Samuel Thomson
Encyclopedia
Samuel Thomson was a self-taught American herbalist
and founder of the alternative system of medicine known as "Thomsonian Medicine", which enjoyed wide popularity in the United States during the 19th century.
, New Hampshire
, the second-eldest of six children. His father, John Thomson, was a farmer and the family lived in a remote country area which Thomson described as a "wilderness". From a young age he became curious about the various plants which he saw growing in the countryside and their medicinal uses. Much of his early knowledge was acquired from a local widow woman, who had acquired something of a reputation as a healer due to her skill with herbal remedies. Thomson also used to sample the plants he found growing in the wild - in this way he discovered Lobelia
which became an important remedy in the system of medicine he later founded. Thomson was blithely unaware of the poisonous nature of the plant and used to trick other boys into eating it which caused them to vomit.
At the age of sixteen he had hoped to study with a local "root" doctor (at that time there was no official licensing of the medical profession) but his parents did not think he had the education and could not spare him from his work. Thus, he became resigned to his life as a farm laborer. At the age of nineteen, he sustained a severe injury to his ankle while chopping wood which, despite the ministration of a local doctor, refused to heal. His condition worsened and the family feared for his life. He decided to treat the wound himself with a comfrey root and turpentine plaster - after some weeks he was able to make a recovery.
At the age of 21, Samuel's father left for Vermont, placing Samuel in charge of the farm and leaving his mother and sister in his care. Soon after, his mother became ill with measles
, and in spite of the efforts of several doctors, Samuel's mother died when the measles turned into "galloping consumption." When Samuel also became ill with measles, he cured himself using herbal remedies.
One year later, Thomson married Susanna Allen on July 7, 1790 in Keene, New Hampshire
. After the birth of their first child, Susanna became very ill, and a parade of seven conventional doctors were unable to cure her. Samuel arranged for two "root doctors" to treat his wife, who returned to health the next day. Thomson and Susanna went on to have eight children.
s, who treated his wife and taught Thomson some of their methods. Subsequently, Thomson used steambaths and herbs to cure one of his daughters and a son, and a few of his neighbors.
In this way, Thomson developed his own method, the Thomsonian System, and practiced in Surry, New Hampshire
and the adjoining towns. During the first half of the 19th century his system had numerous followers, including some of his sons. It was based upon opening the paths of elimination so that toxins could be removed via physiological processes. This was not unique to Thomson- so-called "regular physicians" used Calomel in what today appear to be alarming quantities to induce vomiting and purgation, but the more moderate and less toxic means attracted large numbers of followers.
His system of medicine appealed to the egalitarian anti-elitist
sentiments of Jacksonian America
in the 1830s, and families far from established towns came to rely on it. Licensed doctors, and their methods such as bloodletting
, came under intense scrutiny during this period. Thomson's system was appealing because it allowed each individual to administer his or her own treatment.
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Eventually, Thomson came to believe that exposure to cold temperatures was an important cause of illness
and that disease should be treated by restoring the body's "natural heat." Thomson's methods for doing this included steam baths, cayenne pepper
, laxatives, and administration of the emetic Lobelia inflata
, a plant also known as "Indian tobacco" or "puke weed" that can cause vomiting
.
After practicing this form of medicine for about ten years, Thomson wrote a book called "New Guide to Health; or Botanic Family Physician" in 1822. Thomson sold "patents" to use his system of medicine to any family for $20. Right-holders were able to purchase Thomson's herbs and formulas, which he distributed from a central warehouse, and a copy of Thomson's book. He sold over 100,000 patents by 1840. His suggestion for a family's medicine stock (and his contempt for conventional medicine) are demonstrated by this quote from his book:
Thomson took great care to guard his patented cures, and used legal authority to prevent others from manufacturing and selling lobelia pills. Thomson's monopoly was broken by Alva Curtis, who created the "Independent Thomsonian Medical Society" to train practitioners, who in turn gave rise to the "Eclectic medicine
" movement.
