There is another, which may belong to the previous century--but it is so hard to tell, either by means of type or wood blocks--put forth by ‘_Salvator Winter_, an _Italian_ of the City of _Naples_, Aged 98 years, Yet, by the Blessing of God, finds himself in health, and as strong as anyone of Fifty, as to the Sensitive part; Which first he attributes to God, and then to his _Elixir Vitæ_, which he always carries in his pocket adayes, and at Night under his pillow; And when he finds himself distemper’d, he taketh a Spoonful or two, according as need requireth.‘ It is needless to say that the _Elixir_ was warranted to cure every evil under the sun, including such diverse maladies as catarrhs, sore eyes, hardness of hearing, toothache, sore throat, consumption, obstructions in the stomach, and worms. The net was arranged to catch every kind of fish. In fact, his business was so profitable that he had a successor, ‘_Salvator Winter, Junior_,’ who says thus: ‘My father, aged 98 years, yet enjoys his perfect health, which, next to the blessing of God, he attributes to the _Elixir Vitæ_ having alway a bottle of it in his pocket, drinking a spoonful thereof four or five times a day; snuffing it very strongly up his Nostrils, and bathing his Temples; thus by prevention, he fortifies his vital Spirits.’
Nor did the sterner sex monopolise the profession of quackdom, for ‘At the _Blew-Ball_ in _Grays-Inn Lane_, near _Holborn Barrs_, next Door to a _Tallow-Chandler_, where you may see my Name upon a Board over the Door, _liveth_ Elizabeth Maris, _the True German Gentlewoman_ lately arrived.’ It seems that we were much indebted to Germany for our quacks, for ‘At the _Boot_ and _Spatter dash_,[99] next Door but One to the _Vine Tavern_, in _Long-Acre_, near _Drury Lane_, Liveth a German D^r. and Surgeon, Who by the blessing of GOD on his great Pains, Travels and Experience, hath had wonderful Success in the Cure of the Diseases following,’ &c. There was also ‘_Cornelius à Tilbourg_, Sworn Chirurgeon in _Ordinary_ to K. _Charles_ the II., to our late Sovereign K. _William_, as also to Her present Majesty Queen _Ann_.’
A certain _John Choke_, whose motto was ‘NOTHING WITHOUT GOD,’ and was ‘an approved Physician; and farther, Priviledged by his Majesty,’ advertised ‘an Arcane which I had in _Germany_, from the Famous and most Learned _Baptista Van Helmont_, of worthy Memory (whose Daughter I Wedded), and whose Prœscripts most Physicians follow.’