Physician and founder of homeopathy, born in Meissen, E Germany. He studied at Leipzig, and for 10 years practised medicine. He observed that a medicine administered to a healthy person produced similar symptoms to those of the illness it was intended to cure, and developed his law of similars, around which he built his system of homeopathy. His methods caused him to be prosecuted wherever he tried to settle. In 1811 he published Reine Arzneimittellehre (Precept of Pure Drugs), a homeopathic drug catalogue. He taught again in Leipzig (181021), but was driven out, retired to Köthen, and in 1835 moved to Paris, where he pursued a very lucrative practice.
See also: Homeopathy and Classical homeopathyChristian Friedrich Samuel Hahnemann (10th April 1755 in Meißen, Saxony - 2nd July 1843 in Paris, France) was a German physician who founded homoeopathic medicine. Hahnemann is also credited with introducing the practice of quarantine during his employment with the Duke of Anhalt-Köthen.
An impressive monument in Washington D.C. commemorates Hahnemann's life and works.
Hahnemann's notable works include:
Versuch über ein neues Prinzip zur Auffindung der Heilkräfte der Arzneisubstanzen, nebst einigen Blicken auf die bisherigen, (Hufelands Journal der practischen Arzneykunde, 1796) The Organon of the Healing Art (1810) explains the theory of homeopathic medicine. Hahnemann published the 5th edition in 1833; an unfinished 6th edition was discovered after Hahnemann's death but not published until 1921. Materia Medica Pura is a compilation of homoeopathic proving reports, published in six volumes during the 1820s (vol. VI in 1827.) Revised editions of volumes I and II were published in 1830 and 1833, respectively. Chronic Diseases (1828) is an elucidation of the root and cure of chronic disease together with a compilation of homoeopathic proving reports, published in five volumes during the 1830s.Life
Born Christian Friedrich Samuel Hahnemann in Meissen, Saxony on April 10, 1755, Hahnemann showed early proficiency at languages; "by twenty he had mastered English, French, Italian, Greek and Latin," and was making a living as a translator and teacher of languages. He later gained proficiency in "Arabic, Syriac, Chaldaic and Hebrew."
Hahnemann studied medicine at Leipzig and Vienna. He received his doctor of medicine degree at the University of Erlangen on 10 August 1779, qualifying with honors with a thesis on the treatment of cramps.
Through his practice, Hahnemann quickly discovered that the medicine of his day did as much harm as good:
"My sense of duty would not easily allow me to treat the unknown pathological state of my suffering brethren with these unknown medicines. The thought of becoming in this way a murderer or malefactor towards the life of my fellow human beings was most terrible to me, so terrible and disturbing that I wholly gave up my practice in the first years of my married life and occupied myself solely with chemistry and writing."After giving up his practice he made his living chiefly as a writer and translator. While translating William Cullen's A Treatise on the Materia Medica, Hahnemann encountered the claim that Cinchona, the bark of a Peruvian tree, was effective in treating malaria because of its astringency. Hahnemann realised that other astringent substances are not effective against malaria and began to research cinchona's effect on the human organism very directly: by self-application. This led him to postulate a healing principle: "that which can produce a set of symptoms in a healthy individual, can treat a sick individual who is manifesting a similar set of symptoms." This principle, like cures like, became the first of a new medicinal approach to which he gave the name homeopathy.
Hahnemann began systematically testing substances for the effect they produced on a healthy individual and trying to deduce from this the ills they would heal.
Hahnemann began practicing medicine again using his new technique, which soon attracted other doctors. He first published an article about the homeopathic approach to medicine in a German medical journal in 1796;
Hahnemann continued practicing medicine, researching new medicines, writing and lecturing to the end of a long life.
