254 ON VETERINARY MEDICINE 



them adroitly, and be fure make the compo- 

 fition elegant, proh. eft. The devil is in it, if 

 fpecilics wont hit fometimes, and remember, 

 there is no charge for attendance. But after 

 all, the lucky hits, or the merits of certain 

 quacks, cannot be denied, nor are they, even 

 by the faculty. I have been affured, by a fur- 

 geon of the firft eminence, that Weljlis Female 

 Pills are of the utmofi: efficacy and fafety ; 

 a political writer of fafcinating eloquence, 

 whofe (hallow and baneful fophiftries, a fafti- 

 dious world, inappetent of all wholefome truths, 

 has admired fo much to "its coft, has been the 

 eulogiil of De ' Velno's Vegetable Syrup ; and I 

 can, myfelf, fpeak in high terms of Story's 

 Worm Cakes, both as an alterative and ver- 

 mifuge for children, from repeated expe- 

 rience. 



Notwithftanding all which has been repeat- 

 edly faid upon the fubjeft, and by men much 

 better qualified for the tafk than myfelf, it is 

 dill neceffary to continue giving cautions 

 againft the general fondnefs for medical re- 

 ceipts. Many of thefe formulse (particularly 

 thofe of ancient date) are compofed with fo 

 little proof of medical knowledge, or ration- 

 ality, that they appear to be the mere refult of 

 knavery or caprice ; but granting them ever fo 

 well adapted to the curative intention, they 



muft 



