Αγυρτο-Μαςτιξ. Or, some Brief ANIMADVERSIONS Upon two late TREATISES; One of Master George Thomsons, ENTITLED, GALENO-PALE; The other of Master Thomas O Dowdes, Called, The Poor Man's Physician: With a short Appendix, relating to the Company of Apothecaries.  
By William Johnson, Chemist to the King's College of Physicians, in LONDON.  
London, Printed by T. Mabb, for Henry Brome, at the Gun in Ivy-Lane, 1665.   

Imprimatur,  
Tho. Grigg, May 10. 1665.   

TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE, HENRY Lord Marquess of DORCHESTER, Earl of Kingston, Viscount Newark, Lord Pierrepoint, and Manvers, etc.  
Right Honourable,  
IF, in the great crowd of dedications, that daily flow in upon your Lordship (the general Patron of Arts) there be yet a room left, I would endeavour to break through the press, to throw myself, and this small Treatise at Your Honour's feet.  
It is in You, my Lord, that Galen and Helmont are reconciled, and made friends; and that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or wrestling my Author dreams of, is nothing else, but coming to a close for their mutual Support; that thus United, each may stand the faster, both pitching on Your Lordship, as upon a Common Pillar. And since this League and Amity of Galcnicall and Chemical Physic is no where else to be found more Conspicuous, Justice itself must plead my Excuse, if there be any Presumption in my Humble Desire of Your Lordship's Patronage.  
I must confess it was not matter of long dispute or study put me upon this choice; it was of the same date with my Resolution to say something to this Bold Pretender; For, besides, that in Your Lordship, having not only a Powerful Patron, but a most proper and competent Judge, I was bound in Gratitude to make use of this opportunity, to witness to the World my particular Obligation to Your Lordship for the long Encouragement I have received from Your Honour in my Profession of Chemistry.  
Your Lordship cannot be ignorant, how numerous these Pseudochymists are now grown; who whilst they would be thought, not only Sons of Art, but Doctors in Physic, Viper like, eat out her very bowels: And though never so Unskilful, yet they presume to boast themselves and their Juggling Faction, as the only Friends and Zealots for Chemistry; whereas indeed, ignorance alone is the Mother of their Devotion: This Crew I would summon to receive their Sentence at the bar of your Lordship's perfect Knowledge and Experience, where I doubt not but these Pretenders to Pyrotechny, not able to undergo the Fiery Trial, will, like their own false preparations, vanish in fumo; and they be discovered to be neither Physicians nor Artists, but mere Impostors. As an Appendix to this Sentence, I hope your Honour will absolve me from my fears of having displeased your Lordship in my present Address, and vouchsafe still to continue me according to my Great Ambition, in the favour of being,  
My Lord, Your Lordships, Most Humble, and Obedient Servant, William johnson.   

OF 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉- M 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. OR SOME Brief Animadversions Upon a Treatise of Mr George Thomsons, ENTITLED, GALENO-PALE:  
OUr Author throughout his whole Treatise, quarrels so much with Method, that I shall not observe his, by dividing my Reply into Chapters; but by one entire thread of Discourse pass through his whole Labyrinth, that so I may securely strike dead, or which will be all one, discover to the World, the Monster therein locked up, in his true Dimensions.  
In the very Entrance, nothing will satisfy the Fury of our Minotaur, but Galen himself, thinking indeed in him at once to swallow all, that own his Authority; but alas he finds him so tough a bit, that his venomous tooth cannot enter: His Reputation is so great and Universal, his Parts, Industry and Success in Physic so Eminent, that he is put to it, where to take any hold with his envious fangs, though sharpened with malice and detraction.  
It is an Argument of a very ill nature, or of a bad design, to forge a Quarrel between two, the most Eminent persons of their Times; that so he might have some pretence and colour to raise a Faction by assigning to each their distinct followers; this is done all men know, upon a false supposition; for the Judicious and Learned do not build the Praises of Galen, on the Disgrace of Vanhelmont, but honour both according to their respective worth, and are ready to confess that the Germane on Galens shoulders might possibly see more than he; Nay, Vanhelmont himself will own, that he was Assisted by him in his further prospect: but it is very justly to be suspected, that these Jugglers neglecting of Galen, the Foundation, and per saltum mounted up to Vanhelmont, their heads are grown dizzy, and 'tis no wonder they endeavour to cast a mist before the eyes of others, when they can see nothing distinctly themselves.  
The Ignorant Impudence of this man will further appear, when we consider him making it his business, and professed design to cry down Galen, yet at the same time is forced to confess him a man of Excellent Parts; how this Character can consist with his Ignorance in Physic, I leave to any indifferent judge; since it was in this Science, that his Wit and Learning, not without great Pains and Study, have been transmitted to Posterity; witness those many great Volumes writ upon that subject, which in all Ages Sober and Discreet Physicians have received as the Oracles of Apollo, whom Antiquity makes the God of Physic.  
I very much question, whether my Friend has ever read Galen, and more, whether he understands him: I rather believe he speaks against him at a venture, because he has met with a more easy, though a by way, to his ends, which is not with Galen to cure, but delude the Patient; to purge him not of his Disease, but of his Money.  
I must confess, that I am not so much an Orator, as to be able to write Galens Panegyric proportionable to his merit, and real worth; neither indeed is it necessary, for what use is there of Rhetoric to persuade, what is already so generally believed, both as to his Abilities, and our Authors Ignorance: That which I intent by this Discourse, is to caution all sorts of People, who are unacquainted with any such thing, as a difference between Galen and Helmont, & are apt to be deceived by Master Thomsons scandalous Reproaches of the one, and his great Eulogiums of the other; whereas he neither rails or commends to any other end, then to bring an odium upon the College, and all Physicians in general, who only by Sobriety, and long Study commend themselves unto the World: He is not concerned either to oppose Galen, or cry up Vanhelmont, but in order, to gain a reputation with the people to himself, and the rest of those fanatics in Physic, Master Odoud, Master Lockyer, and I know not how many of the like Rabble, Footmen Gun-Smiths, Heel-makers', and Butchers, that are all made Doctors in the Opinion of the Vulgar, who deluded with a few hard words, and the bare Names of Chemical Preparations (which is all the stock these men set up with) are apt to admire what is above their understanding; but I wish they would consider, that they deal with a sort of Jugglers, that do not understand themselves.  
Thus, the more plausibly to deceive all that are not capable of enquiring into the Mystery of their Trade, but yet may be apt enough to avoid them as Up-starts; they range themselves under the banner of Vanhelmont, whose Name having made a considerable noise in the World, they think sufficient to silence such as should question their Knavery; but their ignorance does not a little appear in the very choice of their Patron, for had I been of their Council, I would have suggested to them a more Ancient and Stouter Champion, whom Helmont himself owns, Theophrastus Paraselsus, who was the first, not that dissented from Galen, but that made any considerable improvement in Chemistry; for it is not to be questioned, but that He and Vanhelmont through their ingenious labour in the fire, made discovery of many Rare and Excellent Medicines; but neither of them buried Galen in the ashes, wholly laying aside, as these men would have the World believe, his sober Rules and Prescriptions; and this ingenuity of theirs hath been abundantly requited by that Esteem, which hath been paid them by most learned Physicians since their time, but especially those now of theColledge, (who for many years last passed in all the Universities of Europe have carried the vogue.)  
My particular Relation bathe given me opportunity of frequent converse with these Famous Men, and when any discourse of Vanhelmont, or any Chemical Author has occasionally being raised, they were so far from being traduced (as this Impostor in divers places of his Book impudently affirms) that they were never mentioned without some remarks of Commendation; Indeed it is so much against the Nature of any Ingenious Man to Vilify an Artist (such as doubtless vanhelmont was) that I believe by this it will appear, our Adversaries undervaluing of all, but themselves, must needs be out of malice and base design; for my own part, I may presume to say, (without being guilty of much boasting) it will be acknowledged, by a sufficient Testimony, that I understand my Profession, but I should think myself very ungrateful, if I did not acknowledge the helps and encouragements I have received from the College; 'tis from their favourable influence my fires have received a new light and heat, and they have taken care to blow and cherish the flame.  
Let any Judicious man but look back, and compare the practice of our Worthy Physicians for Twenty Years last passed, with the preceding times, and he must confess Chemistry, and its Improvement has been their great care, and constant study; that pitch, to which this Noble Art is now advanced, is owed to them, and if it ascend yet higher, the same hands must lend their assistance. Neither am I so put to it, that I should urge barely their favours to myself, though visible for this twenty years, as a sufficient conviction and evidence of their zeal to Pyrotechny; they have given other large Testimonies, nay, most of them have been so industrious, that they have actually put their hands to the plough: if this be to vilify and reproach Vanhelmont, if this be to oppose Chemistry, they may be justly accused: But since it appears far otherways, these Impostors do but betray their envy and ignorance; yet thus much I will acknowledge they have in them of Chemistry, they know well how to blow the coal.  
As to the abuses and disrepute the Galenists (as you are pleased to style our Doctors) have brought upon Physic;  
Mutato nomine de Te Fabula Narratur:  
Surely the man's asleep, or how could he be guilty of so gross a mistake, for doubtless this part of his Treatise is as it were designed to whip himself and his Juggling Brethren; for at the same time when he mentions the sad Exorbitances, Irregularities, and abuses in Physic, he in plain terms confesses them to be introduced by swarms of Quacks in every place numerous, as Locusts; he appearing in the head of this band himself, impudently bidding defiance to the Doctors, & telling them to their teeth, they would fain put them to the rout, if they had power equal to their will; But alas this Exprobration of all others is the most frivolous; for give these Impostors but rope enough, and they will hang themselves, withering like hasty weeds for want of sap and root.  
Among his other insignificant reproaches, 'tis very pleasant to observe, how he quarrels with the College for their plain dealing, and openness, as if they were to blame for imparting their fkill, and expounding the riddle of Physic so far as is sufficient to discover the Juggle of these Quacks and Mountebanks.  
This Fellow goes on to tax the College with uncharitableness, which accusation is better Answered by the Hospitals then by me, though many thousand other poor people besides can testify their charity and readiness to do them good freely without taking any thing for their Advise; whereas His and his brethren's, being nothing worth, their way is to exact money before hand of the poorest for Physic of their own jumbling up; so that they do not only wrong them, but those also whom they would seem to pity, under a title of the Poor Apothecaries; and surely they are in a fair way to deserve this Epithet, if they, with the help of the College do not get the practice of Physic purged from such pitiful Physicians.  
These subtle insinuations they use to foment a groundless discord between Doctor and Apothecary; for doubtless the late Appeal to the Parliament, was intended to tie the hands of such Usurpers as yourselves, who would engross doth Professions, without being qualisied for either: and this, contrary to their ill grounded hopes, will in its due time take effect; and than if some Epidemical contagious Disease, worse than yourselves (the omen of which God avert) should Reign amongst us, we doubt not God's blessing upon the sober endeavours of Doctor and Apothecary, each being careful in his respective Sphere; and surely there is not much likelihood our Galenists that have stayed the brunt of former infectious times, should now run from their colours, if the like danger should happen: Almost in every Church in London, or Vestry, there is to be found a Printed Memorial of their pains and care in the Sickness-time; However I hope thus much in your behalf, that a Public Edict will be instrumental to free your Fraternity from the disgrace of a voluntary flight.  
'Tis no wonder at all to hear you inveigh bitterly against Rule and Method in Physic, when out of your Anarchical Principle, you are as ready to renounce all Order and Government in the State; Your design is to subvert, what the Laws of England, and the Customs and Privileges of both Universities have Established, (Viz.) That none under so many years standing in one of our two Universities, aught to be admitted to practise Physic; and the Degree of a Doctor requires more: Yet after all this, according to an Ancient Grant from His Majesty's Royal Ancestors given to the College of London; None, of these persons though so qualified, can have liberty to practise Physic within divers miles of London without leave from the College: Yet every Heele-Maker, Footman, or Butcher, that can but steal a Receipt from some Doctor's Man (by the consent of Master Thomson) shall presently mount the Common Stage, and under the notion of a Chemical Doctor, defy the whole Body of Physicians; Besides you do not only go about to infringe the Liberties of this Honourable Society, but you doubly encroach upon the Freedom of Apothecaries; who, as to the Pharmaceutical part of Physic, have a Patent of the same Authority (as to their Corporation) with that of the College relating to the practice of Physic, and unless a man be invested by one of these two Authorities, he can neither Justify his preparing any Medicines, or practising when he has done, and in what degree than you rob the Apothecaries of their profession, I shall have an occasion to demonstrate in another part of my Discourse; Though I would have you take notice of what is now said, and consider how unjustly you assume the practice of Physic in any respect whatever; and yet not withstanding all this, through your fallacious ignorance, You wonder, and stand amazed (as you say) to see such Learned Physicians, men so highly reputed for their Parts, to carry on such a design, as the confirmation of their Patent! You may as well wonder why a man should defend his house against Thiefs, which is but a particular interest; but in this the common good is so much concerned, viz. the keeping down such Drones and Quacks, as through their ignorance, and irregular practice would prove prejudicial to the Commonwealth, creating more Diseases than they cure.  
I cannot deny but 'tis possible they may stumble upon success, in some of their desperate attempts, but 'tis very rare, since Nature is doubly assaulted, by the Remedy as well as the Disease. In this case of good Fortune they fail not to open, and not unlike the Lottery-Mongers at Bartholomew Fair, who blow the Trumpet before every single Prize, though never so inconsiderable, whilst all the Blanks are hushed up in filence. Thus they make a great cry, where there's no wool, unless it be that which their own wits are still gathering.  
