[ 394 ]
of the Constitution: Whereas Vice leaves Youth groaning and mourning under Aches, Rheumaticks and Hydrophicks before its Time, the Joints trembling cannot support the Body, the Nerves are innervated, the Sinews shrunk; in a Word, the Blood is poison'd, the Spirit exhausted, and the whole Mass corrupted; thus the Fabrick sinks like a Noble opulent City swallow'd up in an Earthquake, there it stands a sad Monument of the devouring Teeth of Crime, and a Sacrifice to Debauchery.
Whence is it, that the Number of Physicians, Apothecaries and Surgeons, are so encreas'd among us, and especially the latter, besides the innumerable Throng of Quacks, Pretenders and Dealers in Plaisters and Doses? If Diseases were not multiply'd, the Remedies would not crowd in upon us as they do; 'tis the Stench of Carcases that brings the Vultures about us and our Families: As the Groans and Cries of dying and decaying Bodies are loud among us; so Physick is grown noisy and clamorous.
How many Doctors and Surgeons, nay Apothecaries, ride about in their Coaches? Perhaps, as one cunningly alledg'd, not for the Vanity of the Equipage, but for Expedition, and that he might be able to make more Visits in a Day; otherwise he could not dispatch his Business, or see all his Patients so often as they desir'd him.
As our Yearly Bills are encreased, the Physicians grown Rich, their Number more than doubled, and their Equipages advanc'd in such a Manner, Whence is it all? It cannot be all meerly by the Encrease of People about us; tho' that I know is alledged; there must be something else; and the Reason is evident, our Luxury is encreased; and with our Luxury, ourVices
