Case I found him, and in a Months time or thereabouts, I cured his Jaundice, relieved his Torments, removed the hardness of his Bowels, mitigated his Cough, but the Hectick Fever continuing he declined; at length another Physician was called in, who can witness the truth of what was done, and upon the whole we had good reason to think his Liver to be Apostemated.  After which consultation he had no more of me, telling me he would rely on Kitchin Physic, and after that I never saw him.  Now this being the only relation I have heard in this kind, I have been the larger to recite it, that thereby the Reader may take an estimate of their dealing with me in the like reports.  The like or worse, some of them have said of other Physicians, which perhaps hereafter shall be more fully related with all the Circumstances.

As for their malicious anger, and disadvantageous to themselves, take this one example; I having prescribed a Plaster for the Head, an Apothecary would not make it, because prescribed by me; and I have been informed that many of them agreed they would make nothing for such Physicians as made their own Medicines; a poor and pitiful revenge, to their own loss and discredit.

Another Scandal is, the fewness of my Medicines.  ’Tis true my Closet is not open to every bodies Eye, nor have I so many and large Pots and Glasses, or fill’d with as good as nothing, or the same Medicine, in several with different Titles, neither are any of mine guilded to make a shew with; yet I dare offer to view with the best of their Shops, for number of good and really useful Medicines fit to answer presently any Physicians intentions, for internal remedies.  And this will be attested by some of my learned Collegues, who have seen and perused them.  Whereas the Shops contain only some general Medicines, whereof few single Physicians make use of one quarter in their practice, and upon most particular cases are compell’d to prescribe what is not readily dispensed in the Shops.  Others insinuate my seldom change of Medicines.  To which I answer, that where all circumstances are the same, and a good success follows, I neither do, nor will much vary, the easiest thing in the World to be done, both to colour and tast.  For such changes (necessary to be used in Shop-practice) without manifest reason, clog a Patients Purse and Stomach, may not suit with the Patients Disease nor Constitution.  And doubtless every Physician writes at first what he conceives most fit, and proper in the Case proposed; and if this agrees fully to his expectation, runs some hazard in the alteration, which he is necessitated to do in the Shop-way, for many reasons before-mentioned.  Besides, who scruples to take the Medicinal Waters of Epsom, Barnet, and Tunbridge, many weeks together? or who refuseth a constant unalter’d Diet-Drink for some Months, or Years together?  And do not Apothecaries in all Diseases of the Lungs, fly to their pectoral decoction for all persons, and for the same person at all times, unless perhaps with the addition of a little China to it?