But these Impostors of late do flatter themselves with a new advantage, which they make so much of, that they are willing to let go all their former shifts and deceits to trust wholly to this; I mean a pretended quarrel between the Doctors and the Apothecaries; Upon the Improvement of which, the Common Enemy fancies to himself a perfect Victory; but alas the poor wretches are as much mistaken in their Policy, as their prescriptions: this does but alarm both to unite more strongly, and to join their Forces, for the more easy subversion of these Apotheco-Medicasters.  
I must confess this to be the only Reed they can with any hope of safety take hold of now they are sinking, but it will doubtless prove in the end a broken one, and they, if not in danger of being drowned, sure to prick their fingers to the bone; Oh! how I long to see them show their teeth, when they cannot bite, when they have nothing to fasten upon, and must be forced to turn their fury upon themselves, and fret in their own grease; then the sport will be to see these Factious Jugglers crumbled into divers petty interests, and devour one another, Whilst Doctors and Apothecaries in a perfect amicable, concurrence shall have nothing else to encounter, but the Distemper of the Patient, and not be troubled to keep off a second infection, and more dangerous, namely these intruding Empirics; of whom, though I should be silent, the usual success of their care will evince to the World, that the abuse of Physic for some late years past did not come from any Labourer, Drudge or Excrement of the Doctors, as my Friend seems to aver, but from an ignorant, and no less impudent sort of people, the very refuse of the whole Town, those Swarms of Quacks, he mentions in his third Chap. with an ingenious Acknowledgement, that 'tis themselves have made this Noble Science (The True Professors where of Divine Writ hath charged to be Honoured) a very Trade to get Money; to which end they have covered and adorned themselves with Jewels, stolen out of other men's Closets, those Arcana's he so often speaks of; but alas in their ill wearing them, they are sullied and lose their Native Lustre the greatest Arcana's in the world, when improperly applied, must needs fail in the performance of their usual Effects.  
When this undertaking first entered into my thoughts, I resolved out of my affection to Chemistry, to take off this General Scandal, the ignorance of these pretenders to the Art have brought upon it; knowing nothing more destructive to Chemistry, than such Chemists, who presuming (as justly they may) that the generality of the people cannot disprove them, do confidently affirm themselves to be Artists; so that what Reputation they gain with the Vulgar, 'tis wholly due to their tricks and noise; Subtle and Lungs in this case making up but one Alchemist. 
Ben. Jonson's Alchy.  These fellows do by Chemistry, just as our fanatics do in Religion, cry it up zealously, but with a manifest design to pull it down; both being equally Ignorant, and both Enemies to the truth.  
It were to be wished, that this railer were guilty of what he accuses the Galenist, (viz.) plausible Rhetoric; but he is now grown so abusive and scurrilous, that in his Fourth Chapter, he is not content to scandalise the Physicians, but also the Apothecaries, whom hitherto out of design he would seem to have Courted, and in many places of his Book, doth curry Favour with, yet not minding his self-contradiction, when any thing falls into his purpose against the Physicians, he does not stick falsely to asperse the whole Company of Apothecaries, and accuse them of a sordid and base eomplyance, (that he might wound the Reputation of Doctor and Apothecary together) impudently asserting an Obligation upon them, Not only to speak for the Doctors, but to lie for them, yea and to do some things for them to the hazard of their Souls, being forced to maintain, and sometimes to own all their Miscarriages, Misdemeanours, and gross Aberrations in Physic, or else He, His Wife and Children must bite on the bridle: But I am sure this Brute wants one in his mouth; whither will he run in this full Career, casting dirt in the faces of known honest men? but the best is, their Reputation is so unquestionably unblemished in the World, that all the dirt, which is thrown at them, will the more forcibly return upon the Authors, and so stick the faster.  
But do you hear, my good Friend, Oportet mendacem esse memorem; were not you he that all along have accused the Galenists of being too communicative, and now tell us 'tis their principal study to involve all in obscurity; And I pray tell me, has not the dint of your Accusation been all along, that they Cried down Chemistry, and do you now indite them for becomeing Chemists? But you say 'tis of a sudden; and methinks that should please you, since 'tis your own case; 'Twas neither time nor pains perfected your Fraternity, you are a Generation of Artists bred like Myrmidons or Mushrooms, coming to full growth in one night: and the truth is, among you, he is the best Chemist, that has most Impudence, and least Conscience: But that our worthy Doctors allowed now to be Chemists, are not become such of a sudden, needs little proof; I myself have been their Servant near twenty years countenanced, and daily employed by them in making Chemical Medicines, and long before that time, many of the College, whom I had the Honour to know, kept private Elaboratories in their own Houses, and notwithstanding, this is so Eminently known among all that were ever concerned in Physic; yet this Impostor presuming many others know it not, thinks by cajoling of the people, to reap not only the Profit, but the Credit too of all their Industry and Labours.  
To promote this, he tells you in the end of his Fourth Chapter, a story of a perspicacious Gentleman, who extorted, after much urging, from a Physician, this Answer, Hang it, we are but a company of Cheats; and says our Author further, This was reported to us, etc. It seems there was a Juncto of Quacks met, a Committee of Empirics, at whose sitting among others, as frivolous, this report was made forsooth, and says our Author, By a Person of Quality; To this, I shall only offer the improbability of the thing itself, for a sufficient Answer, and Advise him for the future, to Lie more feisibly.  
This Cunning Man being neither Chemist nor ginger, undertakes boldly to personate both, upon the same presumption, that each of them is above the Capacity of the Vulgar, whom it is his business to delude: Whereupon in his Fifth Chapter, he talks to us of Predictions; but the vanity of this Cheat is long ago exploded by the Learned and Judicious; besides 'tis known to be a common refuge for such Ignoramuses, as can give no rational account of their Patient's Distempers; so that in this case, he that will confess himself never to be mistaken, But as a Man, does ingeniously acknowledge he never is in the right, which is our Authors case, in his own words, Happy be lucky, hitting the mark with as much uncertainty as those People called Andabatae, that fought winking.  
Notwithstanding he blames the Doctors for being sober and modest, not daring to promise what they never expect to perform; he quarrels with them for not being as Impudent as his Faction, who confidently assert themselves to be Infallible in the business of Physic, and in the most difficult cases, pretend to exclude all conjecture. My good Friend, 'tis shrewdly to be suspected, he is most Erroneous, that would have it thought he cannot err at all.  
It will not be much from my purpose (which is chiefly to present this Crew in their colours) to inform the World, that they not only pretend to bePhysitians, but would be thought Able to recover for us, all other losses besides that of Health, by their skill in Astrology; If one good Woman loseth her Petticoat, another her wedding-ring, they are ready to cast a Figure for them; but believe me, 'tis such a one, as will in the conclusion stand for a cipher; and if at any time they seem to make any discovery, 'tis sufficiently known they do it by confederacy.  
Neither do they take a course much different to come into credit with their Quacking Trade, bringing and hiring all people whatsoever, to feign both Sickness and Cure, that other silly poor Wretches, who really want help, may be trapan'd into a false Opinion of their skill, and be gulled at least out of their money, if not out of their lives.  
I do not take up this barely upon the credit of a flying report, but I know it by personal Experience, for there is not a Juggling Figure-flinger, or Quack in the Town, but I have had some knowledge of him, and am very well acquainted with all their Fallacious Actings and Designs; so that I might justly be accused to be of their party, if I kept their Council, which I am little concerned to do, since they are so unworthy as to make their pretended zeal to Chemistry, a cloak for their knavish and pernicious practices.  
There is hardly a page in his whole book but what is filled with some abusive Language or other, though withal so full of self-contradiction, 'tis below me to think him worth an Answer: besides he is an Enemy so inconsiderable, that I can hope for little credit by undertaking him: In his Sixth Chapter, his main business is to cry down Anatomy, as very insignificant, and little conducing to the recovery of the Patient: I wish some of our Galenists had this Fellow under their hands to cut him off the Simples; I am confident, were they to read a Lecture upon him, they would discover his want of brains; but this is sufficiently proved to all men by his own scribble; Did ever any Sober Man find fault with Industry employed in Anatomical Dissections? Who ever imagined it possible for a man to be a Good Physician, without great Skill and Judgement in the subject of this Art; and most Diseases proceeding from Internal Causes, what way to be taken for the discovery of them, but Anatomy? so that the great care of the College in opening of Bodies cannot be; A mere Public Theatrical business, more for Ostentation, and to get a fame abroad, then for any notable improvement in the cure of Miserable Man: Though these be my Friends own words, yet he is Master of so much reason, or Justice, as that presently after he condemns himself, Ex ore suo, by an apparent recantation; Anatomy (says he) we stand up for as much as any, without which a Physician we are certain, must needs be defective in Physic: These contradictions are so frequent throughout his whole Book, that 'tis not indeed worth the while to take notice of a single one; In truth I think it had been a very good way of confuting this fallacious Writer, only to have transcribed him; but the same in effect, every Judicious Reader will do in the most cursory perusal.  
'Tis to me a wonder, the rest of his Fraternity do not fail upon him, for so ill defending their Cause; ' I would be much for their Interest to have his Book called in betimes; or I would Advise them to call a Conventicle of Jugglets, and make a resolve, that this Pamphlet be forthwith distilled, and as one of their own Chemical Operations for the future kept, inter Arcana, and so privately, that the World may not be so fully informed of their Mysterious Cheat: But to return to his censure of Anatomy, which all along he both magnifies, and cries down in one breath, he undervalues it, because the Skill is not to be attained without great Pains, and a Study his Capacity comprehends not, yet he is forced to admire it, as not being ignorant, that without the knowledge of Anatomy, All their knowledge is in vain; And this he himself confesses, in a comparison he makes of a Mechanic, who ought To have a competent insight of that Machine, as Watch or Clock, which he goeth about to mend: Thus this Impostor by the power of truth, is constrained against his will & design to plead against himself, and condemn his own Up-starts ex tempore Practice; Let the reader but observe what Herculean labour, he says is necessary to attain the knowledge of Generous Medicines; what Sinews, and Strength are to be put forth to find them out, how much precious time is to be spent in hammering them out; and together with this Discourse of pains and toil, consider how of a sudden these Fellows start up Able Physicians, out of Shoemaker's, Grooms, Butchers, and what not, that is furthest off from Physic, he must conclude, they do all in their vain shows, but verba dare, study to impose upon the too credulous populacy, over whom they have this advantage, that the People are very willing in their Preferring of these men to admire themselves, and do therefore swallow glibly, what they would never endure in a Doctor of Physic, especially of the College, whom they look upon as above them by many Degrees.  
The Invention of the Circulation of the Blood, by Industrious Doctor Harvey is highly to be commended, says our Author, but he subjoins that the Therapeutic part is little advanced thereby; 'tis very strange to me, that this Fellow can be so ignorant of the real advantage this discovery hath brought to Mankind, in order to the cure of Diseases, both Internal, and External, for the blood being the seat and subject both of Health and Sickness, the knowledge of its true motion must indisputably conduce to the preservation of the one, and the expulsion of the other, by the right and judicious application of apropriated Medicines, whether officinal, or other ways: And though I confess with our Author, that our officinal Medicines, in his own sense, are not more sufficient and powerful now, than they were before the improvement of Anatomy; yet, the judgement of the Physicians in the use and more proper application of them being advanced, the benefit which the Patient receives, must needs be the greater.  
After all these impertinences, he once more presents himself to us as a Spagyric, with his more prevailing helps; and this I observe to be the clinch of all his Discourse, (next railing) and the hinge, on which all his design turns; under this notion, he talks wildly of a Pyrotechnicall Anatomy, which (as he says) shows us where every Disease is seated; It seems by this, these Impostors, do not use to Anatomize Dead Carcases, but Calcine them; so that the Effect of this Operation must needs prove to be nothing else but a Caput mortuum.  
As in almost every Chapter of his Book, so in this Seventh, he has a new Hocus to carry on his old design; he has been nibbling formerly at the Apothecaries, and now he would bring the Surgeons to cut a way through for him, if he can but raise a jealousy between them and the Doctors; to effect this, and the better to bring his purpose about, he boldly undertakes to reprove the Doctors, For the Ignorance of most of them in Surgery; which is an Art so distinctly and properly, and as a due right belonging to another incorporated Society of Men; thatwithout offence both to Civility and Justice they cannot engage in it; so that they do not forbear Surgery for want of Skill, but out of a fair respect to the Worthy Company of Surgeons: They never would in point of manual operation, infringe the least of their Liberties; and that's the reason our Adversary makes himself so really concerned, not for the Doctor's Ignorance (as he pretends) for no man can imagine a good Physician to be a Novice in Surgery; but because he would raise a feud; and himself confesseth, that the business of the Knife properly belongs to the Chirurgeon, yet censures the Galenists, as Not being able to undertake a Whitlow, a Scald, a Green Wound, or any Trivial Sore; indeed these may be counted high undertake in himself, but they are things even below a professed Chirurgeon to take notice of, as being the common cures almost of every old Woman.  
