IMPROVEMENT OF PHYSIC. 211 



the truth, i fufpcdl they more generally err 

 this way at prefent ; while they order drachms 

 of plants for an infuhon, where ounces would 

 be more proper. On the other hand mounte- 

 banks, and quacks, men of an intrepid mind, 

 and invincible impudence, oftentimes make 

 a cure, when the phyfician of probity fails. 

 If any one were to prefcribe only two grains 

 of rhubarb for a purge, he might as well 

 do nothing at all. The honey-fuckle is 

 ufed in deco6lions, but not in the quan- 

 tity neceffary -, for which reafon its ver- 

 tue in purifying the blood is known but 

 to few. The dofe of the china root ought 

 to be large, or no good can be expected 

 from it in venereal cafes. Thofe reme- 

 dies which are fouo-ht for amono-ft ve- 

 to iD 



getables for curing the venereal difeafe 

 are perhaps given more fparingly, than 

 they ought. 



8. 

 ^he ignorance of apothecaries in botany^ who 

 often fell one plant for another-, by which means, 

 when the defired effedt is not obtained, the 

 phyfician is deterred from the ufe of them 

 for the future. 



For rad, hermoda5l, which is recommended 

 P 2 



