THE NEW MEDICINE ACT CONSIDERED, AS NOW SUBSTITUTED IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS, JULY 8, 1785.

BY the new propoſed bill as ſtated in the public prints, I obſerve the medicine act is to be equalized, the rich as well as the poor are to ſwallow ſtamps with their medicines, without exceptions: So far this may be thought juſt. Does it alter the principles of the act? reconcile it to your minds, you who conſider medicines as only articles fit for TRAFFIC I abhor the act; a tax on medicines is but a Title, but it has an object, as a warrant has, which ends with an order for the execution of a fellow creature. Does it militate againſt pleaſure? No. — Luxury? No. — Or healthy perſons? No. It is an act which eyes the ſink of corruption ſettled in the limb of a fellow creature; gladdens in the reverberated ſound of diſtreſs. Achs, pains, and groans, are muſic to the ſpirit of the act, they are its very life; illneſs or diſeaſe, are its proper food, for what is an act to raiſe ſpecie without it is made pro⯑ductive? Frequent alarms of the people being in danger of fevers may be raiſed, and the uſual time of quarantine diſpenſed with, that the plague may ſpread its baneful inſluence; the wells of water contaminated; then men, women, and children will be ſeen in the ſtreets graſping medicines moſt gorgeouſly decorated with ſtamps, whilſt the table of the illuſtrious ſupporters of this moſt amiable chriſtian device, ſhall ſmoke with the fat of veniſon, and rich viands grace the board, equal to the lordly Deſpots.

To thoſe who judge of theſe matters by what quantity of bullion this act produces, this act will not want for embelliſhing titles, any more than the marble monument a poliſh to render it pleaſing to the ſight, which covers a rotten carcaſe. Call the medicine act by what name you pleaſe, I will proteſt againſt it; it is armed with a ſting againſt diſtreſs, groaning under inſupportable agony; it is a brutal act — a brutal act did I ſay? — from whence borrowed we that idea? — Do brutes prey on the ſame denominated race? — Will lions welter in the blood of lions? No. — Will a tyger ſeek a tyger to mangle his limbs for food? No. — Whence then the term [5]brutal? — Beaſt acts towards beaſt agreeable to the laws of nature; it is only man "who feeds on man," who talks of reformation, of more refined notions, yet this man, arrayed in ſcarlet or in purple, does not always remember the dignity of his ſtation, but ferrits, tortures, nay, for intereſt — devours his fellow creature; then, which deſerves the epithet of brute moſt, man or beaſt?

Such a propoſed medicine act no Heathen, Jew, or Mahometan Miniſter was ever re⯑corded to have even brooded ſuch a deteſted thought of, much more dare ſtand up in a collective aſſembly to propoſe to force a tribute from women with child, children af⯑flicted with the ſmall-pox, colds, ſore throats, convulſions, and from men afflicted with ulcerated legs, from whence purulent matter ouzes in hot ſteams ſo virulent as to ſcald the ſeeming ſound part of the ſkin, or with other maladies, which our tinder conſtitutions are likely to catch, even from the air we breathe in. This glorious diſco⯑very, this friendly act of commiſſeration, which is to act as the Salvator of the nation, verging on bankruptcy, a Chriſtian claims the honour; not a profeſſor of the Ro⯑man Catholic religion; no, a purer one than that, the reformed one, a Proteſtant of the Church of England. Who will credit the ſtory? Does a miniſter of Great Britain (will they ſay,) think to impoſe on the King's underſtanding, and cloud his ſenſibility, with golden arguments, to ſign the decree againſt his doleful ſubjects, who ſtand in need of all the protection, either care or power can beſtow, that like a ſhip (which has been toſſed by croſs winds and ſtorms, puts into port to fit it once more to com⯑bat the boiſterous wave) they become renovated ſo as to purſue the courſe of life.

