Collector's Note: The New England Druggist and Pharmacy in 1897 Tuesday, June 9, 2026
The November 1897 issue of The New England Druggist offers a fascinating glimpse into the professionalization of pharmacy at the close of the nineteenth century. Published in Boston and owned by the Retail Pharmacists of New England, the journal combined legislative news, pharmacy board reports, professional commentary, and trade advertising directed toward working pharmacists. Particularly noteworthy is the issue's publication of the Twelfth Annual Report of the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Pharmacy, revealing examination statistics, candidate performance, and the increasingly rigorous standards of the profession. Rich with advertisements for pharmaceuticals, soda fountain equipment, chemicals, microscopes, and patent remedies, the publication serves as both a historical document and a valuable artifact of American medical and commercial history.
