Pharmacy
Today is very common to go to a pharmacy and acquire the necessary medicines to relieve pain or fight a disease off. Some centuries ago, in pharmacies or apothecaries, not only drugs were sold but many of them were made. Today, we will be talking about the first apothecary in San Antonio de los Baños.
The first apothecary, who settled in San Antonio de los Baños after its foundation, was Gabino Hernandez. He enjoyed good social reputation and was involved in the conspiracies of ‘’El águila Negra y de Soles y Rayos de Bolivar’’. When he was called to testify for the first time to the Spanish authorities, he said that he had never belonged to any secret society. While in his second appearance he assumed being a member of ‘’La Sabiduría 1’’ during the second constitutional period in Cuba, (1 820 and 1 823). In his house, papers and documents were found. Indeed, Gabino Hernandez was the treasurer of ‘’La Logia Masónica, Los Hermanos Desengañados 42’’ that it was established in Regla, under the obedience of ‘’El Gran Oriente Territorial Español-Americano’’ until December, 1 823. The court martial sentenced him to six months in prison, on July 7th, 1830 but two years later, on October 29th, he was set free due to an amnesty granted by the Regent Queen, Maria Cristina de Nápoles. Thus, Gabino Hernandez, entered the history of pharmacy and masonry in Ariguanabo Village.