Homeopathy Papers

History of Homeopathy – Dr. Samuel Cockburn

Written by Iman Navab

A snapshot of a dedicated 19th century homeopath.

A glimpse at the dedication of Dr. Samuel Cockburn (1823 – 1915), a noble Homeopath.

I came across a quote from Dr. Samuel Hahnemann that said: “Experience and scribbling are two very different things! Works of experience, such as my Organon of Rational Medicine, can only be confirmed or refuted by fresh, honest experiments. It is ridiculous, and more than ridiculous, to combat careful real experience by captious verbosity.”

This meaningful statement from Dr. Hahnemann reminded me of the great efforts of Dr. Cockburn who was an outspoken defender of Homeopathy and a critic of the medical system of his era. He conducted many lectures and published great books, such as “Homeopathy, a System of Medicine Founded on Facts, Not on Speculation” in 1850.

In his youth, Samuel Cockburn worked as an apothecary. He then received his Medical Doctorate degree from the University of St. Andrews, in 1848. However, he was more interested in natural remedies. Starting shortly after his graduation, he spent about fourteen years of his medical career as a physician at the Dundee Homeopathic Dispensary, which opened in 1849, and was located in the city of Dundee in Scotland. A few years later, in 1856, he completed his great book titled: Medical Reform. This book, which targeted the conventional practice of medicine, was published in both the United States and England.

In 1862 he moved to the city of Glasgow, where he continued his homeopathic practice, and dedicated his time to lecturing and writing articles to raise awareness about Homeopathy. Dr. Samuel Cockburn was also an active member of the British Homeopathic Society.

Some of his other publications are :

The Laws of Nature – Homeopathic Medical Directory

Fragmentary thoughts on the life and death forces

An Exposition of Homeopathic Law

The Laws of Nature and the Laws of God

Thoughts in Verse – On Natural, Historical and Spiritual Subjects

We salute Dr. Samuel Cockburn, for his immense devotion to science of Homeopathy!

About the author

Iman Navab

Iman Navab is a certified classical Homeopath and doctor of alternative medicine from Canada. He is the President of the Applied Research in Homeopathy Foundation of Canada (www.ARHFC.ca). He is the author of 'Miasma of Cancer', and is a historian of Homeopathy. Iman teaches History and Philosophy of Homeopathy at the Canadian College of Holistic Health. Navab gives lectures and seminars to raise awareness about the rich history of Homeopathy.

3 Comments

  • Dear Iman,
    The quote from Samuel Hahnemann you gave in the beginning itself is worth the subscription to the ezine. These nice authentic quotes lend credibility to whatever you are going to write later on. Frankly telling I envy your knowledge of the history of Homeopathy. Please keep writing.

  • I am currently writing a book illustrating the connection between the law of like cures like as found in the Bible. I appreciate being able to read the many articles and books written by homeopaths and historians all over the world. I am thankful to all those dedicated authors who are relentless at the defence of the only true art and science of healing the sick through God given substances from the vegetable kingdom, the mineral kingdom and the animal kingdom. Dr Hahnemann has done all the groundwork that was required of him by God, and it is up to us to continue the fight for the truth. I have been a practising homeopath for the last 26 years and would like to add this, that the evidence for homeopathy is not to be found in a bottle but in the millions of people who are the evidence. The fact that people can live for decades and use only homeopathy for their healing should be evidence in itself. Dr Hahnemann rightly said that he leaves the armchair professors debate while he gets to the business of curing the sick. Gerard Bocquee D.Hom South Africa

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