The history of MSM—homeopathy and natural medicines

Introduction

The idea for this article arose out of the Conference in London in January 2006, ‘Improving the Success of Homeopathy—A Global Perspective’—organised by the Royal London Homoeopathic Hospital and Dr Peter Fisher. The display[ ¹ ] at that conference depicting the Story of the Missionary School of Medicine (MSM) was only able to point to the highlights of its 100 year history as described in Touching the Ends of the Earth by Canon Philip Price.[ ² ] Reading through the Annual Reports, there was much more of relevance to share about the needs in the under-developed world today where the impact of Tuberculosis, Malaria and HIV/AIDS is undermining health. There are still many other illnesses that could be helped by better nutrition and natural medicines including homeopathy.

I was appointed an MSM Lecturer in 1970. I spoke on common children's illnesses and homeopathy. Then I was asked to sit on the MSM Council in 1988 and have since visited Uganda and experienced some of the poverty and needs there. Common illnesses are still common, and although medicine has developed curative treatments for many diseases including those specific to the tropics, homeopathy and natural medicines continue to have much to offer. This account of the history of MSM has been selected from a perusal of all the available annual reports and some of the early correspondence with the British Homoeopathic Association.

• References

• 1 Proceedings of the Conference on Improving the Success of Homeopathy 5. A Global Perspective, 26–27 January 2006, London, UK, p 163. Touching the Ends of the Earth. The Story of Medical Services Ministries 1903–2003. Poster presentation by Dr. Anita E. Davies.
• 2 Price P. In: Cousins A. (ed). Touching the Ends of the Earth. Medical Services Ministries, 2003. Haywards Health, Sussex.
• 3 Grundmann C. Sent to Heal Emergence and Development of Medical Missions. Lanham, MD, USA: University Press of America; 2005.
• 4 London Missionary School of Medicine under the auspices of The British Homeopathic Association. Chronicle of the Establishment and Workings of the School. London, UK: John Bale, Sons & Danielson Ltd., 1906, p 3–6.
• 5 Missionary School of Medicine (MSM), Annual Report. Solicited Testimonials. 1927–1928, p 3–6.
• 6 Missionary School of Medicine (MSM), Annual Report. Into the Eighties. 1980, pp 22–24.
• 7 www.eauk.org/about/basis-of-faith.cfm
• 8 Missionary School of Medicine (MSM), Report. Coming of Age. 1924, p 65.
• 9 Neatby EA, Neatby TM. Homeopathy in Tropical Diseases. Pub MSM, London WCI. Editor's Preface to the First Edition. reprint 1948, p 4.
• 10 www.preachandheal.org.uk
• 11 Weller B. MSM Treasurer, personal communication.
• 12 Missionary School of Medicine (MSM), Introductory Brochure.1953, p 8.
• 13 Missionary School of Medicine (MSM), Annual Report. In Pursuit of Excellence. 1979, p 14.
• 14 Missionary School of Medicine (MSM), Annual Report. Into the Eighties. 1980, p 25.
• 15 Weller B. MSM Treasurer. Personal communication.
• 16 Price P. In: Cousins A (ed). Touching the Ends of the Earth. Medical Services Ministries, 2003, p 69.
• 17 Price P. In: Cousins A (ed). Touching the Ends of the Earth. Medical Services Ministries, 2003, Appendix G, p 162.
• 18 Price P. In: Cousins A (ed). Touching the Ends of the Earth. Medical Services Ministries, 2003, p 35.
• 19 Price P. In: Cousins A (ed). Touching the Ends of the Earth. Medical Services Ministries, 2003, p 64. Haywards Health, Sussex.
• 20 Missionary School of Medicine (MSM), Annual Report Winning Confidence. 1932–1933, pp 22–26.
• 21 Price P. In: Cousins A (ed). Touching the Ends of the Earth. Medical Services Ministries, 2003, p 51. Haywards Health, Sussex.
• 22 Missionary School of Medicine (MSM), Annual Report. An Effective Witness. 1954, p 12.
• 23 Missionary School of Medicine (MSM), Annual Report. Cameos. 1978, p 18.
• 24 Price P. In: Cousins A (ed). Touching the Ends of the Earth. Medical Services Ministries, 2003, p 111. Haywards Health, Sussex.
• 25 Eglington A.L. Fifty Years of Joys, Trials and Triumphs in ‘Green Hell’. London, UK: Poocalpeenoh L; 1996.
• 26 Missionary School of Medicine (MSM), Annual Report. The Unfinished Task. 1972, p 3.
• 27 Missionary School of Medicine (MSM), Annual Report. New Horizons. 1976, p 6–7.
• 28 Missionary School of Medicine (MSM), Annual Report. Eighty Years. 1983, p 5.
• 29 Missionary School of Medicine (MSM), Annual Report. Sent Ones.1984, pp 12–13.
• 30 Missionary School of Medicine (MSM), Annual Report. Preparation for the Field. 1935–36, pp 20–21.
• 31 Missionary School of Medicine (MSM), Annual Report. Our objectives. 1960, p 15.
• 32 Missionary School of Medicine (MSM), Annual Report. A Goodly Company. 1965, pp 15–16.
• 33 Missionary School of Medicine (MSM), Annual Report. Cameos. 1978, p 15.
• 34 Medical Service Ministries (MSM), Annual Report.1993, p 17.
• 35 Medical Service Ministries (MSM), Annual Report.1998, p 6.
• 36 Medical Service Ministries (MSM), Annual Report.1998, p 14.
• 37 Medical Service Ministries (MSM), Annual Report. 1997, p 6.
• 38 Missionary School of Medicine (MSM), Annual Report. Winning Confidence. 1932–1933, p 6.
• 39 Missionary School of Medicine (MSM), Annual Report. For His Name's Sake. 1958, p 14.
• 40 Missionary School of Medicine (MSM), Annual Report. Preparation for the Field. 1935–1936, p 10.
• 41 Missionary School of Medicine (MSM), Annual Report. The Beckoning Hand. 1959, p 14.
• 42 Missionary School of Medicine (MSM), Annual Report. Sent Ones. 1984, p 14.
• 43 Missionary School of Medicine (MSM), Annual Report. 1998, p 9.
• 44 MSM Annual Report 1996. p 10.
• 45 Lindsay K. Personal communication. www.anamed.net