New Books Network Clare Griffin, "Mixing Medicines: The Global Drug Trade and Early Modern Russia" (McGill-Queen's UP, 2022)
Jan 11, 2026
Clare Griffin, a history professor at Indiana University and author specializing in early modern Russian medical history, dives into the fascinating world of medicinal trade in Russia. She reveals how the apothecary chancery operated, highlighting the contrast between plant-based remedies and the controversial use of human-derived medicines in Europe. Griffin discusses the influence of Orthodox beliefs on medical practices and the surprising role of American botanicals in Russian health. She also shares insights from her ongoing research about soldiers’ wounds and the complexities of historical medical narratives.
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Finding Research Through Strange Lists
- Clare Griffin discovered the apothecary chancery records by following archival documents that intrigued her rather than starting from theory.
- Those lists of ingredients and prescriptions directed her whole project toward materia medica and supply networks.
One Bureaucracy Held Many Medical Roles
- The Apothecary Chancery combined roles we now separate: court physicians, military medical supply, quarantine enforcement, and early licensing.
- In the 17th century it functioned as court pharmacy, CDC-like quarantiner, and nascent FDA before these duties split in the 18th century.
Foreign Physicians As Diplomatic Trust
- Early court physicians were often foreigners recruited via diplomatic ties rather than chosen solely for expertise.
- Clare Griffin argues these hires reflect trust and diplomatic exchange as much as medical skill.
