Moyse Charas
Encyclopedia
Moyse Charas was an apothecary
in France
during the reign of Louis XIV. He became famous for publishing compendiums of medication formulas, many of which had been kept secret for centuries to maintain a monopoly.
, first published in 1676, was the best-known of Charas's works and was the first medical book from Europe
translated into Chinese
. A medication included in his formulary was theriac
which was first made popular by the Greeks
as an antidote to animal bites and disseminated over the Silk Route. The formula for theriac included as many as 600 separate ingredients and was kept secret for over seventeen centuries. Another medication included was orvietan
. Charas is considered an important figure for the dissemination of medical knowledge.
Charas was inducted as member of the (the French Academy of Sciences
) in 1692 at the age of 73. As well as the publishing of his works, he had enjoyed a distinguished career as a lecturer in Chemistry. He was an expert in areas such poison
s, antidote
s, opium
, and viperidae
. There is evidence that his nomination and acceptance into the was based on the importance of his publications on pharmacology
rather than on his credentials as a scientific researcher, contrary to the usual practice of the day.
Apothecary
Apothecary is a historical name for a medical professional who formulates and dispenses materia medica to physicians, surgeons and patients — a role now served by a pharmacist and some caregivers....
in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
during the reign of Louis XIV. He became famous for publishing compendiums of medication formulas, many of which had been kept secret for centuries to maintain a monopoly.
, first published in 1676, was the best-known of Charas's works and was the first medical book from Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
translated into Chinese
Chinese language
The Chinese language is a language or language family consisting of varieties which are mutually intelligible to varying degrees. Originally the indigenous languages spoken by the Han Chinese in China, it forms one of the branches of Sino-Tibetan family of languages...
. A medication included in his formulary was theriac
Theriac
Theriac or theriaca was a medical concoction originally formulated by the Greeks in the 1st century AD and became popular throughout the ancient world as far away as China and India via the trading links of the Silk Route...
which was first made popular by the Greeks
Greeks
The Greeks, also known as the Hellenes , are a nation and ethnic group native to Greece, Cyprus and neighboring regions. They also form a significant diaspora, with Greek communities established around the world....
as an antidote to animal bites and disseminated over the Silk Route. The formula for theriac included as many as 600 separate ingredients and was kept secret for over seventeen centuries. Another medication included was orvietan
Orvietan
Orvietan or orviétan was a medical concoction popular during the 17th and 18th century. It was used as a panacea against poisonings with criminal intent, as well as against mushroom poisonings, snakebite, scorpion stings, bites by rabid animals and against the plague.- Origins :Gerolamo Ferranti...
. Charas is considered an important figure for the dissemination of medical knowledge.
Charas was inducted as member of the (the French Academy of Sciences
Academy of Sciences
An Academy of Sciences is a national academy or another learned society dedicated to sciences.In non-English speaking countries, the range of academic fields of the members of a national Academy of Science often includes fields which would not normally be classed as "science" in English...
) in 1692 at the age of 73. As well as the publishing of his works, he had enjoyed a distinguished career as a lecturer in Chemistry. He was an expert in areas such poison
Poison
In the context of biology, poisons are substances that can cause disturbances to organisms, usually by chemical reaction or other activity on the molecular scale, when a sufficient quantity is absorbed by an organism....
s, antidote
Antidote
An antidote is a substance which can counteract a form of poisoning. The term ultimately derives from the Greek αντιδιδοναι antididonai, "given against"....
s, opium
Opium
Opium is the dried latex obtained from the opium poppy . Opium contains up to 12% morphine, an alkaloid, which is frequently processed chemically to produce heroin for the illegal drug trade. The latex also includes codeine and non-narcotic alkaloids such as papaverine, thebaine and noscapine...
, and viperidae
Viperidae
The Viperidae are a family of venomous snakes found all over the world, except in Antarctica, Australia, Ireland, Madagascar, Hawaii, various other isolated islands, and above the Arctic Circle. All have relatively long, hinged fangs that permit deep penetration and injection of venom. Four...
. There is evidence that his nomination and acceptance into the was based on the importance of his publications on pharmacology
Pharmacology
Pharmacology is the branch of medicine and biology concerned with the study of drug action. More specifically, it is the study of the interactions that occur between a living organism and chemicals that affect normal or abnormal biochemical function...
rather than on his credentials as a scientific researcher, contrary to the usual practice of the day.