The DEDICATION.

yet be more furpriz'd in the fatal Mifchief that flows fromMens Ignorance in the common Choice of Druggs ; and thatnothing is more frequent in Druggifts and Apothecaries Shopsthan adulterated Medicines, which deferve not the lead: Tictle ofthofe pompous Names, by which they enhance the Prices ofthem.

Hence, Sir, you may plainly fee our Author's Defigns weretoexpofe the ill Practices of thofe Men who did fo much Pre-judice to the Profeffion of Phyfick, by rendring the Practiceprecarious, and fetting a greater Value on a decay'd Drugg,or Compofition of the Shops, than on the Life or Health ofone of their Fellow Creatures: Therefore as one can fcarcedifcover their Works of Darknefs without furfering by the Ma*lignity of their Tongues, who fo undefervedly make a Gain ofPeoples Credulity, 1 ftand in Need not only of an Advocatebut a Protector : And fince every one knows that you are uni~verfally skill'd in all the mod curious and ufeful Secrets of Na-ture, either in the Vegetable, Animal, or Mineral Kingdoms,whatever is here treated of in the following Books, your Tra-vels into thofe Countries abroad, where many of them areproduc'd, and your Diligence in furnifhing your Mttfaum atHome, from all Parts of the World, have made you intimate-ly familiar with 5 fo that no Perfon but will allow your Ap-probation a fufficient Sanction to this Work, and your Prote-ction to the Compiler hereof, who is with the utmoft Efteem,

SIR.

I

Tour very Humble

Servant to Command, &c.