Page:Merret - A short view of the frauds and abuses committed by apothecaries.pdf/41

 as also Unicorns Horn, and Bezoar, all which are now rarely used alone, but in the received Compositions; He may also spare the charges of leaf-gold, for guilding Pots, Glasses, Pills, Electuaries, Boles, &c. which serves only to raise the Bill.

He may teach the Patients facile and easie Remedies, as to make a Clyster, apply Blisters, or Medicines to the feet, where they are needful, &c. and in many Cases may cure by well ordering his Patient only, without any Remedies at all, or but very few, being free to act for the Patients Health, without the grumbling of the Apothecary; and many other ways he may daily meet with, very advantageous to the Patient.

He will have little use of Conserves, Syrups, Lohocks, &c. a greater part whereof Sugar makes up, which doth more hurt to most persons, then the other ingredients do good.

As for Infusions and Decoctions, he will find by experiment, how much liquor, or Menstruum will suffice to extract the full vertue of the ingredients, and what are helps, or hinderances thereunto, and thereby neither suffer loss in the quantity, or quality of them.

He will discover the inefficacy of many of the Syrups and other Medicines in the Shops, made of such ingredients, the qualities whereof, what with boiling, what with the great quantity of Sugar necessary to keep them, are either made useless, or opposite to the ends they are proposed for. Especially in such Plants, Seeds, and Flowers, which consist of fine volatil parts, and even in drying and pounding, or the Rh