Medicines for London : the trade, regulation and lifecycle of London apothecaries, c. 1610-c. 1670

Thesis

Apothecaries formed a crucial part of early modern London's resources against the disorders and diseases that assailed its population, supplying medicines and a range of other goods and services - some medical, some not - to medical practitioners and patients alike. Despite their importance, this essential element in London's service economy has largely been neglected by historians.

This thesis is a study of the regulation, lifecycle and work of apothecaries from the beginning of the seventeenth century to around 1670. It demonstrates the importance of the personal, political and commercial histories of seventeen-century apothecaries to an understanding of medicine and work in early modern London. The thesis begins with a consideration of the politics and policing of medicine in seventeenth century London. The apothecaries' guild, the Society of Apothecaries, was established in 1617. The process by which apothecaries came to be separated from the Grocers' Company is analysed in Chapter Two. The Society's fortunes over the next five decades, in resisting the efforts of the College of Physicians to increase its authority over apothecaries are considered in Chapter Three. Two aspects of the internal operation of the company are discussed next. Chapter Four examines the extensive - but moderate - control of the craft by the Society, influenced by legal norms and the difficulties of assessing the quality of medicines. Chapter Five focuses on apothecaries' individual and collective identities through their lifecycle, backgrounds, corporate careers, and, particularly, apprenticeships and apprentice-taking. Chapters Six to Eight explore several aspects of the trade of apothecaries and the economy of medicine in early modern London. The complex ways medicine were sourced, manufactured and supplied; the interactions of medical practitioners, as associates, partners or competitors; the customers of apothecaries; and the material culture of apothecaries' shops, and its relation to the problem of reassuring consumers about the medicines they purchased.

Authors: Wallis, P

• Type of award: DPhil
• Level of award: Doctoral
• Awarding institution: University of Oxford
• Language: English
• Keywords: medicine; regulation; pharmacists; trade; London; England; lifecycle; medicines; apothecaries
• Subjects: Pharmacists -- England -- London -- History -- 17th century