Hahnemann's Good Reputation as a Scientist
Hahnemann "acquired a great reputation for his improvements in the practice of medicine, in pharmacology, and especially in hygiene." [Ameke, iv] Hufeland, for example, "never lost respect for Hahnemann's genius and services to medicine." [Ameke, iv] As a translator Hahnemann always "intercalates various improvements and inventions." [Ameke, 12] He was widely regarded as "a writer who has improved and perfected," [Ameke, 14] any text translation he undertook. [Ameke, x] Various writers refer to "Hahnemann's superiority," [Ameke, 18] or to this "very valuable book by my esteemed friend, Dr Samuel Hahnemann." [Ameke, 18]
These comments mostly allude to his innumerable minor discoveries and embellishments to the art of chemistry, or to the value of his translation footnotes, which were all completed before the emergence of homeopathy. For example, "in 1788, Hahnemann discovered the solubility of metallic sulphates in boiling nitric acid." [Ameke, 28] Another is "the test for wine invented by Dr Hahnemann [which] has especially pleased me." [Ameke, 29] Or "Hahnemann’s mercury, an excellent and mild preparation, the usefulness of which has been proved." [Ameke, 32] He is variously described as "a capable physician," [Ameke, 75] and "one of the most distinguished physicians of Germany…of matured experience and reflection…a man rendered famous by his writings." [Ameke, 75]
In 1799 one writer alludes to Hahnemann by calling him "a man who has made himself a name in Germany both as a chemist and a practitioner [who] deserves especial recommendation," [Ameke, 37] and adds that "every article gives evidence of having been written with the greatest care." [Ameke, 37] Another critic expresses his admiration for "a man who has conferred so many benefits on science...by his valuable translations...that are faithful and successful...[who has] added precious notes which expand and elucidate [the original]" [Ameke, 40] such that "he has thus enhanced the value of the work." [Ameke, 40]
So highly regarded were Hahnemann's translations "which he has enriched with his own notes." [Ameke, 40] These "great many explanatory and supplementary remarks...give the translation a great advantage over the original." [Ameke, 40] Such writers could clearly appreciate the "thoroughness of his emendations...his short notes...[which] serve to explain the text...and which is enhanced by the translator's notes." [Ameke, 40-41] Such comments reveal the clear and unambiguous recognition which he received for his "thorough pharmaceutical knowledge and industry...this celebrated chemist...this meritorious physician...the meritorious Hahnemann...whom chemistry has to thank for many important discoveries." [Ameke, 41] He is unanimously applauded as one who "has won for himself unfading laurels," [Ameke, 42] for his contributions to science.
Hahnemann was "so much respected and renowned for his valuable services," [Ameke, 90] that he did not require to "to make himself more popular with the German public." [Ameke, 90] When Hahnemann correctly stated that "Arsenic does not contain muriatic acid…[this showed] Hahnemann’s superiority," [Ameke, 18] in points of chemistry. In all his translations, "accuracy prevails everywhere," [Ameke, 22] and reflects the "extreme care he employed in his labours." [Ameke, 22] As early as 1784, "Hahnemann advocated the crystallisation of tartar emetic." [Ameke, 24] It was in the fine details of his corrections and footnote additions that he earned his reputation as a meticulous, highly knowledgeable, diligent and thus reliable scientific translator. In time, he garnered a similar reputation for his work reforming pharmacy, for example, "the regulation and sale of poisons," [Ameke, 34] he "preservation of odoriferous substances," [Ameke, 34] and the "evaporation of extracts over water baths." [Ameke, 34] Ameke also lists many pages of examples of his contributions to pharmacy and examples of his recommended small doses for drugs of all types.
In such innumerable ways Hahnemann was considered to have "enriched our therapeutic thesaurus." [Ameke, 35] In every case, they all prove "how thoroughly Hahnemann had studied the subject," [Ameke, 34] in question, whether it was botany, pharmacy or chemistry. It meant that when he made a statement "every page shows that the well informed author speaks from experience," [Ameke, 37] it shows his great diligence, that he composed work of more than "an ordinary character," [Ameke, 37] that he always produced "useful work," [Ameke, 38] and that "he surpassed most of them in knowledge of the subjects," [Ameke, 38] on which he expounded.
