Erxleben's Neo-Gothic Pharmacy

The exposition of the Žamberk Museum includes unique equipment of a neo-Gothic pharmacy from the second half of the 19th century, owned by the Erxleben family from Lanškroun. The pharmacy with its original counter, instruments, scales and other equipment was one of the most modern in the region at the time and is still a testimony to the pharmacy of the time.

The premises of the Žamberk Municipal Museum contain unique equipment and furnishings of the Neo-Gothic pharmacy owned by the important Erxleben family of pharmacists from Lanškroun. Christian Polykarp Erxleben was one of the most important chemists and chemical pharmacists of the 18th century and developed a number of new procedures for the preparation of medicines as well as methods of bleaching in the textile industry. He was a pupil of the famous naturalist Ignaz Born and after returning from his studies in Vienna he established his own chemical and textile factory in Lanškroun, where he devoted himself to his experiments. He soon became well known for his successful methods of bleaching and at the same time discovered, among other things, a very effective method of producing sulphuric acid, which he began to produce and sell himself. In addition, he established a pharmacy in Lanškroun called At the Good Samaritan and sold and manufactured medicines there. He also established a small private botanical garden near the pharmacy. His son Eduard Norbert Erxleben (1796-1860) inherited the business and continued to run the pharmacy. Thanks to their skill, the Erxlebens could afford the highest quality and most modern pharmaceutical tools and equipment. Their pharmacy was very popular in the wider area. Almost complete equipment of the pharmacy has been preserved to this day and is an excellent testimony of the pharmacy of the second half of the 19th century. Visitors to the Žamberk Museum can see what pharmacy looked like at that time, get acquainted with period instruments, such as scales, and learn how medicines were produced in the past. Those who see the exposition and the equipment of the pharmacy will learn, for example, that the pharmacist of that time was not only a seller of medicines, but above all an experienced expert in chemistry, a skilled laboratory technician and a great expert in herbs and the human body in health and disease.

DRÁBEK, P.; MACKOVÁ, M.: Christian Polykarp Erxleben. Biografický slovník českých zemí 16, Praha 2013, s. 21─22.

 

FISCHER, W.: Historie rodu Erxlebenů. 240 let od narození Christiana Polykarpa Erxlebena. Lanškrounsko: vlastivědný sborník Městského muzea Lanškroun, 3/2005, s. 10─14.

(Author: Žamberk museum)