276 PROGRESS OF PHARMACY IN GREAT BRITAIN. 
apothecary who had suffered imposition from the visitors, 
had his store entered by them during his absence. Having 
called for his jar of Mithridate, they pronounced it unfit for 
use, and demanded * the usual fine, when just at that 
moment the apothecary returned, and on learning their 
opinion of his Mithridate, he said: 
" Nay, now I am convinced what a nest of villains I 
have to deal with, who being nettled at my refusing their 
usual imposition, begin to show their knavish principles by 
condemning medicines of their own compounding." 
He then verified his assertion, by producing the invoice 
and witness who brought the Mithridate from the Apothe- 
caries Hall. 
Soon after the grant of power last mentioned, the 
Apothecaries Company petitioned parliament for power to 
search the shops of Chemists also, but this power was not 
granted. This attempt caused much altercation between 
the chemists and apothecaries, with a mutual development 
of improper professional conduct. We will give another 
of JVlr. Bell's quotations, as illustrative of the quality of 
the charges, taken from The Jlpothecary BisplayedP In 
reference to the statements that druggists mix impure drugs 
in their compounds, it says : 
It is almost impossible for men to be more diligent and 
careful, or to take more pains than they do ; how often may 
you see them with a seron of hark, first sifting away the 
dust, then separating the small sort, dividing the large and 
woody from the more delicate and curious quill ; while they 
are thus cleansing, sorting, and dividing their drugs, one or 
other of the most eminent Apothecaries alights from his 
chariot at the door, and buys up all the raspings of the 
rhubarb, the siftings of the bark, and the sweepings of the 
shop. Does he buy it to burn, think you, or conscienciously 
destroy it for the good of mankind ? (as they would make 
you believe in their petition.) No, he says he wants it for 
