Homeopathy is an alternative word for medicine. During the 19th century many medical practices were used which are now seen as harmful, such as bloodletting and taking mercury or lead. Homeopathic operations caused less damage. From the 1840s there were many homeopathic doctors in South Australia. Some settlers brough kits of homeopathic medicines with them to colony.
The History of Homoeopathy in South Australia
Homoeopathy was practiced throughout Australia since the 1840s. In the early colony very, few people had qualifications as medical practitioners. People relied on medicine chests for assistance and the help of others.
Many people established a practice without formal training. Some had medical experience in treatments, while many were charlatans and quacks and took advantage of the lack of rules and regulations.
Have a look at the following website for some more information:
BICKFORDS
In 1840 William Bickford opened his pharmacy in Hindley Street, near Rosina Street.
William Bickfords life story can be read on Trove at this link: https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/55776988?searchTerm=William%20Bickford%20Chemist
FAULDINGS
In 1846 the Faulding company began when Francis Hardy Faulding opened a chemist shop in Rundle Street, Adelaide. In 1861 Luther Scammell, a chemist, became his partner. When Faulding died in 1861 Luther and his sons owned the business. They manufactured many medicinal products, including antiseptics, oils and soaps and Epsom salts.
Learn more about the Faulding family in this Trove article :
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/129759853?searchTerm=Faulding%20epsom
Home Remedies
You can find many recipes for cures of diseases that were published in the newspapers.
DO NOT TRY THESE AT HOME
Recipe for dystenery
The medical qualities of pulverised charcoal are daily developing themselves, in addition to its value in bilious disorders. 2 ounces of the charcoal, boiled in a pint of fresh milk may be taken in doses in a wineglassful by adults, every two hours, in the most obstinate dysentery, until relief is imparted, which has not failed to be the effect in almost every instance. It is harmless, and the experiment may be safely tried. Charcoal made from maple wood is the fittest for this purpose.
Adelaide Observer 26 August 1843
Recipe for Whooping Cough
Take half a pint of old Jamaica rum, of the strongest that can be obtained, and cut it into fifteen to twenty large cloves of garlic, putting the vessel into a full exposure to the sun during two days. Rub the chest and between the shoulders of the patient with this infusion, three or four times a day. It will generally afford decided relief at the second and third application, and effect a cure in few days.
South Australian Register 24 January 1846
From William Ewens’ Letter
William Ewens, with his wife Sarah and three children, arrived in South Australia on the ship Prince Regent on the 25th of September 1839. He wrote letters to his family and friends in England.
This is an extract from one of his letters. William frequently ignored punctuation so his sentences could be very long. There were often spelling mistakes.
“4th April 1840. Adelaide, South Australia,
Grenfell Street. Tam O Shanter Place.
i have written the reason why I did not write to you before to my Dear Mother, but I hope this will find you all in good health, good health here is such A blessing that we cannot much brag off for i have been very poorly for some time poor Little Wolford thats the 3 child I mean I do not think will ever get over the Sea Voyage we are obliged to put napkins on him the same as A baby he is every day hour and week troubled with the Dyssentry thats what you call the bowel complaint in England.”
From William Welbourn’s Letters
William Welbourn emigrated to Adelaide in 1858. His brother, Thomas, married Hannah Playford. They arrived in Adelaide on the John Renwick on February 10th, 1837.
William Welbourn emigrated to Adelaide in 1858. His brother, Thomas, married Hannah Playford. They arrived in Adelaide on the John Renwick on February 10th, 1837.
“Norwood
Nr Adelaide
SA
Decr 9th 1858
Dear Mother, Brother & Sister,
I hope this will find you well as I am glad to say it leaves us, and I have no doubt a little more warm, but still I am quite surprised at the amount of pleasant cool weather here, we have had the thermometer up to 108 in the shade but I felt no ill effects of it although I was out all that day but as soon as the sun gets near down it is cool directly the hot winds blow dust but we have only had 2 days and nights of them – the dust rises then so thick that a person cannot see the road and it drives right up the Hills as far as Tom’s place. Everything indoors is completely covered with it and Eliz took in her head to have our Boy that day but the Boy is not dusty – I can tell you. He is a fine chap with a fine head curly hair (dark hair) a regular wee face, something like your chaps across the top part of the face. He has been vaccinated 10 days since. Now he is a little irritable, or else we never have any crying only at washing time, he wakes on in the night just for a drop and off to sleep directly, and his name is Wm.”
“Norwood
Nr Adelaide
Sh Australia
Feb 15th 1859
My Dear Mother
I will now address a line or to to you. I hope you stil keep well as I am happy to say we are in good health altho almost roasted with hot winds the last few days. You may fancy your hottest summer weather when the thermometer is at 85, which is not often so high, then fancy here 108 in shade. But i have no doubt to day it is 120 as it a regular hot wind. It does not blow continualy but in gusts following each other, and it is just as Tom said to put your head outside, is as if you was before an Oven, if you could see me you would see a difference. As I am a very considerably deal darker than John, but not a Black yet, when I am at work in the middle of the day, my Shirt is just as wet as you took it of a pail and wrung it. But after all I don’t feel any the worse for it”
Tom’s place – is Williams older brother.
Pioneers SA Learning Hub 
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