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SAMUEL GARTH was of a good fa mily in Yorkshire, and from fome school in his own country became a ftudent at Peter-houfe in Cambridge, where he refided. till he became 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 June 26th, 1693. He was foon fo much diftinguished by his converfation and accomplishments, as to obtain very extenfive practice; and, if a pamphlet of thofe times may be credited, had the favour and confidence of one party, as Radcliffe had of the other,

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He is always mentioned as a man of benevolence; and it is juft to fuppofe that his defire of helping the helpless difpofed him

to so much zeal for the Dispensary; an un, dertaking, of which fome account, however hort, is proper to be given,

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

This edict was fent to the Court of Aldermen; and a queftion being made to whom the appellation of the poor should be extended, the College answered, that it fhould be fufficient to bring a teftimonial from the clergyman officiating in the parish where the patient refided. e as b

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After a year's experience, the phyficians found their charity fruftrated by fome malig nant oppofition, and made to a great degree vain by the high price of phyfick; they therefore voted, in August 1688, that the laboratory of the College thould 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. T

valt was now expected that the apothecaries would have undertaken the care of providing medicines; but they took another courfe. Thinking the whole defign pernicious to their intereft, they endeavoured to raise a façtion against it in the college, and found fome phyficians mean enough to folicit their Ir patronage, by betraying to them the counfels of the College.The greater part, however, cenforced by a new edict, in 1694, the former order of 1687, and fent it to the mayor

and aldermen, who appointed a committee to 3treat with the College, and fettle the mode

of adminiftering the charity. o anot ads. Ay 19qsq s,baisbing need gaived agallo moitsdorggs

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It was defired by the aldermen, that the teftimonials of churchwardens and overíeers hould be admitted; and that all hired fervants, and all apprentices to handicraftsmen,

should be confidered as poor. dbe

was granted by the College.

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It was then confidered who fhould diftribute the medicines, and who fhould fettle their prices. The phyficians procured fome apothecaries to undertake the dispensation, and offered that the Warden and Company of the Apothecaries fhould adjust the price. This offer was rejected; and the apothecaries who had engaged to affift the charity were confidered as traytors to the company, threatened with the impofition of troublefome offices, and detered from the performance of their engagements. The apothecaries ventured upon public oppofition, and prefented a kind of remonftrance against the design to the committee of the city, which the phyficians condefcended to confute and at least the traders feem to have prevailed wamong the fons of trade for the propofal of the College having been confidered, a paper of approbation

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approbation was drawn up, but poftponed and forgotten. stoupagaling did slisiq

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The phyficians ftill perfifted; and in 1696 a fubfcription was raifed by themselves, according to an agreement prefixed to the Dif penfary. 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 foon remitted, and at laft died gradually away. D at bas

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About the time of the fubfcription begins the action of the Difpenfary. The Poem, as its fubject was prefent and popular, cooperated with paffions and prejudices then prevalent, and, with fuch auxiliaries to its intrinfick merit, was univerfally and liberally. applauded. It was on the fide of charity against the intrigues of intereft, and of regular learning againft licentious ufurpation of medical authority, and was therefore naturally favoured by thofe who read and can judge of poetry.

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In 1697, Garth fpoke that which is now called the Harveian Oration; which the au

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