Stories

Pharmagraphics

Drawings and designs are an essential part of the history of pharmacy. Whether it's imparting knowledge in medieval herbals, stamping their authority on regulations and standards, or promoting their wares in adverts and signs, apothecaries and pharmacists have always understood the value of graphic imagery.

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Pharmaceutical label iwth snakes, a cockeral and a crocodile-like creature
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Part1
Plant portraits

The beautiful and mysterious illustrations in medieval herbals convey a wealth of knowledge about the plants they portray.

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Part2
The poor child’s nurse

Charming family scenes in Victorian ads for children’s medicines were at odds with some of the dangerous ingredients they contained.

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Part3
Theriac: An ancient brand?

The name theriac survived for around for two millennia as a pharmaceutical term. But a ‘brand’ name is not always a guarantee of quality.

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Part4
The chymist’s trade card

An 18th-century trade card reveals far more than its owner may have intended.

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Man in bed with vegetables sprouting from his body
Part5
Graphic battles in pharmacy

James Morison’s campaign against the medical establishment inspired a wave of caricatures mocking his quack medicine.

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Sign for the London Clinic
Part6
The origins and meanings of pharmacy symbols

What have snakes, unicorns and crocodiles got to do with pharmacies? The history of these modern signs goes back to the Greek gods.

About the author

Photograph of Julia Nurse

Julia Nurse

Julia is a Collections Researcher at Wellcome Collection with a background in art history. She co-curated the content within the Reading Room and has assisted with content selection for ‘Bedlam’, ‘Electricity: The spark of life’ and ‘Can Graphic Design Save Your Life?’