[New documental evidence on the history of homeopathy in Latin America: a case study of links between Rio de Janeiro and Buenos Aires]. / Novas evidências documentais para a história da homeopatia na América Latina: um estudo de caso sobre os vínculos entre Rio de Janeiro e Buenos Aires.

ABSTRACT

Homeopathy began to spread soon after it was formulated by Samuel Hahnemann in the early 1800s, reaching the Southern Cone in the 1830s. In processes of this kind, one figure is often cited as being responsible for introducing it, often attaining quasi-mythical status. Little is known, however, about how homeopathy reached Argentina at that time. Through archival research, we discovered that medical and lay homeopaths circulated between Rio de Janeiro and Buenos Aires. Given the well-known proselytizing of the circles gravitating around lay homeopaths B. Mure and J.V. Martins in Rio de Janeiro, the documents indicate that this movement actually went as far as Argentina, which had not been confirmed until now.