Between the Natural and the Artificial. Dyestuffs and Medicines

This thematic volume consists of a selection of papers from the XXth International Congress of History of Science, which was held in Liège in 1997. Two separated symposia were concerned with the study of historical connections between such different scientific fields as chemistry, botany, pharmacy, medicine and their technical aspects. Natural products from plants and animals, and their artificial equivalents, which were especially studied and used for dyeing and for medicinal purposes, were discussed in both meetings. The various contributions of the present volume deal with many of these products in several countries (in Europe, Asia, Africa and America) from the medieval period to the XIXth century. The first part treats of some historical aspects of chemical and pharmaceutical questions related to selected dyestuffs. The second part deals with pharmaceutical products for medicinal and biological purposes. These studies should contribute to foster new interdisciplinary research in this field, which is bound to develop at the international level.