Meaning
A person who prepared and sold medicines and medical remedies.
Description
Apothecaries were the forerunners of the modern pharmacist and general practitioner. They prepared and dispensed medicines, gave medical advice and treated patients, particularly in communities where a physician was too expensive or too distant. The Society of Apothecaries received its royal charter in 1617 and the trade was regulated from that point. The Apothecaries Act of 1815 allowed apothecaries to charge for medical advice as well as medicines, effectively recognising them as general medical practitioners. Many apothecaries also sold spices, herbs and household remedies.
Also Known As
Druggist, Chemist, Pharmacist
Commonly Found In
- Census Returns
- Trade Directories
- Parish Registers
- Apprenticeship Records
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