But at this rate he proceeds through the whole Chapter, taking occasion at every inconsiderable conceit of his own Invention, either to cast some dirt upon the College, or to promote some difference between them and the Surgeons; nay, rather than not propagate his own cause, he raises a quarrel between them and his Medicines; Tell them (saith he) of the Alkahest, or Universal Menstruum, of Lapis Chrysopeius, or of a Panacea, they will but deride and flout at it; These are things indeed Vanhelmont mentions, but I dare be bold to say, our Author never saw any of them; and further, as to the Lapis Chrysopeius, and Liquor Alkahest, I Affirm positively, there is no such Arcana's to be found in Rerum Naturâ: 'Tis probable Master Thomson has a strong faith, and It were to be wished, that he had as much patience, or it is impossible he should continue till the dissolution or reduction of those Coagulations, or Tumours into their first matter (as he mentions) be performed by Art; nor is there any Arcanum to be found less than that Universal Menstruum, he from Vanhelmont speaks of, from which it can rationally be expected. But this I would advise him to take heed of, lest, when he goes about to Untie and Colliquate the Stone, he dissolve the whole Body, and bring that into a fair way of reduction into its first matter.  
As to his relation of three large stones expelled by a Chemical Physician from a Maid-Servant; I once saw as great a matter done, and from a Maid-Servant too; but rather by accident, then by the application of any Medicine at all; so that his Turkeys Egg is addle: the stone that came from this Maid, was bigger than any of these three he mentions, and very scraggy: 'Tis possible therefore for Nature to free herself from such Monstrous products, merely by the force of her own expulsive faculty.  
I know there are many Chemical preparations, much conducing to this effect; and as I have no reason, so I do not oppose this Accident, against that Chemical Physician's Experiment, in any respect, to take off the Validity of Paracelsian Medicines; But to take away those pernicious and mistaken inferences that Master Thomson draws from thence, (only to lay hold of any means to scandalise the Physicians) as bleeding, Pernicious purgation, Blistring, etc. A practice which ne Physician uses barely in reference to the Stone, but as some other accidental Distemper may require; Nor ever do they appoint the Knife, till sound Judgement, upon serious deliberation counts it necessary.  
'Tis very pleasant, how in his Eighth Chapter, he represents the Doctors as concerned to vindicate their credit from these Jugglers Imputations; whereas alas, they take no more notice of them, than a Lion does of a whiffling Cur, or the Philosopher of his Scolding Xantippe: Notwithstanding, he is pleased to begin this Chapter thus: Ye make your boast that ye possess (as well as we) your laboratory and variety of Furnaces. In good time; (as well as we) Pray what signifies this Parenthesis? Did ever any sober man think that You, or your Brethren, ever rightly knew, what belonged either to Laboratory or Furnace? Possibly you may like Doctor Subtle in the Play, keep about you some Coals and Glasses, these alone being sufficient to cheat those you dare admit to the inspection of your Operations: Your Medicines, and your Furnaces too, are to be counted inter Arcana; and the truth is, the good you either have, or are like to do with them, is yet, and always will be a secret; those that are friends to truth, are like her, naked and unmasked; they dare stand the test, nay, invite the severest, and most piercing eyes to be witnesses of their Faithfulness and industry. But stay, do you hear the News? our Author tells us, It is not the Laboratory, nor specious Furnaces, that simply makes the Spagyrical Physician.  
Risum teneatis Amici?  
Was ever any one so senseless as to imagine, or dream of a True Artist without, or that a man can be so accounted, without convenient Utensils? Yet as Books and Furnaces do not, merely of themselves, make either Scholars, or Spagyricks, so it must be granted, neither Books nor Furnaces could be made without them both; but away with these notorious truths, by you repeated to the same purpose, with your as notorious lies and bare pretenfes to Chemistry, out of which there arises only an ignis fatuus, making a false glare, like the Meteor so called, which leads the poor Traveller out of his way, and leaves him in a Ditch crying out for help; just thus do these Jugglers by their Patients, who after they have been seduced, and ill handled by these Empirics, are forced to return to the discreet, and wary Physician for their Cure.  
I should think it strange, out of any Mouth but our Authous, or his Complices, to hear a Physician accused for not being desperate, and for using safe Medicines, rather than those that are hazardous; would any but such mad men AdministerChymical Preparations, without any further knowledge of the Medicine, then that it has a hard name: For this I will only instance Master Lockier, who must either confess himself ignorant, or a Notorious Liar in Print, as by a Pyrotechnical Anatomising of his Pill, in another place I shall plainly make appear; besides Elixirs are not prodigally to be thrown away, or used, when any honest, though meaner Medicine will recover the Patient: Chemistry is that which is to help at a dead lift; but as for Universal Medicines, they are but Chimera's things to be discoursed of, and wished, but doubtless never to be attained, without a new revelation, which I wonder much, these fanatics in Physic do not boast of. I presume no Judicious Person can mistake me here, as if I seemed to speak against Chemistry absolutely, when I condemn only the promiscuous use of it in all cases alike, which is the custom of our unworthy Empirics and Abusers of Learned Vanhelmont; yet thus far I am willing to comply with my Friend; It had been happy for the credit of his Art, (viz.) of cozening by Chemistry, if no Chemical Medicines had ever been prescribed by the College, for therein a palpable discovery of my gentlemen's Villainy is made, and the difference of True Gold seen, from that which only glisters.  
I must confess there are many Adulterate and Sophisticate Preparations vented in the Town, for Good; but this can in no sense be imputed to the College, for they are sensible of this abuse, and are resolved to reform it in due time, as an Appendix to the imposture and Knavery of these Jugglers. As to what our Author hints concerning the Doctor's ingratitude, I am confident he laughed at himself in the mention, as very well knowing, his Faction was never in a capacity to oblige that Worthy Society, unless it were by being as a foil, to set off their Great Abilities.  
Next he goes on, pretending An Answer to some Objections laid to their charge by the Galenists; and truly in those charges which he mentions, there is couched and employed so ingenuous a confession and home Character of the Faction, that I think it a hard task to set them out more perfectly in their own Colours. They are Objections indeed, with a witness; so undeniable, as that himself is compelled to set his hand, and say; This we confess ingenuously is not be denied in part, and we could wish it otherwise: If the Reader would but peruse his Ninth Chapter, he will believe him to have sufficient reason, and that it is as hard for him to Answer, or remove these Objections, as it was for Ulysses to remove the great Stone from the mouth of Polyphemus his Cave; where by the by, this crafty Grecian gave the Cyclops such an Arcanum, that what he could not âccomplish by strength, he brought about by wiles, and subtlety; first he put out the Cyclops eye, then robbed his Flock: This course these Empirics usually take, casting a mist before the understandings of the credulous people, and then picking their pockets.  
But is any thing more childish and ridiculous, unless it be himself, than his following words, on which he seems to lay the whole weight and stress of all his brethren's reputation. We know (says he) a Chemist, that desires no more practice in Physic to get a competent living by, than those Patients to whom ye cannot make the promise of a Cure after two or three month's time, whom he would undertake to resolve in less than a month: And no question is to be made of this, but I presume, Sir, you mean a resolving them into their first Principles, and then surely a month is too long a time for you, that usually are more quick and nimble in your dispatches: Fie, Fie, will you become now so cruel, as to think of torturing your Patients, for a whole month, who all along have pretended to be such sudden Executioners; Kill or Cure is your known maxim, and at that rate, the most desperate of Diseases, nay, death itself may be styled a Physician: How consonant to the doctrine of this bold maxim, does he go on to declare himself? For our parts, (saith he) we should think it very strange, and be infinitely ashamed, if any Patient should be Cured by the Galenists, whom we have given over: For the truth is, they handle the matter so for the most part, that they are sure to put it out of the power of all Physic, to do any good to those they have tampered with, by misapplyed, and abused Chemistry.  
His next, and Tenth Chapter seems to be spit out of the mouth of a Zealous Brother at a meeting, where he holds forth the Doctrine of Vanhelmont, as down right Gospel, and advises the College To Embrace it sincerely, and be wise to Salvation; He improves the Exhortation in the same strain of Devotion; Let him lay his hand upon his heart, and considering his own emptyness, reflect upon himself, how he hath deceived, and been deceived. Ah! doubtless this must needs be a Precious man; How has Chemistry contributed to make him Spiritual, and his trading in the fire inflamed his Zeal? And now that has run his pretence to Physic, quite out of breath, 'tis time for me to make Observation that, Ubi desinit Medicus, incipit Theologus: But lest he should not be a thorough-paced Fanatic, another part of this Chapter is spent in decrying of Humane Learning: great Scholarship is ever a crime to a Dunce, and it being for the carrying on his design, absolutely necessary, that our Author should either be a Scholar, or a professed Enemy to the name; he takes the more easy and cheap way to his end, which is to bring himself and ignorance, as much as in him lies, into some credit in the World. But all will not do; neither Fanatic in Religion, nor Physic, with all their specious Hypocrisy will ever be able to persuade the World, that the Letter is not a fit Hand-mand to the Spirit; that Learning is not subservient, and necessary to the cure both of soul and body.  
I am not so well read in Vanhelmont, (neither do I think it my duty so to be) as to be able to contradict my Friend, when he talks of that Learned Man's fair proposals, Why (saith he) hath not your Sect yielded formerly to helmont's fair proposal while he was alive, that there might be a final conclusion of these Controversies by matter of fact? (indifferent Judges appointed on both sides to give their censure) 'tis very probable, this proposal was really made; but 'tis very insignificant in his mouth, unless his Faction were in such a degree Eminent, that they could make it out to all, that they are as able as Vanhelmont himself: How far they are from this pitch, I dare fubmit to the Judgement, not only of indifferent persons, but even of those that are some way biased with Interest, and willing to be partial in the Empirics Cause.  
In his next hard Chapter, where he talks of the Principles of Philosophy, which the Galenists own, he runs on upon a false supposition; for 'tis very well known, that the Aristotelian Tenants, which Galen owned, are in many things found little consonant to Nature and Truth; whereupon the Learned Physicians of our Age, not sworn to the Opinion of any of the Ancients in particular, (as our Author would have the World believe) do act according to the freedom of their own Judgements, and do by a kind of rational Chemistry, extract what is good either in Galen or Vanhelmont, refusing the dross of both; so that these several Calumnies he reproaches the Doctors with, are groundless and false.  
Above all, these Quacks it seems are very desirous to be thought compassionate and full of pity; as appears by their general outcry against shedding of blood: I confess such a cautious behaviour, as this, among the Welsh men, might bring them into good practice; but here at home the long and successful use of Phlebotomy, easily out-votes their groundless clamour against that process: and though the Devil be undeniably a sworn Enemy to Mankind, I dare presume to acquit him thus far, that he never suggested the wholesome Emission of Blood, being very unlikely by this way to make good his title of a Murderer from the beginning. What my Friend says concerning our being Governed by Nature, which intends all things for its ownPreservation, etc. May very deservedly be retorted upon him; for we plainly may observe that oftentimes Nature is her own Phlebotomist, in which she directs us to breathe a vein rather than to expect her help, usually afforded by sending forth blood at the Nostrils, which is looked upon to be the best and purest: But the impudence of these men knows no bounds, and thinks to outface common Experience, which assures us, that in several Distempers, letting of blood is the only and certain Remedy; The like may be said of Purgation, by which Nature is eased of a pernicious burden and load, oppressing and obstructing her in her Vital Operations. And here by the way let us examine the inference he makes from an Aphorism of Hypocrates, to which he is forced to give the Epithet of Excellent; he quotes him in these words, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, and interprets them thus. If that be carried out of the Body by Purgation, that aught to be, the Sick Man finds himself the better for it, and his Spirits more cheerful, and better able to bear his Disease: From hence he is pleased to infer that Hypocrates fore saw the great mischief, that was likely to come upon indiscreet Evacuation: But surely, he, that has but half an eye, will conclude from hence more naturally, that he foresaw likewise, the great benefit, that was necessarily to ensue upon purging discreetly, by the prescription of a Judicious Physician, and performed by proper cathartics.  
As to that common maxim of Contrariorum contraria sunt Remedia, how far it holds true, and how far made use of by Physicians, I do not think myself a competent Judge; but to my Apprehension, it seems to be very rational; For how can the Disease be conquered, without an Enemy to give it battle?  
The next thing our Learned Author flies at, is the Pharmacopoea; this he pretends to accuse of several Infirmities, and would persuade us, that 'tis very improbable, this Book should contribute to the cure of the Sick, when itself is so Diseased, and needs a Physician: But let us put the Saddle on the right Ass; the Sickness is in the man's brain, and it fares with him, as with one that has the Jaundice, to whom all Objects seem yellow, whereas the Distemper is only in the Organ.  
The Title of his Fifteenth Chapter, is, A Brief Examination of their Pharmacopoea. in this Judicial Procedure, he himself undertakes to sit as Judge, Party, and Witness; and-because he is pleased to Pronounce Sentence of Condemnation, all the World he thinks must necessarily subscribe to it, and from hence forward look upon the Pharmacopoea Londinensis, as Outlawed: But stay a while, I shall make bold to bring a Writ of Error, and briefly examine His Brief Examination. This Book has by the unanimous consent of the Learned in Physic, been owned and approved of, as the best of that kind ever was extant; and truly 'tis no small vindication of its worth, that 'tis Calumniated and Vilified by our Author, and his Factious Ignorant Fraternity: Can there be a greater Elogium out of the mouth of such a Nonsensical, Ridiculous, Improper, and Languid Fellow as he is, than this, when he boldly says, the Pharmacopoea contains, Nonsensical, Ridiculous, Improper and Languid Medicaments? Poor mistaken fool, the only way for you to destroy the Dispensatory, is highly to commend it, for nothing but your Approbation can ever bring its Credit into the least question.  
