Pharmacists in German Cultural History
603
Cosel (1680–1765) and alchemist Count
Alessandro Cagliostro (1743–1795).
Nevertheless, such poetic works must be
considered by-‐products of writing
pharmacists – their main focus was on
natural scientific works and on editing
journals (3).
WRITING PHARMACISTS IN THE LATE
19
TH
AND THE 20
TH
CENTURY
After
1860,
experimental
chemical
research shifted from
pharmacies to university laboratories.
The methodological and instrumental
boom of chemistry and the plenty
fullness of specialist literature contributed to the effect that scientifically
interested pharmacists became more passive in the field of chemistry. They
transferred their activities to descriptive sciences like botany and zoology or they
occupied themselves as gatherers. Within these domains numerous books were
composed depicting native wildlife. Pharmacists remained perceptible specialist
writers in the late 19
th
century (4).
Aside, many pharmacists chose their profession rather for pragmatic
reasons. At that time the period of training was short and enabled young men to
earn their living. This fact and the increasing esteem of the profession attracted
people who wanted to be promoted in the 19
th
century. Children of poorer families
chose this particular profession because it would allow for advancement to
become a pharmacy owner, often by marriage, a natural scientist or a factory
owner (5). Some became pharmacists despite their artistic talent in order to earn
their living alongside with their artistic activity; they attempted to produce
artworks that would enable them to dedicate themselves to their work as an artist
or writer. The poet Ludwig Bechstein (1801–1860) (Figure 1) belongs to this latter
category. In his autobiography, he confesses to have been a poor child, neglecting
his illegitimate descent. He was adopted and brought up by his uncle Johann
Matthäus Bechstein (1757–1822), the writer of a few natural scientific works who
tried to inspire his nephew. Because Ludwig Bechstein was no successful pupil at
school, he started his apprenticeship as a pharmacist in Arnstadt, Thuringia
(Figures 2, 3), in 1818 (6). He soon recognized that he had little enthusiasm for
pharmaceutical operations – “to make capsules and signatures, to line boxes, to cut
teas and roots, to refill empty glasses or tins and to sell drugs” (7) – this occupation
Figure 1.-‐ Ludwig Bechstein.
