70 INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER. 



from Gibfon and Bartlet, which any other man, 

 with a very fmall fhare of pharmaceutical fkill, 

 might have performed juft as fortunately as 

 himfelf. Much dependance, however, muft 

 not be placed in the Stable Directory, for 

 information relative to the nature, or cure of 

 the farcy ; more particularly if confirmed and 

 inveterate. 



But it is on the poll-evil, that ProfefTor 

 Taplin outdoes all his former outdoings. An 

 extract or two from thence cannot fail to amufe 

 the reader. " We are told" (he fays) the poll- 

 evil is, &c. &c. — You are then inltrucled to 

 fcald, with a compound of oil of turpentine, 

 corrofive mercury, verdigreafe, Roman vitriol, 

 green copperas, and train oil : thefe are to be 

 poured fcalding hot into the wound," Sec. 

 " What are we to think of the profeffional 

 knowledge, or abilities of an author (of Bart- 

 let, to wit, whom he had before ftiled an 

 author of merit and repute) who could fanclion 

 with his name, the recommendation of a prac- 

 tice fo infamous and deteftable, that no one 

 rational or confident idea, can be produced 

 or pleaded, to prove its propriety?" — " Sorry I 

 am to acknowledge this genuine and unadul- 

 terated fpecimen of the immaculate perfection 

 of the practical treatise, has been 

 repeatedly put in practice by fools or knaves, 

 whom ignorance has milled, or confidence 



betrayed ; 



