Hyraceum and Castoreum

The petrified excrement (both feces and urine) of the rodents of the Cape Hyrax (Procavia capensis) species was used in the apothecary shops of old as a substitute for Castoreum. The latter, a much better known ingredient of animal origin, was obtained from beaver glands, of both sexes, and was used in the treatment of epilepsy, cholera, but also hysteria due to its analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties. Both substances were also used in the perfume industry.

Actual 18th century hyraceum and castoreum samples, plus several early modern and modern apothecary jars for the two products are on display at the History of Pharmacy Collection in Cluj-Napoca part of the temporary exhibition entitled "Animals that heal" [Animale vindecatoare] - on display until the end of June a.c.

Castoreum

19^th-c. apothecary jars, made of painted wood and glass, containing Castoreum

Hyraceum

Milky cup, signature HYRACEUM, beginning of the 19th c., from Baia Mare.

Castoreum

Castoreum is a yellowish, oily, vanilla-scented excretion from the castor sacs in both male and female beavers, employed by the animals to mark their territory. The substance is still used in the perfume industry, but was famous since Antiquity as a cure. It seems its action is due to the salicin content from the beavers’ diet, being thus similar to aspirin.

18th-century drybeaver sacks

Castoreum is mentioned in all apothecary inventories, taxes and pharmacopoeias from early modern Transylvania. It was recommended against epilepsy, cholera, but also hysteria due to its analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties.

In 17^th-19^th century Transylvania the apothecaries used Castoreum from England (Anglicum), Russia (Moscoviticum) and Canada (Canadense) as tincture, essence, and powder.

The History of Pharmacy Collection in Cluj includes 10 jars, of all types, for Castoreum-based products. Castoreum Moscoviticum, from Moscow, was the most popular among them. Eighteenth-century dried beaver glands are also preserved from the pharmacy in Baia Mare. A small bottle from a portable pharmacy is also dated to the same century and was used for Castoreum Essence. From the nineteenth century we display wooden and milky glass jars from pharmacies in Carei, Braşov and Recaşul de Timiş, while the blues glass jar is from the twentieth century and was used in the old Hintz pharmacy that hosts the museum today.

20th-century blues glass bottle for Castoreum Tincture

18th-century small bottle for Castoreum Essence from the portable apothecary chest of Theresa Kemeny

See all photos and the story of the ingredient in Romanian HERE and follow the official blog of the History of Pharmacy Museum in Cluj-Napoca, heart of Transylvania.

eighteenth century engraving depicting a beaver - castor

Apothecary interior design

The History of Pharmacy Collection in Cluj is hosted in the old apothecary shop of the town, in one of the corners of the main square. The Officina preserves as elements of interior design painted seventeenth-century medallions on the vault and nineteenth-century gilded busts of ancient gods and goddesses of healing (Asclepios/Aesculap and Hygeia). Such elements were meant to increase sales and stress the ancient tradition of the trade, counteracting the clients' possible distrust of the cures and recommendations. The Latin inscriptions of the apothecary jars and furniture on display were also intended to contribute to the pharmacist's presumable knowledge and culture.
Early modern pharmacists were among the first retail traders to invest in marketing and sales strategies, among which shop signs, windows and shutters and interior decoration played an important part.