[f. QUACK v.1 + -ING1.] The action or practice of playing the quack; ignorant dabbling in medicine.

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1652.  Wadsworth, trans. Colmenero’s Treat. Chocolate, Introd. Verses.

        Leave Quacking; and Enucleate
The vertues of our Chocolate.

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1664.  Evelyn, Sylva, 34. Quacking is not my trade: I speak only here as a plain Husband-man.

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1702.  De Foe, Mock Mourners, in Misc. (1703), 46. All other Remedies … Are Tampering and Quacking with the State.

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1733.  Cheyne, Eng. Malady, III. Introd. (1734), 265. The Medicines I have only hinted at to prevent the Quacking of Patients themselves.

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1827.  J. W. Croker, in C. Papers, 7 Aug. (1884). They found … the patient so reduced by … alternate quacking and indulgence.

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  attrib.  1682.  S. Pordage, Medal Rev., 210. Some State-Physicians … on thee … would try some quacking trick.

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