Perspectives of Pharmacology over the Past 100 Years.
Handbook of experimental pharmacology January 1, 2019 James E Barrett, Clive Page, Martin C Michel 4 citations
The 100th anniversary of the Handbook of Experimental Pharmacology coincides with the founding of experimental pharmacology itself, both rooted in Germany. Arthur Heffter founded the handbook in 1919 and also isolated mescaline as the active psychedelic component from the peyote cactus. The discipline was built on the systematic work of Rudolf Buchheim and his student Oswald Schmiedeberg. Despite early resistance, their persistence established pharmacology as a vital medical science that spread globally, leading to current understanding of drug action. The article recounts these beginnings and the early international spread of pharmacology, setting the stage for documenting contributions over the past century and anticipating future developments.