The Modern Apothecary
Herbal printed in 1535 from Special Collections, University of Manchester Libraries.
Before the modern terms of pharmacist and chemist existed, apothecaries sought new ways to build authority and trust. In the 18th century, English Delftware drug jars brought order and classification. Their labels identified contents, while their appearance projected professionalism and reliability.
From 1841 the Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain aimed to advance the science and practice of pharmacy, strengthen professional standards, and promote the safe preparation and use of medicines. The pill roller coincides with demand for medicines, when pharmacists needed greater efficiency. By producing pills in a more uniform size and shape, the tool made dispensing more systematic.
Taken together, these objects show how pharmacy developed from an artisanal craft toward a standardized and efficient profession.
This 18th-century English Delftware jar, labelled "O. Olivarum", was used to store medicinal oil. It allowed apothecaries to classify and protect raw ingredients, helping bring greater order to the pharmacy. The jar also reflects how decoration and labelling helped make the apothecary shop appear more professional and trustworthy to customers.
This 19th-century mechanical tool was used to produce pills of a more uniform size and shape. By rolling medicinal paste into a “worm” and dividing into regular portions, it made pill production more consistent and systematic. The pill roller reflects a shift from hand-crafted preparation toward more standardized medicine-making.
Herbal printed in German in 1535. Contains the names of plants and their descriptions, including their healing properties.
A desirable book collectors’ item, it was gifted to Manchester Medical Society in 1879 by Richard Copley Christie, one of the key founders of Owens College, Manchester.
Christie founded the Cancer Pavilion and Home in 1890, his name adopted when it later became the Christie Hospital.