IMPROVEMENT OF PHYSIC. ' 209 
gerous experiments. Thefe have * made many 
patients averfe to feme of the mofl celebrated 
medicines, infomuch that a phyfician dares 
not prefcribe them. For fome timid injudi- 
cious friend is always at hand to impofes upon 
their weaknefs, and let them know, that they 
are going to take a remedy, which had proved 
fatal to Qtiiers; not confidering that it was 
owing to the wrong application, and not to 
the nature of the remedy. 
The hellebore formerly cured many deplo- 
rable diftempers, but by the errors of 
quacks, and their immoderate dofes, it 
has fo happened, that it is fallen into 
difufe ; but the wild cucumber and bitter 
apple are beginning to revive again. The 
bark of the berry -bearing alder is a very 
excellent purge, yet phyficians have been 
almoft afraid to prefcribe it, perhaps ter- 
rifyed by the ill fuccefs of thofe daring 
men above-mentioned, who gave too large 
dofes of it. Many of the moderns for a 
long while dared not make.ufe of opium 
even externally, 
6 . 
The timidity , and caution of phyficians left; they 
Jhould hurt their patients by violent remedies . 
P For 
