Secondly, They falsify the grand Compositions of the London Dispensatory. It being a common trade with them to buy unsound, and decayed Simples of some Druggists, and to return them back so much of the composition as will pay for the Simples. Secondly, whereas Apothecaries are bound to shew publickly to the Censors of the College, and the Master and Wardens of their Company, Mithridate, Diascordium, Alkermes, &c. Yet for all this some of them privately make a great deal more of the Composition then is shewed, of unsound Drugs, and some without any view at all; others put in the Scrapings that ought to be thrown away; and by these Arts they under-sell, and ruine one another, selling the Composition at a lower rate then good Ingredients cost them; and with these complaints they daily mutiny amongst themselves. Thirdly, 'Tis very common for them to load Medicines with Honey, and other cheaper ingredients, and to leave out in whole or in part, those of greater value; viz. Saffron in Ruffus Pills, and in Oxycroceum Plaster, which latter, they colour of a saffron colour with Turmeric, Sanders &c. Ambergrise in Alkermes, Diascordium was found by the Censors in their search made only of Honey, and Bole-Armeniac. Which false composition was taken away by the then Master of the Company. Such Chymists which sell preparations honestly made complain, that few Apothecaries will go to the prices of them. Whence it comes to pass, that most of the preparations found in the Shops are sophisticated, to the great abuse of City and Country. These abuses daily increase since the Censors, discouraged by the multitude of Empirics swarming in every Corner, have omitted their wonted searches, being to their loss of time, and expences out of their own Purses for the publick good only. Now since the Chymical Oyls, by reason of their great prices are most of them adulterated, and very few of them right good, and that nothing hath been published on this matter, and to leave the buyers of them unexcusable, I shall here add briefly, yet sufficiently the ways to discover these Cheats. First for sweet-scented Chymical Oyls, viz. those of Cloves, Cinnamon and Sassaphras. Only drop a little of them into fair water, and that part which is true good will sink under the water, but the adulterated part will swim on the top of it. Some others draw deep tinctures from the said Spices with Spirit of Wine highly rectified, and sell them for the Oyls; but these mix with the water throughout, neither swimming, nor sinking. Others more craftily digest with the said tinctures some of the true Oyls, which compound being put into water, will for a time render it white. Another way of sophisticating is with Oyl of Turpentine mixed in great quantity with that which is adulterated; You may easily discover the Oyl of Turpentine, by setting it on fire, for it yields abundance of ill-scented smoak, with very little savour of the Herb, Flour, or Seed, &c. and soon takes fire.