Page:Merret - A short view of the frauds and abuses committed by apothecaries.pdf/81

 Epsom, Barnet, and Tunbridge, many weeks together? or who refuseth a constant unalter'd Diet-Drink for some Months, or Years together? And do not Apothecaries in all Diseases of the Lungs, fly to their pectoral decoction for all persons, and for the same person at all times, unless perhaps with the addition of a little China to it?

Some Patients of the middle rank have by these and such like Artifices been drawn from me, but have soon returned, being undeceived by the fulsomeness, charge, and the non-success of the Shops.

Now these things I have here published to this end alone, that both Physician and Patient may take notice of them; the former to neglect and slight such poor Calumnies, and the other to avoid the inconveniencies thence arising.

The care I had not to injure any particular person, by naming him in my first Edition, or this (although I had so many witnesses of credit, as appears by the Postscript, to justifie any thing they can object against) makes me hope they will leave off their personal animosities, or redress their Crimes, their Vanity of threatning me with 20000l. Actions, and affrighting my publishing this, together with my further proceedings, by their intended assaults and batterie; which make them appear so ridiculous, that I smile at the first, and pardon the last, wishing them to consider seriously how the expectation some have of what they can say for themselves, together with the necessity that obliges them to it (if possible) were enough one would think, besides their many large brags of a speedy and full answer (which they have a Rh