The term “apothecary” refers to a person who prepares and sells drugs and medicines. The term was commonly used in medieval Europe, but it is rarely used nowadays. A pharmacist is today’s equivalent of an apothecary; he or she takes prescriptions, determines whether they are appropriate, and then sells them to those who need them. Apothecaries, on the other hand, had a larger role to play; they frequently made or prepared medicines, sold them, and provided medical advice. Apothecaries were even called upon to act as surgeons or midwives in some cases; today, only certified and specialized professionals can perform such tasks.
Traditionally, an apothecary would own and operate a shop from which he would sell a variety of items, both medicinal and non-medicinal. The majority of his wares would have consisted of common medicines or ingredients for herbal remedies and medicines. Apothecaries were also known to sell a variety of patent medicines, as well as medicines with dubious use or validity. These medicines were advertised as cures for a variety of ailments, but they rarely worked and were frequently just colored or flavored water. Because the general body of medical knowledge at the time was very limited, and people had no way of recognizing the fraud, an apothecary could typically market such false cures with relative impunity.
Only a few of the apothecary’s many and varied roles, not all of which were legal, included midwifery and medicine preparation. An apothecary played an important social role; when a person was sick, he would often go to the apothecary first. They were sometimes even asked to perform illegal and dangerous tasks, such as making lethal poisons or other dangerous concoctions. Apothecaries became more legitimate and standardized over time, and their services became more dependable. This trend continued until the nineteenth century, when specialization increased and apothecaries were largely replaced by a variety of specialists.
It’s worth noting that apothecary can also refer to a piece of furniture with a lot of drawers. It’s a large chest of drawers with a square or rectangle-shaped arrangement of square chests. Apothecaries come in a variety of sizes, with some being very small and only suitable for storing small trinkets, while others being quite large and suitable for storing clothing or other larger items. They usually stand on four short legs and have a flat top surface on which to place objects and decorations.