Note 120 — 3. OF THE SOCIETY OF APOTHECARIES.[120]

The reader will find much curious and learned research upon the origin and history of Apothecaries, in Beckmann’s History of Inventions, vol. 2. p. 127.

The word Apothecary originally signified any proprietor, or keeper of store, magazine, or warehouse, (απο τίθημι, to put off.) See Glossarium Manuale, vol. 1. p. 298. From the word Apotheca, the Italians have made Boteca, and the French Boutique. It would therefore be a great error to consider the term Apothecarius, as it is met with in the writings of the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries, as denoting a character similar to the Apothecary of the present day. As we learn from the writings of Hippocrates, Theophrastus, Galen, and other authors, that the Greek and Roman Physicians prepared their own medicines, it is evident that in those times the office of the Apothecary was quite unnecessary; the medicinal herbs were purchased of dealers, who after a time very naturally professed a knowledge of the medical properties of the articles which they sold, and accordingly began to deal in compound remedies, and to boast of various nostrums; such were the Pigmentarii, Seplasiarii, Pharmacopolæ, and Medicamentarii, of whom we read in ancient authors. That the Pigmentarii dealt in medicines is proved by the law which established a punishment for such as sold poison, to any person, through mistake, viz. “Alio Senatus consulto effectum est, ut Pigmentarii, si cui temere Cicutam, Salamandram, Aconitum —— —— —— et id quod lustramenti causa dederint Cantharidas pœna teneantur hujus legis.” Digest. Lib. xlviii. Tit. 8.33. These Seplasiarii appear to have latterly assumed the office of Apothecary, for Pliny (Lib. xxxiv. c. 11.) reproaches the Physicians for not making up their own medicines instead of trusting to these persons. That the Pharmacopolæ carried on the same trade appears evident from their name; but no one seems to have placed any confidence in them; on the contrary, they were despised for their impudent boasting, and the extravagant praise which they bestowed upon their commodities. Μειμειταὶ που καὶ φαρμακοπωλης ἰατρον. “Pharmacopola imitatur Medicum, Sophista Philosophum, Sycophanta Oratorem.” (Maximus Tyrius, Dissert. x. p. 121.) and again, “Itaque auditis, non auscultatis, tanquam Pharmacopolam; nam ejus verba audiuntur, verum ei se nemo committit, si æger est.” (Cato in Aulum Gellium, Lib. 1. c. 15.) From these words it appears that the Pharmacopolæ, even in those days, attempted to practise Physic. Dr. Mohsen, quoting from Anderson (Geschichte des Handels ii. p. 365.) says, that king Edward III. in the year 1345, gave a pension of Sixpence per diem, to one Coursus de Gangeland, an Apothecary in London, for taking care of, and attending his Majesty, during his illness in Scotland, and this is the first mention of an Apothecary in the Fœdera. The first legal establishment, however, of such a class as Apothecaries, may be dated from the well known Medicine Edict (see Lindenbrogii Codex Legum Antiquarum. Francof. 1613. Fol. p. 809.) of the Emperor Frederic II, issued for the kingdom of Naples, by which it is required that the Confectionarii should take an oath to keep by them fresh and sufficient drugs, and to make up medicines according to the prescriptions of the Physicians.