IMPROVEMENT OF PHYSIC. 215 



fo very rarely ufed, that the vertues of plants 

 are not known for want of experience. 



It is fcarcely neceflary to produce inftances 

 of this aflertion. Whoever turns over 

 the writings of the antients will be afto- 

 nifhed at the prefcriptions, or rather in- 

 dexes, in which numberlefs things are 

 mingled together. This affair ought to 

 be looked into, and regulated ; that we 

 might not fall under the lalh of fome 

 future Serenus Sammonicus, who might 

 addrefs himfelf thus to fome phyficians : 

 Ye jumble in one mafs fuch coitly juices. 

 So various in their natures, in their ufes ; 

 That the poor patient, who relies upon you. 

 At once is cheated of his health, and money. 

 II. 

 The mixing things together of a different na- 

 ture. For oftentimes many things are con- 

 founded together, which feparately adminif- 

 tered might affift the patient, and give cre- 

 dit to the phyfician \ whereas mixed they 

 become ufelefs, one deftroying the effed of 

 the other. 



Thus watery mixed with iry, vifcous with 



faline^ glutinous with ftiftical^ fweet with 



P 4 acridy 



