“The obelisks of Egypt contain in hieroglyphic characters many secrets of our Faculty.  The Chinese Wall, and the Colossus at Rhodes, were erected by our ancestors in sport.  We could cite many other examples, were it necessary.

“All societies to whom belong either wonderful art, or nothing except secrecy, have been founded on our pattern.  It appears that the Society of Free-Masons was founded by eleven disciples of the Med.  Fac. expelled A.D. 1425.  But these ignorant fellows were never able to raise their brotherhood to our standard of perfection:  in this respect alone they agree with us, in admitting only the masculine gender (’masc. gen.’).[47]

“Therefore we have always been Antimason.  No one who has ever gained admittance to our assembly has the slightest doubt that we have extended our power to the farthest regions of the earth, for we have embassies from every part of the world, and Satan himself has learned many particulars from our Senate in regard to the administration of affairs and the means of torture.

“We pride ourselves in being the most learned society on earth, for men versed in all literature and erudition, when hurried into our presence for examination, quail and stand in silent amazement.  ‘Placid Death’ alone is coeval with this Society, and resembles it, for in its own Catalogue it equalizes rich and poor, great and small, white and black, old and young.

“Since these things are so, and you, kind reader, have been instructed on these points, I will not longer detain you from the book and the picture.[48] Farewell.”

Preface to the Catalogue of 1833.

“It was much less than three years since the third edition of this Catalogue saw the light, when the most learned Med.  Fac. began to be reminded that the time had arrived for preparing to polish up and publish a new one.  Accordingly, special curators were selected to bring this work to perfection.  These curators would not neglect the opportunity of saying a few words on matters of great moment.

“We have carefully revised the whole text, and, as far as we could, we have taken pains to remove typographical errors.  The duty is not light.  But the number of medical men in the world has increased, and it is becoming that the whole world should know the true authors of its greatest blessing.  Therefore we have inserted their names and titles in their proper places.

“Among other changes, we would not forget the creation of a new office.  Many healing remedies, foreign, rare, and wonderful, have been brought for the use of the Faculty from Egypt and Arabia Felix.  It was proper that some worthy, capable man, of quick discernment, should have charge of these most precious remedies.  Accordingly, the Faculty has chosen a curator to be called the ‘Apothecarius.’  Many quacks and cheats have desired to hold the new office; but the present occupant has thrown all others into the shade.  The names, surnames, and titles of this excellent man will be found in the following pages.[49]