Let foreign nations, whom yet humanity bleſſes, reject the report with ſcorn; as when a traveller relates he ſaw a lamb forſake the graſs and feed on vulture's prey; if Fame, in pity to Britannia, refuſes to ſound Avarice's triumph; let Truth declare, laſt week the Senators of Great Britain met, where it was propoſed in parlia⯑ment, under the ſanction of a medicine tax, to raiſe ſupplies from a ſpoil, ex⯑torted from his Majeſty's moſt piteous unfortunate ſubjects, ſtretched on the tenter⯑hook of pain, tormented with diſeaſes, which terrify the poor or rich wretch, worſe than any torments Hell can inflict, as far as we know, or have a right to think. — Harſh and ungenerous would be the ſojourner's ſurmiſe, whom night had overtaken in a lonely place, ſhould he find a hoſpitable roof, where himſelf and beaſt are bade a hearty welcome, expreſſed by officious care, ſhould he imagine, all this courte⯑ous kindneſs was but a prelude to ſome horrid purpoſe, when faſt in ſleep his out⯑ward centinels are locked; yet thus ungrateful man oft judges of his Creator's bounty, ere he ſheds the encumbered mantle, how will he ſmile at his childiſh fears when ro⯑bing with immortality, whilſt experimentally he feels the attributes of a God.

A tax on illneſs! — Set dogs to gnaw a human creature, bears no compariſon to thoſe pains mankind feel when thus diſeaſed, for dogs lead to mercy; in their gripe they introduce that bleſſed friend DEATH, the great deliverer from oppreſſion, tyran⯑ny, diſeaſe, and miſery.

Who can behold even a dog in pain that can avoid pity if he cannot relieve; but to ſee officers of the crown harraſſing a fellow creature, worried with the evil, with a cancerous gaſhing wound, with a ſcald head, a human body covered with ulcers, ſtinking moſt diſguſtfully horrible, deteſted by its inmate, the ſoul chained to ſo vile a peſtilential body, which is ſhunned by ſociety, and whoſe corrupted form breathes poiſonous vapours, which petrify the man by profeſſion bred a champion in nature's cauſe, — walking familiar with diſeaſe, yet here pauſes, and ſhrinks from power ſo, dreadfully armed, is a ſorry ſight. Whilſt from ſuch diſeaſed objects, and from diſ⯑eaſed cattle, a Miniſter of State, with as much compoſure as a rat-catcher kills vermin, meditated an act of parliament which would pointedly militate againſt the welfare of the human and brute creation, loaded with inſupportable infirmities, for he enacted that medicines of eſtabliſhed reputation; which were adminiſtered either by outward or inward application, ſhould not be applied unleſs they gave a ſtipulated ſum for a piece of paper.

What is this decree but a ſecondary one to Nebuchadnezzar's which threatened death to thoſe who did not bow to the idol of Gold? Yet this medicine act, under the diſpenſation of the goſpel, is far more cruel. Does Chriſtian power act here like a Samaritan, to pour oil into the wound? How reverſed! Does it act, like the Levite and Prieſt, who are held up by the Saviour of the world as men actuated by ſelfiſh princi⯑ples, void of compaſſion? No. — The Prieſt and the Levite, if they did not relieve [6]the wounded man, were not as yet ſuch hardened monſters as to take advantage of his diſtreſs. Formerly Kings of Albion delighted to act the phyſician's part, and inveſted the unhappy mortal, afflicted with the EVIL, with a piece of gold; Heaven ſanctified the deed: Now a miniſter urges his Majeſty to levy on his own diſeaſed ſubject a piece of money, or neither he, nor yet his beaſt, if ill, ſhall be entitled to the general benefits of medicine, Heaven's gift, which by providence was deſigned to be as free for all nature's children as the air we breathe, or the water of the earth; the wretch who taxes one, would, could his unhumanized ſoul find means, curſe the other with his official breath — for lucre.

