Book to Note

John S. Haller. The History of American Homeopathy: The Academic Years, 1820–1935. Binghamton , NY : Haworth Press, 2005. 444 pp. Cloth, $59.95; paper, $39.95.

Reviewed by Nathanael Oster

Despite its title this book is not confined to the history of American academic homeopathy. Instead it offers an inclusive look at the development of a once not-so-alternative medical theory: that illness can be treated using diluted substances which in undiluted doses produce symptoms similar to those experienced by the patient. Though homeopathy has long since lost the battle for academic authority it never really disappeared. The theory influenced the development of modern pharmacy, and its focus on patient psychologies has recently resurfaced in mainstream medicine. The author successfully depicts homeopathy as a potent root in the history of medicine.