American Drug Shops

Dnring the seventeenth century the dvsggist carne to Ai.. erica and closely ollowed Euglish preoedents, modifying theni, however, by the practice of the Indians with wbom he carne in contact. Qnack apothecaries began to spring up iii the new land, and in 1686 the colony of Virginia passed a law which amoug other things regnlated the prices and fees of the druggist. At this time it was fashionable for the druggists to practice surgery in addition to pbarmaoy, and the Virginia colony contained a large number of people who were proficient in both proïessions. In Massachusetts the business was largely in the hands of Indians, schoolrnastevs, old %v om en and teachers. The Salem witchcraft delusioii retarded the spread of the druggist for sometime in the Bay State, for the popular impression fastened on the apothecaries a suspicion that they gold the potions that were supposed to produce the epells. Among those who suffered persecution at this time mixers of medicine appear to have been prominent. The drug shop had not yet becoroe a distinct institution. It was usually a branch of the grocery or spice business. In 164? one Giles Forman of Boston had, however, firmly established hirneelf as devoting special attention to pharmaoy. In 1646 the first distinctive drug store in America was opened in Boston by William Davies. No doubt more reliance was placed on drugs then than now, when people are begiuning to recognize the large part that fresh air, dietetics and other hygienic measures play in the successf ui treatment of