Apothecary inventory offers glimpse into medicines from the 17th century

As you step into your local pharmacy you will be greeted by a wide range of pristine white boxes and packets, clearly labelled and neatly displayed on clean, well-lit shelves. This is a far cry from the apothecary shops of the 17th century where shelves would have been lined with countless jars of dried plants, roots and animal parts and the apothecary would have been busy behind the counter, mixing up ointments, salves and potions to treat a variety of ailments from syphilis to the plague.

Recent analysis of the inventory of a 17th century apothecary shop has revealed some interesting and surprising insights into what they would have stocked. These ranged from harmless herbs and spices to potent poisons.