The Evolution of Pharmaceutical Practices From Ancient Egypt to Apothecaries

Created by Amanda Marcott
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Introduction

I have decided to explore the topic, The Evolution of Pharmaceutical Practices from Ancient Egypt to Apothecaries for my web project for four reasons.  First, I am very curious and interested about this subject.  Second, I know very little about his area of history and believe this to be a great opportunity to expand my store of knowledge .  Third, I believe that my research done for this project will aid me in furthering my eduction for my chosen career. Fourth, I think that I will find it relatively easy to gather sources withing this theme. 

Before this class I knew very little of this topic, however, over the past couple of weeks, I have acquired a working knowledge of medicine during ancient times.  I have studied Hippocrates in greater depth, I have been introduced to Galen, and I have read about ancient medical practices such as dissecting a live criminal in order to further studies in the internal human structure.  I have been given information non early theories about how drugs or medicine aid the body to health.  I have many more questions to ask for the next tow ears, however. 

I would like to learn how pharmaceutical practices developed in history.  Who started it all? Where did the name pharmacy come from?   Who where the key thinkers  and founders?  To what extent were medicines used?  How many of the medicines that we have today were used in ancient times or medieval times?  How might have pharmaceutical practices influenced other areas of science? Who was considered the first doctor?  How did education play a part?  I'm sure as I continue to research my project, a thousand more questions will seek me out and beg for attention.  Questions like these make this topic very interesting to myself and potentially others as well. 

This topic could be interesting, presented in the right format, to almost anyone for several reasons.  Medicine is a crucial element of our modern times. We seem to find a medicine for everything whether it is a disease or not. As humans, we are constantly trying to fine ways to increase our health, the years of our lives, and keep our physical appearance as beautiful as possible throughout the aging process.  Medicine affects all of these issues.  However, the extent to which other people will be interested to read my web site will depend heavily on the format and content of my Episodes. 

I think that for my topic, my first Episode should be The Birth of Pharmacy in Ancient Times.  I will start in ancient Mesopotamia and Egypt with the Papyrus Ebers.  I will either then discuss Hippocrates or Galen and one or two of the most prevalent theories on medicine.  I think I will try to come up with an ongoing list on each of my Episodes, beginning with this one, of some of the common diseases as well as any drugs or medicines during each time frame.  I will also briefly highlight any unusual or significant practices during that time.

My next Episode would be based in Rome, which would be titled, The Growth of Pharmacy in Medieval Times. As of right now, based on my lack of knowledge of this topic, I don't know exactly what to include on this one just yet.  However, I do know that universities came into existence during this time period, so I am sure that formalized education played an important role in pharmaceutical advancement.  I will also find one key practitioner, a few common diseases during that time perhaps, any unusual practices, and one or two prevalent theories.  In addition, probably under the practices heading, I would introduce the concept of the hospital. 

My third Episode would jump into The Maturation of Pharmacy in Early Modern Times.  I would again illustrate the influence and life of a key practitioner during this time period, any important diseases, and one or two prevalent theories.  I will also research the influence of the apothecaries during this time. 

Of course, my Episode will not be interesting in the least if I do not organize and present them with good writing technique.  It is rather challenging for me to decide before hand what kind of writing style I am going to use for my website.  I think that i will incorporate most, if not all, of the writing styles defined on your list.  I will almost likely present the majority of the pages form each Episode from an impersonal, analytical style with side stories and articles depicted with alternative writing methods. 

I will most likely write the bulk of each Episode from a third person narrator while providing further clarification of the points made using a combination of other styles.  What is the connection that ties all the Episodes together?  The thread is my subject matter, I believe - pharmaceutical practices in history.  However, having similar organization in format and writing styles will tie my Episodes together as well.

As another option for a possible variation to the writing styles used, I could come up with some sort of dialgue between a patient and or a pharmacist, since my topic is on the history of pharmacy explaining the use of a drug.  I could also keep maybe a fictional diary on each Episode detailing the life of a pharmacist from each time period. Some other alternatives might include providing detailed descriptions of what the inside of apothecaries looked like. I am sure that there are many other possibilities of writing styles that can be used that I might not be thinking off.  However, I think that I have a good foundation of ideas to start with. 

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