
19th Century pharmacology
Nineteenth-century pharmacology was a time of rapid discovery and experimentation. Scientists identified many new compounds from plants, minerals, and other sources, and began understanding how these substances affected the body. This era saw the development of medicines like opium derivatives, quinine for malaria, and the early use of chemicals like iodine. While scientific methods were improving, knowledge was still evolving, and some treatments lacked rigorous testing. Overall, 19th-century pharmacology laid the groundwork for modern medicine by expanding the understanding of drugs and their effects, although practices varied widely and safety standards were still developing.