Lékaství

Lékaství is a historical term in the Czech language that refers to the craft or science concerned with medicinal substances. The word is formed from lék, meaning medicine or drug, and the suffix -ství, which denotes a system, practice, or field. In older texts the term was used with varying nuance, sometimes denoting the practical knowledge of preparing and dispensing remedies, and at other times including aspects of toxicology and the study of poisons.

Historically, the concept of lékaství was closely linked to the work of apothecaries and early pharmacists. Practitioners were responsible for compounding medicines, selecting appropriate ingredients, determining dosages, and advising patients. The term also appeared in contexts where knowledge about poisonous substances and antidotes formed part of medical or pharmaceutical expertise. The exact scope depended on local traditions, legal regulations, and the evolving organization of medical professions.

In the course of professionalization in medicine and pharmacy, the term lékaství largely fell out of use in modern Czech. Contemporary language tends to distinguish more precisely among related fields, using terms such as lékářství (medicine or medical practice), lékárnictví or farmacii (pharmacy), pharmacologie (pharmacology), and toxikologie (toxicology). Today lékaství is generally encountered as a historic or literary reference, rather than as a current scientific designation.