He is pleased to say, It would require a long time to set down the Errors of the Dispensatory; I easily believe him, because really there are not any to be discovered I am sure, not by his dim-sight, but however he will give us a glance of some of them:  
The first glance is this: We observe (says he) a great defect in the Analysis or opening of the body of any concrete; I must confess this to be a glance indeed, but no more, for had he seen perfectly or understood any thing in the dispensation of a Medicine he might have known the pulverizing of most Concretes, to be a sufficient preparation for the opening of their Bodies, as proper Ingredients to any Electuary, Plaster or Conserve, into which Dispensations, not only the Virtue and Crasis, sed totum corpus, of every individual Concrete is to be put.  
A second glance, is his Observation, What a Congeries, Cento, Linsey wolsey of Simples they jumble and clutter together to some Scores, without any reasonable contexture or congruity: What, does he see all these at a glance? Sure he must either have those Argus Eyes he talks of, or else he can squint, and look nine ways at once; But I think, I shall do him more right, to tell you he is purblind, or else he might perceive with what admirable Judgement and Art, the opposition of the several Ingredients in a Medicine is managed to make one proper Compound, and how the properties and qualities of each Simple are either improved or abated by a due and just temperament, as the condition of the Patient may require; So that out of this Clashing, Conflicting, and Hostility, there arises an agreement, as it is remarkable, that Peace is the consequent and end of War; and the health of the whole Universe consists in the poise, and just balancing of contraries.  
Our Author throws a sheep's eye once more, and in his third glance, tells us, He cannot but especially take notice, and condole the Ineffectual, Frivolous, and vain Corrections of those Virulent, and Poisonous Concretes, which they take into many of their Compositions. For instance of which he Cites you Scammony and Colocynthis, two Concretes, that have been used in Physic, with exceeding great safety, and no less success for many score years without any other Correction, than what is appointed in the Dispensatory: And 'tis not his spitting his Venom, can make these Medicines thus corrected to be Poison: But against these two, he opposes Antimony, seeming to admire the Doctors should be so wilfully ignorant, as to make no scruple of prescribing ten or twelve grains of Scammony, and yet startle, and seem very nice, to give four or five grains of Antimonium Diaphoreticum: Where first I would have the Reader take notice of his mistake, or wilful ignorance; for to my knowledge, and as will appear by the Bills or Prescriptions of divers Eminent Physicians, for many years, they have not scrupled to give 20 grains of Antimonium Diaphoreticum, at one Dose, and that for several days together. Secondly, I would beg the Reader to consider, that he opposes a Diaphoretical Preparation of Antimony, against a purgative medicine of Scammony, by which advantage he would make Scammony appear to be the strongest Poison: But if the Poison of any Concretes ought to be proportionated by their force in heterogeneous Operations on the Stomach, and that force determined by their different Doses, Antimony will appear much the stronger Poison, because four or five grains of any Purgative Preparation of Antimony, being in substance exhibited into the Stomach, shall operate more violently than sixteen or twenty grains of Scammony. Further, to imform our Author's Judgement, let me tell him, the Purgative quality of Scammony may be taken away, as well as of Antimony, and that secundum Artem, it may be made as perfectly Diaphoretical; and then supposing them thus prepared, he must acknowledge Antimony and Scammony, to be equally alike poisonous.  
But by the way, 'tis not my business to maintain the Quarrel of Scammony against Antimony; what hath been said in the case, hath only been to show Master Thomsons unjust comparison; yet how much so ever we have differed in this particular, I will agree with him in his following Expression recited; That the best Remedies in the Dispensatory are Chemical: but what, or who he means by U S, when he adds, For which they are beholding to U S, I do not at all understand; certainly he cannot be so impudent, as to join himself with any part of the College, whom he may imagine more addicted to Chemistry then the rest: And again, me thinks he should not be so stupid, as to think, that himself joined in Commission with Master Lockier, Master Odowde, or any of those Upstart pretenders to Chemistry, can any way oblige the College; Besides, if I mistake not, there were Chemical Preparations in the Dispensatory of London, before any of them had a Name.  
To this truth, (viz.) that Chemical Preparations are the best Medicines; he adds another, (which by the way is one more truth, than I have met withal in any one page of his Book before) That these Chemical Preparations are not free from being Sophisticated, which cannot be denied, and will hardly be prevented, till by a Public Authority, some course be taken with those Fools, that will be meddling, as well as the Knaves, that will be Cheating; and then, the True Artists wanting no encouragement, these Medicines will be Exalted in their hands.  
In the next place, (says our Author) The most usual, safe, and best Vomit (in their account) is borrowed from Antimony, called Infusio Croci Mettallorum; By their Account, I suppose he means the College of Physicians, which may pass as none of the least of his presumptuous conclusions, though I believe he never saw a Catalogue of half the Vomits they make use on, and dare presume, when he has viewed the Catalogue of his own Arcana's, he will find no Vomit there like it, either for certainty or safety in its Operation, or for carrying off the morbific matter; If he thinks to reckon Mercurius vitae within the number of his Arcana's, (which is also an Antimonial preparation,) as I presume he may, because presently after he seems to wonder, They ever would venture to admit it into a Catalogue of their Safe Medicines; the Catalogue he mentions, will prove him a deceiver; For, it will appear to be a Medicine appointed in the Dispensatory of London, before ever he could be capable of knowing any thing in Physic; and this he cannot be ignorant of though he will rather venture to be found guilty of some plausible falsities, than not to throw some scandal or other upon the College; As for the Exalting or Graduating of these Medicines, I may safely say, there are many Apothecary's Boys in the Town, able to undertake it, with the most Learned, well Experienced Chemist, our Author can find in all that Tribe, that so utterly renounces the Galenical Method.  
This man is furnished with a strange measure of confidence, I might very justly say impudence; otherwise he could not possibly use this frequent Exprobration, of the Doctors being beholden to them, obliged to them for several Medicines: Surely he is of opinion, the Sun is beholden to the Stars, which receive from him all the light they impart to the Inferior World: What these men have in them, their Conscience bears them witness, is only glean gathered from the College; these they feed upon, chewing the cud, and yet are not to be numbered among the clean Beasts, for their ill digestion turns all to putrefaction, making good that common maxim, Corruptio optimi fit pessima. Into the Catalogue of the Doctor's Debts, there is foisted Oil of Vitriol, with its use and virtue; for which our Author would have them confess, They are much Obliged to them for the Discovery; But when the College comes to reckon with all these wilful, and as fradulent mistakes, they will be glad to sneak out of the way, as ashamed to own their account.  
The next Quarrel he picks, is with The preparation of Pearls, and Coral with Vinegar, concluding it to be no more than a bare pulverizing them into small parts or atoms; if there were no more in it then thus to Alcohalize, or reduce Pearls or Coral into such a fine Butraceous Magisterium, as is done by Vinegar, it were worth the charge and trouble; but this is not the first error his ignorance hath made him Father, but 'tis a very gross one; we may certainly and easily infer from the insipidness of the Spirit of Vinegar (from which all the gross and corrosive Salts are separated by rectification) when the Pearl or Coral is precipitated after dissolution, that the Medicament must needs be exalted by the volatile Salt of Wine, the Vinegar leaves behind: Besides, as I said before, the bare pulverizing either of Pearl or Coral, will never reduce them into such a Butyrous substance instar Magisterii, as is performed by this way of dissolution.  
Divers other preparations of Vitriol and Mercury he to as little purpose makes mention of; for 'tis sufficiently known, they have been in long esteem and use with the College; so that he might have spared the pains he has taken to persuade the World, that the Doctors are always inveighing against Chemical Medicines, unless he will be pleased to give us leave to understand them in their own, and truest sense; for when they undertake to speak against Chemical Medicines, 'tis meant as they are Unchymically handled by Master Thomson, and his Illiterate Faction; they know full well nothing can eat out the heart of Chemistry, but the Hypocrisy of these combining Empirics; They are very sensible, that in all these Fellows preparations whatsoever, Mercury never is wanting, since their Medicines smell more of the Knave than the Artist.  
Notwithstanding all our Author can say, it remains evident, as well from the great pains and study, as the common practice of the Doctors, that their grand design hath been to promote and encourage Chemistry; on the contrary, the design their Adversaries drive at, is to promote themselves; This makes our Pseudochymists, that they cannot endure such Rivals as are likely in courting the same Mistress, to discover their imperfections, and treacherous Love, which is contented with the show and picture of Chemistry, but neglects the truth and substance.  
The Hogen-Mogens would seem wholly to engross this Art, and pretend to a Monopoly, when alas their ignorance is so great, and their stock known to be so inconsiderable, I know not when they will have right and liberty to vent by Retail; and when any of them does open Shop, I am sure they must show their wares at a false light, or else their Commodity will stick upon their hands; and whereas they are pleased to pass in the world by the name of Adepti, they more justly may style themselves Servantes; for what Arcana's they have got, they will be forced to keep.  
Hitherto our Author has been casting dirt upon all occasions in the Doctor's faces, either as to the Materia Medica, or as to their general Method in Practice; but now he comes to throw waters, Mineral Waters, to which (says he) the Dogmatists fly, as to a Sanctuary, in difficult cases. It cannot be denied, there is a Healing Virtue in these Natural Springs, but when they are to be used, must be known from the Experienced Physician; for doubtless, in some cases, they are like the Waters of Meribah, bitter and deadly, in others, as healing as those of Bethesdah, after the Angel had descended into the Pool: ay, for my part, am of Opinion, That he is the Best and Ablest Physician, that wanders least from the prescripts of Nature; that knows best how to apply the helps she has provided for her own recovery; the finding out of which, together with the due administration, is both the Physician's Employment and Excellence: This being a task too difficult for humane Endeavour, recourse has been had to the assistance of Art; yet so, as that they best manage it, that most imitate nature; I shall not therefore dispute with my friend, How many by Virtue of these Mineral Wells have been-restored, that have been brought to a very low Ebb by ill Physicians, such as himself; But 'tis very rare, these Impostors consult so much the Public Good, as to advise so Public a Remedy; No, they are for the Arcana and Minerals of their own Sophistication, rather than for being beholden to Kind Nature, who bath provided some better and more forceable helps for the Poor Diseased, ready at hand. In the mean time then, he is very impertinent, when, he as the representative of his Faction, says, We are persuaded that they (meaning the College) looked upon the Waters with as envious an eye, as ever they did upon our Chemical Preparations. For in the first place, the going to these waters is the Doctor's frequent Advise to their Patients, in many Chronical Distempers; And secondly, their Chemical Preparations sure were never the subject of the Colleges Envy, but Contempt.  
But let us attend; he opens as if he were about to say some thing in these words, Who, that had not been Lazy and Supine, but would have found out e'er this a Succedaneum to Natural Martial Liquors, that so powerfully rectify the Spleen, etc. Who, but an Ignoramus would ask such a question? This is done long ago by the appointment of the College, whose indefatigable pains and care in this very particular has been such, that there is not an Apothecary's Shop, almost throughout all England, but what for many years hath been furnished with divers Excellent Chemical Preparations, both from Iron and Steel, whose Virtual Qualities are equivalent to those of Natural Martial Liquors, if not exceeding them; However when there is no opportunity of repairing to the Wells, of Tanbridge, Epsum, Spa, and the like, the Patient may be supplied at home; and by this means too, The excessive sumption of crude Water to Prejudice may be prevented; though I must confess there are some circumstantial advantages by drinking the Waters in Specie at the Spring head, which Art cannot supply.  
My Friend comes next to inquire into the Benefit of Convenient Menstruums, what may be done by insipid Liquors upon the Bodies of Minerals; Which I believe to be but little, unless they are reserated first by some Corrosive, which I take to be some thing of the Nature of our Master Vanhelmont's Liquor Alkahest, without which, or some Succedaneum he does not promise you any Primum ens Veneris, and consequently not the Primum ens, of any other Metal or Mineral: But by the way, though this Operation cannot be performed without a Corrosive, yet it must not be such a one, as operates in the Nature of other Corrosives, destroying the Bodies of those Concretes dissolved in them, but as the Acetum verum Esurinum, quod amicè soluit concreta integrè illi injecta; by which means, ere twice three months' pass, I intent to offer unto the World, for its public benefit and satisfaction, with all respect due to Vanhelmont, His Primum ens Veneris; not placing the Honour he merits, and the Credit of the Medicine to my own contrivance, by concealing of its Name, under the notion of an Arcanum of my peculiar Invention.  
After this little digression, to bring my Discourse into its wont Channel, I am here to mind the Reader, how my Friend in all his Clamorous Scribble, as well in this Chapter, as elsewhere in his Book has been continually, both Accuser, Witness, Judge, and Executioner, whereby he takes occasion, not only to Vilify the Doctors at his pleasure, but to foist in whatsoever he thinks may advance the Interest of his Quacking Brethren: Whereupon in this Sixteenth Chapter, having decried the use of the Waters, says he, For our parts, few of us depend upon these Mineral Fountains, having where with all to supply the wants of our Patients, and to procure sanity at home. I am sure all the mineral waters in the world, though of never so cleansing a Quality, will not be able to wash our Author from the stain of his foul and base designs; the stream of which runs all the same way, and drives directly at self-interest, without the least regard to the good of Mankind; yet the better to palliate his Juggling, he will undertake to give Faithful Advise in general, to such as drink these Waters: which Counsel, though curtailed, and disguised, is yet so methodically drawn up, and so expressly contrary to his own Principles, that it appears verbatim to be borrowed from those, he calls Dogmatists.  
