Chemists/Druggists

[kiwi]

Hi,

Can anyone tell me, or shed any light, on the qualifications required to be a chemist/ druggist in the 1850/60's ?  Was there a school you went to? or was it like an apprenticeship ?  Did you then join a Guild or something similar?
Any ideas, or suggestions of where to look would be appreciated.

Regards,
kiwi.

[oldfeller]

G'Day Kiwi,
It might be worth contacting the Pharmacy Council of New Zealand. They have probably got all the historical records and if not will almost certainly be able to tell you where they are.

                                                 m.dawson@pharmacycouncil.org.nz                     

Regards, Oldfeller, Adelaide, South Australia                             

[kiwi]

Hi Oldfeller,

Thats a really good idea, will do. My man more than likely 'trained' in the UK before coming here but he went on to be a Govt 'Appointed Vaccinator' as well as run a chemist shop here in NZ.
Seems NZ had a scheme from 1863 whereby all babies born here had to be vaccinated against Smallpox, hence the 'Appointed Vaccinator'

Thanks,
kiwi

[Jane Eden]

Hi Kiwi

I am a pharmacist by profession and as such am a member of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain. On the RPSGB website there are useful pages explaining the history of the profession and also about the museum and library at the Societies headquarters in London.

http://www.rpsgb.org/pdfs/tracing.pdf

http://www.rpsgb.org/informationresources/museum/services/specialresearchservice.html

http://www.rpsgb.org/informationresources/museum/services/informationsheets.html

I hope you find the references interesting. I have copies of relevant pages of the Pharmaceutical Register for my relations. If you would like to see an example of what it contains please PM me. Please ask any other questions about pharmacy and I will try to find the answer.

Jane

[kiwi]

Hi Jane,

Well, what an interesting and informative site, it answers most questions, thank you so much. Will PM you for an example, to see if it is worth asking them for a search.  Great stuff!

Regards,
Kiwi.

[Bitza 5]

My grand father was a chemist in the early 1900.s this means he was a pharmaceutical. ie qualified to sell drugs in a chemist or drug store. now days we call them a pharmacist who works in the chemist.

           bitz

[kiwi]

Hi Bitza 5,

Thanks for your reply.  I had a brother-in-law in the UK who was what everyone called a 'dispensing chemist' , this was around 1930, he was a gentle and respected man.
The website given by Jane Swann in this thread is really informative, it covers all aspects right from 1841 (and before) to the present day.

Regards,
kiwi

[skyetrekker]

On a related note, I have an ancestory who was a 'licensed apothecary' which is a step down from surgeon.  He attened school in Dublin around 1813 then became licensed in County Down.  He was referred to as "Doctor" in the US town where he settled.

[Jane Eden]

Hi Kiwi

Did you get anywhere in your research? Who were you looking for?

The terms that are used are confusing. When I registered in 1977 I was a pharmaceutical chemist and became a Member of the Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain (M.P.S). In about the 1980s we gained a Royal Charter and I became a Member of the Royal Pharmaceutical Societyof Great Britain and the letters after my name became M.R.Pharm.S. There was also a change around that time from being called a 'Chemist' to being called a 'Pharmacist'.

I am glad that you found the Society's site interesting and they have quite good fact sheets on historical items. When I have been to the HQ in Lambeth for meetings it is interesting to see the portraits of past presidents and the  old jars, pestle and mortars, pill making machines etc on display.

If I can help further please contact me.

Jane