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Samuel Christian Hahnemann

© Christine Wyndham-Thomas

On the 18th October Napoleon fought a major battle against the Allies, who were commanded by Prince Karl Schwarzenberg. Next day Napoleon's Saxon allies turned against him; he was defeated and had to leave Germany, never to return.

Gradually life in Leipzig returned to normal and Hahnemann was able to resume his lectures. But he faced much hostility, not only from doctors but also from the apothecaries, who resented the fact that he made up his own medicines. For a time their criticisms were silenced by the arrival of Prince Schwarzenberg, the hero of the battle of Leipzig, who wanted Hahnemann to treat him. Unfortunately, after an initial improvement, the Prince died and there was no lack of voices to accuse Hahnemann of having precipitated his demise. The apothecaries now obtained an injunction to prevent Hahnemann from dispensing his own medicines and since they were unwilling to keep them themselves, his practice could not continue.

The Duke of Anhalt Kothen offered Hahnemann the post of Court Physician, which he accepted. While he was in Kothen he published a third, fourth and fifth edition of 'The Organon', and also a second and third edition of the 'Materia Medica Pura'.

In 1827 he summoned Stapf and Gross, his closest disciples, informing them he had discovered the cause of all chronic diseases together with a completely new series of medicines to cure such diseases. This theory was to excite great controversy among homeopaths both at the time and subsequently.

Soon after Hahnemann's departure a homeopathic hospital was established at Leipzig by private subscription and a Dr Muller was put in charge and gave his services for nothing. But Hahnemann took exception to Muller for his independence, and had him replaced by a salaried director. This man in turn was replaced by a bogus homeopath, appropriately named Fickel, who took the job with the intention of discrediting homeopathy. The consequent fiasco led to the closure of the hospital in 1842.

In 1830, when he was 75, Hahnemann's wife died. They had been married for nearly 48 years and had had eleven children.

In October 1834 Mademoiselle Marie Melanie d'Hervilly visited Dr Hahnemann about her health. She was about 35 years old at the time (she kept her exact age a secret). She had had a happy childhood in Paris but said her mother became jealous of her as she grew older and so Monsieur and Madame le Thiere adopted her.