The Evolution of the Practice of Pharmacy

From the ancient apothecaries of Babylon to the modern chain drugstore, the practice of pharmacy has evolved through several stages. Originally combined with both religion and medicine, pharmacy eventually lost its early connection with the supernatural, then split away from the broader practice of medicine to become a discipline in its own right. (See Reference 1, page 4.)

The Origins of Pharmacy

• Primitive men made of use of medicinal herbs in Stone Age times, most likely through a process of trial and error. By the time of ancient Babylon, the apothecary performed the duties of a priest, a medical doctor and a pharmacist. Chinese legend attributes the discovery of medicine to the mythical Shen Nung. (See Reference 2, pages 1-3.)

Independence

• Galen taught pharmacy and medicine in Rome between A.D. 130 and 200, and his theories held sway for many centuries. Around A.D. 300, Damian the apothecary split the practice of pharmacy from the practice of medicine. Centuries later, the Society of Apothecaries of London broke away from the Grocers' Guild and established pharmacy as an independent trade. (See Reference 1, pages 4 and 5.)

Apothecary Shops

• The earliest apothecary shops were in the ancient Arab world. Just like modern drugstores, they sold a variety of products besides medicines, including wine and perfume. The first European apothecary shops were opened in the 1600s. (See Reference 1, page 4.)

  The first drugstore in North America was in Fredericksburg, Virginia, and counted the wife of George Washington among its customers. The first American drugstore with a registered pharmacist was opened in New Orleans in 1823. (See Reference 3.)

Modern Pharmacy

• Early drugstores created their own medicines on the premises. These were known as patent medicines. In the early 20th century, drug manufacturers began to discover how to separate the active ingredients from the plants in which they were found. This made it possible for them to manufacture drugs and then offer them to the pharmacists to be sold. In the 1940s, the first chain drugstores were opened, and the modern pharmacy came into being. (See Reference 1, pages 5 and 7.)