Complete Record - Heirs of Hippocrates No. 657

THOMAS GUY (1645?-1724) Pharmacopoeia reformata in usum noscomii londinensis. Brown [1782] 60 pp. 13.2 cm.

The compilation of a pharmacopoeia by a hospital's physicians and pharmacists proved to be a great convenience to the many resident and consulting physicians who treated patients there. It was found that a great deal of time could be saved by simply requesting the desired medicine by name, and it was also possible for the pharmacy to prepare many medicines in advance and have them in stock for use when needed. Most of the formulae were for medicines that were regularly used to treat a particular set of symptoms. St. Bartholomew's Hospital, London, had its own printed pharmacopoeia as early as 1730, and other newly established hospitals were quick to develop their own pharmacopoeias. This pharmacopoeia was prepared by Guy and is one of the earliest produced for Guy's Hospital in London. Each printed leaf of the book is followed by two blank leaves for notes, and a prior owner of the book filled many of the leaves with handwritten prescriptions.