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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    eS = counellours, ana commenders of mediciuts, 33 vfuall dofe.) The firft day they had no effect with the old man, and inall the reft performed their wont: fhe there- fore gauc himas many the next day with thelike effect, and as many euery day ynto the 10 day, with the like proofe, Itwasthen her feare he had tafted his owne fune- rallfeaft before his death, bur he furuiued the feare with- outfenfe of change or danger. Is it fafe from this good hap , for other in hope {till to hazard themfcluesin fuch vnfafehandling? Is it not rather manifeft how ignorantly and commonly thefe creatures ouerlooke the danger which iuftly wifdome and reafon fufpend and feare? Dif- creete feare awaketh vigilance and circumfpection , but ignorance of danger is void of feare, and therefore of care. Careleffe attempts draw harmful] and repented iffues: and though good haps fometimes flatter vaine fecurity, yet if feldome harmes be not wifely extended as a caution and example ynto many,thecuftome of neglect will make the rare confufion quickly common,So large a feaft of fpurge- comfits hath feldome kept fo many holy daiesin one bel- lie,or a banketting likenes fo harmelefly priuiledged idle- nefle in a working quality. The confequenthapned much fairer then could be forefeene or hoped. If for that caufe any man will againe aduentyre the like, who will not ima- gine that in the thought he hath already loft his wits , & in the proofe maylofe himfelfe? If notwithftanding he ef- cape,any man will wonder, but no man,! fuppofe, imitate. It may behaply deemed incredible, that fo common and meane fort of people can attaine acquaintance with fo dangerous inftruments, as fome before mentioned and o« ther the like; but due exploration oft by the harmes occa- fioned doth teftific it,and the meanes of their acquaintance difcouered doth proueit eafie. Quackfaluers, banckrupt= apotliecaries, and fugitiue Surgeons euery where oucr- tiot from place to place, are oft compelled to infinuate theirneceffity do fell for gaine and entertainement, andin their