Apothecaries of General Roberts' Division, 1878 (c)

Photograph by John Burke, 2nd Afghan War (1878-1880), 1878 (c).

Apothercary was the title given to the various grades of warrant officer in the Indian Military Subordinate Medical Services during the 19th century. They were mainly recruited locally in India and undertook general medical duties. By the early 19th century the word apothecary was used in the more general sense of medical practitioner as well as in its original meaning of pharmacist. The rank was abolished in the Subordinate Medical Service in 1894 and replaced by that of Assistant Surgeon.

From an album of 60 photographs by John Burke.