From 1853 to 1859, Flückiger was director of Grosse Apotheke, a pharmacy he owned in
Burgdorf. In 1870 he became an associate professor of pharmacy and
pharmacognosy at the
University of Bern, and from 1873 to 1892 was a professor of pharmacy in
Strassburg.
From 1857 to 1866 Flückiger was president of the Schweizerischen Apothekervereins (Swiss Pharmacists Association). During his career he obtained honorary doctorates from the Universities of
Bologna and
Erlangen.
Flückiger was the author of about 300 scientific works, and along with contributions made in
chemistry and
pharmacognosy, is remembered for his pioneer investigations in the field of pharmaceutical history. He is credited for providing important input to the second edition of the "Pharmacopoeia Helvetica" (1872).[4]
The Flückiger medal was created
The Flückiger medal was established at his retirement in 1892 by friends and admirers, who invested a fund intended to be used "for the advancement of pharmacy in its broadest sense". This fund is awarded every 5 years, alternatively by the German Association of pharmacists and its Swiss counterpart. The first three recipients were
Edward Morell Holmes (1897), Schmidt (professor at the
University of Marburg, 1902) and
Édouard Heckel (1907).[5][6]
Written works
Beiträge zur altern Geschichte der Pharmacie in Bern, 1862
"Pharmacographia; a history of the principal drugs of vegetable origin, met with in Great Britain and
British India" (19 editions published between 1874 and 1986 in English).
"The principles of pharmacognosy; an introduction to the study of the crude substances of the vegetable kingdom" (5 editions published between 1885 and 1887 in English and German).
"Reactions. A selection of organic chemical preparations important to pharmacy in regards to their behavior to commonly used
reagents" (1893 in English).[7][8]