_When the fever-powder is given_, says the Inventor, _no other medicine should be taken either with it, or during the course of it. For want of this caution many have perished. For it may be depended upon, that in the state of credit in which it has at present the honour of standing amongst many of the medicinal worthies, nothing is meant by any addition, but to counteract or discredit the powder at the expence of the patient’s life. It is usual for them to say, that they are acquainted with the preparation of the medicine, or that they cannot use a medicine that they do not know, just as either favours the present intention and purpose. Now let us suppose they do not know it, which is very true; by what conjuration, magic, or inspiration are they taught a method of improving, by adding something to a medicine, of which they are so totally ignorant, that they choose to suffer their friends to perish rather than employ it_[85].
It may be left to the Author to explain how those physicians, who do not use the powder, _kill_ their friends, by adding something to counteract or discredit it, while from his own declaration, we may fairly conclude that those who _do use it_, must, in _his_ opinion, be destitute either of judgment or integrity. _For supposing them_, says he, _perfectly well skilled in the preparation and uses of it, their behaviour is, for this very reason, abundantly more infamous. For the same knowledge would inform them, that no addition can be made to it that will not diminish its virtues_[86].
But so far is this heinous charge of committing _murder_ to discredit the powder from being supported by any shadow of proof, that physicians, on the contrary, have been complaisant to excess, or culpably indolent, in suffering the many _misrepresentations_ concerning this medicine to pass uncensured and unexposed; and those who, from the most laudable principles, have refused to adopt it, are wanting to themselves, to their profession, and to the public, in neglecting to explain the honourable principles on which they have acted; while others from different motives, _which they can best justify to themselves_, have acquired fame and fortune by a _studied_ compliance with the popular prejudices in favour of this fashionable remedy.