Packing Techniques and political obedience as scientific issues: medicinal balsams, gums andresins from de Indies to Madrid (1780s)

MARCELO FABIÁN FIGUEROA

HoST Journal of History of Science and Technology

Interuniversity centre for the History of Science and Technology, University of Lisbon, New University of Lisbon, University of Évora

Lugar: Lisboa; Año: 2011

1646-7752

               This paper studies the adminstrative, legal and scientific instructions issued by the Ministry of the Indies during 1780s to furnish the Royal Pharmacy in Madrid, especially it focuses on the transporting of medicinal vegetal products from the colonies. This transporting was a challenging operation in which colonial authorities were involved: which were the technical, scientific and political challenges faced by this scientific practice enforced by the government? How did political power relations interrelate to obtain natural objects suitable for the Royal Pharmacy?. The successive shipments of plants and instructions highlight the problems triggered by the systematization of transportation of medicinal plants pursued by the Ministry of the Indies.