REFLECTIONS ON A LIBEL, ENTITLED, A Plea for the Apothecaries.  
LONDON, Printed for Richard Chiswell at the two Angels and Crown in Little Britain, 1671.   

Reflections on a Libel, entitled, A Plea for the Apothecaries.  
Reader, Observe that I. R. signifies the Libeler, W.C. the Animadverter, D. M. the Person writ against by the Libeler.  
AFter twelve months' consideration, comes forth this Plea, written by an Apothecary, as appears page 41, 42. and perhaps the Author of this Paper could from I. R's own Company have named him, and could tell, that though he were not commissionated, yet the presentation thereof was liked by them: But for his gravity I shall spare the naming him, taking notice only of his matter and failings.  
I. R. in page 41. 42. endeavours to gain a belief, because (saith he) he was never accounted a Liar: That he is one, shall be first proved out of his false Quotations; in his Book, Page 8. He refers you to something lately published by an intelligent, knowing person of the same faculty; but since he is ashamed to name him, 'tis H. Stubbs, proved at large by D. M. and Mr. Glanvil, to be a most Impudent and notorious Slanderer and Liar. I. R. goes on, and saith, he quotes him totidem verbis, viz. If I might take an estimate of his parts from his writings, etc. W.C. disparaging maliciously all D. M's Books, whereas the words of H. Stubb's are, from that writing, viz. the View. A second is in page 24, 25. I.R. saith that D.M. will put in one grain, or two at most for an hundred, as was formerly demonstrated from his own confession. See Pag. 15. of I R's Book: where D. M. speaks of Bills, and not of Prescriptions, and those too not of his own Bills (for he makes none) but of the Apothecaries rated Bills. Page 41. I. R. affirms, D. M. would make the world believe, that the Company of Apothecaries combined with H. S. to asperse the Royal Society. W. C. There's nothing of the Company of Apothecaries, nor of combination in D. M's Book. Page 26. I. R. makes D.M. to call his own medicines inconsiderable: W.C. Which is absurdly false. Page 33. He falsely pin's these words on D.M. viz. A Physician ought not to make use of any chargeable things. No such words in any of D. M's books, nor doth I. R. quote any place where they should be.  
W.C. Lies of another order are p. 9, 10. that D.M. suborned Dr. Cox to write his book against the Apothecaries. p. 1. That D. M. had an intention to invade their Profession (W.C. 'tis his birthright, as has been proved) which he saith hath been for many years constituted. W. C. The contrary whereof he acknowledgeth. Page 2. I.R. goes on, and saith the whole series of Pharmacy (understand these words who can) by their good Laws hath been improved to as high, and laudable a Pitch, as in any foreign Nation, or Republic whatsoever.  
W. C. Next follow his modest lies, wherewith he asperseth D. M. saying, he is a Criminator, mad or blind, cajoles the Ladies, collogues Surgeons and Nurses, setting the Nurse's cock a hoop, and choosing them for his Mates; calls him Sinon, Saul among the Prophets for quoting St. Augustine; his Language is high, provoking, invective, abusive; his many aspersions unjustly charged, his former chat, Tale of a Tub, he rants, and chants, and will do so in infinitum, bauls and chants, Zealot for kindling coals, acts contrary to all good manners and ingenuity, his nakedness and rudeness; he hath as many tricks as a dancing Horse, Hyperbolizeth to such a height, he deceives and deludes; calls him impudent, Mountebank; saith he gives little or nothing, or nothing to the purpose to his Patients. Scornfully he saith, the good Doctor, worthy Doctor, Domine Doctor, a learned Physician; a pretender to Philosophy, a great Philosopher, etc. His brave Heroic Roman valour, his humour of vapouring, his imaginary confidence; with much more to the same purpose from this modest man.  
