Lastly, When Dispensatories were first made, the Apothecaries were really Physicians Servants, and wholy at their command, not in the least intrenching on their business, and the rates of Medicines were reasonable; which superiority over them still continues only in their prescriptions, the forms whereof are always commanding to take this and that, and to mix them, &c. but within these few last years they have set up for themselves, and advanced the rates beyond all reason; and to be sure, the more we teach them by our Books, the more they will trangress in both.

He may receive encouragement from what he discovers, that is more then ordinarily useful, whereas by writing Bills, he soon communicates to the ignorant and lazy, who will neither spend time nor money to advance the Art, but while the one is at work to his great charge, lots of time, much pains and trouble, the others seek by petty tricks and Arts to gain a name, and profit from the industrious.  Nay some Mountebanks have been set up by purchasing receipts of the Apothecary or his Servants.  And one of them told me, he set up a Quack by selling and commending to him a Medicine he had long kept in his Shop and could not otherwise put off, and that by degrees he made him a famous practiser among the ignorant and poor people.  An Act quite contrary to the interest of the Company.

Hence also will arise an emulation amongst Physicians, who shall exceed each other in noble remedies, and from thence a full and happy improvement of whatsoever God hath created for the recovery of mans health impaired; for from the Physician alone the advancement of Physic is to be expected.  How many simples of unknown properties have been brought into use, to the great comfort of the sick? and many more may be, as also many preparations, both simple and compound, both in the Galenical, and Chymical practice, and by this means the Art will be advanced to its just dignity, now much diminished, dishonoured, and near to be lost by the intrusion of ignorant persons.

Greater respect will be given to such Physicians, as being the immediate instruments of life and health, who will derive unto themselves that which is now given to the Apothecaries, which proceeds chiefly from fear lest they should do the Patient hurt; and so their honour will be doubled, which every Physician looks principally at; but the Apothecary being not so far concerned, looks chiefly at his own profit, and regards not the Patients charge.  For the greater the Patients charge, the greater must needs be the Apothecaries gain; whereas on the contrary, ’tis the Physicians Interest to cure the Patient with the greatest ease.

He may proceed on safely and securely in his well experienced Medicines, having before him not only what he hath prescribed for the same Patient, but for all others in the like Case, and thereby keep in memory what he would have forgot, if his Bill had remained on the Apothecaries File; viz. the Medicines and their success.  By means whereof Physicians do not advance their knowledg so far as they might; for how is it possible they should remember the particulars of their Bills writ some days before? and therefore know not how to proceed so well.  But the Apothecaries having before them the whole series of Medicines, brag they can do more then the Physicians, and by this means insinuate the same opinion into people.