Monasterial pharmacy in Vyšší Brod
Among manuscripts of
Vyšší Brod monasterial library can be found the oldest medical
manuscript from 13th century "Remedium contra dolorem capitis",
which betokens, that Monastery
in Vyšší Brod had already organized the medical care not only
for monks. In the year 1651, so closely after the end of the thirty
years war, 29. Vyšší Brod abbot Georg III. Wendschuh decided to
change an old abbey into a pharmacy. PhMr. Eve Laurinova wrote,
that "it meant just new placing of chemist, because there already
was a cloister apothecary". The oldest found pharmaceutical account
from monasterial chemist is from the year 1652, when the apothecary
was here Blažej Kutscher, who: "has been serving here two years
already as an apothecary". Also this datum proves the existence of
pharmacy here before year 1651, as well as number of medical and
pharmaceutical books from 16th century today placed in monasterial
library.
The meaning of Vyšší Brod monasterial chemist was above all that, that it supplied the medicines even to patients out of cloister. Quantity of medicines given to patients lines it to the big chemists. In a cloister used to be a doctor, what is documented in preserved index. The apothecaries from monasterial chemist had many suppliers and they were buying in Wels and Linz. They also had their continual herbewoman, who was out of base pay getting an "extra money for delivered herbs". The pharmacy supplied medicines not only to people, but also to cattle in the manor. When in years 1713 till 1714 broke out around the plague, the cloister not only closed its gates, there were also established the health patrols, arriving people were checked and "the apothecary was prepared for a quick help", what witnesses, that chemist served to broad surrounding. In the year 1773 operation was prohibited to all monasterial chemists. There were only two exemptions in Bohemia, namely monasterial chemists in Teplá and in Vyšší Brod. Since then was monasterial chemist in Vyšší Brod marked "c.k. privileged chemist".
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Further information:
History
of the Vyšší Brod Region
Vyšší
Brod Monastery
Ecclesiastical
History in the Český Krumlov Region
Hospital
in Vyšší Brod
Vyšší
Brod
The
capitular hall in monastery in Vyšší Brod
Life in
monastery in Vyšší Brod