John Michael Maisch
Encyclopedia
John Michael Maisch was a United States
pharmacist
, the "father of adequate pharmaceutical legislation."
and microscopy
, and he did practical fieldwork in the Hanau vicinity. He conceived an ambition for a university education. He was at first inclined toward theology
, but an increasing interest in natural science led him to devote himself to scientific studies. His devotion to his studies was such that his health became undermined, and he was obliged to give up his close application to study as well as his ambition for a university education.
He joined the military service of Hesse
and imbibed the revolutionary ideas circulating among the soldiers at that time. Feeling the inconsistency of his situation, he left the military for the Turners and joined them in promulgating revolutionary ideas in the Main River
valley. This resulted in him being arrested in Sinsheim
and sentenced to four and a half years imprisonment at hard labor. With the help of friends, he escaped.
, then Philadelphia (1853), then New York City
and again, in 1856, in Philadelphia, when he also became an instructor at Edward Parrish
's School of Practical Pharmacy. In Philadelphia, one of his employers was Robert Shoemaker, a pioneer wholesale druggist and manufacturing pharmacist. Maisch aided in the inspection of the roots, barks, leaves, chemicals, etc., that came into the store.
He published his first paper, “On the Adulteration of Drugs and Chemical Preparations,” in the American Journal of Pharmacy in May 1854.
In 1861, he returned to New York City to be professor of materia medica
and pharmacy in the New York College of Pharmacy and work in the laboratory of Edward R. Squibb
. In 1863, at the height of the American Civil War
, he organized and was chief chemist
of the U. S. Army laboratory in Philadelphia at Sixth and Oxford Streets. This laboratory realized savings of approximately $1,000,000 for the government during the war.
at the College. Maisch sold his pharmacy in 1871, when he also became editor of the American Journal of Pharmacy, a position he held for 22 years. In 1871, he also received the degrees of Phar.M.
and Phar.D.
from the Maryland College of Pharmacy. From 1870 to 1881, he had charge of the chemical laboratory at the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy. He was very active in the American Pharmaceutical Association, and its permanent secretary from 1865 until his death, having charge of the editing of its annual volume of proceedings. He was also one of the committee of revision of the “U. S. Pharmacopœia.”
He actively sought legislation regulating pharmacists and pharmacies. After completing a survey in 1868 which showed almost a complete absence of such legislation, in 1869 he formulated a model law for state legislatures. By 1900 such laws could be found practically everywhere.
He was elected to membership in the American Philosophical Society
on January 18, 1884. His entreaties resulted in the founding of the Pennsylvania Pharmaceutical Association.
At his funeral, there were representatives from the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy; the Pennsylvania Pharmaceutical Association; Mt. Moriah Lodge, No. 155, F. and A. M.; Covenant Lodge, No. 114, I. O. O. F.; Cleomenes Senate, No. 14, Order of Sparta; Harmony Chapter, No. 52, Royal Arch Masons; Quaker City Lodge, No. 116, A. O. U. W.; and Deutsche Pionier Verein. Interment was had at Chelton Hills, and the body was cremated.
In 1859, he married Charlotte Justine Kuhl. A widow, five sons and two daughters survived him.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
pharmacist
Pharmacist
Pharmacists are allied health professionals who practice in pharmacy, the field of health sciences focusing on safe and effective medication use...
, the "father of adequate pharmaceutical legislation."
Germany
He was the son of Conrad Maisch, a merchant. He received his early education in the free schools of Hanau. When he was 12, his parents apprenticed him to a goldsmith. This only lasted three days since school officials disapproved and demanded his return to academic studies. One of his teachers introduced him to the study of mineralogyMineralogy
Mineralogy is the study of chemistry, crystal structure, and physical properties of minerals. Specific studies within mineralogy include the processes of mineral origin and formation, classification of minerals, their geographical distribution, as well as their utilization.-History:Early writing...
and microscopy
Microscopy
Microscopy is the technical field of using microscopes to view samples and objects that cannot be seen with the unaided eye...
, and he did practical fieldwork in the Hanau vicinity. He conceived an ambition for a university education. He was at first inclined toward theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
, but an increasing interest in natural science led him to devote himself to scientific studies. His devotion to his studies was such that his health became undermined, and he was obliged to give up his close application to study as well as his ambition for a university education.
He joined the military service of Hesse
Hesse
Hesse or Hessia is both a cultural region of Germany and the name of an individual German state.* The cultural region of Hesse includes both the State of Hesse and the area known as Rhenish Hesse in the neighbouring Rhineland-Palatinate state...
and imbibed the revolutionary ideas circulating among the soldiers at that time. Feeling the inconsistency of his situation, he left the military for the Turners and joined them in promulgating revolutionary ideas in the Main River
Main river
Main rivers are a statutory type of watercourse in England and Wales, usually larger streams and rivers, but also include some smaller watercourses. A main river is defined as a watercourse marked as such on a main river map, and can include any structure or appliance for controlling or regulating...
valley. This resulted in him being arrested in Sinsheim
Sinsheim
Sinsheim is a town in southwestern Germany, in the Rhine Neckar Area of the state Baden-Württemberg about 22 kilometers southeast of Heidelberg and about 28 kilometers northwest of Heilbronn in the district Rhein-Neckar. It consists of a city center and 11 suburbs with a total population of 35,605...
and sentenced to four and a half years imprisonment at hard labor. With the help of friends, he escaped.
