The apothecary, ancient and modern, of the city of London / [George Corfe].

  • Corfe, George.
Date:
1885
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The apothecary, ancient and modern, of the city of London / [George Corfe]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    / V t/ttluMj fS r t CCtiW t iii the earlier works of Hioscorides; his valuable “ Materia Medica,” ©specially that portion of it which treats of tlie poisons of the three kingdoms of nature and their antidotes—has formed a text¬ book for all subsequent students in the profession of Medicine. The Jewish Physicians were held in high repute, and were con¬ sulted in spite of the prejudice against them. From this source arose all the knowledge and experience which both Arabians, Grecians, and Romans possessed, and we find the Leech of the middle ages set forth as an important personage by Sir W. Scott in his “ Talisman,” where he shows how the Arabian followers of ‘‘ the Prophet were looked upon by the Crusaders, feared, but trusted. “ Mediciners,” says the Archbishop of Tyre in this book, like the medicines which they employed, were often useful, though the one were by birth or manners the vilest of humanity, as the others are, in many cases, extracted from the basest materials. Men may use the assistance of pagans and infidels in their need, and there is reason to think that one cause of their being permitted to remain on earth, is that they might minister to the convenience of true Christians. Jews are infidels to Christianity, as well as Mahommedans; but there are few physicians in the camp excepting Jews, and such are employed without scandal or scruple.” Then the king added, “ I cannot but have my suspicions of the wily Saracen. They are curious in the art of poisons, and can so temper them that they shall be weeks in acting upon the party, during which time the perpetrator has leisure to escape. They can impregnate cloth and leather, nay, even paper and parchment, with the most vile and subtle venom/’ That many of these professors of the healing art believed in their mission, is well remarked by Sir Walter, where he makes the pretended Hakim say, “ I sell not the wisdom with which Allah has endowed me, and the divine medi¬ cines of which you have partaken would lose its effects in my unworthy hands, did I exchange its virtues for gold or diamonds.’’ The aspect of the profession in the middle ages was very peculiar; great respect was paid to its professors of all grades. The shops of the Apothecaries were of the handsomest description; and “ Bucklersbury was replete with physic, drugs, and spicery^ and being perfumed in the time of the plague with the poundTim >of spices, melting of gum, and making perfumes, esca/ped that great plague” (Uasselks fi Uld and J^ew London,” vol. i. p. 435). Hence the place is~te'rmecf llie '1: Apothecaries11 street '* by Ren Jo ns on. Some of the porcelain ointmeni jars of thatperiod, with j . P i u a niental letbersf) u r n t'TiifwhhJlo we ran d, scroll*, surpass in beauty and design any that South Kensington can produce. A KneAFvaluab]e evidemhTon the scmntlfiFKcquirements of a
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