The Title of Master Thomsons Seventeenth Chapter did at the first sight deceive me into a tolerable Good Opinion of him, and I was in some hopes, we should grow Friends; but in the perufal, I found the Text and the Comment, to be of so different a hue, that once more I was forced to dip my pen in the same sharp ink, that hitherto hath dropped from it. The flattering inscription he hath prefixed is this; A Vindication of Chemical Medicines from that false Accusation of being dangerous: The beginning of his Chapter is as specious, as the Title, and carries in the front an undeniable truth, (viz.) That it is a hard thing to strive against the stream of a Vulgar Opinion at any time, but especially, when countenanced and backed by Men of Eminent Knowledge and Fame. That Chemical Medicines are dangerous, is rather to be reckoned amongst the Vulgar Errors, than Opinions; but yet this which seems an Error, if rightly stated, I am afraid will appear too great a truth, and harder for my Friend to strive against, if rightly understood; for indeed, the meaning of it is in respect of the undue preparation by Unskilful hands, and 'tis upon this account backed and Countenanced by those, whom he is forced to confess to be Men of Eminent Knowledge and Fame.  
'Tis Evident, and something I have said before to the same purpose, but here I must repeat it, that the beginning and rise of Fame to Paracelsian or Hermetical Physic proceeded from some particular Physicians of the College; whilst the Quacks and Mountebanks of these times, as they never are wanting in that case, impudently assume to themselves, the repute of those beginnings, and from time to time, have continued the same cheat; So that, when ever any Chemical Medicine by the practice of the College began to get Credit, the Empirics lying at the catch, have made it their business, either really to steal the Receipt, or, which is all one for their Design, to counterfeit the Medicine; and then in their Bills posted in every Corner of the Streets, they confidently impose upon the World a false Affirmation, which is, that by their great Travels, and long Study they have produced these Excellent Secrets for the benesit of their Country. Thus by such shifts, they have all along crept into the Opinion of the Common People, in whose Inclination there's never wanting a readiness to join with irregularity, rather than to adhere to any thing, that carries the face of Order and Authority.  
Notwithstanding these subtle insinuations, they could never have gotten such a Repute in the World, but that they Politicly made an advantage of the Factious Principles then abounding in the Common People of our late Unruly times, when the Common Interest was to be carried on by crying down Humane Learning; then these Illiterate Fellows spit in the face of all the Liberal Arts and Sciences: And, as at that time, in point of Divinity, the fanatics of that Faction bawling against Learning, as Idolatrous, and Superstitious, yet to delude the World, and better to carry on their Design, made use of necessitated persons, that were Scholars, and of Jesuits too, who (though for another End and Interest) were ready to be transformed into the shape and habit of Cobblers, or any other mean Mechanics, pretending hereby they Preached by the Spirit. The same Tricks and Devices have been continually used by our fanatics in Physic, who as well knew the current of those Times, did run in opposition to all Just Authority: But they will find their case to be different, and the modesty of those Discreet Men rewarded, who chose rather to let such snarling Whifflers go on, as things inconsiderable, then appear contentious with such, who by their own growing Enormities (now Justice is in the hand of the Proper Legislator) will prove their own Destruction.  
Our Author does not at all Decline from the common custom of other Empirics, who always wound the True Physicians with their own Weapons; wherefore he is not ashamed in this Seventeenth Chapter to tell us, that it was the Galenists course in the Infancy of this Noble Science, to cry down Chemistry, with all might and main, conjuring the world, that they should avoid all Chemical Medicines, as most dangerous, damning them all without distinction; How the Doctors are to be understood in this particular, and what Great Patrons they always have been of true Chemistry, I have already made out sufficiently, and cannot say any thing to these last lines, without being guilty of Tautology, and vain Repetition; Besides, I find he himself gives the same Exposition, in this Hypothesis, If they be not well prepared; which is not so impertinent as he would have us think, since 'tis not impossible they should be well prepared, by such who are unprepared, as I may say, themselves, wanting the Sublimate of Art, and abounding with the Precipitate of gross ignorance: And hereupon I very readily fall in with my Friend, and say as he does, Who that argues for Spagyrical Medicines, doth not take it for granted, that they ought to be made by an Artist? But if I be not mistaken, this inquiry of Master Thomsons makes not at all for himself, nor his Ignorant Brethren, who are as far from Art, as from fair and honest dealing: As in our days, so formerly there never wanted bold Pretenders, who would venture at any thing, for their private advantage, let the public damage be never so great, or the lives of men never so much concerned; Such as would be thought Artists, though they were not acquainted, so much as with Vessels requisite to Operation, nor knew the Nature, hardly the Names, of those Minerals, with which they were to deal; certainly the College had reason to advise all people in general, against the use of any Medicament prepared by such hands, lest it should come to pass that those Minerals dug out of the Earth (ill prepared) should make room to bury those poor Mortals, whom such ignorant wretches were sure to murder.  
But now our Author is mounted into the Chair, and speaks with Authority; You would, says he, do very well to reslect upon your Dispensatory, wherein (except some few Chemical lent you) all your Preparations either omit to do what they should, or commit what they should not. He charges here the poor guilty Dispensatory with sins of Omission, and Commission, but at the same time betrays more of his own infirmity, or indeed presumption. Does he imagine that every man of understanding should be swayed, or governed by his private observation; sure 'tis impossible he should be believed, and I am willing to be so much his Friend, as to think he does but droll.  
In Answer to his next preamble, I am forc't to recite more of the Authors own Language than I am willing to give you the trouble of perusal, but because it carries with it more of his impertinent boldness, than most of the rest; I shall not think much of my own labour, to render it to you as followeth, thus: For Example, saith he, and Experience, which is the true Touchstone that must discover us; let any of you that is in perfect health pick out of your formal Apothecary's Book, stuffed full of supernumerary preparations, the most safe and active of them, that do you the greatest service, to the number of ten; weigh out the known Dose of any one singly, with the strictest curiosity you please; take each of you the same into your own Stomaches, and repeat the Dose as often as you dare; and so proceed likewise with another, and so to the residue of the ten: When ye have acted your parts, we likewife (every way sound) selecting ten of our Arcana's, will swallow down (without trusting to the Scales) a sufficient quantity of any one (that may be most suspected) which we commonly exhibit to the sick for their recovery; look how often ye have taken of each of your ten, so often will we iterate or duplicate the sumption of any one of ours. And then let any indifferent person judge who bears their Medicines best, having the fewest bad symptoms following, and so conclude accordingly whose are most dangerous.  
That the madness of this Man may appear as well as his folly, I will meet him at the same Touchstone of Discovery he desires (as above mentioned) and will give him leave to pick out any ten of those supernumerary preparations he talks of in the Dispensatory, and when he has done, the known Doses shall be weighed out; Then shall he also have liberty to pick ten of his own Arcana's, and without any Juggling or Equivocation, according to his own Proposition here recited, I will myself, before any such as shall be chosen, and counted competent Judges, (allowing ourselves to be equally sound) take Doses for Dose with Master Thomson; provided, his Arcana's be as candidly discovered to the World, as those Preparations in the Dispensatory, which is but reason: And if Master Thomson refuse this, I may rationally believe his bold Challenge, was no more than a plain Juggle; and his not trusting the Scales in the Dosing of his Medicines, gains so little trust to either, that I am apt to compare him to an Empirical Medicaster, whom I have known to perform his tricks upon the Stage, in a Market Town; whose way of deceiving the people, was by a pretended Antidote against Poison, or any Infection; for which purpose he suborned a Fellow, that would take his pretended Poison and Antidote, to counterfeit both Sickness, and Cure; but one day having neglected to make some Antidotes ready, when the Fellow before all the People had taken his Doses of Poison, and there was no Antidote at hand, the deceitful Empirick presently commands one of his Servants to fetch a piece of the Venison of a leg of Mutton, and cut it in the form of his Antidotes, which was all that he gave at that bout; and when they had done, with a good round Oath, he affirmed it as good an Antidote as the best: The truth of this story being so Eminently known to some others as well as myself, compared with Master Thomsons careless dispensing of his Doses, makes me much mistrust his Medicines. Hence one may conclude certainly, either that his Medicines are invalide, or that expression of his, a sufficient quantity, to be like the rest of his Equivocations; but take him which way you will, he surely intends to play the Hocuspocus; his Medicine, and the Medicasters' Mutton differing but little in effect, only the Mutton is more Nutritive, and his Medicines chips in the Porridge; And these are the Medicines, says he, we commonly exhibit to the sick for their recovery: How sad then must the condition of those Patients be, what little hope can they expect of recovery, from such Medicines as these? Medicines, that may be given by guess; let any man judge whether this be not hitting the mark with as much uncertainty, as those People called Andabatae, that fought with one another winking: And thus has he practised hab nab, by his own confession, out of zeal for the good of his Neighbours for some years; and he concludes this Chapter with an admonishment to all that are desirous of being improved in the Jatricall Art, To acquaint themselves with the practical use of those Medicines they do profess; but the pains and study he enjoins them for this Achievement, me thinks is abundantly more than's needful; for 'tis not a business of labour, but impudence, to be an Empirick; and their Medicines cannot be truly Jatrical, because they dare deliver them out to their Patients, without trusting to the Scales.  
Master Thomson very well knowing what makes for his Honour, does frequently throughout his whole Book, and particularly in his Eighteenth Chapter speak of the College of Physicians, as His Adversaries, whom he is pleased to introduce here, as if they did Much glory and vaunt in their method of curing, asserting, That if a Man have never so Excellent Medicines, if he be ignorant therein, he cannot discharge his Duty as he ought. As to the terms of Glory and Vaunt, they are but the continuation of his ill language; the subsequent words speak a truth, which is, and deserves to be owned by all sober and judicious persons; for Method is the life of all Science, without which, a man that knows much, is but confounded with a farrago of notions; the want of this in His brain, has made him so frequently contradict himself, and in this very particular given me advantage to confute him out of his own Assertions; 'tis not the Laboratory, says he, or specious Furnaces that make a Spagyrical Philosopher, no more than a vast Library of Books will of themselves make a Learned Scholar; And I may consequently add, no more than a multitude of Excellent Medicines will make a Good Physician; for the cause is not at all different; Furnaces, Books and Medicines being no further useful, then as they are judiciously understood, and methodically applied to their respective ends: I would ask the question whether a Physician, being to cure a Fever would not be ridiculous, if he should apply to the Patient a Medicine proper for the Gout? Or if our Author were to be cured of his Vertigo, 'twould be counted proper to cut his Corns. But is this Method, We pray, says my Friend, any more than a short way of healing Maladies? I answer him, 'Tis the shortest Diseases can be capable of; some of which are so inveterate, they are not presently to be removed; others, whose roots are not so deeply fixed, are more suddenly pulled up, and eradicated; In both which, the Physician is directed best by a good Method, and orderly procedure: Should a man find a Box of Carpenter's Tools, and thereupon rapt up with his good fortune, presently fancy himself a Workman: Would not you laugh to see him instead of a Saw to take up a Chisel, or for a Hammer use his Axe, but yet his work all this while is, in a manner, at a stand; whereas, if he had gone orderly and methodically to work, he might have done more with his Saw in one hour, than he could perform with his Chisel in a whole day: Thus it is with those Quacks who stumbling upon variety of Good Medicines, and ignorant of their right application, are so far from making a progress in any cure, that they rather go backwards, strengthening the Disease, and not their deluded Patients: The rest of this Chapter is spent in railing and dirty Language, but his tongue being no slander, I think it not necessary to rake in the kennel; and this I forbear as a friend to my Author, for the more that is stirred, the more he will stink; ill Language always having this property, that it does, redire in Authorem.  
The inscription of his next is, The Helmontian Method; and it fares with it, as in other places, that it is not at all answered by the contents of the Chapter; wherein he plainly declares in effect, that the method of the Helmontians is to use no method at all: And after a long & tedious canting to no purpose, he comes to his old way of Challenging; Moreover, says he, We declare that we shall take twenty sick persons, that have Acute Fevers of what kind soever, and of these twenty we will engage to secure under God sixteen of them, upon the fifth or sixth day after our approach, or to give a Prognostic, upon the same days, how the Disease will terminate; in which, if we fail, we shall be willing to suffer accordingly, supposed that ye come to the like trial.  
I am afraid here Master Thomson reckons without his Host; for the difficulty in this case will be to find twenty persons, though sick of Fevers, so mad, and hot headed, as to put themselves into his hands; this he so well knows to be his security, that he carries himself as cowards usually do in the like case, who ever seem most eager to fight, when they are sure the Company of Standers-by will not permit the trial: But 'tis very observable, our Friend Engages to secure sixteen of the forementioned number, or to give a prognostic how the Disease will terminate: I easily believe he may do one of the two without dispute, but most probably the latter; for I suspect he may give them such a dead- doing Arcanum, as upon the sumption of it the Disease and Patient may Terminate together; and this way I myself will engage he may Secure the whole twenty; and it shall be done in such a manner, that none of them shall ever be in a condition to open their mouths against his never failing practice: But they shall confess by their silence, he has cured them of all Diseases: And 'tis well known, this is the way for the most part which they take, To relieve a languishing wretch, tortured and racked by some cruel malady, as our Author phrases it, by putting him out of his pain, but in the worst sense; wherefore in this extraordinary brevity, and compendious dispatches we cannot expect Method, which is requisite only where multitude or confusion is to be reduced into order, and not to be seen in one single attempt of a Quack, that has but one Salve for all Sores.  
