Antall József szerk.: Pictures from the Past of the Healing Arts / Orvostörténeti Közlemények – Supplementum 5. (Budapest, 1972)

Pictures from the Past of the Healing Arts (Guide for the Exhibition)

X. DEVELOPMENT OF PHARMACY IN HUNGARY IN THE FIRST HALF OF THE 19TH CENTURY In the first and second third of the 19th century, during the Age of Reforms (1825-1848), the War of Independence (1848-1849), and the Compromise of 1867 with Austria, Hungarian pharmacy seemed to be in an unfavourable position due to the subjugation and interference of Austria, member of the Holy Alliance. There were great contradictions between the useful and progressive orders and their execution. Our medicohistorians complain about the "deficient number" of pharmacies, the government on the other hand seems to have been satisfied with the situation. Statistical data from 1840 list 324 apothecarians, while the number of physicians was 555. Most of the apothecarians worked in Pest-Buda and thus it is understandable that their first association called Gremium was established there, probably in 1809. The first pharmaceutical periodical in Hungarian language corresponding the scientific standard of the age was founded in 1848 by Ferenc Láng Adolf (1795-1863) apothecarian and judge of the County Court in Nyitra. It was entitled "Gyógyszerészi Hírlap" ('Pharmaceutical Journal'). Next to the above mentioned journal one can see the second edition of "Gyógyszerek árszabása Magyarországon és hozzákapcsolt tartományaihoz alkalmazva" ('Price-list of Drugs in Hungary and adapted to its connected provinces') published in 1843. The first edition was published in 1829 by the Pharmaceutical Association of Pest-Buda. On the side-wall of the show-case there are two reliefs representing Hygieia - one made of metal, the other made of wood. The pharmaceutical instruments and objects exhibited in the show-case are as follows

: a mortar made of serpentine (ophite), wooden and bronze mould for casting suppositories, a densimeter made of copper and glass, alcoholometer, a series of metric liquid measures (mensura), weights, carved glass with lid, stochiometric tabulation with sliding caliper. The letter of Gusztáv Jármaÿ to Mátyás Rozsñÿai is of special interest since he is asking there for data on tannic quinine in the name of the editorial board of the first Hungarian pharmacopoeia. The name of Mátyás Rozsñÿai (1833-1895) is connected with the discovery of tasteless quinine, which was called after him. The opposite side wall of the showcase presents the portraits of the most famous Hungarian pharmacists of the age. One of the most characteristic laboratory instruments of 19th century pharmacies were presses. In our"exhibition we present two special samples: one is a herb-press from the beginning of the 19th century (Fig. 55.), the other one is a tincture-press dating from the 50's of the 19th century. This latter one deserves special attention, since it belonged to the St. Bernard Pharmacy in Zirc, founded in 1849. It was used for pressing herbs soaked in alcohol, water and wine. The careful and functional execution and the rustic forms reminding