BOOK REVIEW

Genius of Homeopathy – a collection of 19th century writings on homeopathy

F
rancis Treuhertz is renowned French and Greek, which may
in homeopathic circles for his put off the modern reader.
extensive library of specialist Unfortunately, there is not
books. Using this vast resource he always a translation of these
has to put together a collection of texts which I do hope will be rec-
material that he describes as the tified in further editions. That
“the most relevant to the current aside, it is a fascinating insight
conflict in which homeopathy is into that period of history and
embroiled”. He certainly succeeds the reflections of exalted homeo-
in this objective and in furthering paths on our founder’s personal
our understanding of the history history.
of our chosen profession. James Compton Burnett des-
Samuel Hahnemann is hailed cribes Hahnemann as “an un -
as the founder of homeopathy; worthy outcast from the ecclesia
indeed he has achieved almost cult medica catholica” (the one true
status among some homoeopaths. church of medicine); while Dr
Admiration is not universal, how- John Henry Clarke saw in
ever, and others criticise him for Hahnemann’s zeal for denounc-
his attacks on the orthodox med- ing the barbaric practices of
ical establishment. And even blood letting and brutalising the
today his theory of miasms causes mentally ill, something of the
great controversy. revolutionary.
All homeopaths are familiar Dr Robert E Dudgeon’s com-
with Hahnemann’s life story; mentary is perhaps the most rel-
however, the collected letters he evant of all the articles, in that it
penned to his patients help us to clearly demonstrates ways to
understand the man himself. He rebut the critics of homeopathy.
lived in the time of heroic medi- It was obviously written after
cine, a delightful euphemism for Oliver Wendell Holmes pub-
the barbaric practices of that lished his infamous article
epoch. Iatrogenic disease (illness “Homeopathy and its kindred
caused by treatment) was in its heyday, simple measures such as good diet and delusions”. It would be wonderful to
resulting in such high mortality rates hygiene, regular exercise and taking a see Dudgeon’s logical article appearing
among the more well-off citizens that more relaxed approach to life – good on the internet as frequently as Holmes’s
death by exsanguinations, poisoning solid advice. His ideas were decades piece, for his arguments, with only a few
and purging was commonplace for the ahead of the times. minor alterations needed, are as perti-
rich. The poor had no access to the The records clearly show how nent today as when he wrote them.
lancet or the apothecary’s poisons; so, Hahnemann was a scientist of the high- He says: “The doctrine that when-
as long as they did not succumb to infec- est order, one that tested hypotheses ever pain exists it must be instantly
tious diseases or starvation, they generally rather than distorted the facts to prove choked off with a narcotic, has lead to
fared better. As the surgeon Sir Astley his hypothesis. As the 19th century the manufacture of some of the most
Cooper once famously said: “The sci- French physiologist Claude Bernard distressing maladies.” He also talks of
ence of medicine was founded on con- stated so eloquently, “When the the abuse of antiseptics, the dangers of
jecture and improved by murder.” observed fact does not correspond to a polypharmacy, and the lack of logic in
It is little wonder that in the famous theory, the fact has to be testing drugs on animals.
Organon (Hahnemann’s original state- accepted and the theory rejected.” An Although this book looks at homeo-
ment of the basic principles of homeo- idea he revisited with the words: pathy through the eyes of Hahnemann
pathic medicine) he states that a primary “A theory must be modified to be and his contemporaries, its relevance to
concern for a physician is “to first do adapted to nature and not nature to the present day is striking. I highly rec-
no harm”; a sentiment repeated in the adapt itself to the theory.” ommend this book to all who are inter-
Hippocratic Oath. Hahnemann’s letters The book contains many papers ested in homeopathy.
to his patients show his deep commit- from eminent 19th century homeopaths
ment to this philosophy and point out discussing Hahnemann’s life and his the-
the error of consulting doctors who do ories. The language is typical of the day, Review by Marysia Kratimenos
not share that opinion. He focuses on peppered with quotes in Latin, German, MB BS FRCS(Ed) FFHom

January 2011 H&H 29