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What do Pharmaceutical Manufacturing and Cheesesteaks have in common?
Submitted by: Russ Somma, Ph.D.
We know of at least eight valuable manuscripts dealing with medical subjects, which have come down from pharmaceutical practices between 3,000 and 4,000 years ago in the Middle East. The most illuminating is the Ebers Papyrus (1500 BC), which mentions 700 drugs from mineral and vegetable origins as well as describing over 800 prescriptions. These prescriptions were written for early manufacture in Egyptian Temples throughout the region.
Records show close collaboration between pharmaceutical and chemical industries were forged as early as the 13th century in Venice. Significant improvements in over 2,000 Galenical (pharmaceutical) items are attributed to the French pharmacist Antoine Baume during the 18th century. During the progression of the industry in England Burroughs Wellcome of London was established by 2 American pharmacists Silas M. Burroughs and Henry Wellcome who had gone to England to introduce pharmaceuticals manufactured in the United States around 1880.
This brings us to our question of what do pharmaceutical manufacturing and cheese steaks have in common. The English settlers at Jamestown VA, 1607 quickly discovered the commercial potential of chemical by-products of the natural resources of the new world for drug and dye products (indigo) and their export to England. These natural products included items such as naval stores (pine tar), minerals, and drug plants such as tan bark. Tan bark was made from dried bark using trees, which were high in tannin content. The material was used for curing animal hides into leather. These same toughening and drying properties made this material useful for wound treatment.
One of the most prominent scientists of the colonial era was John Winthrop, Jr. who worked in exploiting sea salt by various means. He was also the governor of Massachusetts and felt that the medical treatment of the people under his charge was his personal responsibility. In this regard, he was an advocate of developing the manufacture of medicinal supplies rather than relying on imports from England.
The Revolutionary War (1775-1783) increased the demand for pharmaceuticals for the Continental Army. This issue was taken up by Andrew Craigie who was the Apothecary General throughout the conflict. He proved to be ingenious in providing needed drugs and supplies most of which were manufactured under his supervision in Carlisle, PA. This was the largest manufacturing facility that the country had seen. At the end of the war Craigie continued his interests in manufacturing and distribution and enabled the birth of the pharmaceutical industry in the United States.
The period between the Revolution and the Civil War saw the enterprise of pharmaceutical manufacturing grow in response to advances made in Europe in areas such as organic synthesis. This growth was centered around Philadelphia, which we consider our main base of operations here at IPS and home of the cheese steak.
Two of the most prominent firms in the area at that time were headed by two pharmacists John Farr and Abraham Kunzi. They specialized in fine chemical manufacture such as isolating alkaloids. Their companies were merged and partners were brought on. The merged company eventually became a part of the company a young George Merck was establishing in the United States as part of the growth of E. Merck from Darmstadt. The resulting company we know today, as Merck and Company was the result of this growth and merger.
Seems that the industry even then was merger driven in order to advance the art of medical treatment and the technology and vision used to fuel that effort came from the same hometown spirit that gave us the cheese steak.
We know of at least eight valuable manuscripts dealing with medical subjects, which have come down from pharmaceutical practices between 3,000 and 4,000 years ago in the Middle East. The most illuminating is the Ebers Papyrus (1500 BC), which mentions 700 drugs from mineral and vegetable origins as well as describing over 800 prescriptions. These prescriptions were written for early manufacture in Egyptian Temples throughout the region.
Records show close collaboration between pharmaceutical and chemical industries were forged as early as the 13th century in Venice. Significant improvements in over 2,000 Galenical (pharmaceutical) items are attributed to the French pharmacist Antoine Baume during the 18th century. During the progression of the industry in England Burroughs Wellcome of London was established by 2 American pharmacists Silas M. Burroughs and Henry Wellcome who had gone to England to introduce pharmaceuticals manufactured in the United States around 1880.
This brings us to our question of what do pharmaceutical manufacturing and cheese steaks have in common. The English settlers at Jamestown VA, 1607 quickly discovered the commercial potential of chemical by-products of the natural resources of the new world for drug and dye products (indigo) and their export to England. These natural products included items such as naval stores (pine tar), minerals, and drug plants such as tan bark. Tan bark was made from dried bark using trees, which were high in tannin content. The material was used for curing animal hides into leather. These same toughening and drying properties made this material useful for wound treatment.
One of the most prominent scientists of the colonial era was John Winthrop, Jr. who worked in exploiting sea salt by various means. He was also the governor of Massachusetts and felt that the medical treatment of the people under his charge was his personal responsibility. In this regard, he was an advocate of developing the manufacture of medicinal supplies rather than relying on imports from England.
The Revolutionary War (1775-1783) increased the demand for pharmaceuticals for the Continental Army. This issue was taken up by Andrew Craigie who was the Apothecary General throughout the conflict. He proved to be ingenious in providing needed drugs and supplies most of which were manufactured under his supervision in Carlisle, PA. This was the largest manufacturing facility that the country had seen. At the end of the war Craigie continued his interests in manufacturing and distribution and enabled the birth of the pharmaceutical industry in the United States.
The period between the Revolution and the Civil War saw the enterprise of pharmaceutical manufacturing grow in response to advances made in Europe in areas such as organic synthesis. This growth was centered around Philadelphia, which we consider our main base of operations here at IPS and home of the cheese steak.
Two of the most prominent firms in the area at that time were headed by two pharmacists John Farr and Abraham Kunzi. They specialized in fine chemical manufacture such as isolating alkaloids. Their companies were merged and partners were brought on. The merged company eventually became a part of the company a young George Merck was establishing in the United States as part of the growth of E. Merck from Darmstadt. The resulting company we know today, as Merck and Company was the result of this growth and merger.
Seems that the industry even then was merger driven in order to advance the art of medical treatment and the technology and vision used to fuel that effort came from the same hometown spirit that gave us the cheese steak.
posted by IPS at
7:42 AM
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