[Hypothesis on the reasons and consequences of the inspection of pharmacies and drugstores of Nancy by the Royal College of Medicine of this town on May 1st and 2nd 1787].
On May 1st and 2nd 1787, the commission constituted by the Royal College of Medicine of Nancy proceeded to the inspection of the different pharmacies and drugstores of the town. This was one of its missions in agreement with the L article of its statutes. It appeared that the pharmacies were conveniently organized, but that it was not the same for some of the drugstores. Samples of drugs were distraint and pursuits engaged. Some weeks later, on June 4th, the College called some rules again and took some decisions relative to the professional activity of the droguists, owing to the "abuse and offends to the regulations". One month before (on April 27th), a lady of the town died some hours after the massive absorption of "nitre" (potassium nitrate) confused with Sedlitz salt (magnesium sulfate) by a droguist. Reports and papers of this moment fail to indicate any relation between the intoxication, the inspections and the decisions of the College. But their simultaneity incite to think to a cause-effect relationship. In the negative, the Royal College of Medicine carried fully its mission of survey of practitioners and of protection of public health.
Labrude
Pierre
P
D003132:Commerce / Q000266:history; D005602:France; D049671:History, 18th Century; D010594:Pharmacies / Q000266:history* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000592:standards; D012955:Societies, Medical / Q000266:history