A short discoverie of the unobserved dangers of severall sorts of ignorant and unconsiderate practisers of physicke in England profitable not onely for the deceived multitude, and easie for their meane capacities, but raising reformed and more advised thoughts in the best understandings: with direction for the safest election of a physition in necessitie ... / [John Cotta].

  • John Cotta
Date:
1612
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A short discoverie of the unobserved dangers of severall sorts of ignorant and unconsiderate practisers of physicke in England profitable not onely for the deceived multitude, and easie for their meane capacities, but raising reformed and more advised thoughts in the best understandings: with direction for the safest election of a physition in necessitie ... / [John Cotta]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    in fome difeafes are altogether banifhed and not admit- ted, and in fomecontrariwife they have onely priuiledge. The like may be faid of outward remedies, plaifters, yn- guents, cereclothes , fomentations, and baths,whichalfo. according to wife and difcreete adminiftration, or arafh and heedleffe abufe, are good or euill. And this isthe rea- fon, that fo many famous and renowned remedies now a- daies bring forth effects vnworthy themfelucs; for( being with fuch diffolute licencioufnefle euery where and in all places permitted tobreake forth, out of the prudentawe of vnderftandings guidance:) how fhall they choofe but become wild and irregular in the hands of vnskilfull raines that want trueart, and the methode of their right difpen- fation? There is no place nor perfon ignorant with what confufion of good order(either by abufe of immunities,or impunitie, il] prouifion, or ill execution of good lawes } through all parts of this kingdome, all forts of vile people and vnskilfull perfons without reftraint, make gainefull traffique by botching in phyficke;and hereby(befides ma- ny wicked practifes, iuglings , coulinages & impoflures, which maske ynefpied vnder the colour and pretence of medicining ) numbers of ynwotting innocents daily in thrall, and betray themfelues, their lines and fafetie, to fu- ftaine the riot, lufts and lawleffe liuing of their enemies 8 common homicides. It isa world to fee what fwarmes a- bound in this kinde, not onely of Taylors, Shoemakers, Weauers, Midwiucs, Cookes,and Priefts, but Witches, Coniurers, Iuglers, and Fortune-tellers. It were a wrong to exempt any that want wit or honeftie in a whole coun- try, yea and many.that hauetoo much of cither, muft be priuiledged by an old prouerbe, tobe Phyfitions, becaufe it is no manners to call them fooles. And hereby not one- ay the fimple and vnlettered, but oft times men of better ort and qualitie,cafting their eyes ypon fome attempts of