The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 272 No 7291 p364
20 March 2004

Society summary

Museum's pharmacy history film goes on sale to the public

A short film showing how medicines were prepared in the days before the mass manufacture of prepacked products is now on sale to the public. Produced by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society’s museum in 2001, “How medicines were made” shows Peter Homan, a retired pharmacist and one of the museum’s volunteers, demonstrating various manipulative techniques, including pill-making, cachet filling and the use of a Brockedon press to make tablets. The film is subtitled.

Briony Hudson, the Society’s keeper of the museum collections, said: “Seeing some of the techniques involved in dispensing really brings the history of pharmacy to life. The museum has regularly used this film as part of lectures, alongside exhibitions and to illustrate some of the objects in its collections. With so many potential uses, it is great to be able to make it available for other people.”

The 15-minute film, which is in VHS format, is priced at £12.50 including postage. copies can be obtained direct from the museum (tel 020 7572 2210; e-mail museum@rpsgb.org). Members of the Society can borrow the video from the Society’s library.