This thesis is based on Rüde ́s book Pharmaceutische Erfahrungen (Pharmaceutical conclusions) from the year 1815, which is made up of two parts. The first was published in 1804, and the second one 11 years later. The thesis includes the translation and critical evaluation of some chosen chapters from the first part. For the preparation of the thesis we used several databases and books (Google Scholar, PubMed, Formularium Slovenicum, Sodobna fitoterapija, etc.) to collect as much information as possible. Our goal was to improve the understanding of the history of pharmacy in the second half of the 18th and the beginning of the 19th century and to show the improvement in the field.
In the book, the author turned his attention mainly towards herbal preparations, some organic and anorganic substances and delivery systems popular at the time. Most of the presented preparations are no longer used in modern pharmacy, some have found their home in homeopathy, while some are still used and have become an irreplaceable part of modern materia medica. Rüde has also described common mistakes related to the prescription and manufacture of medicines, and suggested his own improvements, according to his own inventions and ideas. Along with that, he references different literature that enables the reader to gain an insight into others' people work from that time. The book's uniqueness stems from the fact that it's written in a very personal tone, which shows Rüde's passion for his expertise. That, combined with the advice he gives for daily tasks in the apothecary's shop, gives the book an impression of a manual for the apothecary of the early 19th century.
We have come to the conclusion that most of the author's improvements and corrections are ineffective and his conclusions wrong. That may be attributed to the fact that apothecaries of the late 18th century had limited access to knowledge and resources. Nevertheless, some of his ideas and suggestions are undoubtedly progressive for a scholar from the early 19th century and could even be used today (eg. the preparation of syrups, infuses, decocts, extraction of essential oils, etc.). For Rüde, it is typical that his knowledge is derived from his practical experiences, but he lacks a deeper understanding of the underlying processes. This is to be expected, considering the fact that the book had been published before the year 1805, when Friedrich W. A. Sertürner successfully isolated the alkaloid morphine from opium, which triggered a revolution in chemistry and its related sciences, including pharmacy.
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