Page:Merret - A short view of the frauds and abuses committed by apothecaries.pdf/31

 profess themselves Physicians. And the like non-sence they commonly utter by calling Physicians that make their own Medicines, Mountebanks and Quacks, whereas none can be such but those who practice without Lawful Authority, as the Apothecaries, &c. do, and they are not ignorant in this their malice., that the Law of England would punish them roundly for so saying; And were I troublesome or vindicative,! could make some of them examples, but I freely remit their slanders in this kind that are past.

Having done with the main part of the Disease, next follows the Remedy; and the only firm and proper one will appear to be, that Physicians make their own Medicines; the benefit whereof to the publick, the reasonableness of the thing it seIf, the necessity in relation to the Physician, will be manifest by that which follows.

And First, All that hath been said demonstrates this last proposition.

Secondly, The desire of most persons, and the censue of all wise men, who say we are wanting to our own interest, if we make not life of the remedy in our own hands, performing our Art in all its members, whereof making of Medicines is a chief one.

Thirdly, The common practice, and constant usage of all former and antient Physicians in all other Nations, and in England also (for 'tis easie to say when there was not one Apothecary in this Kingdom) the Laws of our Nation, nay even the Apothecaries Charter allow it, the Language of all Physicians, our College voting it honourable so to do, nay Apothecaries themselves Rh