20 years ago: The British Homoeopathic Journal, July 1986

A new editor

Dr Peter Fisher introduced himself briefly as the new editor of the Journal, and paid tribute to both of his immediate predecessors: Ralph Twentyman for building the Journal's reputation as the leading international English-language journal at a difficult period for British homeopathy; and Anthony Campbell for introducing critical intellectual and historical rigour to the Journal. The new editor now appealed for help from colleagues in further developing the Journal. He saw the need to establish an element of peer review with a panel of referees for articles, and of reviewers for books. He also wished to recruit colleagues from abroad to contribute short pieces on important developments affecting homeopathy in their countries.

In his editorial, Fisher spoke of the 190th anniversary of homeopathy that year, counting from the publication in 1796, in Hufeland's Journal, of Hahnemann's classic “Essay on a New Curative Principle”; and suggested that it was a good moment to reflect on what needed to be done to make the bicentennial truly auspicious. He referred to the successful, if stormy, first century, when homeopathy spread widely despite fierce opposition, and compared it with the stagnation which has occurred since; largely because of the progress in medical science, but also because of complacency in homeopathic circles and dependency on received knowledge. Although advances in physics had given cause for hope, a new danger was the pan-European threat from regulating authorities, as the recent withdrawal of product licence of Pertussin had shown. Fisher concluded that the one sure defence against this was to develop homeopathy, widen its ranges and make its results more certain.

• References

• 1 Gibson R.G., Gibson S.L.M., MacNeill A.D., Watson W. Homoeopathic therapy in rheumatoid arthritis: evaluation by double-blind clinical therapeutic trial. Br Hom J 1986; 75: 148-157.
• 2 Fisher P. An experimental double-blind clinical trial method in homoeopathy: use of a limited range of remedies to treat fibrositis. Br Hom J 1986; 75: 142-147.
• 3 Swayne J. Data collection and research in homoeopathic medicine. Br Hom J 1986; 75: 157-161.
• 4 Witko D. Information technology and the future of homoeopathy. Br Hom J 1986; 75: 162-164.
• 5 Coulter H.L., Fisher B.L. DPT—A Shot in the Dark. London: Harcourt, Brace, Jovanovitch; 1985. ISBN: O-15-126481-3.
• 6 Babington Smith C. Champion of Homoeopathy—The Life of Margery Blackie. London: John Murray; 1986.
• 7 Blackie M. Classical Homoeopathy. Elliott C., Johnson F. Beaconsfield: Beaconsfield Publishers; 1986: 320.