The medicine act, whilſt in debate, is the miniſter's; but when the King ſigns the mandate it is then cloathed with royalty, it ſpeaks majeſtic, and awes the ſubject to compliance with tremendous voice; the inhabitants of Great Britain muſt hear a King ſpeak to his officers of ſtate agreeable to the act: "Let no one of my ſub⯑jects, who are grievouſly tormented with pains, mortifications, gangrene wounds, fluxes, and other deadly diſeaſes, have certain medicines they deſire, unleſs they pay a tribute, on pain of my diſpleaſure, and the heavy penalties the act preſcribes."

Is not this a fair delineation of the intended act? — Divines ſay bad thoughts and diabolical actions originate below, from whence we pretend to borrow colours to paint an infernal ſcene; but the original deſign, I am inclined to think, is too often bor⯑rowed from earth.

Suppoſe a miniſter ſhould have power to perſuade the King to approve of the edict — what is this edict? Man may ſtile it a medicine act, but I call it a redemptory act — What ſays the act? pay a tribute, or no medicine; woe to the man who dares let any perſon have a medicinal packet without a ſtamp; here is your re⯑demption, or rather a paſſport to ſhew you have the King's leave — to live — Courteous Royal bequeſt — what wonderful condeſcenſion. Is not this the true explanation and intent of the act, fabricated in this once truly honoured iſland, the envy of all foreign powers? Rather than thus inflict the ſickly diſeaſed ſubject, I aſk the Miniſter, I aſk the Rt. Hon. William Pitt, whether it would not redound more to his honour as a man, as miniſter of colloſſian power, to ſend round a party of guards to the healthy perſons, and demand of them to give ſixpence for the emblazoned paper or put them to death, rather than go to the ſick man, expiring with diſeaſe, tormented with ulcers and carious bones, and inſiſt on his taking the official ſtamps, by which the gold already produced being ſufficient to turn any miniſter's brain, he imagines he is in character of the king's huntſman, head over the hounds, hunt⯑ing deer inſtead of his Majeſty's people.

What ſentiments do miniſters imbibe by attending a king's throne? Is the life of a Briton to be put in competition with a three-penny, ſix-penny, or a one ſhilling ſtamp? Britons! there was a time you were not held ſo cheap; but now, if no ſtamp at hand no medicine, or perhaps the needy ſhopkeeper may have a ſtamp which may be turned to money, ſells an old decayed medicine, which buys a loaf to feed a famiſhed child, whilſt the parent of a worthy family falls a ſacrifice to the degenerate humanity of miniſters, who enjoined a medicine to be embalmed in red ſtripes, true emblem of the mercileſs act.

Wherewithal ſhall a miniſter find a charm to faſcinate a king to ſign an act, which inadvertently may coſt hundreds of his ſubjects their lives? — Of what materials do miniſters ſuppoſe our Sovereign is compoſed of? — Has not his Majeſty amiable fair daughters? — Are they not women? — Are they not princely flowers nurſed with peculiar ſtate? — Yet all the care Art and Nature can beſtow, ſometimes thoſe pretty plants will droop, nay die. — If pain attacks them does their royal birth fortify them to be indifferent as to the effects or conſequences? — They are attended in ſtately forms, phyſic arrayed in pomp; do the courts of princes make the power of phyſi⯑cians equal to the deſires and the neceſſities of their royal patients? ſuppoſe they do; what are the thouſands of females who reſide in the inferior walk of life to do, who cannot afford to charm the diſpenſer of health to viſit them? — Reaſon and experience hint a cheap remedy, which may ſhorten their pains and reſtore them to health. How horrid the idea, ye ſervants of the crown, to take advantage of the frailties of the ſemale ſex, not brought on by choice, by accident, or by remiſſneſs, to raiſe a revenue? Is it not ſporting with the great Creator who ordained theſe cauſes for moſt impor⯑tant [7]ends, which none but fools would mention but with ſolemnity? But to raiſe money under pretence of ſupporting the honor of a King, and the dignity of the nation, by ſuch means, who would ſuggeſt and countenance?

