Apothecaries

Apothecary with wife, son and assistant making various powders and tinctures.  (Source: Wellcome Library, London)

“The term apothecary, often used between the 1600s and 1800s, does not refer to the chemist and druggist, or pharmacist. It was used for individuals living in London who had passed the examinations of the Worshipful Society of Apothecaries of London, founded in 1617, or to their often less well qualified counterparts in the provinces. The role of the apothecary developed out of the role of the spicer or pepperer – or grocers – someone whose trade included crude drugs and prepared medicines. The Grocers had their own Guild – professional body in the City of London- from the 13th century. The Apothecaries split from them in 1617 to form their own Society.

“Although the apothecary's practice included a strong dispensing element, it was more all encompassing than the handling of drugs and chemicals. Apothecaries were also examining and treating patients, but they did not charge for these services – only for the medicines supplied. Following a ruling in the Rose Case (1701-1703/4), apothecaries became legally ratified members of the medical profession, able to prescribe as well as dispense medicines.

As apothecaries moved into a more advisory role, pharmacists (or chemists and druggists) could develop their own area of preparation and supply of medicines. However, this put them in competition with the apothecaries who were also still involved in the same area. The apothecaries attempted to control the chemists and druggists' activities in 1748 with a proposed new law to control the supply of medicines. This didn't progress.” – Royal Pharmaceutical Museum (http://www.rpharms.com/about-pharmacy/history-of-pharmacy.asp, accessed 9 September 2012.)

By the early 19^th century, apothecaries had become doctors who dispensed their own medicines, in other words, English general practitioners (or GPs). (Worshipful Society of Apothecaries in London, http://www.apothecaries.org/index.php?page=101, accessed 9 September 2012.)