[The punishment of a pharmacist in Istanbul in 1853]

Yakop who ran a pharmacy in Istanbul was accused of malpractice in 1853. The pharmacist had prepared a bottle of cod liver oil for a patient and a bottle of croton oil for another one. He had neglected to label the bottles which were administered by mistake to the patients by his apprentice. The patient who drank a spoonful of croton oil was intoxicated immediately and died. As soon as the event was reported, the police asked the deceased person's family if they intended to sue the pharmacist. They did not. However, the police forces started an investigation and asked the School of Medicine whether the pharmacist was guilty. The School answered that the pharmacist had neglected to label the bottles and was found guilty of causing the death. The Supreme Court took up the matter and sentenced Mr. Yakop to six months imprisonment and decided to close his pharmacy. The decision was published in Takvim-i Vekayi, the official newspaper of the State.