W. C. Next follows the malice of this Zealot for kindling coals (as he phraseth it) to D. M. in several places, Page 5, 9, 14, 15, 17, 18, 46. to set his Colleagues and most of his own Profession against him by childish and pitiful deductions. But that all this is false, the choosing by vote of D. M. and Dr. Goddard Censors for this present year evidently demonstrate to all the world, that the College judge they have not aspersed or injured any of their Faculty.  
W.C. Now I come to the matter of his Plea, wherein he acknowledgeth all the Frauds, and abuses to Patients, and Physicians, complained of in the View, endeavouring only sillily to evade some, as will appear by what followeth: Page 3. (He saith) he will not countenance any of their members to take upon them the practice of Physic; nor that they should repeat a whole course of Physic without the directors knowledge. And p. 36. That the Apothecary of his own head in any case of difficulty or danger (mark that) should dare to undertake the cure of the Patient without consulting the Physician; He conceives that the Apothecary doth not therein discharge his duty. But page 40. contrary to what hath been before said, he restrains them only from the professed customary practice of Physic. Page 2. He believes there may be some persons, that use medicines quite contrary to the Prescriptions, and falsify the grand compositions of the London Dispensatory. And Page 12. That the whole-sale-men sell not medicines honestly made. Page 13. he confesseth the seventh, eighth, and ninth Criminations. And page 14. to the first eight he hath nothing to say. Page 27. Commends Zwelfer for reforming Mithridate and Treacle, which the same Author also calls absurd and ridiculous, which words are far higher than [unintelligible and unreasonable] of D. M's. Page 29. That 'tis above the Sphere of the Company of Apothecaries to meddle with Medicines, which are best, or to make any alteration in Compositions. Page 32. He ingenuously acknowledgeth, that the Apothecaries might better keep their Shops, and do the Patients better service than by their Visit. Page 39 That Physicians may use their own Arcanums, or Preparations, and that upon just grounds they may turn out the Apothecaries. Page 40. He cannot judge it reasonable that the Apothecaries should discover the Physicians Arcanums. W. C. By this the Reader may easily perceive he acknowledgeth all the material things D.M. complains of; what he doth not, now followeth page by page. In reply to whom W. C. will give you the bare objections and answers, leaving out his impertinently quoted Latin, and farcing in things to no purpose to misled the unconsidering Reader.  
Pag. 1. Three falsities have been mentioned in it.  
Pag. 2. Contains only ill language, and his own unfitness to answer.  
Pag. 3, 4. mentions some things (he saith) he will not entrench on the Physicians, and such as D. M. complains of.  
Pag. 5. saith D. M. asperseth his own Profession, besides some words of railing.  
Pag. 6, 7. he chargeth D.M. for putting in Pharmacopoeus in the old Distich, and that it is in larger Characters. W.C. Nothing's more ordinary with all Writers than to change words, and fit them for their purpose; and therefore Judaeus, and Monachus are left out, because we have none such in England that practice Physic; besides Pharmacopoeus makes the better Verse. As for the distinction of the Character it might be the work of the Composer, who usually prints in large Characters the Argument of the Book. But why doth I. R. mis-quote and foist in Prophanus in the Hexameter, which was Sacerdos in the Copy?  
Pag. 7, 8. He mis-quotes Mr. Stubbs (as hath been said) and reviles.  
Page 9 barely affirms that D. M. suborned Dr. Cox to write his book.  
Page 10, 11. he borrows of Lex Talionis an answer to the Apothecary's Axiom, that Apothecaries may be the veriest knaves, etc. by saying the Doctors that make medicines may be so, the contrary whereto D.M. hath proved at large in several places.  
Pag. 11, 12, 13. are some of his confessions , only laughs at the story of the Seedsman, and D. M's man. No such word as [Man] in the text. Every Seedsman will tell you 'tis their common practice, and is this ridiculous, that they should buy decayed Seeds, and only such which are universally the best part of the Plant? 'Tis a horrid cheat, and abuse. Page. 14, etc. either confesseth, or endeavours to make a division betwixt D.M. and his Colleagues, and is stuffed with reviling language.  
