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Homeopathy in Canada: A Synopsis |
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Confrontations
between conventional and homeopathic schools of thought had always
existed and so it took three years of consultations among the interested
groups to reach an agreement. Finally, in 1869, the Ontario Medical
Act was passed (SUP 1869), which integrated allopaths, homeopaths
and eclectics in a provincial body, the College of Physicians and
Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO). The integration of three different systems
of medicine within the same regulatory body was quite unique, unlike
the situations in other countries, such as the United States and England,
where confrontations were routine. In the States, an allopathic doctor
could lose his or her license just by consulting with a homeopath
regarding a patient (Coulter, 1982). |
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S. Hahnemann monument
( Washington D.C.) |
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When the Queen of England
requested that one of the court physicians attend Sir William Jenner,
the physician alleged that it was unethical for him to treat a patient
who was under the care of a homeopath and the Queen was denied her
request. |
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In the first election
of the CPSO in June 1869, its governing body, the Medical Council,
was formed. One physician was elected from each of the twelve territorial
divisions of the province: one physician represented each of the five
universities and medical schools, five were chosen from the eclectics
and five from the homeopaths. In 1869, the elected homeopaths for
the Council were: D. Campbell, G. C. Field, H. C. Allen, J. Adams,
and Wm. Springer. Other homeopathic doctors elected president of the
council in the last century were: O. Logan (1883-84) and C. Henderson
(1887). |
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The eminent Dr. Duncan
Campbell served the Council from its inception in 1869 to 1878. He
was born in Argyllshire, Scotland in 1811, studied in Caan, France
and later at the University of Edinburgh, from which he graduated
in 1833. He immigrated to Canada in 1834 and served as surgeon in
one of the battalions in 1837. At the close of the rebellions, he
settled in Hamilton, then moved to Niagara and in 1858, settled in
Toronto. Dr. Campbell is recorded as the first doctor using anesthesia
in Upper Canada (Ontario today) on May 31, 1848 (Colbeck). |
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