Page:Merret - A short view of the frauds and abuses committed by apothecaries.pdf/52

, Syringing and Salivation, wraping up bodies in Cere-Cloaths, &c. which indeed do more properly belong to them then to the Apothecaries; hereby also haply many occasions of quarrel betwixt Physicians and the Apothecaries will cease, each party acting according to his own way.

By this means Pseudochymists, and other Mountebanks mouths and revilings will be stopped, only exclaiming for this, that Physicians make not their own Medicines. But since the publication of these papers I am informed that the said Pseudochymists and Mountebanks rail against me, this Book, and the way propounded, as much as the Apothecaries, though before equal Enemies each to others. So that they have fulfilled the Proverb, of like to like. And no wonder since hereby their Kingdom of darkness is brought to light, and they are obliged to oppose it, as the Copper-Smiths were to revile St. Paul for speaking against the Idol of Diana of the Ephesians, whereby their trade was lost.

And as for the reasonableness of it, that the Physician ought to support himself by all lawful ways and means, and to have præeminence above those ignorant persons that incroach upon his profession, 'tis confessed by all that have considered the great charge, study, and labour, before he can arrive at any benefit from it; for he must take the chargeable degrees of Batchellor, and Master of Arts, Batchellor of Physic, and after 14 years standing, the degree of Doctor; besides his bare expences for his maintenance in the University, Charges in Anatomies, knowledg of natural things; Travels abroad, Chymistry, and Experiments; his Rh