Pharmacy Orientation (PIP 111) - Lecture 4

Pharmacy Orientation (PIP 111) - Lecture 4: History of Pharmacy (Continue)

• Learning Outcomes:
  • Understand the development of the pharmacy profession across different historical periods.
  • Identify common symbols used in pharmacy.
  • Recognize a historical pharmacy mistake and the subsequent corrective action.

American Pharmacy

• Apothecary: A person who prepares and sells medicines/drugs (nowadays called a pharmacist).
• 1811: Apothecaries at New York hospitals became full-time pharmaceutical practitioners responsible for compounding medicines; before this, physicians did this work.
• 1820: The United States Pharmacopeia (USP) was published as a guide to drugs.
• 1821: First pharmacy school established in Philadelphia, USA.
• Counter-prescribing: A practice where apothecaries wrote prescriptions without physician authorization.
  • This led to competition between physicians and pharmacists.
  • Pharmacists believed physician dispensing was the root of their problems.
  • Physicians complained about counter-prescribing.
• Clearer Boundaries: Later, boundaries between apothecaries and physicians became clearer.

Transition to a Modern Profession

• Declining Physician Dispensing: Pharmacy's role in healthcare became more solidified, with physicians dispensing medicines less.
• New Drugs/Agents: Industrial research created new drugs like aspirin (analgesic/antipyretic) and chloral hydrate (sedative).
• Pharmacies as Outlets: Pharmacies became outlets for antitoxins and vaccines.
• Emphasis on Chemical Compatibility: Pharmacy courses transitioned from identifying crude plant drugs to focusing on the chemical compatibility of prescription ingredients.

The 20th Century

• Dramatic Change: The 20th century saw a major shift in healthcare, including pharmacy.
• New Drug Production: The production of antibiotics, antidepressants, antihypertensives, and oral contraceptives began.
• Specialized Pharmacy: Pharmacy practices specialized further, focusing on preventing and treating serious diseases, moving beyond just curing minor illnesses.
• High Technology: Post-WWII, American pharmaceutical firms used advanced technology for medicine production, becoming global leaders.
• Production Changes: Prescriptions requiring compounding by pharmacists dramatically reduced during the 20th century.
  • 1930s: ~75% Rx required compounding.
  • 1950s: ~25% requiring compounding.
  • 1960s: ~4% requiring compounding.
  • 1970s: ~1% requiring compounding.

Ancient Chinese Medicine

• Long History: Chinese herbal remedies have existed for 3,000+ years.
• Categorized Doctors: Physicians were categorized as dieticians, physicians, surgeons, and veterinarians.
• Sweating/Detoxification: Chinese medicine believed substances could leave the body through opened pores, using tea for inducing sweating.
• Tea Mixture: These teas were made from cinnamon, ginger, herbs, and honey for flavor.
• Cinnamon/Ginger Benefits: Cinnamon increased blood circulation (for sweating) and ginger was a carminative.

Ancient Chinese Medicine (Continued)

• Acupuncture: Besides herbal remedies, Chinese medicine utilized acupuncture (inserting needles at specific body points).
• Needle Materials: Needles were initially made from stone, and later from bamboo, metals (bronze, silver, gold, platinum, stainless steel, silicon).
• Needle Types: Nine main types of needles (cylindrical, flat, round, triangular, lanceolate, and different in end shapes).

Indian Medicine

• Ancient Origins: Indian pharmacy dates back over 5,000 years.
• Natural Sources: Drugs originated from vegetable, animal, and mineral sources.
• Secret Knowledge: Knowledge of medical systems was often kept within families.
• Herbal Remedies: Herbal juices were used to treat various diseases and injuries.
• 1811: The first chemist shop in India was established.

Indian Medicine (Continued)

• Pharmacology as a Branch: Pharmacy as a formal field of education began in India in the 1870s, first at Madras Medical College.
• 1930s: Bengal Chemicals and Pharmaceuticals, an early, large-scale pharmaceutical company, was formed which remains a major company today
• Pharmacopeia: The first Indian Pharmacopoeia was published in 1955.

Indian Medicine - Used Natural Agents

• Curcumin (Turmeric): Anti-inflammatory property
• Piper nigrum (Black Pepper): Analgesic, anti-inflammatory, anti-diarrheal, and antispasmodic actions
• Ginger: Anti-inflammatory properties; treatment of nausea and vomiting

Japanese Medicine

• Religious Roots: Treatment and prevention were deeply rooted in religious practices.
• 1886: Japanese Pharmacopoeia was first published.
• Combined Therapies: Traditional Japanese Medicine (TJM) integrated both acupuncture and herbal remedies.
• Examples: Germanium (anti-diarrhea), Cinnamon, licorice, and ginger for headaches/fever
• Ginseng: Energy booster, treated gastrointestinal issues, managed diabetes, anti-ulcer, and hypertension

The Evolution of Pharmacy and Apothecaries in England

• Apothecaries (16th-17th Centuries): These individuals prepared and sold medicines/drugs.
• Chemist and Druggist (Late 18th-19th Centuries): The terms for apothecaries transitioned to chemists and druggists, representing both chemical and drug merchants. These groups also practiced pharmacy.
• 19th Century Shift: "Pharmaceutical chemist" became more common, reflecting growing knowledge of organic chemistry and compounding.

Video About the Apothecary

• The provided URL links to a video about the history of apothecaries in the 17th and 18th centuries

The Evolution of Pharmacy and Apothecaries in Italy

• 1499: A Guild pharmacopoeia was published in Florence.
• 1221: Santa Maria Novella Pharmacy established; the oldest pharmacy in the world.
• Botanical Gardens: The pharmacy area utilized botanical gardens as a source of herbs, plants, and spices for creating remedies.
• Profitable Industry Expansion: The industry expanded into the production of beauty products, like perfumes.

Common Symbols Used in Pharmacy

• Bowl of Hygeia: The snake coiled around a bowl is a Greek symbol for health, healing, immortality, and wisdom.
• Caduceus: The staff with two snakes and wings, representing the Greek messenger god Hermes.
• Serpent around a Palm Tree: A symbol frequently used by French and Portuguese pharmaceutical bodies, relating the snake to healing and the palm tree to vegetable-based remedies.
• Unicorn: A symbol representing purity, used for healing purposes, often against poisons.
• Mortar and Pestle: Used as a pharmacy shop sign in Britain and Scotland. Associated with traditional pharmacy practices.
• Green Cross: Derived from the Red Cross organization; it likely represents the vegetarian origin of many medications. Originally a red cross.
• Rx symbol: Originated from Latin (recipere - to take/receive). Initially a prescription heading; it evolved as a symbol of the recipe or prescription list.
• Other possible origins: the Eye of Horus (Egyptian).
• Video of Santa Maria Novella Pharmacy URL: Provided

Historical Mistake and Action - Thalidomide Tragedy

• Thalidomide: A drug initially used to treat morning sickness, but linked to birth defects in children.
• Tragic Consequences: Led to severe malformations in over 10,000 children.
• Regulatory Enhancements: This tragedy led to stricter drug testing and regulation, to prevent future drug-related birth defects.

Explore the rich history of pharmacy in this quiz, covering significant developments in the profession, key events, and the evolution of roles from apothecaries to modern pharmacists. Understand historical mistakes in pharmacy and their corrections, alongside the symbolic representation used in the field.