IMPROVEMENT OF PHYSIC. 215 
fo very rarely ufed, that the vertues of plants 
are not known for want of experience. 
It is fcarcely necelfary to produce inftances 
of this affertion. Whoever turns over 
the writings of the antients will be afto- 
nifhed at the prefcriptions, or rather in- 
dexes, in >yhich numberlefs things are 
mingled together. This affair ought to 
be looked into, and regulated ; that we 
might not fall under the lafh of fome 
future Serenus Sammonicus, who might 
addrefs himfelf thus to fome phyficians : 
Ye jumble in one mafs fuch coftly 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. 
11. 
! 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 ulelefs, one deftroying the effeft of 
the other. 
Thus watery mixed with dry^ vifcous with 
f aline > glutinous with ftiptical , fweet with 
P 4 acridy 
