Page:Merret - A short view of the frauds and abuses committed by apothecaries.pdf/48

 and Pharmacy, and discover the grounds of them, and wherein the efficacy of remedies lyes, and thereby lay open a whole Ocean for new discoveries, and by the by observe many useful products and Phænomena of Nature, to the great improvement of his Art, and found Natural Philosophy, which are not taken notice of by Apothecaries, and their Servants; for all which they have neither will nor skill.

As to the improvement of Medicines, this may be added, by the experimenting Physician, that in distill'd waters he will consider and find which of them will afford any virtue, which only phlegm equivalent but to Conduit-water, which of them will keep long, and in perfection, which soon or in what time decay, and spend them accordingly, and in compound distill'd waters, will find cause to lay aside many simples as nothing conducing, or rather weakning the efficacy of the Medicine designed; whereby much charge and trouble will be spared, and better compositions be made.

He will gain and keep to himself Patients, who have diseases they are unwilling should be known by Apothecaries and their Boys, and all such as have a mind to turn over their File.

The Patient will have better opinion or the Medicines, and confidence in the use of them, and the Physician be more satisfied in his Conscience, and better allured of the success.

He will gain reputation to his Art, by restoring it to its first institution and practice, by the Founders and Heroes of Physic. Rh