In the context mentioned and anticipating the situation that would later exist in other countries, the first pharmaceutical society was born in Bucharest on October 1869. It was named The Society of Romanian Pharmacists and declared its official mission as “the support and development of pharmaceutical science in Romania.” The emergence of the Society and its application marked an important starting point for the Romanian pharmaceutical movement, continuing traditions that have been passed down over time, especially through the establishment of regulations that would ensure the organization and proper functioning of this first pharmacy society in our country.

Among the established methods of operation were: conversation, meetings, and scientific dissertations, conditions imposed for admitting new members, decision-making by majority vote, a nominal roll call at each meeting, requesting to speak, drafting the agenda, and preparing reports. This demonstrated a level of rigor rarely seen in later societies. At the end of the year, the president was required to present a report on “the state and progress of the Society.” The committee was elected annually through an open vote among graduates of the National School of Pharmacy.

As stated in the Society’s statutes, the first Romanian pharmaceutical periodical appeared in February in Bucharest, titled The Bulletin of the Society of Romanian Pharmacists – A Scientific and Pharmaceutical-Commercial Journal. Though it was primarily informational and advertising in nature, it also aimed to include debates on specialized issues, as it was intended to become the instrument through which the Society could fulfill its program of developing and promoting the “Romanian pharmaceutical art” to the level of those in advanced countries. The content of the 12 issues published between 1871-1872 significantly reveals the main concerns of pharmacists at the time. More than half of the 150 topics were in the field of analytical chemistry, and although unsigned, they betray the personality of Professor A. Trausch. The preparation of the second edition of the Romanian Pharmacopoeia was also a major focus for the editorial committee.

Some of the monographs listed in the first edition were discussed, along with new proposals. Significant space was also dedicated to presenting methods “for identifying and verifying the purity of official chemical preparations,” as well as the issue of incompatibilities. Topics regarding the development of high-quality medicines and the need for close scientific collaboration between doctors and pharmacists were also debated. Norms and rules of public hygiene were analyzed, with proposed methods for combating epidemic diseases and descriptions of certain disinfectants. Since the articles were unsigned, it was not possible to identify the authors. The clean language, scientific rigor, and careful attention to the magazine’s appearance made the first Romanian pharmaceutical periodical a valuable act of professional culture. The brief existence of this publication is directly linked to the protest reaction of pharmacist proprietors who, having been criticized in the magazine for their attitudes towards salaried pharmacists, refused to continue providing the necessary material support. As a result, the Society only lasted a short time, with a final mention of its existence appearing in the Official Gazette in September 1877.

This first Society had a short but commendable existence, promoting not only scientific activity but also the affirmation of local talent by initiating and supporting the fight for equal rights for Romanian pharmacists, whether trained domestically or specialized abroad, comparable to those of pharmacy owners. The disappearance of this Society and its Bulletin did not result in apathy, especially among graduates of the National School of Pharmacy, who were eager to stay informed about professional advancements and innovations in Europe. In September 1880, the Society of Romanian Pharmacists was established, which was not a direct continuation of the previous society, but which, through its proposed functions and objectives, partially took on the responsibilities of the Pharmaceutical College.

Despite the obstructions from some pharmacists from the old College with conservative views, the Society attracted a group of young graduates receptive to the changes needed for the scientific and professional life of Romanian pharmacy. Just a few months after its establishment, on January 1, 1881, the Society published the first issue of its own publication in Bucharest: The Journal of the Society of Romanian Pharmacists. This publication, dedicated to science, art, and pharmaceutical interests, authoritatively discussed “issues of science, art, and pharmaceutical organization.” It published reports on the society committee’s activities, organizational and ethical aspects, information on professional-scientific movements, and focused on the cultivation, acclimatization, and exploitation of medicinal plants. It described methods for extracting active principles from plant products, analytical methods for controlling the purity of inorganic chemical substances, introduced new specialties, made proposals for the third edition of the Romanian Pharmacopoeia, conducted studies on the preparation and preservation of medicines, and brought technical and professional issues to the table for discussion.