Page 11 - Pharmacy History 31 Mar 2007

(Cont. from page 10)
The rare books collections contain around 70,000 books and periodicals published before 1851, including over 600 incunabula (books printed before 1501). Botany and herbals are well represented in the works of Brunfels, Fuchs, Dodoens, Clusius, Gerard and Culpeper, to name a few.
Our last day began with a visit to the Wellcome Wing (History of Medicine) of the Science Museum, South Kensington. An exhibition named Glimpses of Medical History involved over 40 scenes related to the evolution of medicine from
the earliest times to the late 20th century. The central exhibition, The Science and Art of Medicine displayed over 5000 objects, from useful to ridiculous, illustrating western and non-western medical history.
To conclude the tour, the ASA Group took part in a Symposium at the Royal Society of Medicine (RSM) with the RSM History of Medicine Section. Robert, my husband, spoke on the 3rd pandemic of plague and its effect in Sydney. I spoke on the Physic Garden and its role involving pharmacy and medicine. To conclude a wonderful three weeks of travel, we enjoyed a
wine tasting with three Hunter Valley wines from Oakvale (owned by a pharmacist) and an excellent dinner in the RSM dining room.
As a postscript to the tour, I was invited to visit the Chelsea Physic Garden (CPG) the next day. Despite the rain it was wonderful to roam in the only Garden to retain the name ‘Physic Garden’ and to reflect on its rich history.
In 1666 Cobham House, the home and library of the Worshipful
Society of Apothecaries of London was destroyed in the Great Fire of London. It was rebuilt on the same site but the need to investigate living plants rather than dried specimens, led to a search for land. Charles Cheyne leased 3.5 acres on the Thames bank (annual rent 5 pounds) to the apothecaries and the CPG began. The riverside location allowed apothecaries and apprentices (for seven years) to travel by boat to study plants. In 1722, following financial and personality problems for the apothecaries, Sir Hans Sloane (the landlord at that time) donated the freehold, greenhouses, stoves, and barge-house to the Apothecaries
Society on condition that 2000 distinct plant specimens were grown and supplied to the Royal Society
well dried and preserved in annual instalments of 50. The garden, open to the public since 1983, has played
a major roll in botanical research and education for 340 years.
It is hard to choose one outstanding memory. We opened over 50 windows, giving us insight into
the development of medical and pharmaceutical history over the last millennium. There is not space to mention the gardens, villas, churches, art museums and vineyards we visited and the excellent lunches, dinners and friendships we made. I recommend the next tour (10 October to 1 November 2007) to anyone interested in pharmaceutical and medical history. Details can be obtained through Australians Studying
Abroad (Freecall 1800645755, Email info@asatours.com.au or Website www.asatours.com.au). For some people, the ASA tour may be an interesting addition, if attending the International Society for the History of Pharmacy Congress in Sevilla (Spain) from 19-22 September, 2007.
The pharmacist’s toast
May his occupation never become a drug in the market, as long as he sticks like his own plasters, to business!
May he never be bruised in the mortar of adversity by the pestle of
misfortune, and may his rise in his profession be as accurately marked as
his graduated measure.
May his career be as unsullied as distilled water and as smooth and
pleasant as pure Narbonne honey!
May his success never be alloyed by a mixture of ill-luck or a tincture of
regret!
May his counter prove the crucible whereby he transmutes human
ailments into precious, metal and precipitates the golden deposit into
his own pocket!
May he never be called upon to swallow the bitter pill of
disappointment or be macerated in the bitter spirit of enmity!
Should fickle Fortune ever refuse him her smiles, may he find an
antidote in the soothing opiate of woman’s love, be strengthened by the
tonic of experience and purified by the sudorific of patience!
Thus, his best days being evaporated and the lamp of existence past trimming, when Dr Death sends to his shop the dreadful prescription endorsed To be taken at bedtime and labeled and directed for heaven.
The Apothecary March 1943
volume 3 ■ no 31 ■ MARCH 2007
Pharmacy History Australia ■ 11