Page:Merret - A short view of the frauds and abuses committed by apothecaries.pdf/35

 times to the Patient himself, and thereby call in his good Apothecaries Physician. Now what a shame is it, that a Physicians credit and livelihood, should stand at the mercy of such pitiful ignorant, and self-ended Souls? I have heard one of them say of the now most Eminent Practiser in London, that his Boy could write as good a Method as he, and that he understood the practice of Physic as well as any Physician in London except 2, or 3, though the same person was soon made to confess, he neither knew the Disease, Cause, nor Cure of a Pleurisy, pretended to be throughly understood by him.

Thirdly, He will avoid the trouble put upon him after he hath writ his Bill, by the Apothecaries ignorance in not understanding it, who to be informed came to the Doctor heretofore, with their Hats off, but now send their Boys, who soon put theirs on. Such respect do they give Physicians, when they come to them as to their Masters to teach them.

Fourthly, He will avoid the impertinent Visits of the Apothecaries, and non-sensical, troublesome, and discouraging, frightful discourses to the Patient, of whom no man can expect more then the Common Proverb gives to Praters, and impertinent Speakers, That they talk like Apothecaries.

Fifthly, He will avoid the mischiefs from their Visits, who by their shrugs, signs, or words, may diminish the Physicians reputation, and good opinion, whether in his skill, or Medicines, whereby good Medicines are neglected, and the expedition of a good success upon the use of them taken away, or at least causing an Rh