Apothecary

Broad Term(s):

Description:

One who prepared and sold drugs for medicinal purposes—the business now (since about 1800) conducted by a druggist or pharmaceutical chemist. From about 1700 apothecaries gradually took a place as general medical practitioners, and the modern apothecary holds this status legally, by examination and licence of the Apothecaries' Company; but in popular usage the term is archaic.

An apothecary is also a person who kept a store or shop of non-perishable commodities, spices, drugs, comfits, preserves, etc.

Citation

People

Dr. William Pasteur (d. 1791), a son of Swiss immigrant Dr. Jean Pasteur, opened an apothecary shop on the Duke of Gloucester Street in Williamsburg, Va., in 1759. In 1775 he entered into a ... Read More

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