[The origins of analysis and of drugs control]

Analytical concerns were quite ancient. As soon as the 12th century, Al-Chayzari searched drugs falsifications. During the 17th century, retort analysis was much practiced. Selective extraction constituted a great progress. During the 18th century, gas volumetric analysis appeared. Descroizilles created volumetric analysis in liquid phase, and that gave him the opportunity for creating acidi-alcalimetry methods. Following the works of Gay-Lussac and Thénard, Liebig invented an apparatus for performing elemental analysis of organic compounds. Michael Tswett created chromatography. Polarimetry was used for dosing glucose in human urines. Kirchhoff and Bunsen created spectroscopic analysis. All these methods allowed the great development of analysis during the 20th century.