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Page 3
Fifthly, Add to the former (though perhaps 'tis an error of ignorance
only) that if such Simples are prescribed they know not, they fetch
from the Herb-women what they give them, true or false; for many of
these Women give to very many Plants false names; Now if the
Apothecary be so careful to consult an Herbal, which few have, and
fewer know how to make use of, yet they too frequently mistake the
thing by reason of several names given to the same thing, or of one
name to several things, and many of them consult the common
Dictionaries only, which are most erroneous in the names of natural
things; insomuch that in my first practice (being curious of these
particulars) I have found two or three mistakes in one prescription, a
Catalogue of which mistakes, and names ill given, I had collected, but
the late fire consumed it, though many of them my memory hath
reserved.
Sixthly, Many of the London, and most of the Country-Apothecaries, buy
of the whole-sale men, who affirm of one another, especially of such
who gain great Estates in short time, that they cannot 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.
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