History of Pharmacy
The main points discussed are: Histories of drugs, pharmacy education, the profession, references,
dosage forms, Pharmacopoeias and hospital pharmacy. Pharmacy in modern Egypt, Pharmacy
education, development of pharmaceutical industries,
It is divided into time lines of the prehistoric, B.C. period (Egyptians, Babylonians, Chinese, Greeks and
Romans), and the A.D. period (Persians, Arabs, Indians, Europeans)
Ancient Egypt:
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The Egyptians’ techniques is the main reference from which other copied medical and
pharmaceutical sciences
They used to cure illnesses using: Dietetics (food and nutrition), Surgery or drug therapy.
Drug preparations were conducted by two main categories: Technicians & Specialists. Includes
Drug gatherers (collection) Priest herbalists (supervise collection) Drug conservator (preserve
gathered drugs in the house of light) Drug preparers (preparation) Chief of fabrication
(Supervise preparation)
Drugs used by ancient Egyptians were of different origins: animal (honey, beeswax, milk, fats,
liver) plant(herbs, leaves, oils, fruits, spices) mineral (alum, copper)
Introduced Foreign trade which included new drugs (Punt by Queen Hatshepsut & Syria by
Thotmes II)
Different non-medical preparations as perfumes and cosmetics (Copper silicate Eye liner, Red
ochreLip pigment, Lilly Oilperfume)
Medical and pharmacy education:
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Carried out by priests in schools within the temples (Uhn’s school in Heliopolis)
Notable Physicians: Thoth (wrote the ancient formulae), Imhotep (physician of King Zoser)
Used excipients in their medical and non-medical preparations (masking taste with milk or
honey, water or milk in Liquid preparations, geese fat resins and wax in Ointment preparations)
Used different preparation methods: drying, roasting, crushing, squeezing, trituration (dilution),
maceration (method of extraction), etc.
** The most important pharmaceutical record are the papyruses : Papyrus Ebers -Papyrus Edwin Smith
-Papyrus Kahon -Papyrus Berlin
I.
Ebers: Contains a collection of 800 prescriptions and 700 drugs, Discovered in 1862 in Luxor by
George Ebers. Includes the name of diseases (with symptom descriptions), recommended drugs
( with accurate dosage of each drug), different dosage forms, and real and effective medical
formula
II.
III.
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Edwin Smith: discovered in 1861 in Luxor by Edwin Smith. Contains full description of 48 bone
surgeries
Kahon: Discovered in Fayoum. Includes a part containing Gynecology, and the other veterinary
medicine
Berlin: Discovered in Sakkarah. Its most important content is a test for pregnancy
Measurements used in Ancient Egypt:
Kite = 140 grain (weight)
Tenat (vol)
Ro (vol)
9 gm
500 ml
15 ml
Ancient Babylonia (currently Iraq)
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Health practitioners were Priest, Pharmacist, and Physician all in one
There was co-operation between the magical healers (spells and magic stones) and
empirical healer (natural drugs)
Medical texts show the recording of symptoms, prescriptions and directions for
compounding.
Ancient China
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Examined many herbs, barks, and roots from fields, swamps, and forests : Rhubarb, Cinnamon,
Ephedra, Datura
Treated herbs by: Soaking / Boiling / Fermentation
Used Ointments, paints, bandages and baths for dosage forms
Ancient Greece & Rome
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Most of their knowledge comes from studying in Ancient Egypt
Established many medical schools In Athens and in Egypt (University of Alexandria, Est. 350 B.C.
by Ptolmey)
Brought scientists from The school of Uhn to teach at the University
Famous Graduates: Eklidius, Archemides, Galen
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Famous Greek Scientists: Hippocrates (Medicine), Theophrastus (Botany), Discorides (Herbal
medicines), Galen (Medicine)
Persia:Before joining the Islamic Empire:
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Built hospitals called “Bemaristan” for clinical and educational aims
Famous Persian scientists were invited by the Arab rulers to share their knowledge to them, it
was easily done due to the minimal language barrier between the two, as the city of El Hira was
a bridge between Persian and Arabic
After:
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Arabs and Persians participated in the advancement of science which spread throughout the
world
India
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Has influence over the development of science
Indians took after the Babylonian scientists
Established Hygienic rules (Manno’s Laws): Mouth rinsing after meals, Frequent bathing,
Prohibition of easting pungent vegetables such as onions and garlic
Important reference called “Susrula”. Includes important info about anatomy and surgery.
Describes about 700 drugs of plant, animal and animal origin. Nutrition guidelines, disposing of
infected blood, and use of medicinal plants