APOTHECARIES.

141

despised, we are told, th e pharmacopolee from their ignorantboasting. Pliny also informs us the mcdicamentarii were em-ployed in a similar pursuit to the pharmacopolre. In the Theo-doskin code, male and female poisoners were called medicamen-tarii and medicamentaria. Those trades have been consi-dered somewhat similar to our grocers, oilmen, druggists,and even mountebanks. It appears that the word apoiheca,signified any store; the keepers of such magazines wereaccordingly styled apothecarii.

The error would be great, when we observe that wordoccur in writings of the twelfth and thirteenth century, ifwe should allix its present literal signitication to the term;because at that period it was understood in its ancientsense, or at least it was applied to professed confectioners,who in the courts of princes made preserves, candiedfruits, Sec.

We do not know that the period is yet ascertained whenthe ancient physicians discontinued to manufacture the me-dicines they prescribed ; but it is conjectured it took placeamong the Arabian faculty. This appears certain, shouldwe believe the assertion of Coming, who expressly says,the physicians in Africa first began to give up the prepara-tion of medicines, after their prescriptions had been given toother ingenious men ; and that this was customary so earlyas the time of Avenzoar , in the eleventh century. Whenceit appears pretty certain it commenced first in Europe , inSpain and the south of Italy. The Arabian or Saracen possessions or influence extending over that district, it isconjectured the practice was introduced by the physiciansusually attending the Caliphs ; whence the reason why nume-rous Arabic terms of art, as w'ell as pharmaceutical and chy-inical denominations were introduced into European practice.Hence also, the probable reason why the first known apo-thecaries were found in the south of Italy . It is, however,concluded by a very respectable authority, 4 that they ob-tained their first European establishment in consequenceand by virtue of an eminent edict of Frederic II. issuedfor the kingdom of Naples, and from whence it is conjectured,by Thomasius , come the privileges they at present enjoy.

By that edict,® we understand, it was established that

*■ Beckmann.

S This etlict is to be found in Lindenbrogii Codex I (gum 'antiquaritan, Fraucof.1613, fo. p. 809, under the tule Consfttutiime Neapolitans: seu Sicifa. The lawhere alluded to is De probaliti ctperimentia mcJicorum ; is generally ascribed toFredwic I.; but we understand Coming alleges it was enacted by bis grandsonFrederic II . Vide Coming Dt Arti<iu : tntibus Academiut.