Upon such a like account it is, Master Thomson makes inquiry (addressing himself to the Doctors) What signifies it if ye abound with hundreds of Medicaments, composed by your own Apothecaries? Take notice that this question is not singly intended as a plea for his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, but does implicitly aim at the ruin of the Apothecaries; he designs to persuade the World, that many Medicines, and the Profession of an Apothecary, are equally insignificant; and this further appears by what he says immediately after, concerning Preparations made with his own fingers; for it seems, Master Thomson, besides his Panacea, has some Auxilary Preparations; But I will be bold to say, If his Interest would give him leave to be honest, and deal plainly, that he will not be able to produce one Medicine among all his thirty Auxiliary Forces, but what he is beholden for to some Apothecary's Shop; but because our Empirics craftily use known Medicines by obscure names, this cheat is not so easily demonstrated,  
Thus hath my Gentleman shown our Doctors the way, not to redeem the credit of this noble Science, which he has endeavoured to slain; but yet to restore it to its pristine renown; yes, such as it was in the days of Yore, when Apollo and Aesculapius were Deified for two or three good Receipts; and Chiron the Centaur passed for an Excellent Physician; in succeeding Ages Physic acquired a greater growth; and then knowledge generally increasing in the World, Hypocrates and Galen, though far exceeding their Predecessors, were yet esteemed but as Men; This Noble Science from its small beginnings growing by degrees, is arrived now at the highest top of perfection in the most Famous College of London, in which there is not one Physician, but far outshines Apollo himself, with his brightest rays; and if they had lived in that Age, had rivalled him out of his Apotheosis: all this our Quacks are very sensible of, and envy; and no wonder they endeavour to reduce Physic to its pristine Renown, because according to that Calculation they might expect to be inserted into the Catalogue of Physicians, and claim a share in the Patent or Diploma, which the College does enjoy (to use our Author's phrase) ex condigno, these Quacks for the same reason excluded.  
This Rabble seeing themselves thus shut out of doors, have of late been knocking their heads together for a New Patent, of which Master Thomson seems to give a lame account in the twentieth and last Chapter of his Book, Entitled, Some Animadversions upon the late attempt to procure a Patent from his Gracious Majesty, for the Erecting a College of Chemical Physicians. And here I cannot but take notice of His Sacred Majesty's great Prudence, together with His Exceeding care for the good of his Subjects, whose lives he is so tender of, that His Majesty would not intrust them in the desperate hands of unskilful Empirics; we are all concerned to give our most Humble thanks to our most Gracious Sovereign, that this Design never went beyond an attempt; but that this Monster was stifled in the birth, and proved Abortive, which otherwise was like to pray upon, and devour us under the protection of Authority.  
Notwithstanding, our Author has the confidence to say, that Never was there a more Just, Honest, Desirable, and useful Enterprise set upon in this Nation; This last Hypocritical strain of his seems to be taken out of the late Rebels Declarations, wherein, under the most specious pretences of Justice and Loyalty, they hid the most Desperate Treason; which, when the mask was taken of, appeared in its own bloody Colours; And therefore I fear my Friend has lost his jest, since all men are sufficiently awake to discover his Hypocrisy, that desires to betray so many innocent lives, under the pretence of preserving them by Physic.  
Thus are the best of Virtues counterfeited by the worst of Vices; and those that have the worst ends, are necessitated to gild them over with the fairest shows, or else they would never be swallowed. The like carriage in our newfound Chemists, did for a time deceive some honest men into a good opinion of the undertaking, who, when under the honey they perceived the sting, drew back from the Confederacy, and are become their greatest Opposers; just as it fared with some honest heatted men who had been drawn in, and out of good Principles had sided with the Factious in our late troubles; yet when the blackness of their designs appeared, they proved the most Zealous loyalists.  
I am inclined to make use of this comparison, as very pertinent to my present purpose; for just as the late Rebels Declared they would make His late Majejesty, of Blessed Memory a Glorious King; so these Jugglers pretending To Regulate and Reform the present Enormous Abuses in this Excellent Spagyric Science, talk of Advancing it to be Queen Regent in Physic, whilst their real intention is to dethrone Her, and set up themselves. I Wonder much at the impertinence of these Reformers! Do not we all know, that Chemistry is already fixed upon a good and sure foundation? If their design had been honest, as it is found rotten and fallacious, to what purpose, I pray, should it be put down in one place, to be set up in another? I would have these Jugglers know, (and indeed they know it full well) there is already Erected a College of Chemical Physicians; for I dare say, there are none amongst our Doctors, that will not own this Epithet, and I am sure, none more justly deserve it.  
Besides, for a further Encouragement, and to show a particular countenance to this Noble Art, His Majesty hath caused a peculiar Elaboratory of his own to be Erected, which is managed by Monsieur Febure, a Person of known Eminency and Parts, who hath approved himself to the World to be a most Able Artist: So that these Up-starts must intrude partly upon his right, as well as upon the Company of Apothecaries, and cannot justly be admitted Operators, their design being under that notion to become Physicians.  
The business of this new Patent, was carried on by Subscriptions to a Petition, which being speciously penned, invited some few of Note to favour the Design; but as I intimated before, they did upon second and better thoughts, re-demand their hands. The number of Subscribers of all sorts, as Master Odowds List informs me, did never exceed five and thirty, and when the forementioned Persons had withdrawn, there were left behind, as Master Thomson confesses, Certain very illiterate persons, that were 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, Chymici umbratiles, mock Chemists, no whit exercised in Anatomy, and Botanics, inexpert in the History of Diseases, etc. And these Petitioners pray for a Patent, that they may be admitted, in a Lawful way, to make good that Excellent Character Master Thomson has given them.  
I hope I need not make any Apology to those Ingenious and Worthy Men, who out of their forward and true zeal to Pyrotechny at first consented: I am confident they themselves will acquit me, that nothing in this Treatise is directed against them; it must needs appear, that where I mention any, as concerned with Master Thomson, I mean only those, whom he himself hath confessed to be very illiterate persons. They may likewise be assured, as to what relates to myself, I shall ever be ready to give a perfect Testimony of a true and real respect to them, as persons, whom I know without any sinister ends and interest, to be such truly zealous labourers in the fire, that they ought not to be blemished by those, who under the borrowed Mantle of their protection, carry on unhandsome Designs.  
As to what concerns Master Thomson, if he meets with any thing in my reply beyond his expectation, he must thank himself, and his own Style, in whose Ink the Gall and Vitriol exceeds the proportion allowed by others in the common Menstruum. If I have touched him home, and to the quick, let him reflect upon his own unhandsome language, and he will see, that he is paid but in his own coin; Yet 'tis a hard matter to make the account even, in regard Master Thomson asperses two worthy established Societies, Famous in their respective Employments, viz. the Doctors, and Apothecaries, and yet falsely too; on the other hand, what I say to him, is truth, and tends to the setting out, in their own shape, an inconsiderable newborn Faction.  
But after all, I am yet to give a further Character of Master Thomson, and his Fraternity, those whom I presume he means every where by his u S and w E, when he talks so highly of their great exploits: I shall give you likewise a faithful description of his Elaboratory so much boasted on throughout (almost) his whole Book, as if it were the Eighth Wonder of the World, as sure as he is the Eight Wise Man. Both his Faction and his Furnace, I am the better fitted to describe, having had an interview and personal Dialogue with him, which happened at a meeting in his own House, to which I made a Journey upon the perusal of his Book, in order to this my then intended discourse: And to do Master Thomson all Just right, upon talking with the man, I found him as to Parts much beyond my first apprehension, or what it was possible for me to believe, making my conjecture only from his Book, wherein is so much self contradiction, and impertinent abusive railing, that one must conclude the Author, (though guilty of some Learning) far from any Ingenuity, as all those must needs be, who carry on their design by calumniating the most Eminent Professors of that Science, they pretend to own, and within the compass of which they aim at a reputation in the World to themselves.  
I may justly tell Master Thomson, that he abounds less with Learning, than Choler, yet according to his proportion of each, he makes use of them together in charging others as being culpable of what his own Omissions have necessitated him deservedly to suffer, so that in effect, he complains of Justice; doubtless had he gone on in a regular way, he might have expected favour from the College: That which I would say, is this; had Master Thomson sedulously applied himself to the study of Physic, and taken his Degrees, as the custom of the Universities require, he might have obtained Licence to practise; the College never denying such as are lawfully qualified: But since our Author has minded only the end without the means he is to blame himself, if he be disappointed.  
I cannot positively accuse Master Thomson in particular, that he like the Faction he owns, intended formerly some other profession, and that failing in the attainment, either through Idleness or want of Ability, he stumbled upon Physic; yet this I am sure he is guilty of, that he attempted to fly, before he was pen-feathered, venturing upon Practice, before he was well versed in the Theory; which is one reason he is no better acquainted with Method; But for the rest of his Crew, they are obliged by their Ignorance to be utter Enemies to Learning, and having nothing justly to plead for their irregular courses, must make up the defect with impudence.  
If so be, Master Thomson have in him something more than the rest of his Illiterate Brethren, yet he is obnoxious to the same censure with them, in regard he is of the Club, and 'tis a common Rule,  
Noscitur ex sociis, qui non cognoscitur ex se:  
With this rabble he frequently meets, and bears his part in the Consort, where the burden of their Song is, railing against the Universities, the College, and all Learning in General, but the Doctors especially; who if they oppose them, do it not as they practise Chemically and not Galenically, but as they presume to practise contrary to the rules of Order and Authority; But I am apt to believe the private quarrels of this Faction, are like to save the Doctors a labour; for there is now a great falling out among themselves, as I perceive by Master Thomsons bitter inveighing against the Dropping Doctor, against Mr Odowde, and some others; in the heat of his railing, he told me, they especially were the persons that obstructed their business, and disenabled them from achieving That which (in their account) would prove so useful to the World; But I would have Master Thomson understand thus much, that 'tis not any particular persons of his Faction that are his binderance, but the general design of imposing upon the People.  
Tandem aliquando, I am got into his Elaboratory which is so pitiful a sight, that it minds me of an Expression in his Eighth Chapter, 'tis not the Laboratory or Specious Furnaces that simply make a Spagyric; For if his Skill in Pyrotechny were to be calculated by his Utensils, he would hardly be thought able to out- do Aniseed- Water- Robin: And whereas, in the beginning of the forenamed Chapter, he says to the Doctors, Ye make your boast, that ye possess (as well as we) your Laboratories and Variety of Furnaces; His Elaboratory affords but two, one of Earth, the other of Iron; the former (like the Master) for want of Lutum Sapientiae being cracked, was tied together with a Rope, that of Iron in case of necessity, for some Kitchen might serve as a Chafing-Dish, for indeed it does not much exceed that Standard; when I compared his own large boastings of this Fabric, with my ocular view, I began to think my Chemist had showed me the Extract, and Elixir of his magnified Pile, which I admired to behold, shrunk as it were into two Calcining Pots, and about that number of broken Retorts.  
Thus furnished, my Friend intends to venture at helmont's Liquor Alkahest, and makes no doubt of getting the Philosopher's Stone, but I fear the poor wretch will be graveled in his design in the conclusion.  
But that Master Thomson and I, may part Friends, I shall do the ossice of one in advising him for the future, to rail less against those Worthy Men, whose Books he is not worthy to carry, and to be less injurious to the Company of Apothecaries, to whom he owes some Respect, though he disown it; however as to the Doctors, me thinks he and his Brethren should the rather forbear, in regard their Scandalous Tongues can do the College no more hurt, than the Arrows of the Barbarians do the Sun, when they aim at this Fountain of Light, which laughs at their vain and ridiculous Choler; and notwithstanding all their bolts, continues the same course, and inunterrupted motion above the reach of their foolish attempts: All the injury, that they are able to offer these Eminent Men, resembles but the ill humour of Curs, that bark at the Moon and Stars, but cannot by the importunity of their howl, diminish either their Splendour or Influence.   

SOME FEW REMARKES Upon a Treatise of Mr Thomas O Dowdes, Called, The POOR- MAN'S- PHYSICIAN.  
IT was wont to be said, Ubi desinit Medicus, incipit Theologus; but it seems Master O Dowde has a particular design to make both Commence together, ushering in his Pamphlet with two or three abused, and misapplyed texts of Scripture; notwithstanding before he and I part, he will appear to be neither a Divine, nor a Physician, the inverse of that Title, which he hath falsely put upon his Book, justly belonging to himself; The Man's a Poor Physician: Whereas he fond talks of his Speaking with a Holy Reverence, I cannot but stand amazed at his profane Impudence, in asserting this hypothetical Proposition, That if Jesus Christ Himself were now on Earth, Professing, and Curing Chemically, though to Mirable; rather than be admitted (so) to do that universal Good, he would be Vilified, Scorned, Condemned, and Crucified: Intending to disgorge at this presumptuous rate, He might well begin his Preface with a Declaration, that He was conscious to himself he should have many Enemies. How ill doth this suit with the Charity his Pamphlet seems to carry in the front; this is in effect to unchristian the College, and tell them they are jews; which is so gross and foolish a Scandal; so improbable and groundless an imputation, that there needs nothing to be said to take it off, but the very bare repetition; However, it sufficiently sets the Author out to the World for one, that has but a small stock of modesty and less religion.  
