed by apothecaries.pdf/23

 Usury for their forbearance. And through this neglect they sometimes lose their money, and whether they raise other Mens Bills to make up these Iosses, I affirm not.

Seventhly, Another cause of railing their prices is a necessity of keeping in their Shops such Medicines as are seldom used, or such as must upon necessity decay, and grow useless. Now suppose they throw such away, this reason is good, but you will find a remedy for this hereafter.

To conclude this second Complaint. By reason of the dear Bills of the Apothecaries, many are deterred from going to the Physician, and run to common Mountebanks, and I think this to be the reason (as some disabused persons have confessed to me) why they have so much cryed up the abilities of Apothecaries for practice, because they would save their credit in taking Physic of them. St. Augustine candidly in his Book of Confessions declares, that through covetousness he repeated a course of Physic, without consulting the Physician (who had before cured him of the same disease) to his greater charge, danger of his life, and offence against God.

Having done with the Apothecaries abuses relating chiefly to the Patients Health and Purse, and such as are willfully committed (though all of them reflect on the Physician) I shall now touch on a few neglects, and mistakes proving often very mischievous.

First, They frequently mistake the Physicians directions, which of what dangerous consequence it is, every one can tell.

Rh