All quotations from: Wilhelm Ameke, History of Homœopathy, with an appendix on the present state of University medicine, translated by A. [pp.iv-90]
List of translations & publications made by Hahnemann
From the English
1777. Leipsic. Leipsic. Leipsic. Leipsic. 2 vols. Leipsic. Leipsic. Leipsic. 2 vols. Leipsic. Leipsic. 2 vols 1791. Leipsic. 2 vols. Leipsic. 2 vols. Leipsic. 2 vols. Leipsic. A New Collection of Medical Prescriptions, Distributed into Twelve Classes, and Accompanied with Pharmaceutical Remarks, etc. Leipsic. (This is the book of which Hahnemann wrote a preface ridiculing the body of the book...see below)From the Latin
1806. Albrecht von Haller's Materia medica, Leipsic. Leipsic. 2 vols. Leipsic. 2 vols. Leipsic. Leipsic. 2 vols. Leipsic. Leipsic. The total mass of Hahnemann's translations amount to 9400 pages in a 29 year period, which is 324 pages per year, or roughly 1 page per day, every day.Original Writings, Books, Essays and Magazine Articles
1779. Ellrodtianis: Dissertatio inauguralis medica, Conspectus adfectuum spasmodicorum aetiologicus et therapeuticus 1781 small essays published in Kreb's journal. Leipsic. Leipsic. Leipsic. In Crell's annals of chemistry. In Crell's annals of chemistry. Vol. 1, pt. In Crell's annals, vol. 1, pt. In Crell's annals, vol. 2, pt. In Crell's annals, vol. 2, pt. Also journal of medicine. Vol. In Crell's annals of chemistry, vol. 1, pt. In Crell's annals of chemistry, vol. 1, pt. In Crell's annals, vol. 2, pt. In Crell's annals, vol., 4, pt. In the New Literary Adviser for Physicians, Halle, 1789, and in Baldinger's New Magazine for Physicians, Vol. 11, pt. Leipsic. Also in Dudgeon's translation of Lesser Writings. Crell's Annals, Vol. 2, pt. Crell's Annals, Vol. 1, pt. Crell's Annals, vol, 2, pt. Blumenbach’s Medical Book, Vol. 3, pt. Crell's Annals, pt. Scherf's Archives of Medicine, Vol. Vol, 1, Leipsic. Vol. 2. Leipsic. Dudgeon's Lesser Writings. Pharmaceutical lexicon Leipsic. In 4 vols. Remarks on the Wirtemburg and Hahnemann's wine test. On Hahnemann's test for wine and the new liquor probatorius fortior. Tromsdorf's journal of Pharmacy, Vol 2. Crell's Annals, Vol. Bibliothek, Vol. Lesser Writings. Essay on a new principle for ascertaining the curative powers of drugs. Hufeland's journal for Practicing Physicians, Vol. 2, pts. 3, 4. Lesser Writings. This was the first public announcement of the new principle of Homoeopathy. In Tromsdorf's journal of Pharmacy, Vol. 5, pt. Are the obstacles to the attainment of simplicity and certainty in the practice of medicine insurmountable? Hufeland's journal, Vol. Lesser Writings. Hom., Vol. 2. Hufeland's Journal, Vol. 3, pt. Dudgeon's Lesser Writings. Hufeland's journal, Vol. 5, pt. Lesser Writings. Hufeland's Journal, Vol, 5, pt. Lesser Writings. Hufeland's journal, vol. 5, pt. Lesser Writings. Leipsic. Lesser Writings. Practice of Homeopathy, London, 1853, pp.xxvii-xxviii] 1801. Hufeland's journal, vol. 11, pt. Essay on small doses of medicine and of Belladonna in particular. Hufeland's journal, vol. 2. Lesser Writings. Fragmentary observations on Brown's elements of medicine. Hufeland's Journal, vol. 2. Lesser Writings. Lesser Writings. Lesser Writings. lesser writings. Leipsic. Lesser Writings ; into French by Brunnow, and published at Dresden, 1824 ; in 1855 into English by Mrs. Epps, and published in a book "Progress of Homoeopathy,' London, 1855. Leipsic. 2 parts. Lesser Writings. Hom., vol. Schweikert's Zeitung, vol. Lesser Writings. Hufeland's journal, vol. Hufeland's Journal, vol. Hufeland's journal, vol. Hufeland's journal, vol. Lesser Writings. Hom., vol. On the value of speculative systems of medicine, especially in connection with the various systems of practice. Allgemeine Anzeiger. Lesser Writings. Hom., vol. 2. Extract from a letter to a physician of high standing on the great necessity of a regeneration in medicine. In Allgemeine Anzeiger, No. 343 Lesser Writings. Indications of the homoeopathic employment of medicines in ordinary practice. Hufeland's journal, vol. Dudgeon's trans of the Organon. Allgemeine Anzeiger, No. Lesser Writings 1808. Allgemeine Anzeiger, No. Lesser Writings. Allgemeine Anzeiger, No. Lesser Writings. Hufeland's journal, vol. Allgemeine Anzeiger, No. Lesser Writings. Allgemeine Anzeiger, No. Lesser Writings. Allgemeine Anzeiger, No. Lesser Writings. 