Mardi Gras (also known as Fat Tuesday) is today, February 21st, in the southern region of the United States and beyond.  You are probably asking yourself what this has to do with the world of pharmacy.  In 1857, a secret New Orleans society was formed called The Mystic Krewe of Comus.  The members of Comus consisted of many wealthy members, including pharmacists, doctors and other professional people.  These members have another association related to the pharmacy profession.  The members met at a local Vieux Caree (French Quarter) pharmacy called Pope’s Pharmacy.  Pope’s pharmacy was a local independent pharmacy serving the New Orleans area. 

 

We would call this type of pharmacy a community or retail pharmacy today.  In earlier times, the pharmacist was a person individuals could go to for their ailments and get advice as to how to treat their woes.  He or she was seen as a person who was a community icon and someone people could easily talk to.  Another pharmaceutical tie-in is the fact that pharmacists played a role in serving royalty.  “The royalty of various countries created another role for the pharmacist, known as the Court Apothecary or the Royal Apothecary, who provided pharmacy and other services to the royal family.  This was a prestigious and honored position that paid well.  These pharmacists lived a very rich lifestyle,” (Moini, 5). 

 

By studying past history and the history of pharmacy much can be learned from our past and we can apply that previous knowledge to the pharmacy profession of today, giving us a path to future success and well-being for both pharmacy technicians and the patients they serve. 

 

1.  Cephas Ministry, Inc reports.  “New Orleans Mardi Gras Mystic Krewe of Comus Secrets Revealed.”  Date of Access:  19 Feb 2012.  http://www.cephas-library.com/masonic_mardigras_secrets.html.

 

2.  Moini, Jahangir.  “The Pharmacy Technician:  A Comprehensive Approach.”  United States:  Thompson Delmar Learning, 2005.   

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