Homeopathic Texts
This popular homeopathic text for use in the home went through five editions in both London and Boston, where it was printed by Otis Clapp. Inside, there is information on obtaining medicine from "James Epps, Homœopathic Chemist," almost certainly a relation of the author. This excerpt shows a chart of the symptoms and relief of various kinds of headaches. Many such charts for other ailments are scattered throughout the book.
This popular manual of domestic homeopathic practice—dedicated to Samuel Gregg—went through five editions. Its author, John A. Tarbell, also published the Pocket homœopathist and edited the Quarterly homœopathic review and later editions of John Epps' Domestic homœopathy. In remarks printed at Tarbell's death, Samuel Gregg said he "accidentally formed his acquaintance, at a time when Dr. Tarbell was about to relinquish his profession because he thought 'medicine, as practiced, did more harm than good.' Directing his attention to the subject of Homœopathy, he investigated it with entire impartiality and candor; the more he examined it, the more fully was he convinced of its entire truth; and he adopted it in his practice."
Of course, not all books concerning homeopathy are entirely serious. Comic illustrator Augustus Hoppin chronicles the travails of Mr. A. Wiper Weeps as he suffers from an attack of hay fever. In the plate on the right, both allopathy and homeopathy are seen as useless to him. Only a trip in a hot-air balloon for the duration of the hay fever season provides Weeps with relief.