Grand Delusion? The History of Homeopathy in Boston

Homeopathic medicine held a great appeal to the people of Boston in the 19th century, and the story of the movement is intimately tied to the story of the orthodox or regular medical practice in the city. To support and develop homeopathy in the face of opposition from its detractors, the adherents of the movement created an entire medical establishment—books, journals, schools, hospitals, asylums, sanitariums, dispensaries, professional societies, national and international organizations, pharmaceutical manufacturers, publishing firms, and even life insurance companies—in parallel with that of other, more mainstream practitioners.

“Grand Delusion?” is a new exhibition at the Countway Library’s Center for the History of Medicine that traces the developments of the history of homeopathy and the contributions and experiences of its practitioners, in conflict as well as concert with other medical colleagues. The exhibition includes rare books and pamphlets, both supporting and attacking the homeopathic movement; documents from an 1871 trial to expel homeopaths from the Massachusetts Medical Society; an early 20th-century homeopathic medicine chest; minutes and records of the Massachusetts Homeopathic Fraternity and the Massachusetts Homeopathic Medical Society; the case book of Josiah Foster Flagg, the first homeopath to practice in Boston; and a photograph album of homeopaths compiled by Samuel Gregg, the first homeopathic physician in the state.

“Grand Delusion?” is on display in the L2 exhibit area of the Library through December 2008.

Complementary Therapies: Masterworks of Chinese and Botanical Medicine

“Complementary Therapies”—which is offered in conjunction with “Grand Delusion?”—brings to light some of the treasures of the Countway collection that include the first Western texts dealing with Chinese medicine and acupuncture; a copy of John Gerard’s 1636 Herball; rare publications and broadsides from the Thomsonian botanical movement; Lam Qua watercolor studies of tumor patients treated in Canton in the 1840s; and a model of Aké, a Chinese youth with a parasitic twin, and an account of his case from 1821.

“Complementary Therapies” will be on display in the lobby exhibit area of the Countway Library through December 2008.

For additional information on either exhibition, contact Jack Eckert, public services librarian, at 2-6207 or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .