Med Ges Gesch. 1999 ; 18(): 137-48.

[Expulsion from Leipzig? Hahnemann's medical praxis in Leipzig: reasons for transferring to Kothen in 1821 - frequency of patients and polemics]

Schreiber K.

Recent research has concurred that Samuel Hahnemann enjoyed a flourishing medical practice in Leipzig. However, a close look at the physician's years in Leipzig reveals that his patient list was not exactly growing. Rather, his medical practice followed a trajectory similar to that of a roller coaster: due to crucial events - successful treatment during the typhus epidemic, lecturing at the University of Leipzig, treating influential public figures - Hahnemann was able to restructure the composition of his clientele. More precisely, he was able to work his way into the upper classes, increase his recognition, and spread into other regions. Hahnemann's reputation attracted patients from all over Germany and even neighboring countries. The improvement in the social structure of Hahnemann's clientele also reflects important changes in the spread of homeopathy. Hahnemann's transfer to Kothen can be explained by a number of factors: his prohibition against dispensing medicines, declining personal prestige, decreasing number of patients and ensuing financial difficulties, fruitless university employment, continually increasing subjective and objective pressures and last but not least, the privileges of leadership.