The Herb Garret was used by the Apothecary of St. Thomas's Hospital. He was the chief resident medical officer, responsible not only for compounding medicines but also for diagnosis for the non-surgical patients.
He had a laboratory by his chambers, 4 doors down the road from here.
He had to pay for all the drugs required by the hospital out of his own fees. This was a device the Governors used to 'cash-limit' the costs of health-care. However, the system was not ideal as there were complaints that the Apothecary made savings on the drug bill at the expense of the quality of the medicines.
He obtained some of his Herbs from the Hospital's Garden, some brought in by the Herb Woman, (sold by the container full; eg wormwood by the horseload; others by lapfull, bundle, bag or flasket). Other herbs were purchased from City Apothecaries, many of whom were Hospital Governors.
St. Thomas's employed its first Apothecary in 1566, and its last in 1871 when the role as senior medical officer was transferred to the Assistant Physician.
Notes from St. Thomas's archives concerning herbs and the apothecary Apothecaries in London
Herb List from Guy's Hospital
Medicinal use of Herbs
Apothecaries in London
Administering herbal medicines
'A Modern Herbal' by
Mrs M Grieve.
St
Thomas's Church PlanSt
Thomas's Church InfoLondon
Museums of Health and Medicine The
Old Operating Theatre MuseumThe
Herb Garret
