LETTER VII.

_PROFESSIONS--PHYSIC._

[Jam mala finissem letho; sed credula vitam Spes fovet, et fore cras semper ait melius.]

_Tibullus_ [Lib. II. vi. vv. 19-20].

He fell to juggle, cant, and cheat---- For as those fowls that live in water Are never wet, he did but smatter; Whate'er he labour'd to appear, His understanding still was clear. A paltry wretch he had, half-starved, That him in place of zany served.

_Butler's Hudibras_ [Part II. Canto iii].

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.