Rev Hist Pharm (Paris). 2002 ; 50(335): 481-94.

[Hufeland (1762-1836) and homeopathy]

Pinet P.

In 1796 homeopathy was born by the publication of an Hahnemann's article in a periodic founded by C. W. Hufeland, a German physician, Professor in Iena, who was friendly with Hahnemann during more of thirty years. This periodic, which defended the experimental philosophy and was devoted to the practical medicine, will be nevertheless the mean instrument to spread Hahneman's ideas until the issue of the Organon in 1810. Also, the thought of Hahneman looks us as built up itself partly in large connection with the ideas of this review, and probably still more with the Hufeland's writings. The prolix author Hufeland published in 1795, 1796, and 1800, at the same time of homeopathy's foundation, three main works that Hahnemann has certainly distinguished. Between 1825 and 1830, Hufeland tried to put himself as an unprejudiced judge of the attacked homeopathy. His pleading, as well as his straight critical remarks is an authentic and right enough testimony, only made a little false by the state of medicine in these days. He put up the controversy at least so high as the today's polemics.