The eighteenth century brought many changes to medicine in the Americas. In the early 1700's travels throughout America had resulted in the discovery of Hamamelis, Ginsing, May Apple and other native medicinal plants. By this time the number of apothecary shops in the colonies had grown dramatically. In 1722 there were fourteen apothecary shops in Boston alone, most of which were run by physicians who put their apprentices in charge of making medicines. In 1728, the first botanical garden in the new world was opened by John Bartram after he traveled the continent collecting new plants (James, 2001).
The Spanish takeover of Louisiana in 1769 brought stricter medicinal laws. Apothecaries could not distribute drugs without a prescription, and were forced to keep track of those who bought poisons.
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