Through his shelves, and find out he had no castor oil;

While as to Infusions, they've long taken wings,

And they'd think you quite mad for prescribing such things.

The fashion to-day is a tincture so strong,

That, if dosing yourself, you are sure to go wrong.

What men learnt in the past they say brings them no pelf,

And the well-tried old remedies rest on the shelf.

But the patient may haply exclaim, "Don't be rash,

Lest your new-fangled physic should settle my hash!"