A Short View of the Frauds and Abuses Committed by Apothecaries | Page 6

more then they ought.
Fourthly, To advance the prices, you shall hardly ever see a Bill
without Bezoar, or Pearls in it, to make people think them very
chargeable; whereas sometimes there is not above a grain or two of
these dear ingredients in the prescription, and a few grains of these or
Ambergrise doubles or trebles the prices of the Medicines, and are sure
never to be omitted in their Bills, besides the guilding of the Pills, and
covering their Bolusses, and Electuaries with Gold (which have only an
imaginary and no real use in Medicines so used) much inhanseth their
prices, and a rich Cordial inserted exceedingly advanceth most of their
Bills; or if China or any other dear ingredient be in the receipt 'tis not
omitted.
Fifthly, Some Apothecaries offer, and perhaps some Physicians have
taken presents to help them to Customers, which must necessarily be
squeazed out of their higher-rated Medicines.
Sixthly, I have heard some prudent persons complain of their bringing
in their Bills but once in a year, or two; supposing they made them pay
Lombards Usury for their forbearance. And through this neglect they
sometimes lose their money, and whether they raise other Mens Bills to
make up these losses, I affirm not.
Seventhly, Another cause of raising their prices is a necessity of
keeping in their Shops such Medicines as are seldom used, or such as
must upon necessity decay, and grow useless. Now suppose they throw
such away, this reason is good, but you will find a remedy for this
hereafter.
To conclude this second Complaint. By reason of the dear Bills of the
Apothecaries, many are deterred from going to the Physician, and run
to common Mountebanks, and I think this to be the reason (as some

disabused persons have confessed to me) why they have so much cryed
up the abilities of Apothecaries for practice, because they would save
their credit in taking Physic of them. St. Augustine candidly in his
Book of Confessions declares, that through covetousness he repeated a
course of Physic, without consulting the Physician (who had before
cured him of the same disease) to his greater charge, danger of his life,
and offence against God.
Having done with the Apothecaries abuses relating chiefly to the
Patients Health and Purse, and such as are willfully committed (though
all of them reflect on the Physician) I shall now touch on a few neglects,
and mistakes proving often very mischievous.
First, They frequently mistake the Physicians directions, which of what
dangerous consequence it is, every one can tell.
Secondly, They carry a Medicine appointed for one sick person to
another.
Thirdly, They often neglect the sending of Medicines in due time,
especially such as have no Servants, or but raw ones, when the Master
is out of Town, or upon long visits.
Having now done with the Apothecaries as they relate principally to the
sick, I shall in the next place speak of them, as they relate to Physicians,
and that either to the profession in general, or to the particular
practisers of it.
As to the Physicians in general, they endeavour to extirpate them, and
some have been so bold to say, they hope in few years to see never a
Physician in London, and to profess they will scramble with them for
practice. And that this hath been and is their intention, the following
particulars will clearly demonstrate.
First, They have always endeavoured and aimed at the depression and
ruine of the College of Physicians, the only Corporation of that Art in
England, considering rightly, that the depression of the College is their
interest and rise, and that the total subversion of it will make them
absolute Masters in Physic and Physicians their Servants. In Order
hereunto they have constantly, both publickly and privately opposed
the College in whatsoever hath been offered to setle the liberty of
practice on them, their only priviledg and subsistence, though they have
been offered all they could desire for the security of their Trade, and
legal employment, and far beyond whatsoever any Corporation of

Apothecaries in all, or in any forreign part enjoy, yet nothing would
ever content them, but an unlawful, unreasonable, dangerous, and
destructive Usurpation of liberty to some pretended practice, that
thereby they might gain the whole.
Secondly, They have continually traduced the College, and troubled
them in Parliaments, at the Council-Board, &c. to their great charge
and molestation. And for such their great demerits against the College,
the King and his Council, Anno 1639. granted a Quo Warranto to the
Attorney General (the Judges having first heard the whole matter) to
take away their Charter, which doubtless had been effected, had not the
troubles, and long civil War immediately ensued.
Thirdly, And in this present Parliament, how did