Page:Merret - A short view of the frauds and abuses committed by apothecaries.pdf/30

 ground purchased in order thereunto by the Members of their Corporation.

And their further design appears in their great triumphing, and rejoycing when any illiterate person hath gained any reputation for a Cure performed, especially where Physicians have been concerned, though the Patients neglect or obstinateness, have been the sole cause of this non-performance, and by their continued detraction from Physicians, and applauding themselves, hoping by the former, that people will think such Mountebanks able to do better Cures then learned Physicians, and then they can easily insinuate themselves superior to such Mountebanks, and consequently to Physicians. By the latter, they seek to depress, and level us to themselves, being conscious they can never rise to that worth and ability, required in a Physician.

Another manifest sign of their endeavour to usurp our Practice is, their afford calling the sick their Patients, for 'tis most certain that in all reason and language the Physician and Patient only have relation to each other, but not to the Apothecary, who is but a Tradesman, and manual Operator. Now a Tradesman and his Customer, or Chapman, are Relatives each to other, but those Apothecaries who intrude themselves and usurp on our profession, may call their Customers Patients, and that in a true literal sence, when by their ignorance they make them really sufferers under them; and if they deny Apothecary and Patient to be non-sence, they shew themselves pitifully ignorant in the Laws, and Rules of Reason, or else Rh