To apologize for ſuch a noxious act, ſpecious reaſons will not be wanted; money may be the miniſter's plea for ſuch an unprecedented ſtep; it may bring in thouſands of pounds to the Treaſury; let it bring in more gold than all the nation's worth, not all the gold which earth can produce can wipe away the ſtain — Great Britain barter⯑ing Honour and Humanity for Gold.

Let miniſters uſe all the art they are maſters of to harmoniſe the canibal deed, which muzzles the noble ſcience of phyſic, and proclaims in tyrannical accents to the ſick, "you ſhall ſwallow our ſtamps, or linger under your diſeaſe;" I truſt this unex⯑ampled mode of taxation will not find patrons in the Houſe of Lords.

The Right Hon. Mr. Pitt may plead, he only corrects the medicine act, firſt formed by Lord John Cavendiſh, againſt the five patent medicines, but now extends it to all medicines, pharmaceutical ones excepted. Is this juſtice? why tax one medi⯑cine more than another, becauſe the one has gone through an expenſive trial, before it has gained univerſal approbation to ſtamp its credit as the beſt remedy we can aſcertain, for ſuch and ſuch complaints, or for a better reaſon, becauſe ye know the afflicted will as regularly turn to the advertiſed medicine for redreſs as the cattle go to the river to quench their thirſt, when the uſual fountain ceaſes to relieve their wants. Is that Mr. Pitt's excuſe, let him enjoy it. Let him turn his thoughts to that ſtately monument in Weſtminſter Abbey reared by national gratitude, to the Earl of Chat⯑ham, whereon is inſcribed, "Under whoſe adminiſtration Divine Providence exalted Great Britain to an height of proſperity and glory unknown to any former age;" and let this queſtion be aſked him "if it would be agreeable to his feelings as a Miniſter, to the love he bears his country, to his zeal for the King's honour to let the ſculptor add:" The ſon of this illuſtrious nobleman, who was Prime Miniſter, propoſed to his ſove⯑reign, 1785, to raiſe a ſubſidy under the tenor of a medicine act, from the inhabitants of Great Britain, who were afflicted with the ITCH, STONE, GOUT, LEPROSY, ULCERS, WEAK EYES, SORE THROATS, DISEASED CATTLE, and other complaints, of a nature too bad to deſcribe in this ſanctuary: This ſecond inſcription, which points to the lament⯑able changes of State Maxims and Affairs, is a memento of the ſudden tranſition of worldly GRANDEUR."

If the Right Hon. Mr. Pitt is not the propoſer, chief patron and engineer—who raiſes on this occaſion this unnatural barrier in the afflicted's road, who wiſh to gain a little eaſe, a ſmall reſpite, before they are numbered with the dead—I do moſt reſpect⯑fully beg his pardon for introducing any idea that may appear perſonal. — The reviewers have ſaid, I am warm on the occaſion. Happy ſhould I be, could I find a friend to prove the medicine act, bowed only to reaſon and good policy, not ſwayed by lucre. At firſt, the plea was, the dart was levied at Quacks, a ſuppoſed nefarious un⯑principled ſet of beings. Was that the caſe, how poor, how abject, a Miniſter would render his Monarch to perſuade him to become their patron, a nominal ſharer of the ſpoil. Is not this to a witneſs, a god kiſſing carrion? To heaven I appeal, I had rather ſee all Quackery, or what you pleaſe to call it, baniſhed from the land, than live to ſee a Britiſh State, dependent on ſuch vile proſtitution to ſupport its exiſt⯑ence as a kingdom.

May Heaven preſerve our King in health, although his Majeſty ſhould be conſtrained by looking through falſe mediums, to extort a tax from an unfortunate yet loyal ſubject, becauſe through accident he may be bit by a mad dog, or infected with ſome dangerous loathſome diſeaſe.