Century-old pharmacy labels found in Liepāja: when even medications were better than in Rīga

A sensation has reached Liepāja's museums that will make Rīga's museums green with envy. While renovating Andrejs Pharmacy on Kungu Street, pharmacy labels over a century old have been discovered, proving more durable than today's government coalition.

Historical architecture researcher Juris Zviedrāns, who is apparently the only person in Liepāja who knows that during renovations you can find something more than cockroaches and old newspapers, had asked the builders to preserve everything. And miracle of miracles - they listened! That in itself is a museum-worthy phenomenon.

Museum collection keeper Agita Leja explains that the labels aren't in the best condition - some with burn marks, others stuck together like Rīga politicians before elections. But they're still better preserved than the mythical Tsar's fleet document collections in Karosta basements, about which local pensioners still tell legends.

'The labels show various medication names - ointment, vaseline, zinc ointment and even bone oil,' Leja explains. Interestingly, most inscriptions are in German, proving that Liepāja was already international back then, while Rīga was still learning to put letters together. Only one label is in old Latvian print reading 'Health Balm' - apparently the first attempt to compete with Rīga Black Balsam's monopoly.

Andrejs Pharmacy, operating since the 17th century, is proof that quality things in Liepāja survive for centuries. Even during Soviet times, when it was renamed 'Pharmacy No. 197,' it retained its character - quite unlike Rīga institutions that disappeared behind bureaucratic numbers. 'In the future, some of the labels could be exhibited in our 19th century hall,' promises the museum representative. And that will be far more interesting than any Rīga museum exhibition about 'capital city development.'