Unlike histories which describe developments in 17th and 18th century apothecaries and pharmacies, Shaw (history of early modern Italy, U. of Sheffield) and Welch (Renaissance and early modern material culture, Queen Mary U. of London) take a quantitative approach to explaining the role of apothecary shops in the practice of personalized, affordable medicine in 15th century Florence. Drawing on records of sales, credit extended, and product sources of a particular apothecary, they treat the evolution of such shops in the context of the expanding commercial/medical marketplace. The last section focuses on patterns of consumption of medicines and other products. The volume includes a glossary, table of weights and measures, and illustrations. Converted from euros, the book's price is subject to fluctuation. Annotation ©2011 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
What did you do when you fell ill in fifteenth-century Florence? How did you get the medicines that you needed at a price you could afford? What would you find when you entered an apothecarys shop? This richly detailed study of the Speziale al Giglio in Florence provides surprising answers, demonstrating the continued importance of highly personalised medical practice late into the fifteenth century.