Page 15, 16. For the putting in of Bezoar and Pearls to increase their Bills, though there be but a grain or two in the receipt. I. R. answers, Some of the College, and also Zwelfer mentions 100, or 120 grains given at a dose. W. C. Much to the purpose; D. M. chargeth them with over-rating their medicines; I. R. answers, Physicians give large doses.  
Page 16, 17, 18, 19 Pleads for the dear Bills of the Apothecaries, and in the whole saith no more than that conscionable Bills made with good medicines ought to be paid; which no body denieth.  
Page 20. Reviles. Confesseth, and saith that D. M. may mistake as well as the Apothecaries.  
Page 21. I. R. saith, the Company disown any uncivil deportment of Apothecaries to Physicians. W. C. This I.R. denies none of the affronts, etc. by their particular members, nor any of the actings of the whole Company against the College publicly. Ibid. he saith, D.M. stumbles at a straw, and saith Patients will call themselves so. W. C. D. M. hath proved it to be nonsense to call the sick their Patients, and finds no fault with the sick for calling the Apothecary Doctor, but with the Apothecary for taking that title upon him: but whosoever shall consider, what influence words have on the Vulgar, will not think it straw. Let but the people be enured to call the Apothecary Doctor, they will soon think him a fit and lawful Practitioner, and will make no difference betwixt the ignorantest Apothecary and the learnedst Physician: but what an inference is it, to say that D. M. gives the lie to the sick, when he only speaks of the arrogance of the Apothecary? Ibid. I. R. saith, 'tis not the desire of most persons to take medicines of Physicians. W. C. This I suppose D. M. spoke as he found it, but I have heard him lately say, that eight or nine persons have been seduced from him by the Apothecaries, of which he hath only heard by their deaths; as to understanding persons I. R. wittily answers, some men are wise, some over-wise, some otherwise.  
Pag. 22, 23. Whereas D.M. saith, Physicians will avoid the trouble put upon them by the Apothecary's Ignorance. I.R. replieth, that Physicians may mistake their doses, and tells a story of three drachms of Laudanum prescribed for three grains. W. C. D. M. speaks of the Apothecary's Ignorance, and I. R. of the Physicians over-dosing; and as for the good Doctor he is already quit of the ignorance and frauds of the Apothecaries, plainly thereby preferring the life of his Patients before his own ease or profit.  
Page 24. I. R. Foolishly infers with Lex Talionis, that D.M. judgeth none of the Apothecaries honest; the contrary whereof is manifest in two places of his View.  
Page 25. Recriminates, saith D. M. employeth some novice to make his medicines, while he is taking his recreations, and indulging his genius. W. C. This is false, the Doctor employeth a man who hath a Supervisor besides himself, who can do any thing better than the Apothecary's boys, and doubtless than any of the Masters; and how much D. M. indulgeth his genius in recreations, all that know him can say, as little as any man. Ib. and 26. D. M. by Patients taking Medicines of Physicians, most of the great charges of Apothecary's Bills will be saved. I. R. asks how this will hold water, and then recites out of D. M. how it may be done. W. C. This needs no other answer, than that 'tis done the facto, and to be sure if he had done any thing but what he professeth, this Libeler would have branded him for it. 'Tis strange that I. R. should so miscensure Medicines he hath never seen, who doth in his own Paper acknowledge his unfitness to judge of Medicines.  
Page 27, 28, 29. Tells the Reader what esteem some have had of Mithridate and Treacle. W.C. See his confessions before.  
Page 30. Whereas D. M. tells Physicians they will improve their knowledge; I.R. replieth high Language. Admiranda canit, sure the Doctor hath got the Philosopher's stone, etc. Ibid. whereas D. M. saith, when Dispensatories were first made, Apothecaries were Physicians servants. I. R. infers, Ergo the Doctor entitles himself Master.  
