IMPROVEMENT OF PHYSIC. 209 



^erotis experiments. Thefe have made many 

 patients averfe to feme of the mod celebrated 

 medicines, inlbmuch that a phyfician dares 

 not prefcribe them. For fome timid injudi- 

 cious friend is always at hand to impofe upon 

 their weaknefs, and let them know, that they 

 are going to take a remedy, which had proved 

 fatal to others i not confidering that it was 

 owing to the wrong application, and not to 

 the nature of the remedy. 



The hellebore formerly cured many deplo- 

 rable diftempers, but by the errors of 

 tjuacks, and their immoderate dofes, it 

 has fo happened, that it is fallen into 

 difufe-, but the wild cucumber and bitter 

 apple are beginning to revive again. The 

 bark of the berry -bearing alder is a very 

 excellent purge, yet phyficians have been 

 almoft afraid to prefcribe it, perhaps ter- 

 rifyed by the ill fuccefs of thofe daring 

 men above-mentioned, who gave too large 

 dofes of it. Many of the moderns for a 

 long while dared not make ufe of opium 

 even externally. 



6, 

 The timidity^ and caution of phyficians left they 

 Jhould hurt their patients by I'iolcnt remedies, 

 P For 