Part of Thomson's downfall was due to a bombastic personality and an arrogance which would not permit him to interact with regular doctors or even to pursue additional studies in anatomy and physiology. Others who received his training broke with him and went on to pursue advanced medical education founding Eclectic medicine which drew from a variety of sources and included a wider variety of treatment modalities and medicinal substances.
Licensed doctors, however, came to resent Thomson's popularity, as well as his criticisms of their techniques. In 1809, a physician named French accused Thomson of killing a patient, Ezra Lovett, through the administration of excessive amounts of Lobelia. Thomson claimed his patient was cured, but then died when he unwisely ventured into the cold instead of recuperating in his warm home. The prosecution claimed excessive vomiting, brought on by Thomson's administration of lobelia, was to blame. Ultimately, Thomson was acquitted when one of his defense council demonstrated that one of the prosecution's exhibits, labeled "Lobelia", was actually the plant marsh rosemary, by consuming some in court. Subsequent literature reviews have failed to demonstrate any deaths or symptoms more dangerous than emesis from even significantly larger doses than Thomson administered in the Ezra Lovett case.
Despite Thomson's acquittal, many states passed "Black Laws",
Blacksburg, Virginia prohibiting the sale of Lobelia and similar patent medicine
s. The laws were of small practical effect and were mostly repealed by the 1820s.
Herbalist Michael Moore
in his introduction to Eclectic physician John Uri Lloyd
's biography of Thomson, gives a flavor of the debate of the times:
Herbalist
An herbalist is:#A person whose life is dedicated to the economic or medicinal uses of plants.#One skilled in the harvesting and collection of medicinal plants ....
and founder of the alternative system of medicine known as "Thomsonian Medicine", which enjoyed wide popularity in the United States during the 19th century.
Early life
Thomson was born in AlsteadAlstead, New Hampshire
Alstead is a town in Cheshire County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 1,937 at the 2010 census. Alstead is home to Feuer State Forest.-History:...
, New Hampshire
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
, the second-eldest of six children. His father, John Thomson, was a farmer and the family lived in a remote country area which Thomson described as a "wilderness". From a young age he became curious about the various plants which he saw growing in the countryside and their medicinal uses. Much of his early knowledge was acquired from a local widow woman, who had acquired something of a reputation as a healer due to her skill with herbal remedies. Thomson also used to sample the plants he found growing in the wild - in this way he discovered Lobelia
Lobelia
Lobelia is a genus of flowering plant comprising 360–400 species, with a subcosmopolitan distribution primarily in tropical to warm temperate regions of the world, a few species extending into cooler temperate regions...
which became an important remedy in the system of medicine he later founded. Thomson was blithely unaware of the poisonous nature of the plant and used to trick other boys into eating it which caused them to vomit.
At the age of sixteen he had hoped to study with a local "root" doctor (at that time there was no official licensing of the medical profession) but his parents did not think he had the education and could not spare him from his work. Thus, he became resigned to his life as a farm laborer. At the age of nineteen, he sustained a severe injury to his ankle while chopping wood which, despite the ministration of a local doctor, refused to heal. His condition worsened and the family feared for his life. He decided to treat the wound himself with a comfrey root and turpentine plaster - after some weeks he was able to make a recovery.
At the age of 21, Samuel's father left for Vermont, placing Samuel in charge of the farm and leaving his mother and sister in his care. Soon after, his mother became ill with measles
Measles
Measles, also known as rubeola or morbilli, is an infection of the respiratory system caused by a virus, specifically a paramyxovirus of the genus Morbillivirus. Morbilliviruses, like other paramyxoviruses, are enveloped, single-stranded, negative-sense RNA viruses...
, and in spite of the efforts of several doctors, Samuel's mother died when the measles turned into "galloping consumption." When Samuel also became ill with measles, he cured himself using herbal remedies.
One year later, Thomson married Susanna Allen on July 7, 1790 in Keene, New Hampshire
Keene, New Hampshire
Keene is a city in Cheshire County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 23,409 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Cheshire County.Keene is home to Keene State College and Antioch University New England, and hosts the annual Pumpkin Fest...