Page 31. W. C. D. M. saith by this means Physicians honour will be doubled. I. R. replieth, Honesty is the greatest honour maugre what D. M. would infer to the contrary.  
Page 32, 33. Contains his good language, confessions, his childish answering to the great charges Physicians are put to before they come into practice, and asks, Whether those great sums came out of the clouds. W. C. This cannot be better answered than by I. R's way, a Proverb, viz. His Father was born before him.  
Pag. 34. Accuseth D.M. for leaving London in the Plague time, and tells the Ladies how their Grandmother Eve was Cozened by the Devil; and then page 35. saith, 'tis absolutely impossible for a Physician to prepare his Medicines in the time proposed by D. M. W. C. 'Tis true, 'tis so for an Apothecary that is to dispense for several Physicians, and also long and tedious dispensations: but the Doctor's meaning by preparing is no otherwise than to see them well done; and 'tis no more than when the Apothecaries say, I have prepared my Medicines, though the thing be actually done by his Servants; and this pitiful Scribbler makes no difference between dispensing of Medicines, and curing of Patients.  
Page 35, 36. Supposeth Physicians to be the first aggressors, the contrary whereof hath been proved at large.  
Page 36, 37, 38, 39, 40. Confesseth things to be true they are accused for.  
Page 41, 42. Endeavours with a strong asseveration to vindicate the Company from any combination with H. S. against the Royal Society, which no body hath accused them of, as hath been beforesaid.  
Page 42, 43, 44 I. R. comments on Ambubaiarum collogia, saying, 'tis a hard word to pose a man that is not book-learned, as the Doctor saith he is able to do. W. C. He should have added in their own trade. Ibid. I.R. saith the murdering Apothecary in Cicero was no shop-Apothecary. W.C. D.M. doth not say he was, and with good reason, for there were none such then. And lest H.S. should suppose W. C. to be a Virtuoso, and so lash him for not taking notice of a Criticism; observe how I. R. construes the word Circumforare, which according to the true Etymology, may better be construed to make a Pillory for Libelers necks, then as this man of Latin (to no purpose) expounds it, viz. To go from one Market Town to another.  
Page 45, 46. Recriminates D. M. for saying an Apothecary practised ill without putting the case (ridiculously) and infers, That he hath therein aspersed the honourable College; saying, They have more candour and ingenuity in them, than to assume any such unlimited power, which no Law doth, or can allow; and then proves out of Job that a Physician ought not to find fault with Apothecaries, and that because the Apothecaries are Gods creatures.  
Page 47, 48. contains little but railing; and 45. saith, that Dr. Maranta and Schroder dedicated books, the former to Imperatus, the later to the Apothecaries of Francfort; he should have added, they were his Kinsmen, and assisted him in his book; and 'tis apparent that D. M. would have given due praises to any Apothecary living (if there had been any such) that had contributed but one natural thing to his Pinax.  
Page 48, 49. Concludes with the opinion of Renodeus affirming, that the prescribing and compounding are to be committed to persons distinctly. W. C. But in the place quoted, Renodeus doubtless supposed that Apothecaries kept themselves in their own trade, and made their medicines honestly, as they did in England, when he writ that Treatise.  
From what hath been briefly said, observe how little the Apothecaries have to say for themselves, and what material things I. R. hath spoke to. Observe also his Margin, and you will find him pass over several pages together of D. M's book, which contains nothing but what is substantial, and to the purpose, not answering one argument in the View, only taking occasion from some places to rail at his Person and Medicines; besides of 50 pages in his Pamphlet, there are 17 of them either preliminary, or not to the View, as his Title pretends. Again, take notice how ridiculous his answers are, and that most that he hath said is not to the purpose; And lastly, that if this modest Author shall tell so many lies, and use so many scandals against D. M. in Print, what will not he and his Brethren do behind his back?  
FINIS.