Object Details
- Associated Name
- Hahnemann, Samuel
- Description
- This brown, leather-covered case with hinged lid was used by German physician Dr. Samuel C. F. Hahnemann (1755–1843) the founder of homeopathy. It contains four trays, each tray holding 52 small vials of pellets, and an end compartment in which powder papers are stored. Several of the original vials are missing from the trays.
- Hahnemann developed homeopathy in reaction to bloodletting and purging and other violent medical practices of his time. Experimenting on himself, Hahnmann created a new drug therapy system based on the principle of "similia similibus curentur," or "like cures like." This system purports that drugs eliciting certain symptoms are useful in treating illnesses with like effects. In order to decrease the toxic side-effects of the drugs, Hahnemann stressed that homeopathic preparations be heavily diluted.
- Hahnemann first published his principles of homeopathy in 1796. In 1810 he published his major work, Organon der Rationellen Heilkunde nach homöopathischen Gesetzen, which he revised over the years in five additional editions. In 1835 Hahnemann moved to Paris and practiced there for the remainder of his life. This medicine case, which is of French manufacture, presumably dates to that period.
- Homeopathy is still widely practiced around the world. It is well represented within NMAH, including a collection of over 2,000 historic objects from the Boericke & Tafel Homeopathic Pharmacy in Philadelphia.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Credit Line
- Gift from Drs. J. Perry Seward & Henry B. Minton
- ca 1840
- when donated
- 1926-05-19
- ID Number
- MG.M-02114
- catalog number
- M-02114
- accession number
- 91708
- Object Name
- drug kit
- homeopathic preparations
- homeopathic drug kit
- drug kit, homeopathic
- Physical Description
- glass (vials(197) material)
- leather (box(1) material)
- leather (trays(4) material)
- paper (sheets (paper) material)
- Measurements
- overall: 2 1/4 in x 5 1/4 in x 7 in; 5.715 cm x 13.335 cm x 17.78 cm
- overall: 2 3/8 in x 7 in x 5 1/4 in; 6.0325 cm x 17.78 cm x 13.335 cm
- place made
- France
- See more items in
- Medicine and Science: Medicine
- Health & Medicine
- National Museum of American History
- Subject
- Homeopathic Remedies
- Record ID
- nmah_724242
- GUID (Link to Original Record)
- https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746aa-aaef-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa
