Apothecaries

An apothecary is a historical practitioner who prepared, prescribed, and dispensed medicines. In medieval and early modern Europe, apothecaries combined the roles of pharmacist, physician's assistant, and druggist. They ran apothecaries' shops, kept records, and trained apprentices, often operating within or alongside guilds and livery companies such as the Worshipful Society of Apothecaries of London (founded in the 17th century). In many places, they prepared remedies from herbs, minerals, and later chemicals, and provided medical advice, dosages, and instructions for storage. They also diagnosed and treated minor ailments, and sometimes performed basic procedures.

During the 18th and 19th centuries, regulation and professionalization increased. Apothecaries produced standardized medicines, maintained quality control, and contributed to early medical knowledge. In Britain, the Apothecaries Act of 1815 established formal licensing for the profession, marking a shift toward regulated medical practice. The term apothecary persisted in English-speaking countries, but the modern profession gradually split into the roles of physician, pharmacist, and chemist; the term “pharmacist” became standard in many regions.

Today, the word apothecary is largely historic or used in a traditional or boutique sense. Modern pharmacists perform the core duties of dispensing medicines, advising patients, and ensuring safe drug therapy, while pharmaceutical sciences focus on drug development and quality standards. The legacy of apothecaries is reflected in the historical development of pharmacy and in the continued use of the apothecary's weight system in some contexts. The apothecaries also used a distinct system of weight and measure, with units such as the dram and ounce.