Making Cancer History: Disease and Discovery at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center (review)

Abstract

such, the book largely avoids the partisan approach of both its supporters and detractors—even if occasionally the language it employs of “rational” medical sci-ence and “cultist” and “metaphysical” homeopathy could be seen as loaded.More critically, greater attention might have been given to homeopathy in other national contexts; even though the book is self-consciously focused on the United States, more comparative analysis would have shed greater light on the dis-tinctive case of American homeopathy. Having said this, comparisons are made to Europe—not least in relation to its early development and the more spiritual view of healing taken by contemporary American homeopathy in repudiating orthodox medical reductionism and randomized controlled trials. However, although at times reference is made to its constituent countries, greater awareness is needed of the dangers of treating Europe as a homogeneous whole.Another potential criticism of the book is that it effectively starts its journey at the beginning of the twentieth century, thereby skating over the rich Ameri-can history of homeopathy from the mid- to late nineteenth century. However, the key features of this period are outlined, and, placing the book in its wider context, this account is a sequel to John Haller’s other seminal text published in 2005 titled