Med Ges Gesch. 1995 ; 13(): 167-87.

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Faltin T.

The article describes the social and medical profile of the lay healer Eugen Wenz (1856-1945) during his first period of medical activity as owner of the naturopathic and homoeopathic establishment "Marienbad" in Mühringen in the years 1895-1899. Wenz was severely restricted in his activities: the health insurance schemes did not reimburse him, the medical authorities of Württemberg attempted at first to prevent the foundation of the 'Marienbad' and the doctors of the surrounding area interfered several times in his medical treatment. Finally Eugen Wenz appears not to have been accepted by the population of the district (Oberamt), since the Marienbad was very poorly frequented and so unable to provide Wenz with a secure income. A statistic comparison shows that many other lay healers seem to have been confronted with similar problems. The social profile of Eugen Wenz disproves partially the general picture of the profession of German lay healers depicted by research in medical history hitherto.