THE FIRST PRIVATE CHEMIST’S SHOPS IN RUSSIA

On November 22 (December 3) 1701 Peter I issued the highest Decree which stipulated foundation of eight private chemist’s shops in Moscow. New chemist’s shops were released from military billeting, while pharmacists - from military duty and paying taxes.

First chemist’s shops in Russia appeared in 17^th century as a result of development of the public health service. In the 1620s a Pharmacy Prikaz (office) was founded, which became the central government body in charge of all medical affairs countrywide. Peter I attached a great importance to an organization of chemist’s shop. In 1699 in Moscow the Chief state-run chemist’s shop was established. Chemist’s shops in Germany seen by Peter I during his Grand Embassy of 1697-1698, served as a model for foundation of a new type of chemist’s shops in Russia - private chemist’s shops. In 1701 Peter I issued several decrees, which reformed chemist’s shop in Russia: on abolishment of highly developed out-of-pharmacy trade of medicines and on strengthening of the pharmacy monopoly. To chemist’s shops Peter I granted various privileges: released them from taxes, allowed to use the image of the State Emblem on documents. The decree read that “every Russian or foreign citizen, willing to run a private chemist’s shop, with the state’s permission will be granted the place and a letters patent for a hereditary right of ownership on this institution”.

The first private chemist’s shop in Russia was opened by the alchymist of the Pharmacy Prikaz Johann-Gottfried Gregorius (Gregory) in the New-German quarter of Moscow. A month later in Myasnitskaya Street a chemist’s shop of the court doctor Daniil Gurchin, who had a degree of Doctor of Medicine, was established. Later in different districts of Moscow other private chemist’s shops were founded as well: in 1703 - a chemist’s shop at Pokrov Gates which belonged to Gavriil Sauls, who studied pharmacy in Holland; in 1707 - a chemist’s shop owned by Jessin Arnikel at Varvarka Gates; in 1712 - chemist’s shops of Avraam Rut near Old Stone Bridge in Bely Gorod (White Town) and the one ran by Gavriil Byshevsky in Varvarka Street. And at last the eighth chemist’s shop was launched in 1713 by Albert Sander in the Sretensk Street. This number of chemist’s shops in Moscow remained unchanged almost within the whole 18^th century.

Exercise 15.Answer the questions:

1. What is the main idea of the text?

2. When did the first chemist’s shop appear in Russia?

3. Who attached a great importance to an organization of chemist’s shops?

4. What did serve as a model for foundation of a new type of chemist’s shops in Russia?

5. Which privileges did the chemist’s shops get?

6. Who opened the first private chemist’s shop in Russia?

Exercise 16:Read the following text: