An enquiry into the growth of modern empiricism: : Considering, how far some persons secretly enlightened, have the advantage of those who rely meerly on the helps of humane learning in the cure of diseases. With a detection of some fraudulent practices in physick. Part the first. Humbly offered to the consideration of all physicians, surgeons, and apothecaries.

Date:
1715
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: An enquiry into the growth of modern empiricism: : Considering, how far some persons secretly enlightened, have the advantage of those who rely meerly on the helps of humane learning in the cure of diseases. With a detection of some fraudulent practices in physick. Part the first. Humbly offered to the consideration of all physicians, surgeons, and apothecaries. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    ( 77 ) Mm PatientsTy the great Pretenfions made there¬ in, fo likewife by its notorious Obfcenity, it fells not only as a Treatife of Fhvfick, but, as Murciui or Rocbefier, it is in Efteem with lewd Perfons, and fo by Debauching the Minds of Youth, it 'gives them an earlier Itch after thofe unlawful Pleafiires, in the Purfuit of which, they meet with thefe Mis¬ fortunes it is his Profeflion to remedy. This Apoftate, (for fo I muft call all fuch who fall off’ from preternatural Enlightenings, and go back again into Worldly and Carnal Means ) after forne fruitlefs Attempts in the ufual Way of an Apotheca¬ ry to raife his Fortune and Reputation, was reduced for fome Time into thofe lowly and humble Gir- curnfirances in which this Gift general]y finds Per¬ fons $ and had he kept within the Compafs of fuch a Pradice, he feeined admirably fitted to excell in that Way * but fince Pride and Avarice have tempt¬ ed him into an open Affront of fuch Affiances, it is already pretty eafy to guefs how fuch a Defec¬ tion is like to be rewarded ^ for it is plain that that Certainty and Infallibility which always attends the truly Gifted has left him; So that by then he has gone round with the Town in one Diftemper, his Inability to make good his Pretenfions is de¬ tected, and he is forced to have Recourfe to fome new Impofition, Thus as foon as his Clap Patients rejed him, he alarms the Town afrefh with his wonderful Skill in the Gout $ and, as before, pro¬ claims his Pretenfions in a printed Rook *, not pre¬ tending to give any rational Account of that Di- ftemper, or of the Reafonablenefs of his Method of Cure, but juft as a Quack Bill to fay great Things of the Secret he has difcovered, give a Lift of Per¬ fons pretended to have been cured thereby, and to draw ignorant People into a frefh Bite. And after this is again foiind to be only a vain Boaft, he k P 2 now