The Pharmacy

Historic pharmacy from the 1890s: A journey through dispensary, prescription area, and the pharmacist's craft

With large windows facing the street, the pharmacy from the late 1890s offers a glimpse into a bygone era. On the second floor, you’ll find the pharmacist’s apartment, reflecting both living and working conditions of the time.

Customers were greeted in the dispensary, known as the "officin," where you can marvel at the impressive collection of jars and containers with Latin inscriptions, neatly arranged on mahogany shelves. Behind a partition, in the prescription area, medicines were carefully measured and packed. Adjacent to the dispensary is the laboratory, where the pharmacist prepared the medicines using equipment like distillation pans, tablet machines, mortars, and herbal presses.

Facing the courtyard is the duty room, often used for pill rolling and heated for comfort. The dispensary itself was usually left unheated to preserve the integrity of the stored medications. Pharmacies were required to be open around the clock, with an assistant staying overnight in the duty room. A doorbell by the entrance was used to call for help during nighttime emergencies.

The pharmacist's craft involved making medicines from natural raw materials. Many pharmacists had their own herb gardens, while others imported ingredients from abroad. Dried herbs and bark were ground in mortars and used to create pills, drops, and salves. Common remedies included gout drops, Spanish fly plasters for stomach and back pain, lead water for swelling, licorice for coughs, and leeches for varicose veins and toothaches.

In addition to making medicines, the pharmacist also produced chocolates and confectionery and had the right to trade in wine, spices, and dyes, making the pharmacy a versatile establishment in the community.