I cannot but take notice of the Man's Ingenuous Confession of the Imposture, commonly practised by those of his rank, but not so frankly acknowledged by any, as himself; For I can make no other Interpretation of this specious promise, If poor, says he, I will not only cure them, but likewise give them considerable Gratuities for their Public appearance in the acknowledgement of their several Cures: This is to me an evidence, that he trades with those that are in want, and working upon their necessity does by an underhand agreement, hire them to bear witness to the Cure, that never was performed; and this trick of his managed with subtlety, might very easily make his Catalogue so numerous. I really believe, that excepting some few Cured by accident, he is forced to this Expense in all other Diseases, but the Pox; and in that particular these Empirics have another fetch to help themselves; but when examined, it will prove of less credit, than the former, namely, their privy bargains.  
The French Disease, having so much of shame entailed upon it, because Contracted usually from great Debaucheries, 'tis the great care of all Persons punished with it, to conceal it as much as is possible; and therefore such are sure to lose their custom, who tells tales: Under this colour, such as our Author is, take occasion to Exaggerate the number they have cured, setting them out, and their Disease by several circumstances and degrees, and being excused from naming the persons upon the account of Reputation, they leave us no possibility of convincing them of their Knavery, but we must believe all upon their single Word: This I take to be most of the Reason, why the Disease all these Mountebanks most pretend to the cure of, is the Lues Venerea; in this particular it is, Master O Dowde (as appears in his Preface) would have us all acknowledge, His just and Christian Practices.  
Master Grooms great drift and design, I perceive is, to decoy the rich, and draw them into his Net; to this purpose he takes a very plausible course, pretending much to the doing of good for God's sake, and relieving the Poor that want Medicine; That this is the end of all his Charity is very evident from his own Discovery, He will traverse, he says, all the Streets, Lanes, and Allies, of this Great and Glorious City, to find out the Poor and Necessitous wanting help and Medicine; The conclusion of this is, that the overweening man fancies, he shall Force the Rich to seek him; but alas, this Plot will not take; while there are Good Physicians in the King's Highway, we need not go look such cattle as he in the By-Lanes; and I would Advise Master O Dowde to Endeavour all he can, to oblige the Yeomen of the Guard; for going of their Errands, is still like to be his best employment.  
'Tis high time to Assure the World that he scorns to Print a Paper to beg a Patient; Alas, that Cheat is worn threadbare, and though at the first coming up, it served to delude for a time; yet now experience of the emptiness of such like Manifesto's hath made them as unprofitable, as they are common; This my Gentleman is very sensible of, and therefore pretends to be above what he cannot reach; and instead therefore of posting up his Bills, he hath lately clapped on a face of Godliness, which he hopes will be his great gain: This strain runs parallel with his Railing throughout his whole Preface; Hence springs such frequent mention of his Conscience; so much Charity to the Diseased Poor; such Blessing of God; such imploring of the Great Creator: But alas, I am afraid for him, this knack will hardly work upon the Brethren, and the Holy Sisters in the City; His Manners and Conversation is so notoriously known, that he of all others is like to make little advantage of his Hypocrisy; therefore he had as good pull off the Vizard-masque, and appear in his own shape.  
And me thinks he appears to some purpose about the two or three and twentieth page of his Book; where having told a long story of William Miller Servant to Master Langston, whom, he says, he Cured of a violent Surfeit, Fever and Lunacy, in the close of the Narration, Complains he received not a sufficient Reward; This I thought was contrary to his Principles, but it seems 'tis only against his Pretences: That which is most strange, and much surprised me in a Man of his Seraphic temper, that professeth so much Piety, is, that thus disobliged, as he calls it, upon occasion afterwards, being sent for to the Mistress, he should out of perfect spite and revenge, refuse to come; Nay, he so stood it out, That he would in no case be importuned to it; And this is the man, which has taken upon him the Profession of Physic, only to do good for God's sake. I cannot say after this, that he forgets himself, though he so solemnly and boldly calls upon God To bear record with his Conscience, concerning his Integrity and Single-hearted simplicity: No, this is the remembrance of himself, and the forgetting of God, whose Name he so vainly takes into his mouth.  
Such is the profane craft and subtlety of this man, that, from his Atheistical Principles, he is careless of his Words and Protestations, as to the truth of them, so they do but carry on his design of deceiving, and get him a reputation with honest meaning men, who being by their own charity betrayed to him, may help to furnish him with money to spend upon his Vices: He, like the tempter, applies himself in his Book suitably to the different inclination of those he addresses himself to, and accordingly he has another way to tickle the fancies of persons ill inclined, using divers vain and lascivious expressions; Nay, in a manner, downright encouraging them to pursue their lusts, and venture for that loathed disease, because so obvious and easy to be cured by him; as appears by his Relation of a Person of great Worth and Fortune, who having got a Clap with a witness, came to him to be Cured within fifteen days, because his concerns required he should then take a Journey; He like an impudent Wretch answered him (they are his own words) If it might be a Service to him, he should be as well Cured as in all his life, and have time to get another if he pleased, and be Cured of that too in that time; And me thinks here it had been proper for him to add to all, that he would do This for God's sake.  
The greatest part of his Preface (which indeed is the whole Book, the rest being as it were but an Index) is taken up in railing at the Doctors; this is the Common Place or Topick of all these Mountebancks Rhetoric: Their sole study (but all in vain) is to draw a Cloud over the lustre of these men that outshine them; and they think (but they are mistaken) to make their own couterfeit glistering by this means pass for Gold: I confess, some of these sort of Men do show some Wit and Parts in their Calumnies, and make the best of their bad Cause 'tis capable of; but this Master O Dowde is so bold, and dull an Ignoramus, that, as we say of a Notorious Villain, He is one that shames the Gallows; So this Groom is such a Wretch, that he is a disgrace, even to his most disgraceful Party; and that in such a measure, that they themselves cry him down, and blush to own him.  
One of the most considerable Champions, and Ringleaders of this Faction, I take Master Thomson to be, and therefore I look on him to speak the mind of the whole Junto; besides, he hath been an Intimate Friend and Associate of O Dowdes, and consequently one that best knows him: From his own mouth, I had it to this essect, That he is an Illiterate Person, and so grossly Ignorant, that he alone was able to bring into question, the Knowledge of all the rest, they for his single sake lying under the censure of being men, as ignorant as himself; and no doubt most of them did not much come behind him for this gift and endowment of Ignorance. Master Thomson told me, That the Ignorance of this Dunce alone occasioned the Obstruction of the Patent, which was lately in Agitation, for the Erecting of a New College: In this I do not altogether give Credit to Master Thomson, but however it serves for my present purpose, to convince the World of Master O Dowdes insufficiency, when his own Party, whose business it is to cry up one another's Merit, shall blazon him for an unlettered Groom.  
'Tis his gross Ignorance makes him so rude and saucy with the Doctors, as he is; if he had had any Learning, I am sure he would have had more civility, and better manners: What he undertakes to say of them, is as false, as his Declaration, (viz.) That he scorned to Print a Paper to beg a Patient; whereas he has spoiled many sheets only to that purpose, witness his First, Second, and now a Third Edition of his Book published for the same design, and embroidered with a long Catalogue of counterfeit Cures, as if he intended now his own Fraternity has cast him off, to put in for the Monopoly, and prove Medicaster Universalis.  
My Gentleman (though such an Atheist, that I think he seldom says his Prayers) has notwithstanding at last found out Amen Corner (and I wish it prove not a Formidable place to him) where he talks of a body, and where I have seen many dissected, that had more brains, I believe, than himself, and yet had not Wit enough to avoid that Destiny: By the whole Body of Amen Corner he talks on, he must be supposed to mean the their Situated College of Physicians; Persons, who for their Eminency and known Abilities in Physic and Anatomy, the King Himself was Graciously Pleased lately to Honour with his Presence, and as a signal Testimony of His Affection to the Professors, as well as to the Profession, Conferred the Honour of Knighthood upon the Worthy Reader pro tempore, (now Sir George Ent) together with divers signal Expressions of Favour and Respect to the whole Body of this Society: And yet such is the impudence of this ignorant Scandalous Fellow, that with strange impertinent, insignificant, and false aspersions he ventures to throw dirt upon those His Majesty thought fit so highly to Honour.  
But Perfasque, Nefasque, the old Design must go on; Self-interest and Juggling must to be advanced, and no way else is possible to effect it, unless it be by decrying those that are most likely to discover the Cheat. Thus our Autorculus, and the rest of the Crew are of opinion, That if they do Calumniari fortiter, aliquid haerebit; and indeed the mischief is, that, to the ruin of many simple persons, they do it with some kind of success; but I hope for the future, all sorts of men will be more careful of their lives, and not cast such pearls, before them that are ready to devour; And I wish this little Book might serve as a guide for some of the misled, to direct them, lest they split upon this Rock.  
The Title of Master O Dowdes Book, (viz.) The Poor Man's Physician, Or, the True Art of Medicine, as it is Chemically prepared, etc. Did not a little raise my expectation; I hoped to have made a discovery there of something extraordinary, as to the Preparations of Medicines, by the Art of Pyrotechny; which indeed was the chief Reason why I Esteemed it worth my while to look into it; for (Chemistry being both my Profession and Delight) the improving my knowledge in this Art, is my sole Study, and that, for which I have not spared either Cost or Pains: But upon the purusal, I found myself utterly disappointed; For instead of performing what his specious Title promises, he obtrudes upon the World a farrago of Names and Cures, most of which are notoriously false, and fictitious; so that what in the Title Page is the true Art of Medicine, is in the Book mere forgery, and the true Art of cozening.  
I would not be thought to speak at random, or shoot at rovers, as this fellow does his bolts, though it be in the case of so inconsiderable a person; and therefore that I might be furnished to give a certain Testimony of his infidelity, and demonstrate the dangerous consequence that must necessarily ensue upon his bold undertake, I have taken no small pains to examine the truth of those particulars, he so mightily boasts of, and magnifies himself for; and in truth I do not find one in ten to answer in the least to that he so impudently asserts in his Book: I do believe, if it were possible to trace him through his whole Catalogue, one in twenty would not appear to give him a good report; and this sure comes far short of those Miraculous cures he would possess the World with an opinion of being the performance of his daily practice.  
If one may judge Ex pede Herculem, I shall be able by showing the falseness of some Cures he boasts of, give the world an Essay of the whole Muster: That which he particularly insists on and by a formal Preface bespeaks the attention of the Reader even to the least circumstance, is the Cure of one Master Richard Rawlinson, mentioned in the fourth page of his Book, Living on the backside of the Shambles, in New-Gate-Market; Out of my desire to know the truth, I went to him, being my Neighbour, and had with him some Discourse concerning this particular, he told me, he was brought very low by the Scurvy, and had been for a good space in a course of Physic for his recovery by the advice of a friend, and about that time, a Colonel of his acquaintance came to visit him, and finding him so ill out of pity sent presently for Master O Dowde, who very readily came, and after a cursory view of Master Rawlinson, appointed him some of his Medicine (without any inquiry what had formerly been given him) which operating with him, as well by vomit as by stool, gave him present ease, and freed him, but 'twas only from a Rheumatismus, caused by the effect of a Mercurial Preparation, which his friend, and my acquaintance had given him (without discovering to Master Rawlinson the intent of the Medicine) in order to his Recovery; with which method, who ever is acquainted, do very well know the Effect, and will not wonder, that Master O Dowde found my Neighbour in that Condition, he is pleased to call an unparallelled Distemper; but will rather admire he should call this a Cure, that did but only check the former Medicine, and turn the Humour another way, which every Artist in Physic or Surgery knows was a harebrained rash undertaking, and in all probability, did prevent the perfection of his Cure; Master Rawlinson, not withstanding the repetition of Master Dowde's Medicine, (being put out of his former course of Physic) remains to this day uncured, being still deeply affected with the Scurvy, and showing me spots upon his Arm, told me with his own mouth, that because he did not continue Gratuities according to his expectation, he heard no more of Master O Dowde. And thus I have given you an impartial account of the great Cure, which this false and impudent man would Have stand as a perpetual record to all Ages, against the sordid method of Galenical Prescriptions: But let this stand as a perpetual record to all Ages against Master O Dowdes false and scandalous aspersions, for to my knowledge, what had been done before in order to this man's Cure was performed by a Chemical Operator in Surgery, a Man so Eminently known to be able in his Profession, that had not this bold intruder prevented, Master Rawlinson might have at this time been perfectly well.  
His great Idol being thus thrown down before the face of truth, all the other petty Imps and Cures of little moment must needs be sensible of the fall; and I shall put some of them to the trial, if they are able to stand the test: as I take it, two or three of them well shaken and examined, being found too weak and tottering, will be sufficient to give us an estimate of the whole Tribe, and plainly evince, that they are all either absolutely forged, or only the effcts of chance.  
I shall begin with Master adam's, a Brewer in Saint Thomas Southwark, whom Master O Dowde is pleased to say in the third p. of his Book, He Curedof a violent Gout in two days of Medicine, which I must confess to be a very expeditious Cure of such an inveterate Disease; But 'tis only said, not performed, for a Friend of mine, a person of known Credit, afflicted with the same pain, willing to be eafed, was inclined to believe what he so much desired should be verified in himself; but he was not altogether so credulous, as to venture upon Master O Dowde without a particular inquiry into the certainty; whereupon, going to Master adam's, he was satisfied by him to the contrary, and told, that O Dowde was a lying Fellow, and that he was no better than he was before the taking of Master O Dowdes Medicine; the like account has been given me by divers of those persons mentioned in his Catalogue, within these few days.  
