A Short View of the Frauds and Abuses Committed by Apothecaries | Page 8

as the Committee
would not suffer to be read; drawn as some conceive by the assistance,
and countenance, if not contrivance of his Company.
Lastly, The Company of the Apothecaries are bound by their Charter to
bring their Servants (before they make them Free) to be examined by
the Censors of our College, and to have their approbation of their
fitness to exercise their Art, and set up their Trade. Now that they have
herein neglected their duty, and consequently may be dis-franchised
and lose their Freedoms for this omission, 'tis manifest not only by the
vapours of some of them to some members of our Body, that they never
underwent this examination; but also by comparing of our Register
(wherein are recorded the names of all such as have been examined)
with theirs, if they keep any for this purpose. Sure I am, that in two
years together, when I was Censor, very few, if any, did appear to their
examination, whereas yearly a very great number set up their Trades.
Nay since the firing of London not one Apothecaries Servant hath been
examined by the Censors, for more then these three Years last past, in
which time perhaps no less then 100 have been made free by the
Company.
Before our presenting this Charter to the Parliament, they would admit
no Arbitrators betwixt our Corporation, and Theirs, not contenting
themselves with their Charter lately granted in King James's Reign, and
that by the procurement of some of our College for these unthankful
persons. For they would not refer themselves (as the Chirurgeons
without many words or dispute did) to the most upright, and most
knowing Sir Orlando Bridgeman then Lord Chief Justice, and now
Lord Keeper, for a clause to be by him drawn, in order to preserve their
immunities and Charter; which they refused, fearing belike he would
exclude them from the Practice of Physic, which the Law hath already
done, and which is all they could doubt of; but the Corporation of
Chirurgeons did acquiesce in the clause drawn by the said Lord Chief

Justice, and never appeared before the Committee against the said
Charter.
Their increasing dis-respect, and undervaluing the College, appears in
this, that of late years they place our Censors invited to their new
Masters Dinner, at their second Tables whereas always heretofore they
were seated at the first Table, next to the Master of the Company.
And to hinder the building of a New College, and the Contribution of
the Honorary Fellows thereunto, they tell them that we deceived them
in their admission, and never intend the building of a New College,
though a large contribution hath been made, and ground purchased in
order thereunto by the Members of their Corporation.
And their further design appears in their great triumphing, and
rejoycing when any illiterate person hath gained any reputation for a
Cure performed, especially where Physicians have been concerned,
though the Patients neglect or obstinateness, have been the sole cause
of this non-performance, and by their continued detraction from
Physicians, and applauding themselves, hoping by the former, that
people will think such Mountebanks able to do better Cures then
learned Physicians, and then they can easily insinuate themselves
superior to such Mountebanks, and consequently to Physicians. By the
latter, they seek to depress, and level us to themselves, being conscious
they can never rise to that worth and ability, required in a Physician.
Another manifest sign of their endeavour to usurp our Practice is, their
absurd calling the sick their Patients, for 'tis most certain that in all
reason and language the Physician and Patient only have relation to
each other, but not to the Apothecary, who is but a Tradesman, and
manual Operator. Now a Tradesman and his Customer, or Chapman,
are Relatives each to other, but those Apothecaries who intrude
themselves and usurp on our profession, may call their Customers
Patients, and that in a true literal sence, when by their ignorance they
make them really sufferers under them; and if they deny Apothecary
and Patient to be non-sence, they shew themselves pitifully ignorant in
the Laws, and Rules of Reason, or else profess themselves Physicians.
And the like non-sence they commonly utter by calling Physicians that
make their own Medicines, Mountebanks and Quacks, whereas none
can be such but those who practise without Lawful Authority, as the
Apothecaries, &c. do; and they are not ignorant in this their malice, that

the Law of England would punish them roundly for so saying. And
were I troublesome or vindicative, I could make some of them
examples, but I freely remit the slanders in this kind that are past.
Having done with the main part of the Disease, next follows the
Remedy; and the only firm and proper one will appear to be,