2d edition, 1819 ; 5th edition, 1833. into French by Brunnow, and published in Dresden by Arnold in 1824 ; 2d edition of same, 1832. French translation by Dr. Jourdan, Paris, Baillière, 1832 ; In 1833 translated from the 4th German edition by Chas. A 6th German edition was edited by Lutze, Coethen, 1865. In 1849 by Dudgeon into English from the 5th edition. In 1836 the 1st American from the British translation of 1833 was published by the Allentown Academy. 1843, 2d American edition, New York, Radde. 1849, 3d American edition, New York, Radde. 1869, 4th American edition, New York, Radde. This is the 5th American from the 5th German edition. 1893 New edition by Dudgeon, with an Appendix. Horn'th, vol. 6 vols. Vol. vol. 2, 1816; vol. vol. vol. vol. 2d edition. Vol. vol. 2, 1824 ; vol. vol. vol. vol. 3d edition, 1830. Vol. 2, 1833. Only two vols. were published of this edition. In 1826 an edition in Latin was published in Leipsic by Brunnow, Stapf and Gross, containing also the Viribus. Simon into French In 1840 Dr. Quin commenced a translation into English in London, but when vol. 1 was published it was destroyed by fire. A Hahnemann Materia Medica by Drysdale, Black, Dudgeon and Hughes, published in London in 1852 ; but 3 parts published. 2 vols. 2 vols. Counselor, vols. 3, 4, 5. Leipsic. Thesis to the Faculty at Leipsic. Also in Lesser Writings. Spirit of the homoeopathic doctrine of medicine. In Allgemeine Anzeiger, March, 1813. Vol. 2 of Materia Medica Pura. Lesser Writings. Lippe in 1878, and published in The Organon, a journal. Allgemeine Anzeiger, No. Lesser Writings. Allgemeine Anzeiger, No. Lesser Writings. In Allgemeine Anzeiger, Nos..-156, 204. Lesser Writings. Allgemeine Anzeiger, No. Lesser Writings. On the preparation and dispensing of medicines by homoeopathic physicians. First published in Stapf's Lesser Writings of Hahnemann. Also Dudgeon's Lesser Writings. Allgemeine Anzeiger, No. Lesser Writings. Allgemeine Anzeiger, No. Lesser Writings. Published in the Materia Medica Pura under the title: How Can Small Doses of Such Very Attenuated Medicines as Homoeopathy Employs Still Possess Great Power? Allgemeine Anzeiger, No. Lesser Writings. of Hom., vol. 2. Chronic diseases, their nature and homoeopathic treatment. Dresden and Leipsic. Vols. 1, 2, 3, 1828 ; vol. 2d edition. Vols. 1, 2, 1835 ; vol. vol. vol. 2d edition of same 1846. Into English from French edition by G. 4 vols. Raddle 5 vols.Reprint of vol. 1 in Med. Advance, vol. In 1894 from 5th German edition into English by L. Letters by Hahnemann to dr. New Archives of Stapf. Vol. Letter to Korsakoff about impregnation of globules with medicine. Vol. 2. Lesser Writings. Lesser medical writings of Hahnemann. But for this book we should know but little of the essays of Hahnemann. These are for the most part translated and published in Dudgeon's edition of Lesser Writings, of which there is an English and an American edition. Leipsic. Lesser Writings. Leipsic. Lesser Writings. and Rev., vol. 2d edition. Leipsic. Vol. 2. Vol. 11, pt. Schweickert's Zeitung, Vol. 2. Notes by Hahnemann on Korsakoff's letter on attenuation of homoeopathic remedies. Stapf's Archivs, vol. 11, pt. 2. Lesser Writings. Summons to the half-homoeopathists of Leipsic. Hom., vol. Hom., vol. of Hom., vol. of Hom., Vol. Studies of homoeopathic medicine. 2 vols. Contains 12 essays and 14 letters byHahnemann. of Hom., Vol. of Hom., Vol.
Source
Thomas Lindsley Bradford, Life and Letters of Dr Samuel Hahnemann, Philadelphia: Boericke &
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