A Short View of the Frauds and Abuses Committed by Apothecaries | Page 4

sell their Medicines honestly made at so low a rate as they do.
Seventhly, I shall need to say little of such distilled waters, as discover themselves neither to smell, nor tast, but shall only recite a known Story of an Apothecary, who chid his man for sending away a Customer that came for Plantan water, telling him there was enough at the Pump.
Eighthly, As for Ointments, and Plasters, they are sold by some at so low a price, viz. 3 d. per l. for Ointments, as I have been informed, that 'tis not possible to make them at, and yet such however falsifyed maintain a trade amongst Country, and low-priced City-Apothecaries, and the Chirurgeons profess they cannot effect their Cures with the Shop-Medicines, and that this is the reason why they make their own Oyls, Oyntments, &c. as the Apothecaries Charter allows them to do; and why may not Physicians think this to be the cause why they sometimes fail in their Cures, as well as Chirurgeons? and also make their own Medicines as well as they, especially since the Apothecary may as easily falsify, and to greater profit in the one, then in the other?
Ninthly, As to their use of bad or decayed Drugs, 'tis so common a practice that I shall need to give but one notorious instance of it, and 'tis this, I having occasion to use some Seeds, sent for them to a Seeds-man, the Messenger desiring to have those of the same Year. The Tradesman knowing him to live with me, asked, if they were for Physical use, he replyed in the affirmative, whereat he presently shewed him others, which were of 6 or 7 years old (as he confessed) affirming them to be as good for that use as the newest, which he sold only for sowing, and that he kept the others, though never so old, for the Apothecaries only, who still asked for them, buying them though 20 years old, not regarding if they were decayed and wholy effete (for no Seed will preserve its vegetative faculty above 7 years much less its Physical) so they could but have them cheap. Besides their pretty knacks (as they call them) of making their Compounds fair to the eye, more vendible, but worse for use, by restoring them to their colour and consistence, that they may pass for good, which perhaps 'tis better to pass over in silence, lest by confuting I should teach the younger Fry, who may better be honestly ignorant of them. Now for their substituting one thing for another, and detracting where they please, I shall add but one Story of an Apothecary, who commanded his man (who told him they had no good Rhabarb in the house) that he should put in double quantity of what they had. Nay I have known one simple of a quite different nature used for a whole composition.
Tenthly, I shall conclude this ungrateful Discourse, with saying that by reason more frauds may be committed by the Apothecaries, then by any other Trade, and by supposition that gain will tempt most men to dishonest actions, especially where they may act undiscovered; I say; that this seems to be the cause why they have two Supervisors set over them more then any Company that I know of, viz. the Censors of the College of Physicians, and the Master and Wardens of their own Company.
The next thing is the inlarging and multiplying their Bills and Medicines.
First, When in Chronical Diseases a Physician is consulted, they go on of their own heads with the same prescription, frequently enough to the Patients great disadvantage, both of health and purse.
Secondly, By giving and intermixing Medicines of their own Phancy, with the Physicians prescriptions, viz. some pleasing Medicine, whereby too often the Physicians intention is quite crost, and the effect made uncertain, and hazardous.
Thirdly, By giving Medicines themselves on small accounts, and such as require only a good ordering, and no more.
Fourthly, By repeating long courses of Physic unadvisedly, and needlesly, when either nothing, or very little is needful to be done.
Fifthly, By creating diseases in easie mens Phansies, and so decoying them into courses of Physic.
Sixthly, Some of them get private and worthless receipts, and sell them at what rate they please; Mr. Delaune by one Pill alone, though not a very safe one, got some thousands of pounds.
Seventhly, If one of them get a private receipt from a Physician called by the inventor his Nostrum, if another Apothecary have occasion to use it, he shall be sure to pay sawce for it.
Eighthly, Another trick is when the Patient is cured, and the Physician therefore hath given over his Visits, then comes the Apothecary and insinuates by his words and passions, either some danger of relapse, or some other