[The spirit of invention: Widow Burtz and her "quick and easy solution" for the prevention of Mastitis puerperalis].
When the French patent law of 1791 was introduced, the ancient discussion about the division of the pharmaceutical market was sparked off again and fuelled the competitive conflict between doctors and non-legitimized healers. Friedericke Burtz was one of those who followed the spirit of times. But Friedericke Burtz failed to consider that the so called Publikandum zur Ermunterung des Kunstfleisses patented only inventions, but not discoveries from nature. As invention was only accepted under Prussian legislation what did not exist in nature yet. Under tough competitive conditions the access to a patent was complicated by the fact, that pharmacists and doctors, in capacity of experts, could decide on every patent request. The professions so got a lead over the non-legitimized healers that strengthened their position; they proved to be winners in this competition.
Abteilung für Geschichte der Naturwissenschaften mit Schwerpunkt Pharmaziegeschichte, Technische Universität Braunschweig. Slandgraf1@aol.com
Susanne
S
Landgraf
D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006176:Gynecology / Q000266:history*; D049671:History, 18th Century; D006801:Humans; D008413:Mastitis / Q000266:history*; D009671:Nostrums / Q000266:history*; D010330:Patents as Topic / Q000266:history*; D011644:Puerperal Disorders / Q000266:history*
D009671:Nostrums