Page:Merret - A short view of the frauds and abuses committed by apothecaries.pdf/58

 sometimes his attendance falsly fathered on him, when Mountebanks only have been employed: but to be sure if an Empiric hath first been made use of, and afterwards an able Physician called in (when all opportunity of doing good was past) and the Patient dy, the Mountebank hath never been mentioned, but the Physician perhaps condemned, though he hath done whatever could have been thought on, rational in that Case.

Add to the former reasons, the bold and confident brags, and promises of Empirics, that they have cured worse diseases, and will in few hours free them from their maladies, especially where sober Physicians have pronounced doubtfully of the event. No wonder that these pleasing promises to persons in danger and distress bring them into employment even with a rejection of the former sober Physician.

Besides, a foolish opinion prevails with some ignorant persons, that they will deal only with such as will undertake the Cure, (that is) contract with them for a sum of money, one half whereof to be payed in hand, and the other the Cure being done, and so are usually cheated of one half of their money; and such people will have nothing to do with such Physicians as will not undertake them in this sence.

Another Stratagem is, to give strange and hard names to their Medicines, such as are Pilulæ radiis Solis extractæ, and in English is no more then Pills dryed to that consistence by the Sun-Beams, which ignorant people have thought were made of the Sun Beams. Others commend their Extract of the Soul of the Heathen Gods. One sets up with a receipt received from Van Helmonts own hands; Another hath Rh