Introduction - Uppsala Monitoring Centre

Dispensatories
of contagious and deadly swellings (buboes) and medication from
Salamanca]. Where for the first time syphilis is called ‘Bubas’
(buboes) and it is also the oldest work in Spanish on this disease.
Natale Montesauro, a doctor of Verona, who was himself infected
with syphilis, wrote: ‘De dispasitionibus quas vulgares mal Franzoso
appellant’. [Concerning the different conditions which ordinary people
call the French disease] 1498.
These also contained non-herbal remedies such as minerals, metals, animal
products, precious stones, etc. They contained prescriptions for medicines and
occasionally mention of adverse effects, Dispensatories were commercial ventures,
which generally offered commentary and material additional to that found in
pharmacopoeias, and with a wide readership, many had a significant influence on
the standardization of medicines.
Pharmacopoeias
The term ‘pharmacopoeia’ first appears as a distinct title in a work published at Basel in
1561 by Dr A. Foe, but does not appear to have come into general use until the
beginning of the 17th century. As these were official lists of drugs allowed they did not
mention adverse effects but kept to ingredients and method of preparing various
products. Individual cities produced their own pharmacopoeias:
1498 Florence ‘Nuovo Receptario Composto’
1535 Barcelona ‘Concordia Pharmacopolarum Barcinonensium’
1546 Nuremberg ‘Dispensatorium Valerii Cordis’
1559 Mantua
1564 Augsberg
1565 Cologne
1574 Bologna
1580 Bergamo
1583 Rome
1618 London ‘Pharmacopoeaia Londinensis’
1634 Blois ‘Pharmacopoeia Blaesensis Blaesis’ – pour eviter les fraudes, abusey
malversations qui se peuvent commetre en la composition des poudres’ [In
order to avoid the frauds, abusive malpractices which can be commited in
the composition of powders.]
1639 Paris ‘La Pharmacopoea Parisiensis–Codex Medicamentarius’ It was
ordered in 1598 and was delayed for 41 years.
1641 Brussels ‘Pharmacopoeia Bruxellensis’
1652 Gent
1661 Antwerp‘Pharmacopeia Antwerpiensis’