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You are here: Experts > Homework Help > Women's History > General History > colonial Apothecary
Expert: Hank Hokamp
Date: 5/29/2008
Subject: colonial Apothecary
Question
We're doing a project for school where we have to re-create a colonial village. Our group is doing a colonial apothecary. We need some information about what it was like. Thanks a lot!
Answer
Good Morning, Elizabeth/Virginia/Charles/John. Glad you're doing a project. Best way to learn. Here goes:
A colonial apothecary practiced as doctor. Records kept by 18th-century Williamsburg’s apothecary’s show that they made house calls to treat patients, made and prescribed medicines, and trained apprentices. Some apothecaries were also trained as surgeons and man-midwives.
The Pasteur & Galt Apothecary Shop on Duke of Gloucester Street is the site where two apothecary-surgeons practiced. The shop features copies of Dr. Galt’s certificates in medical theory, midwifery, and surgery, for training completed at Saint Thomas’ Hospital in London. A large collection of British delft drug jars for storing medications line one wall, and antique implements for compounding and dispensing drugs are also displayed, with some items original to the site. Medications made from recipes in 18th-century professional pharmacy books are also shown.
Some of the ingredients that were used in colonial remedies are the basis for modern medications. They included chalk for heartburn, calamine for skin irritations, and cinchona bark for fevers. Later it was discovered that cinchona bark contains quinine for malaria and quinidine for cardiac conditions.
Williamsburg (Virginia) apothecaries also sold cooking spices, candles, salad oil, anchovies, toothbrushes, and tobacco, making them true precursors of today's drugstores.
Check www.history.org/almanack/life/trades/tradeapo.cfm - 33k - if you want to see what an Apothecary looks like. AllExperts does NOT allow graphics.
Hope this helps, guys and gals. Please rate my answer. Thanks.
HANK
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