United States: 1901 to 1950

Between 1900 and 1948, although pharmacy practice still had not been completely separated from medicine, the number of active pharmacists increased from approximately 57,000 to nearly 90,000. Moreover, almost 50 percent of all practicing pharmacists managed or owned the establishment in which they were employed, often assuming three roles including proprietor, practicing pharmacist, and salesperson. In fact, the transition from “corner druggist” with soda fountain delights to commercialized chain store retail pharmacy with its contemporary self-service and mass-merchandising strategies became evident when Charles R. Walgreen purchased 116 drugstores between 1901 and 1927, while Louis K. Liggett, founder of Rexall, acquired 672 drugstores between 1907 and 1930. Unfortunately, even after the founding of the American Pharmacists Association (APhA) in 1852, the [Page 1478]identity of pharmacy as ...