. After the birth of their first child, Susanna became very ill, and a parade of seven conventional doctors were unable to cure her. Samuel arranged for two "root doctors" to treat his wife, who returned to health the next day. Thomson and Susanna went on to have eight children.
Development of the Thomsonian System
When his wife nearly died after being treated via conventional medicine, Thomson consulted two herbalistHerbalism
Herbalism is a traditional medicinal or folk medicine practice based on the use of plants and plant extracts. Herbalism is also known as botanical medicine, medical herbalism, herbal medicine, herbology, herblore, and phytotherapy...
s, who treated his wife and taught Thomson some of their methods. Subsequently, Thomson used steambaths and herbs to cure one of his daughters and a son, and a few of his neighbors.
In this way, Thomson developed his own method, the Thomsonian System, and practiced in Surry, New Hampshire
Surry, New Hampshire
Surry is a town in Cheshire County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 732 at the 2010 census.- History :Surry was chartered in 1769, and named for Charles Howard, Earl of Surrey...
and the adjoining towns. During the first half of the 19th century his system had numerous followers, including some of his sons. It was based upon opening the paths of elimination so that toxins could be removed via physiological processes. This was not unique to Thomson- so-called "regular physicians" used Calomel in what today appear to be alarming quantities to induce vomiting and purgation, but the more moderate and less toxic means attracted large numbers of followers.
His system of medicine appealed to the egalitarian anti-elitist
Elitism
Elitism is the belief or attitude that some individuals, who form an elite — a select group of people with intellect, wealth, specialized training or experience, or other distinctive attributes — are those whose views on a matter are to be taken the most seriously or carry the most...
sentiments of Jacksonian America
Andrew Jackson
Andrew Jackson was the seventh President of the United States . Based in frontier Tennessee, Jackson was a politician and army general who defeated the Creek Indians at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend , and the British at the Battle of New Orleans...
in the 1830s, and families far from established towns came to rely on it. Licensed doctors, and their methods such as bloodletting
Bloodletting
Bloodletting is the withdrawal of often little quantities of blood from a patient to cure or prevent illness and disease. Bloodletting was based on an ancient system of medicine in which blood and other bodily fluid were considered to be "humors" the proper balance of which maintained health...
, came under intense scrutiny during this period. Thomson's system was appealing because it allowed each individual to administer his or her own treatment.
Illness
Illness is a state of poor health. Illness is sometimes considered another word for disease. Others maintain that fine distinctions exist...
and that disease should be treated by restoring the body's "natural heat." Thomson's methods for doing this included steam baths, cayenne pepper
Cayenne pepper
The cayenne pepper—also known as the Guinea spice,cow-horn pepper, aleva, bird pepper,or, especially in its powdered form, red pepper—is a red, hot chili pepper used to flavor dishes and for medicinal purposes. Named for the city of Cayenne in French Guiana, it is a cultivar of Capsicum annuum...
, laxatives, and administration of the emetic Lobelia inflata
Lobelia inflata
Lobelia inflata is a species of Lobelia native to eastern North America, from southeastern Canada south through the eastern United States to Alabama and west to Kansas.-Growth:...
, a plant also known as "Indian tobacco" or "puke weed" that can cause vomiting
Vomiting
Vomiting is the forceful expulsion of the contents of one's stomach through the mouth and sometimes the nose...
.
Thomson took great care to guard his patented cures, and used legal authority to prevent others from manufacturing and selling lobelia pills. Thomson's monopoly was broken by Alva Curtis, who created the "Independent Thomsonian Medical Society" to train practitioners, who in turn gave rise to the "Eclectic medicine
Eclectic medicine
Eclectic medicine was a branch of American medicine which made use of botanical remedies along with other substances and physical therapy practices, popular in the latter half of the 19th and first half of the 20th centuries....
" movement.
Part of Thomson's downfall was due to a bombastic personality and an arrogance which would not permit him to interact with regular doctors or even to pursue additional studies in anatomy and physiology. Others who received his training broke with him and went on to pursue advanced medical education founding Eclectic medicine which drew from a variety of sources and included a wider variety of treatment modalities and medicinal substances.
