Prakt. lékáren. 2014; 10(1): 34-36

First Jewish pharmacists in Prague - part 2

Tomáš Arndt

Katedra sociální a klinické farmacie, Farmaceutická fakulta Univerzity Karlovy v Praze, Hradec Králové

In this paper I decided to outline the problems of the unique existence of the very specific Jewish chemist’s shop – so called Judenapotheke

in Prague, whose existence lasted in various forms since the Middle Ages to the end of the 19th century. Its exceptionality consisted in the

fact, that it – by contrast to other chemist’s shops owned by the Czechs – was not controlled by the Medical Faculty of Prague University.

Its activities were limited, because it could serve just only for Jewish doctors and patients. The last stage (the 18th and 19th centuries) in the

existence of this chemist’s shop was very important. Already in the first half of the 18th century (1725) the distinguished Prague Jewish

family Jeitteles became the new owner of the chemist’s shop. In this era, i. e. during the rule of the Emperor Joseph II, the shop received the

Emperor’s Privilege, according to it could sell pharmaceuticals not only to the Jews. On the other side, since the beginning of the 18th century

it fell within the Medical Faculty of Prague University cognizance. However, for the whole era the shop had to have Christian “provisor”. In

this connection it is necessary to say that the owners of the shop had many other activities. They got scientific degrees and positions and

were very active in the various clubs, leagues and associations. One of the owners of the shop, Benjamin Jeitteles, became the first “tyron”

of the Jewish origin in the Czech Lands. The history of this chemist’s shop very well illustrates the emancipation of the Jewish minority in

the Czech lands in the 19th century. In 1873, when the Czech chemist bought the shop, the history of its Jewish ownership ended.

Keywords: judenapotheke, Jeitteles, tyrotional examination privilege

Published: February 10, 2014  Show citation