Arte boticária: uma análise a partir de boticários e boticas da Comarca do Rio das Velhas na segunda metade do século XIX

Abstract

The present study investigates the apothecaries and their pharmacies from the Comarca do Rio das Velhas during the second half of nineteen century, their connection with the society and with the imperial public health legislation, their practices and knowledge about medicine and pharmacology. Reading through apothecaries inventories, medicine prescriptions, some documents from public health institutions, sanitary legislation and specific literature, we founded that apothecaries constituted a relevant element to the establishment of healing practices in Brazil, and, in our case, in the Comarca do Rio das Velhass society during the referred period. The apothecaries had a prominent position among population due to the importance of this activity in that society. Their pharmacy was more than a store where medicines were daily produced and sold; it was a place where a social environment was developed, in which people frequently met for close talking, and discussed about the social and political subjects. In order with the imperial public health legislation, the apothecaries from this Comarca sought to be in agreement with it, as much as possible. Those that did not get their knowledge from academic institutions had tried to achieve their professional license and degree from the imperial authorities. However, the fact of not being completely in agreement with the legislation or not having an academic degree did not prevent the apothecarys jobs from being asked by all population, including local authorities. The apothecaries and their pharmacy were bond elements between popular healing and academic scientific knowledge, since they provided their interaction.