United States
He emigrated to the United States in 1849, and initially worked in a factory in Baltimore, Maryland. His interest in natural science led him to become acquainted with two doctors, Wiss and Vogler, who helped him study pharmacy, and he was employed in a drug store owned by Wiss. When that store was sold, he became a clerk in Washington, D.C.Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, then Philadelphia (1853), then New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and again, in 1856, in Philadelphia, when he also became an instructor at Edward Parrish
Edward Parrish
Edward Parrish was an American pharmacist. He was the first president of Swarthmore College.-Biography:...
's School of Practical Pharmacy. In Philadelphia, one of his employers was Robert Shoemaker, a pioneer wholesale druggist and manufacturing pharmacist. Maisch aided in the inspection of the roots, barks, leaves, chemicals, etc., that came into the store.
He published his first paper, “On the Adulteration of Drugs and Chemical Preparations,” in the American Journal of Pharmacy in May 1854.
In 1861, he returned to New York City to be professor of materia medica
Materia medica
Materia medica is a Latin medical term for the body of collected knowledge about the therapeutic properties of any substance used for healing . The term 'materia medica' derived from the title of a work by the Ancient Greek physician Pedanius Dioscorides in the 1st century AD, De materia medica libre...
and pharmacy in the New York College of Pharmacy and work in the laboratory of Edward R. Squibb
E. R. Squibb
Edward Robinson Squibb was a leading American inventor and manufacturer of pharmaceutics who founded E. R. Squibb and Sons, which eventually became part of the modern pharmaceutical giant Bristol-Myers Squibb....
. In 1863, at the height of the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, he organized and was chief chemist
Chemist
A chemist is a scientist trained in the study of chemistry. Chemists study the composition of matter and its properties such as density and acidity. Chemists carefully describe the properties they study in terms of quantities, with detail on the level of molecules and their component atoms...
of the U. S. Army laboratory in Philadelphia at Sixth and Oxford Streets. This laboratory realized savings of approximately $1,000,000 for the government during the war.
Philadelphia
In 1866, after the war had ended, he opened a pharmacy at 1607 Ridge Avenue in Philadelphia, and joined the faculty of the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy. In 1867, he became professor of materia medica and botanyBotany
Botany, plant science, or plant biology is a branch of biology that involves the scientific study of plant life. Traditionally, botany also included the study of fungi, algae and viruses...
at the College. Maisch sold his pharmacy in 1871, when he also became editor of the American Journal of Pharmacy, a position he held for 22 years. In 1871, he also received the degrees of Phar.M.
Master of Pharmacy
A Master of Pharmacy is an academic degree in the field of pharmacy, which may be undergraduate or postgraduate depending on the country concerned. In many countries, it has superseded a Bachelor of Pharmacy as the prerequisite for registration to practice as a pharmacist...
and Phar.D.
Doctor of Pharmacy
A Doctor of Pharmacy is a professional doctorate degree in pharmacy. In some countries, it is a first professional degree, and a prerequisite for licensing to exercise the profession of pharmacist.-Kenya :...
from the Maryland College of Pharmacy. From 1870 to 1881, he had charge of the chemical laboratory at the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy. He was very active in the American Pharmaceutical Association, and its permanent secretary from 1865 until his death, having charge of the editing of its annual volume of proceedings. He was also one of the committee of revision of the “U. S. Pharmacopœia.”
He actively sought legislation regulating pharmacists and pharmacies. After completing a survey in 1868 which showed almost a complete absence of such legislation, in 1869 he formulated a model law for state legislatures. By 1900 such laws could be found practically everywhere.
He was elected to membership in the American Philosophical Society
American Philosophical Society
The American Philosophical Society, founded in 1743, and located in Philadelphia, Pa., is an eminent scholarly organization of international reputation, that promotes useful knowledge in the sciences and humanities through excellence in scholarly research, professional meetings, publications,...
on January 18, 1884. His entreaties resulted in the founding of the Pennsylvania Pharmaceutical Association.
At his funeral, there were representatives from the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy; the Pennsylvania Pharmaceutical Association; Mt. Moriah Lodge, No. 155, F. and A. M.; Covenant Lodge, No. 114, I. O. O. F.; Cleomenes Senate, No. 14, Order of Sparta; Harmony Chapter, No. 52, Royal Arch Masons; Quaker City Lodge, No. 116, A. O. U. W.; and Deutsche Pionier Verein. Interment was had at Chelton Hills, and the body was cremated.
In 1859, he married Charlotte Justine Kuhl. A widow, five sons and two daughters survived him.
Publications
His original investigations in technical pharmacy were numerous, and treated improved processes of analysis, botanical methods, and chemical researches. For the most part, his research was published in the American Journal of Pharmacy. Other publications:- Griffith's Universal Formulary, editor (3d ed., Philadelphia, 1874)
- The National Dispensatory, with Alfred M. Stillé (4 eds., 1879-'86). Stillé, a physician, did the medical part, and Maisch wrote the chemical, botanical, pharmaceutical and materia medica part.
- Manual Organic Materia Medica (3 eds., 1882–1887).