Portable medicine chests in Serbia during the 19th and the first half of the 20th century.

Portable medicine chests could be considered as the oldest type of pharmacy in the 19th century Serbia. Historically their emergence could be associated with the appearance of the first physicians who kept post in Serbia. They were foreigners engaged on a contract to work during the reign of Prince Milos Obrenovic. According to the data preserved at the State Archive of Serbia (Chancellery of the principality, State Council, Home Office - Medical Department), medicine chests existed as late as the middle of the last century. They were an important source for health protection of the Serbian people as well as for distribution of drugs during the course of the 19th century. This article aims to analyse the content of these chests, based on the archive data records referring to the regular supervision of the medicine chests conducted every fourth year by the district physician. The legal aspect of keeping the portable medicine chest will be discussed as well.