Turnos, títulos e "intrusos": Los dolores de cabeza los boticarios (Santiago, 1846-1943)

Abstract

Although regulations enacted in 1846 established the foundation for the operation of pharmacies and drugstores in republican Chile it was not until 1943 that it was possible to notice that these establishments were operating according to the law. Certain legal loopholes, poor oversight, permanent pressure coming from inside the industry, deficient professional training and confusion about responsibilities between pharmacists and druggists, explain the complex situation experienced by pharmacists for a century. All this happened within the context of the explosive growth of the city of Santiago, with the resulting demands of health services and the scientific advances that called for the modernization of pharmaceutical studies. This article analyzes such conflicts and their consequences through legislation, censuses and patent registry.