GLANDERS, 295 



(imaginary JcnvQS constantly effected by mer- 

 curial or antiaionial nostrums, but not a 

 dngle zvord of the HUNDREDS that an- 

 nually fall victims to the necessities of me- 

 dical adventurers, who, with forfune su^cient 

 to pay for an advertisejiient^ half a score /?/z/«/.v, 

 a solution of mercury, or a quart of soap-kes, 

 boldly commence their depredation upon the 

 public ; and this they are now the mere e/i- 

 titled to do by their extensive contribu- 

 tions to the exigencies of government, whose 

 STAMP of approbation they are in posses- 

 sion of; and a report is in circulation, that 

 one is at present preparing at the office for 

 their sole dispensation, with the very em- 

 phatical inscription of '^ Kill or cure by act 

 ^^'of Parliament/' 



A long experience, and a want of fashion- 

 able flexibility, have established in me so 

 great a degree of incredulity, that I am to- 

 tally insensible to the novelty of a man in a 

 quart bottle^ a ghost in Cock-lane, the taking 

 ofi one half of 2i horse's head to relieve the 

 other, or curing every f incurable J disease to 

 which human nature is liable, by a 7nercurial 

 drop, an antimonial pill, a vegetable syrup, or an 

 ^therial spirit : I shall descend therefore from 



