This book review is reprinted with the permission of the American Institute of Homeopathy
The Faces of Homeopathy: An Illustrated History
of the First 200 Years
by Julian Winston
Hardbound, 634 pages, 1999
Reviewed by Jay Yasgur
Ah, another grand book has hit the shelves. It is Herr Winston's massive, authoritative and arsenical, Faces of Homeopathy: An Illustrated History of the First 200 Years.
Let me tell you, I have not let it out of my reach and that is the reason why this review is so uncharacteristically brief (well, perhaps I did go on rather a bit).
In just over 600 pages (36 chapters and 6 appendices) this tome takes the reader on a homeopathic roller coaster ride to which the splendid and detailed timeline adorning the inside flyleaves eludes. There are countless side-bars allowing one to enjoy multiple "breaks" along the way, and Julian has dug deep into his private collection to literally pepper his work with one illustration or photo after another. That is a delight in itself.
Great attention and care has been paid to the book's production which should ensure a long life. It is printed on good quality glossy paper, and the hardback binding is well glued. The index is good; the appendices are better.
There are two aspects, somewhat minor if you will, that could have pushed this book one step further into greatness. First of all, the text runs too far into the gutter. This makes reading a bit difficult as one must either sharply bend the book or move the book more directly in front of the eye in order to read it more easily. If the text had been placed three-eighths or even a quarter inch more out of the gutter, the result would have been an easier to read text. The other aspect deals with the chapter devoted to women ("The Women," p. 140-151). With a bit more work this section could have been meatier and thus more satisfying. I would have enjoyed hearing about Nancy T. Williams, the single highest contributor (male or female) to the fund which erected the Hahnemann Monument in Washington, D.C. (1900), or Phoebe Wait, who followed in Lozier's footsteps at the helm of the New York Medical College and Hospital for Women. The AIH remembered her as "...always interested in woman's work for woman, she gave time, thought, energy and money to every good cause for the welfare and advancement of her sex."
Then there was Rhoda Lawrence, Louisa May Alcott's physician. Alcott lauded her by stating, "Several doctors have sent her patients whom they couldn't help, and she is doing well by them."
"For many women, the road to becoming a homeopathic doctor was a long one. The average age of medical school graduates among the 116 women for whom I have found birthdates and dates of graduation was thirty-four, but it was not uncommon for women in their forties and fifties to begin studying medicine."
(Mitchell, p. 30)
To Julian's page on Dr. Edson I might add this interesting tidbit:
"Susan Ann Edson faced similar difficulties in her attempts to study at the homeopathic college in Cleveland. Although the college was opened to men and women in 1850, only twelve of the 257 graduates by April 1861, were women. Edson was initially refused admission, but allowed to attend lectures after she won a scholarship established by a benefactor of the college. Edson completed her first year successfully, but the faculty decided not to let her return for the second year of classes. She insisted on returning and graduated in 1854 despite insinuations from the I faculty that the year would not be pleasant if she continued her studies. In 1867 Dr. Beckwith and his supporters voted to bar all women from attending lectures."
(Mitchell, p. 36)
G. Moldow's inspiring Women Doctors in Gilded Age Washington (1987) is an essential historical reference. Ms. Moldow stresses the important point that coeducational policies were instituted when schools were strapped for funds or needed more students. As far as societal involvement was concerned, women, out of necessity, organized many all-female organizations, one such group being the Women's Homeopathic Medical Society of Chicago, which was founded in 1879.
Then there is Myra King Merrick, Millie Chapman, Alice Boole Campbell, etcetera, etcetera. It would have been nice to see a listing of women graduates or perhaps a few pithy sentences about a dozen of the "lesser" women figures. Of course, we can excuse Julian for if he had done these sort of "fill in jobs" everywhere, we would have had to wait another year, and then the book would surely have passed the thousand page mark and set us back a "C" note!
I could recount one interesting anecdote after another, but that would mean I would have to put on more water for tea (which I've done anyway). It would also delay you from picking up the phone to order this fine work. And don't delay either, because I predict it will be out of print soon. If Julian decides to advertise his book to the allopathic community forget it, it will be unobtainable sooner than soon.
I recently spoke with John S. Haller, Jr. of Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. This distinguished professor and academic scholar of sectarian medicine is writing a book which will take him "into retirement." You guessed it, it is "the history of homeopathy." Perhaps, Julian and John could collaborate; bring their amazing minds and talents to bear in order to produce an academic work of far reaching scope second to none. What a sockdolager that would be.
I love homeopathy and the healing power and breadth it encompasses, yet I also love its history. With every passing year we are further and further indebted to this man who has salvaged and displayed vast amounts of homeopathic heritage.
With the appearance of Julian's work we now have a new and robust friend on the bookshelf. Even if your interest in the history of homeopathy is oblique, do not delay in obtaining it, for you shall treasure it just as you do your materia medica or repertory.
I have never written a short book review, but if I was pressed to do so "Buy this book" would be sufficient if not my shortest. At some point you will purchase this book; so why not make it sooner rather than later.
Excuse me... ah, I hear the water bubbling time for me to brew another cup of "oil of bergamot" Grey and enjoy one more chapter of a book produced by a rare jewel of the homeopathic community Julian Winston!
Reference
Further Reading