Fourthly, In saying they teach Physicians, and help them to, and in their practice. The first and last are vile and foolish Scandals; as to the Second, 'tis true indeed, that younger Apothecaries recommend Physicians to their acquaintance; but 'tis no longer then they have learned enough (as they think) to set up for themselves.

Fifthly, In saying, they knew before-hand what such a Doctor would prescribe, and hence it is they have nick-named some Physicians of no mean practice, by the Medicines they frequently use, which names in respect to the persons, I shall conceal; and of such Physicians, they brag they can prescribe as well as they. But if a Physician advise things unknown to them, or out of the common tract, then they say the Doctor intends to puzzle them.

Sixthly, He will avoid the censure of his Bills, which every pitiful fellow, nay their very Boys will absolve or condemn at pleasure, and that openly too, nay sometimes to the Patient himself, and thereby call in his good Apothecaries Physician. Now what a shame is it, that a Physicians credit and livelihood, should stand at the mercy of such pitiful ignorant, and self-ended Souls? I have heard one of them say of the now most Eminent Practiser in London, that his Boy could write as good a Method as he, and that he understood the practice of Physic as well as any Physician in London except 2, or 3, though the same person was soon made to confess, he neither knew the Disease, Cause, nor Cure of a Pleurisy, pretended to be throughly understood by him.

Thirdly, He will avoid the trouble put upon him after he hath writ his Bill, by the Apothecaries ignorance in not understanding it, who to be informed came to the Doctor heretofore, with their Hats off, but now send their Boys, who soon put theirs on. Such respect do they give Physicians, when they come to them as to their Masters to teach them.

Fourthly, He will avoid the impertinent Visits of the Apothecaries, and non-sensical, troublesome, and discouraging, frightful discourses to the Patient, of whom no man can expect more then the Common Proverb gives to Praters, and impertinent Speakers, That they talk like Apothecaries.

Fifthly He will avoid the mischiefs from their Visits, who by their shrugs, signs, or words, may diminish the Physicians reputation, and good opinion, whether in his skill, or Medicines, whereby good Medicines are neglected and the expectation of a good success upon the use of them taken away, or at least causing an averseness to them; which actings do exceedingly prejudice the Patient, in reference to his Cure.

Sixthly, He will avoid this inconvenience, that some Apothecaries have attributed the Cure to some of their intermixed Medicines, or alteration of the Doctors Bill.

Seventhly, He will avoid that incivility of such of them, who in the Physicians presence, will feel the Pulse, judg of the Urine, discourse the Cause, Nature, what the Disease is, and what will be the issue of it, propose Medicines, nay sometimes endeavour to advise with the Physician, to contradict and dispute with him, to compare and set himself above the Physician; and to say truth, these odious and intolerable Comparisons and intrusions daily complained of by my Collegues, were a great cause of my departing from them.

Eighthly, He will avoid those Scandals they have opportunity to raise, that such a Physician is Covetous, Proud, Negligent, and minds not his practice, and the like without the least ground, and are frequently by such Artifices, the Cause of introducing another Physician, knowing that thereby more Bills will come to their File, and many times the former Medicines be layed aside, and in this shuffling in and out of Physicians, they have commonly a great share.

Ninthly, Apothecaries being now Competitors with Physicians for practice, and down-right Enemies to such as make their own Medicines; why should not we suspect them of this false Play, by telling the Patient the Doctors Medicine will not work (which he knows well enough how to effect) and then to tell him he will prepare him one of his own that will work, when perhaps that he calls his own preparation, was nothing but what the Doctor had prescribed before; and by this Artifice to advance himself above the Physician.