THE BOROUGH. LETTER VII. PROFESSIONS-PHYSIC. Finirent multi letho mala; credula vitam He fell to juggle, cant, and cheat- The Worth and Excellence of the true Physician-Merit, not the sole Cause of Success-Modes of advancing Reputation-Motives of medical Men for publishing their Works-The great Evil of Quackery-Present State of advertising Quacks-Their Hazard-Some fail, and why -Causes of Success-How Men of Understanding are prevailed upon to have Recourse to Empirics, and to permit their Names to be advertised-Evils of Quackery: to nervous Females: to Youth: to Infants-History of an advertising Empiric, &c. THE BOROUGH. LETTER VII. PROFESSIONS-PHYSIC. NEXT, to a graver tribe we turn our view, For these are friends with whom we seldom smile: The starts of passion, the reproach of pain; Glad if a hope should rise from nature's strife, But as physicians of that nobler kind Have their warm zealots, and their sectaries blind; of art; Or may some simple in the woodland trace, As rustic damsels from their woods are won, To show the world what long experience gains, The great good man, for noblest cause, displays There are beside, whom powerful friends advance, Whom fashion favours, person, patrons, chance: And merit sighs to see a fortune made By daring rashness or by dull parade. But these are trifling evils; there is one Which walks uncheck'd, and triumphs in the sun : There was a time, when we beheld the quack, On public stage, the licensed trade attack; He made his labour'd speech with poor parade; And then a laughing zany lent him aid : VOL. II. I |