Page:Philosophical Transactions - Volume 003.djvu/214

 have any concern for their Patients, or intend to improve Pharmacy it self Here he considers, that if Physitians depend onely upon what they read in Books, they shall never promote this Art beyond its present limits; and that, if Physitians in former times had not been knowing in Simples, examin'd their Vertues and Tempers, inquired into their effects, and mix'd them with their own hands, there had been no such Science as Physick; and therefore those things, which gave a being to this noble Faculty, ought to help to make it compleat; towards which as nothing can contribute more than the Improvement of Pharmacy; so neither can anything promote that more, than Physitians taking it into their management. Besides all which, he thinks, it most fit, that they, who exercise themselves in the Practise of Physick, be satisify'd, their Medicins are good; whereby their mind will be free and without any clog: which would add more difficulties and dangers to at thing, by it self hard and dangerous enough.

These and other Considerations, insisted on in this Discourse, will, in the Author's perswasion, induce all Physitians, who have respect to the Good of their Patients, Honour of their Profession, or own Reputation, to put Pharmacy into other hands, and better methods (for which he intimates, that a strong revolution is already taken) than those, wherein now it is; whereby they, who dishonour it (meaning the Apothecaries) will either be reduced to a sense and performance of their Duty, or sufficiently punished.

Besides all this, there are interspersed in this Discourse not a few particulars, both Philosophical and Physical; such as concerne the Improvement of Natural Philosophy by the exercise of Chymistry in the hands of discreet and able Physitians: the Discovery and use of abundance of Generous Remedies, hitherto industriously concealed by their Possessors from the Apothecaries and Common Chymists, upon the consideration, that they would make a preposterous use of them; such as are the Essences of Plant; made by the Union of their Volatile Spirits, Essential Oyles, and fixed Salts, Volatile Salt or Spirit of Tartar, Tincture of Corals, Essences of Pearls and Crabs Eyes, Valentinus's Tincture of Antimony, his Mineral Bezoar, Helmonts Elixir Proprietatis, his Laudanum, the Volatil Spirit of Vitriol, the Anodine Sulphur of Vitriol, its Essential Oyle, the Tincture of Gold, &c. All which the Author assures to have seen himself, and declares himself ready to witness, that they have had extraordinary Effects. And he omits not particularly to insinuate, how much Diet can contribute to the cure or moderation of Distempers; and he affirms boldly, That there is scarce any Chronical Disease, that is cured by the Shop-medicines, which may not be cured with more certainty, ease and pleasure by Drinks, (joyn'd with a regular Dyet) as Wine, Ale, Beer, Cider, &c. impregnated in the time of their Fermentation, with the Vertues of Simples, Animal, Vegetable or Mineral, or their Preparations &c.

Printed by T.N. for John Martyn, Printer to the Royal Society, and are to be sold at the Bell a little without Temple-Bar, 1668.