To
the
judicious
and
discreet
Reader
.
THE
Honour
and
Esteem
of
Physick
in
former
Ages
was
so
great
,
that
Kings
and
Princes
did
own
and
allow
Medicines
(
of
which
they
were
Authors
and
Inventors
)
to
be
called
by
their
own
Names
.
And
Physicians
of
the
greatest
fame
,
as
they
were
diligent
in
the
preparation
and
tryals
of
Medicines
;
so
were
they
ambitious
their
names
should
give
Title
to
Medicines
of
their
own
invention
and
industry
.
But
this
last
Age
revolting
from
the
ingenious
labours
of
the
Ancient
Heroes
,
resigning
the
Art
of
Medicines
(
the
most
excellent
and
necessary
part
of
Physick
)
into
the
hands
of
Tradesmen
;
Medicines
thereby
fell
much
lower
in
repute
;
now
accounted
a
vulgar
business
,
that
some
of
our
Doctors
(
not
the
wisest
)
think
it
too
inferiour
for
them
to
own
or
meddle
with
.
But
the
vanity
of
these
men
,
and
the
villany
of
those
that
betrayed
this
Noble
Art
into
a
Trade
,
does
manifestly
appear
in
a
late
serious
Tract
,
intituled
the
Ancient
and
Modern
Practice
of
Physick
,
examined
and
compared
,
&c.
By
the
Author
of
these
Medicines
.
Illiterate
men
of
mean
and
broken
fortunes
,
(
taking
advantage
upon
this
absurd
neglect
of
the
Professors
)
have
craftily
and
gainfully
obtained
the
Custom
of
setting
forth
their
trivial
slight
Medicines
,
so
that
some
worthy
Physicians
now
reviving
the
primitive
practice
,
are
at
present
discouraged
from
offering
the
products
of
their
Art
to
the
World
,
for
fear
of
scandal
,
and
being
accounted
in
the
number
of
those
Quacks
.
But
the
publishing
of
Medicines
thus
shamefully
defamed
by
ignorant
pretenders
,
must
be
restored
into
esteem
by
the
learned
,
which
will
prove
most
advantagious
to
the
people
:
and
it
is
their
interest
to
incourage
skilful
experienced
Artisti
,
that
they
may
not
lock
up
their
rare
inventions
,
and
fortunate
experiments
,
confining
them
within
the
narrow
compass
of
a
private
practice
;
but
rather
that
they
expose
their
Arcanum
'
to
publick
use
,
that
all
who
stand
in
need
may
partake
thereof
.
Thus
the
meanest
of
the
people
,
may
purchase
the
best
of
Medicines
:
and
such
as
travel
abroad
,
or
live
remote
from
able
Physicians
,
may
be
furnished
with
able
Curing
Medicines
.
Those
who
will
not
undergo
,
or
cannot
bear
the
charge
of
a
course
of
Physick
,
may
receive
great
relief
by
a
single
Medicine
.
And
such
as
languish
under
the
means
,
the
places
of
their
abode
does
afford
,
will
have
help
brought
to
them
from
far
.
Physicians
then
will
be
stimulated
to
out
vye
and
excell
each
other
in
the
rarity
and
excellency
of
their
Remedies
,
being
to
undergo
a
publick
Tryal
.
And
when
men
of
the
greatest
knowledge
and
experience
shall
thus
produce
their
Comprehensive
Catholicks
and
appropriate
specifick
Medicines
;
a
treasury
will
be
laid
open
,
and
what
is
most
excellent
and
rare
,
will
be
known
and
conveyed
through
the
Nation
,
for
the
ease
and
relief
of
the
Infirm
and
languishing
.
These
publick
great
advantages
,
as
great
reasons
being
considered
;
the
learned
Physician
need
not
be
ashamed
to
publish
an
extraordinary
Medicine
of
his
own
designment
and
elaboration
(
although
ignorant
bold
fellows
have
abused
the
Custom
)
for
if
Physicians
must
shun
all
that
they
do
,
then
must
they
leave
their
practice
too
.
And
if
a
Printed
Sermon
,
or
any
piece
of
learning
,
cried
about
the
Streets
,
be
no
disparagement
to
the
work
nor
the
Author
,
why
the
publishing
of
a
Medicine
?
If
a
Treatise
of
Diseases
,
of
Anatomy
,
&c.
be
laudable
;
why
not
a
discourse
or
discovery
of
an
incomparable
Medicine
?
If
speculations
and
notions
of
the
Head
;
why
not
works
of
the
Hands
and
Head
,
being
serviceable
to
many
thousands
that
are
not
at
all
benefited
by
learned
discourses
?
If
Persons
of
Honour
and
Quality
expose
their
Cattle
and
produce
of
their
Land
,
at
Market
and
Fair
,
why
not
men
of
Arts
,
the
products
of
their
learned
ingenious
labours
,
being
useful
to
the
people
?
He
that
picks
straws
all
day
is
as
serviceable
to
the
publick
▪
as
he
that
studies
and
labours
many
years
to
acquire
a
noble
Medicine
,
and
then
conceals
it
.
And
thus
much
by
way
of
Apology
and
Defence
,
to
obviate
the
rash
Censure
of
some
inconsiderate
men
,
and
silence
the
reproachful
tongues
of
others
,
envious
at
this
undertaking
,
as
being
contrary
to
their
interest
.
Now
concerning
these
Medicines
,
they
are
not
asserted
infallible
(
since
man
is
mortal
)
but
as
certain
▪
efficacious
,
and
full
of
help
as
lies
in
the
power
of
natural
means
:
and
this
experience
for
many
years
fully
confirms
:
and
allowing
one
in
ten
may
miss
of
their
hope
herein
;
yet
it
were
great
imprudence
to
refuse
the
tryal
hereof
(
at
〈…〉
rate
)
not
knowing
whether
you
be
one
of
the
nine
to
be
Cured
,
or
the
tenth
that
may
fail
:
and
th●●ery
〈…〉
will
not
have
cause
to
complain
,
for
as
much
as
a
mitigation
or
intermission
will
be
gained
even
b
…
m.
〈…〉
,
if
you
will
trust
learning
and
experience
,
Art
and
indefatigable
industry
,
for
a
safe
and
powerful
〈…〉
…
ed
and
improved
by
long
Practice
,
you
have
it
here
.