A second I went to speak withal myself not long ago, by Name Mr. Rawley a Baker near Barking Church in Tower-street; this man (says O Dowde) was under a five years' Dropsy, Lask, and Bloody Flux, a Patient so remarkable, as to call men, and Angels to witness against the Barbarous inhumanity of those Persons, that stile themselves Doctors, etc. 'Twould be too troublesome to relate the whole Fable; to be brief therefore, after a lamentable, and as false a report, he tells you, This Man after wishing for death, at last with a terrible Dropsy became his Patient, his Legs and Thighs swollen, not imaginably to be moved, and hard as boards, yet in Eleven day's Medicine cured by him. The Man himself was at that time a sleep upon the Bed, and I received the following Narration from Mistress Rawley to this Effect, that as to Master O Dowdes description of her Husband's Disease, 'twas in part true, but he was so far from being well or cured in Eleven days, that he was half a year his daily Patient with little benefit; and that Master O Dowde having received divers gratuities, did at several times after, bring more of his Medicine almost for the space of a year, till at last, either for want of those former Gratuities, or for shame he had not yet Cured him, from that day to this he never appeared: Her Husband's Legs, and Thighs being swollen as much as ever, it seems Master O Dowde can cure the Dropsy without the removal of the Symptoms.  
A third lie he tells, is of Mistress Elizabeth Friend, who unfortunately became his Patient, he says, for the Falling Sickness, and relates the Story in the twenty seventh page of his Catalogue, to which for brevity sake I refer the Reader: Some terrible fits of the Mother indeed she had, for the Cure of which, by the Persuasion of some Friend, that was deceived into an Opinion of Master O Dowde, she was Boarded at his House, where he Physick't her at his old rate; this poor Gentlewoman by the excessive, or (to use his own phrase) The wonderful Operation of his Three and Twenty times Medicine, had so lost her Spirits, that she became deeply affected with a Lethargy, which he minces into an Indisposition and Drowsiness: After this, she had the Small Pox, but recovered of that Disease, she went on in the former course of Medicine, till her Lethargy was attended by a kind of Distraction, and her former fits so much heighthned, that when they were upon her, she would stare, and start, like one perfectly out of her Senses, and in the times of her intermission, her face was puffed up and bloated; which by one of Master O Dowdes Figures, he calls in his forty sixth page her growing fat, After twenty nine days of Medicine, to the Operation of at least Two Hundred Vomits, and One Hundred and odd Stools, grew Strong, Cheerful and Fat; which Fatness was such Bloatiness, that they (indeed) who had not been acquainted with her, might look on it as the usual habit of her body: This poor young Gentlewoman, whose Cure this impudent man so much boasts of, died in one of these fits, to the great grief of her Friends, and in particular her Mother, who is at the very Name of O Dowde like a distracted person, to think she should be so indiscreet as to suffer herself to be deluded by such a vain bragging Impostor. This Relation was given me by the Gentlewoman's near Friends, who likewise told me, they dare not mention O Dowdes Name to her Mother in any case, least by the disturbance of her Spirits, she should fall into the like passionate fits with her Daughter.  
After these several Convictions, I take it for granted, that all sober Men will know Master O Dowde for a Liar, and I doubt not but he will have his due, and proper punishment, which is never to be believed.  
Certainly, had this Man been of sober Principles, he would never have vented so much Vanity and Frothiness in several places of his Scribble; 'tis so gross, that 'tis hardly fit for modest ears: Some of that which is most cleanly, I met with in a passage concerning a young Gentleman, whom he Cured of the Pox: After a long up-braiding of the Doctors under the notion of Dogmatists, with a tedious Method of Curing the Old Gentleman (as he calls it) to show his Dexterity that way, he brings in for Witness; A Witty and Accomplished Young Gentleman, who some years since, from a simple Gonorrhoea, was run into a most prodigious POX, and almost Two Years course of Physic; who afterwards becoming my Patient, was perfectly Cured long since; And many Months after getting an Inveterate Clap, was in less than Ten days cured by Me; and then pleasantly assured me, that he now was satisfied, that in a Clap, nothing more was needful, then to Pray the Physician (not to the God our Author so often invocated) and pay him well, and to it again, for it was Cured as soon as a scratched finger. This is the Young Gentleman's Descant upon the Old One; Master O Dowde gives him the stile of Witty and Accomplished, flattering him into the humour of Paying Well, and as it may be guest by this Familiar Dialogue, finding him sit for his Company, they became Cronies; by which Debauchery you may likewise guests at our Authors vain Conversation.  
As it was tedious for me to examine every particular in Master O Dowdes Index, of those he says he has Cured, so it would be to as little purpose to make a New Catalogue of All those I may say he has Killed; If I should undertake it, I am of Opinion, I could fill a Book as Large as his own; for when I made inquiry after those whom he Cured (in his Book but no where else) I met with several Tragic Stories of his bold undertake: I shall recount one or two, that Master O Dowde may take notice of, and add them in the next Edition of his Book.  
The first was one Thomkins, at the spread Eagle near Fleet-Bridge, who was another of his Patients for the Old Gentleman, but his Medicine wrought so violently with him, that he died of a Scouring; but while under those Gripes and Tortures, occasioned by his Potion, would often say if he recovered, he would be revenged of him, and if he died, which he did suddenly after, he was confident O Dowde was the cause of his death.  
Another was a Maid-Servant, that unfortunately became his Patient, in Long-Lane; she upon taking of his Medicine, which wrought so violently with her, presently died, having strange kind of Cramps and Fits; divers others I am furnished to recite, but I forbear to trouble my Reader, whom I am confident I have already satisfied, and more will nauseate.  
This Master O Dowde, though never so desperate in the exhibition of his Medicine, as he all along phrases it, yet in his manner of Dispensing, he uses a more than ordinary caution: I made a discovery of this, as well by his carriage, set out in his own Book, as from the relation of several of his Patients: His way is never to trust his Medicine in the hands of his Patients, but they must either in the presence of Himself, or his Boy, take down whatever he gives or appoints; and in my Opinion, this can bear no other interpretation, then that he is afraid his Knavery should be discovered in using some common rejected preparation, under the show of his own invented Chemical Arcanum.  
Just such another Fellow is Master Lockier, (and I think these Geese are sitly coupled together) who by difguising of Vitrum Antimonii, commonly called Stibium, hath exposed to the world his Pilula, Radiis solis extracta, and for some considerable time, hath sold it for Sixteen Shillings per Ounce; whereas, to my own knowledge, the same quantity, of the same Commodity, might be had without any trouble in any Apothecary's Shop for Three Pence: Such kind of Cheats as these are frequently put upon the easily deluded and credulous people, by such Politic Empirics and Falsifiers in Physic as these.  
I leave it therefore to Master Lockiers choice, whether he had rather be cowted a Knave, or a Fool, one of the two he cannot avoid; for having Published in Print, that there is no Antimony in his Pill; either he is so ignorant, he knows not what Antimony is, or else he resolved to deceive the World: Though for my own part, I was well satisfied, and found divers of the same Opinion, concluding it to be a Mineral, & that nothing else could Operate in so small a proportion; yet notwithstanding, for the further satisfaction or the World, I made an Experiment, in the Public Elaboratory of the College, before divers of the Fellows, in order to a Pyrotechnicall Resolution of this Pill, as followeth.  

A Resolution of Mr Lockiers PILL.  
AFter the dissolution of half an ounce of Master Lockiers Pills, in a sufficient quantity of Spirit of Wine, which served only to take away the mucilaginous substance, with which they were form into those small proportions; I found a remaining powder, which after it was dry, answered (as I thought) in colour and weight to Vitrum Antimonii; for further discovery, I pulverised half an Ounce of Vitrum Antimonii, and in the opinion of all that were present, there was no ocular demonstration to the contrary, but that they were all one: However, that it might be put beyond all dispute, I melted down Master Lockiers Pills, and out of that half Ounce, I reduced Two Drams and Eleven Grains of pure Regulus of Antimony; after this, I melted down the same quantity of Vitrum Antimonii, out of which I also did reduce the same quantity of Regulus, wanting but five Grains, which is not only an undeniable demonstration, that Master Lockiers Pills are altogether Antimonial, but as evidently plain, that they are nothing else but Vitrum Antimonii, powdered and form into those small Granula's, in which form he has so publicly sold them all England over.  
And now what will be the dangerous consequence, and hazard to many men's lives, to whom these Impostors thus unadvisedly offer their Medicine, without any consideration or respect, either to the nature of the Disease, habit of Body, constitution of the Patient; but in all cases, to persons of all Ages and Constitutions, at a venture, give it in like quantity, I say, what evil event must ensue such absurd practices, I leave to the Judgement of All Rational Men.    

The Appendix.  
Worthy Gentlemen,  
WHen I first undertook an Answer to these indirect Practitioners in Physic, I also intended to offer something oy way of Proposal, or rather a most Humble Address to You; The Precedent, Fellows, and Commonalty of the King's College of Physicians in this Famous City; As also to the Master, Wardens, and Company of Apothecaries, in order to the rectifying of some Enormous abuses, that within the space of some few years past, have crept into the general Practice of Physic.  
But having perused a little Book Entitled, A Letter concerning the present State of Physic; Written by a Person of Quality, and without dispute great Learning, who has so effectually and fully discussed the whole matter, and proposed such excellent means and ways, as well to prevent the like for the future, as for the advancing all the desiderata of this Profession; in all which his principal aim is, the restoring of this Practice of Physic to its ancient Constitution, which, as this Worthy Gentleman says, Till good Learning came to be overthrown and laid waist by the Furious irruption of the Goths (though it now stands divided, between the Chirurgeon and Apothecary, was then the sole care of the Physician only; and 'tis very true, they did then officiate in all the faculties of Physic: But it is observed likewise, that this Profession in general never flourished better than it has in these three Branches, (viz.) Physicians, Surgeons, and Apothecaries; nor has there been a greater improvement in Physic, in any Age of the World, than what has been made within this Thirty years' last passed; and I presume without disparagement to any, I may affirm, this to have been brought about, by the Industry and Pains, principally of the Honourable Society of Physicians in London, as well in the business of Anatomy, as Physic: Nor has the Surgeons, and Apothecaries been unuseful in this advancement; but each of them in their respective Spheres, have been Exemplary to our Neighbouring Nations.  
Then, what remains to the perfect advancement of this Godlike Profession, but a reuniting of the whole Body consisting of these Branches) into those true and amicable respects, in which current, to this day Physic has so well prospered; and the rather, because, as this noble Gentleman has well observed, it might otherways Be looked upon in respect of these (though additional) two very Worthy Societies of Men (Surgeons and Apothecaries) as a thing extremely unreasonable to undertake such an alteration, as the restoring of that ancient way would necessarily introduce: Besides the great difficulty must needs be expected in bringing this expedient to its intended perfection, it may probably be conjectured, that then the continuance of more time, with some other inconveniences falling in, may again produce the same exigency.  
Wherefore I humbly suppose, as being of the same sentiment (in that particular) with this Noble Gentleman, the best expedient, for the rectification of all past abuses, and to free this Honourable Profession of Physic from all those degenerating Vipers, (that do not only eat out her bowels, by their sinister practices, but by their illiterate, rude behaviour, stick on it, like dirt) will in my opinion be found to be, if the College would please (continuing to own the improvement of Rational Chemistry) as an addition to all their former manifeftations; procure (as this Gentleman advises) by an address to His Majesty, a Public Authority, and Command, that all Apothecaries may be obliged, to buy those Chemical Preparations made in their Public Elaboratory for the use of His Majesty's Subjects, or else give satisfaction to the College, that they have the same of their own making, to the end, that no Chemical Preparations may be taken into their shops, from the hands of any unskilful or dishonest Operator, but from such only as shall be allowed by the College; the rather, because there are several in this City, who have served an Apprenticeship to this profession, and are esteemed persons of such Integrity, that what Medicines soever they sell, the College (to whom in obedience they will be ready to give satisfaction in this point) may acquiesce in their just prepatation; for further satisfaction to the College, I humbly propose, that the Master and Wardens of the Company of Apothecaries, would please to Enact, under a severe penalty, that from henceforth none of their Members, shall use, or put to sale any dispensed Medicine, but what they either make themselves, or for convenience in their Trade be furnished by some Member of their own Society; since that by this means the Mystery of Physic will not only be preserved with her due bounds, but the profession will be much advanced, and that door, by which all the forementioned abuses crept in, will be stopped up: Thus much I humbly offer as my own private thoughts and desires, begging pardon, if I have too much presumed.  
I cannot after all, better conclude then with the words of that incomparable Epistle; Since then, Worthy Doctors, Yourselves look upon Rational Chemistry, as an Excellent way of enquiry into the natures of things, and managed with sound Reason and Philosophy, an excellent way also of preparing Medicines; Since you are as much conversant in Chemical Authous, as any others, and have as many, and more assistances, of learning and experience to judge of them; to all which I may very well add, since you have also a Perfect and Candid Resolution to Countenance and Improve them; as I am Bound in Duty, so I humbly make Bold to Offer the Continuance of my Devoted Service, in what ever your Honours shall be pleased to employ,  
Your most Humble and, Faithful Servant, William johnson.  
FINIS.   

ERRATA.  
PAge 1. line 11. read tough, for tough. p. 11. l, 20. r, by these subtle. pa. 12. l. 11. r. both for doth. p. 16. l. Past, r. interest for interest. p. 52. l. 17. r. inform for imform. p. 57 l, 2. r. fraudulent for fradulent. p. 14. l. 5. r. to give.