A brief history of the German Society for Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology—an overview of available sources

The history of the German Society for Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology (DGPT), which has played an important role in pharmacology in Germany and Europe for more than 100 years, is examined in this article. Many studies have addressed parts of this history, but they usually focus on short periods or specific topics. This article tries to bring together and explain the main sources on the DGPT and the development of pharmacology in German-speaking countries. Important references include early works by Philippu and Seifert, chronological surveys by Lindner, and the multi-volume histories by Philippu. Personal and institutional sources, such as Wolfgang Heubner's diaries and the DGPT Archive curated by Erich Muscholl, are also discussed. Using the sources of the archive, several articles about the DGPT's history have been published. The society's history during the Nazi era, the division of Germany after 1945, the reunification of German pharmacology, and the development of its journals and organizational structure are reviewed. Rather than providing a full historical account, this article offers a clear guide to the most relevant sources and lays the groundwork for future research on the DGPT.