Taken to court
Despite Thomson's acquittal, many states passed "Black Laws",
Blacksburg, Virginia prohibiting the sale of Lobelia and similar patent medicine
Patent medicine
Patent medicine refers to medical compounds of questionable effectiveness sold under a variety of names and labels. The term "patent medicine" is somewhat of a misnomer because, in most cases, although many of the products were trademarked, they were never patented...
s. The laws were of small practical effect and were mostly repealed by the 1820s.
Herbalist Michael Moore
Michael Moore (herbalist)
Michael Moore was a medicinal herbalist, author of several reference works on botanical medicine, and founder of the Southwest School of Botanical Medicine . Before he was an herbalist Michael Moore was a musician and a composer...
in his introduction to Eclectic physician John Uri Lloyd
John Uri Lloyd
John Uri Lloyd was an American pharmacist influential to the development of pharmacognosy, ethnobotany, economic botany, and herbalism.He also wrote novels set in northern Kentucky...
's biography of Thomson, gives a flavor of the debate of the times:
Thomson's own description of his legal problems is given in flat, understated New England dryness and couched in seeming venal paranoia.... After finishing the later material, offering 3rd party perspective, you realize that Thomson's movement had affected a million or more Americans, started a medical reformation that would not peak for another 50 years, and the brightest medical minds of the time were split vehemently both against and for Thomson's right to practice...bitterly divided between Federalists and Republican politics...Populists and Elitists...rural and urban. The tribulations of this former pig farmer rocked the young republic for over a decade and were headlines everywhere. Because of the success of Thomson and his followers, states began, for the first time, regulating medical practice along party and class lines. Messy and fascinating stuff.
See also
- Popular Health MovementPopular Health MovementThe Popular Health Movement of the 1830s–1850s was an aspect of Jacksonian-era politics and society in the United States. The movement promoted a rational skepticism toward claims of medical expertise that were based on personal authority, and encouraged ordinary people to understand the pragmatics...
- Eclectic medicineEclectic medicineEclectic medicine was a branch of American medicine which made use of botanical remedies along with other substances and physical therapy practices, popular in the latter half of the 19th and first half of the 20th centuries....
- HerbalismHerbalismHerbalism is a traditional medicinal or folk medicine practice based on the use of plants and plant extracts. Herbalism is also known as botanical medicine, medical herbalism, herbal medicine, herbology, herblore, and phytotherapy...
- PharmacognosyPharmacognosyPharmacognosy is the study of medicines derived from natural sources. The American Society of Pharmacognosy defines pharmacognosy as "the study of the physical, chemical, biochemical and biological properties of drugs, drug substances or potential drugs or drug substances of natural origin as well...
- BotanyBotanyBotany, plant science, or plant biology is a branch of biology that involves the scientific study of plant life. Traditionally, botany also included the study of fungi, algae and viruses...
- EthnobotanyEthnobotanyEthnobotany is the scientific study of the relationships that exist between people and plants....
Further reading
- Lloyd, John Uri. Life and Medical Discoveries of Samuel Thomson (Bulletin of the Lloyd Library of Botany, Pharmacy and Materia Medica, 1909).
- Thomson, Samuel. New guide to health, or Botanic family physician (Simpkin, Marshall & Co. 1849).
- Thomson, Samuel. A Narrative of the Life and Medical Discoveries of Samuel Thomson, Containing an account of his system of practice and the manner of curing disease with vegetable medicine, upon a plan entirely new. Tenth Edition. (Jarvis, Pike & Co.: Columbus, Ohio, 1835).
- Whorton, James C. Nature Cures: The History of Alternative Medicine in America (Oxford University Press, 2002).
- Young, James Harvey. The Toadstool Millionaires: A Social History of Patent Medicines in America before Federal Regulation (Princeton 1961).
- Caldecott, Todd. History of Physiomedicalism
External links
- Classic works in Herbal Medicine. Various e-books on Thomsonian medicine including Life and Medical Discoveries of Samuel Thomson by J. U. Lloyd (1909) and A Guide to Health etc by Benjamin Colby (1846).