Kapronczay Károly szerk.: Orvostörténeti Közlemények 188-189. (Budapest, 2004)

KÖZLEMÉNYEK - COMMUNICATIONS - Koltay Erika: History of alternative medicine in Hungary in 19th and early 20th century. - Az alternatív orvoslás története Magyarországon a 19. és a korai 20. században

was the periodical of the Association of Supporters of Hungarian Homeopathy under the title Bulletin of Health and Homeopathy, its executive editor was Miklós Dudits. In 1879 the publication of the periodical was interrupted, and it was published again only after a long interval in 1895 under the title Special Bulletin of Medicine Based on the Principle of Homeopathy. Later this title was changed to Special Bulletin of Biological Medicine, and the editorial tasks were taken over by Tivadar Bakody. The bulletin was published until 1899: after that year it was only in the early 1990s that a homeopathic periodical written in Hungarian language was launched again, which, at the same time, indicated the re-birth of homeopathy. The foundation of the Association of Hungarian Homeopathic Physicians on 28 December, 1865 was a significant event in the history of Hungarian homeopathy. Its chairman was Pál Almási Balogh, the deputy chairman was Döme Argenti, the first secretary was Ádám Szontágh and the second secretary was János Gárdos. Any physician or surgeon born in Hungary and having no criminal record could be an ordinary member of the association. Correspondence membership was open to foreign physicians, surgeons and supporting members who had no criminal record, who have come of age, and for those independent humanists who had paid at least 5 Forints per year to the Association's account. If, however, somebody paid 100 Forints in one sum, the Association considered the given person a lifetime member. (Hasonszenvi Lapok 1865:58) The Association of Biology established in 1878 also had a Section of Homeopathy - its foundation was mainly due to the supporting activities of Tivadar Bakody. The institutes of homeopathic healing methods were also established between 1860-70. The first homeopathic hospital, Bethesda, was opened on 1

st January, 1866, with six beds. Tivadar Bakody, son of József Bakody was appointed manager, and he fulfilled this post until 1876. The hospital belonged to the German Reformed Girls' Religious Community, so the patients were looked after by the deaconess sisters. Homeopaths considered the hospital a homeopathic hospital, despite the fact that the hospital was also engaged in allopathic therapy. (Zsindely 1941) Similarly to Bethesda Hospital, there was a Homeopathy Department in Rókus Hospital as well, operating with 70 beds. (Hasonszenvi Lapok 1871:183) In 1871 another homeopathy department was established: the countess of Zichy, Melanie Metternich applied to the town's authorities for permission and, at the same time, she also offered as contribution her house situated in a district of Budapest called Ferencváros under 15. Fő utca. The hospital was given the name Elisabethinum as it was under the direct auspices of her majesty the queen. The patients were attended on by the Sisters of Charity of Graz, and the hospital was managed by Ferenc Hauszmann. (Hasonszenvi Lapok, 1870:284-290) The homeopathic treatments were carried out mainly by physicians in this hospital as well, yet we can assume that other "supporting members" also practised this healing method. This idea is suggested in an article of the Bulletin of Homeopathy, which criticises those who are against homeopathy because they fail to form their opinion based on the excellent representatives of homeopathy, and they forget the fact that there are numerous charlatans and outsiders among the homeopathic healers. The hospitals and homeopathic healers were supplied by drugs through homeopathic pharmacies. Some of these were: Gyula Jármay's pharmacy addressed To the Lion established in 1794; the homeopathy section of Dániel Wagners pharmacy addressed To the Palatine of Hungary