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GARTH.

was of a good

AMUEL GARTH family in Yorkshire, and from some school in his own country became a student at Peter-house in Cambridge, where he resided till he commenced doctor of phyfick on July the 7th, 1691. He was examined before the College at London on March the 12th, 1691-2, and admitted fellow July 26th, 1692. He was foon fo much diftinguished, by his conversation and accomplishments, as to obtain very extensive practice; and, if a pamphlet of those times may be credited, had the favour and confidence of one party, as Ratcliffe had of the other.

He is always mentioned as a man of benevolence; and it is just to suppose that his defire of helping the helpless, disposed him

to

to so much zeal for the Dispensary; an undertaking of which some account, however short, is proper to be given.

Whether what Temple says be true, that' physicians have had more learning than the other faculties, I will not stay to enquire; but, I believe, every man has found in physicians great liberality, and dignity of fentiment, very prompt effusion of beneficence, and willingness to exert a lucrative art, where there is no hope of lucre. Agreeably to this character, the College of Physicians, in July 1687, published an edict, requiring all the fellows, candidates, and licentiates, to give gratuitous advice to the neighbouring

poor.

This edict was sent to the Court of Aldermen; and a question being made to whom the appellation of the poor should be extended, the College answered, that it should be sufficient to bring a teftimonial from a clergyman officiating in the parish where the patient refided,

After a year's experience, the physicians found their charity frustrated by some malignant

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lignant opposition, and made to a great degree vain by the high price of physick; they therefore voted, in August 1688, that the laboratory of the College should be accommodated to the preparation of medicines, and another room prepared for their reception; and that the contributors to the expence should manage the charity.

It was now expected that the Apothecaries would have undertaken the care of providing medicines; but they took another course, Thinking the whole design pernicious to their interest, they endeavoured to raise a faction against it in the College, and found some physicians mean enough to folicit their patronage, by betraying to them the counsels of the College, The greater part, however, enforced by a new edict in 1694, the former order of 1687, and sent it to the mayor and aldermen, who appointed a committee to treat with the College, and settle the mode of administring the charity.

It was desired by the aldermen, that the testimonials of churchwardens and overseers should be admitted; and that all hired fer

vants, and all apprentices to handicraftsmen, should

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should be confidered as poor. This likewise

was granted by the College.

It was then confidered who should distribute the medicines, and who should fettle their prices. The physicians procured some apothecaries to undertake the dispensation, and offered that the warden and company of the apothecaries should adjust the price. This offer was rejected; and the apothecaries who had engaged to assist the charity were confidered as traytors to the company, threatened with the imposition of troublesome offices, and deterred from the performance of their engagements, The apothecaries ventured upon public opposition, and presented a kind of remonstrance against the design to the committee of the city, which the physicians condescended to confute : and at last the traders seem to have prevailed among the fons of trade; for the proposal of the college having been confidered, a paper of approbation was drawn up, but poftponed and forgotten.

The physicians still persisted; and in 1696 a subscription was raised by themselves, according to an agreement prefixed to the U 4

Dif

Dispensary. The poor were for a time fupplied with medicines; for how long a time, I know not. The medicinal charity, like others, began with ardour, but soon remitted, and at last died gradually away.

About the time of the subscription begins the action of the Dispensary. The Poem, as its fubject was present and popular, cooperated with passions and prejudices then prevalent, and, with such auxiliaries to its intrinfick merit, was universally and liberally applauded. It was on the fide of charity against the intrigues of interest, and of re gular learning against licentious ufurpation of medical authority, and was therefore na turally favoured by those who read and can judge of poetry.

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In 1697, Garth spoke that which is now called the Harveian Oration; which the authors of the Biographia mention with more praise than the passage quoted in their notes will fully justify. Garth, speaking of the mischiefs done by quacks, has these expreffions: "Non tamen telis vulnerat ista agyr" tarum colluvies, sed theriaca quadam magis perniciofa, non pyrio, sed pulvere

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