546 
Pharmacy  in  Denmark. 
J  Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
t     Dec.  1, 1874. 
out  stores.  The  pharmacies  emerged  by  degrees  from  the  kitchen  of 
the  physician,  until  they  became  independent.  The  first  privilege  on 
record  dates  1536  (Svane  Apotbek,  Copenhagen) ;  the  six  next, 
respectively,  1543,  1549,  15T3,  1581,  1585,  1591.  The  whole  num. 
ber  of  pharmacies  in  1870  was  115,  to  a  population  of  1,783,585, 
which  makes  an  average  of  one  to  every  15,509 ;  thus  it  will  be  seen 
that,  as  a  rule,  pharmacies  in  Denmark  must  yield  quite  a  comfort- 
able competency. 
The  only  collection  of  ordinances  (pharmaceutical  laws)  begins 
1660.  Already  in  1668  yearly  inspection  of  pharmacies  was  insisted 
on,  but  it  was  first  in  1672  that  a  full  ordinance  appeared,  detailing, 
in  thirty  paragraphs,  the  duties  and  requirements  of  the  apotheca- 
ries, and,  incidentally,  those  of  the  physicians.  I  may  be  permitted 
to  extract  a  few  of  said  paragraphs,  in  order  to  show  that  two  hun- 
dred years  ago  the  requirements  were  quite  up  to  the  modern  stan- 
dard. 
None  but  regularly  graduated  physicians  were  permitted  to  pre- 
scribe. The  pharmacies  must  be  inspected  at  least  once  a  year  ; 
twice  or  oftener,  if  deemed  necessary.  In  said  inspections  the  qual- 
ity of  drugs  and  preparations  must  be  examined  into,  and  whether 
the  apothecaries  in  their  prices  adhered  to  the  annually  issued  price- 
lists  ;  likewise,  accuracy  of  weights  and  measures.  Poisons  to  be 
kept  in  a  separate  compartment  (or  room)  under  lock  and  key.  Arse- 
nic and  sublimate  only  to  be  sold  by  the  apothecary. 
When  poisons  or  active  medicines  (heroica)  were  prescribed,  then 
the  physician  had  to  write  out  the  name  and  quantity  in  full,  neither 
abbreviations  nor  chymical  signs  being  allowed.  None  but  graduates 
must  keep  pharmacies,  and  every  apothecary  must  keep  at  least  one 
examined  assistant.  Further,  they  were  enjoined  to  let  their  appren- 
tices attend  the  professor  of  botany  in  his  excursions,  and,  as  far  as 
possible,  cultivate  medicinal  plants  in  their  gardens.  No  prescribing 
over  the  counter  allowed.  All  preparations  had  to  be  made  by  them- 
selves, and  electuaries  (mithridate,  etc.)  to  be  prepared  only  in  pres- 
ence of  several  physicians,  who  had  to  duly  label  them  and  mark  the 
date  and  quantity.  In  their  preparations  they  had  to  conform  to  the 
Dispensatorium  Hafniense,  which  from  time  to  time  was  revised  by 
the  College  of  Physicians.  In  case  of  patients  dying,  the  claim  of 
the  apothecary  had  precedence  before  any  other  claims.  No  quid 
pro  quo  (substitution)  permitted ;  in  case  of  doubt,  they  had  to  con- 
