And though as matters now stand, Physicians have not the honour to be counted superiour to Apothecaries in their Art, yet every one knows that they alone are the prescribers and directors of the Apothecaries in what they know; and are able to puzzle them in infinite things that concern their Trade, besides in Chymical preparations, whereof most of them are totally ignorant; and should Physicians withdraw themselves from their conversation, few pretenders to Physic would appear more unskillful then they, neither knowing how to deal with a new Simple, nor a new disease.  And for all their pretences of skill in Drugs, ’tis most certain that the State makes Physicians not Apothecaries, Judges of them; and the Statute of Henry the VIII. appoints the College Censors upon Oath, not the Apothecaries to judg, and condemn false and sophisticated Medicines.

A second objection wherewith they flatter themselves, is, that the great expence of time in preparing Medicines will keep Physicians from this course.  I answer, that the Physician needs not spend much more then half an hour in a day, one with another, on this work, and may faster dispense them then the Apothecaries to Hospitals, who in an afternoon can provide for 100, nay sometimes 200 sick men, and carry them to the Hospital, and dispose them to each single person, which takes up much time, which the Physicians Servants need not be put to.

A third objection is, that this course, which before ’twas put in practice they derided, now used is railed at, will undo them.  I answer that if needs, one or the other must be ruined, ’tis more reasonable that the Apothecary should suffer then the Physician, because the one acts but his duty, and for the publick good, but the other are transgressors of the Law, and act above the Sphere of their skill, and do many prejudices to the precious lives, and healths of men; and the rather, because ’tis in their own power to prevent this mischief, by stinting the number of their Servants (as ’tis in foreign parts, and in England also, in very many if not most other Trades.  Nay our State allows but a set number of Printers) for they acknowledg themselves, that the exceeding increase of their number must necessarily in a short time bring them all to shifting and beggery, and a greater want of skill then what they now pretend to.  But to answer this Objection more fully, I affirm Apothecaries have made and do make use of several other ways of subsistence; besides their bare trades (none of which Physicians can use) viz. some of them in this City as well as in the Country, sell Grocery-wares, and by both together, gain Estates.  Secondly, They barter in Drugs and other Commodities, selling them amongst themselves, and to other Tradesmen.  Furthermore, they are now building a Laboratory to make all sorts of Chymical Medicines, intending to supply the whole Nation with them, which must necessarily undo all the Chymists in London; and whether in time