Homeopathic Hospitals

The collections consists of only two items: reports for the Manchester Homeopathic Institution (1905) and the Manchester Homeopathic Dispensary (1902).

In the early nineteenth century, interest in homeopathy grew as a reaction against established medicine, but was regarded dismissed by most medical practitioners as quackery. By the early 1850s there were two homeopathic dispensaries in centre of Manchester and two in Hulme.

Manchester Homeopathic Dispensary was a voluntary dispensary founded circa 1842. It changed its rules in 1847 to encourage patient subscriptions, but it was also supported by the Hospital Saturday Fund. The Dispensary took on a house surgeon and began admitting in-patients. From 1850 until circa 1883 Manchester Homeopathic Dispensary and Hospital was based at Bloom Street and it soon grew to thirty beds. The Dispensary was later based at 107 Great Ancoats Street.

A separate institution, Manchester and Salford Homeopathic Dispensary was founded in 1854 in Lever Street, it is not known when closed.

The longest serving Homeopathic Hospital was founded around 1859 as Manchester Homeopathic Institution and Dispensary, at 203 Great Jackson Street, Hulme. It was a voluntary institution, but patients who were able to paid fees. The Institution aimed to promote a wider knowledge of the principle and practice of pure homeopathy. The Institution attended to out-patients and home patients but does not appear to have admitted in-patients. By 1905 the name had changed to Manchester Homeopathic Institution. In 1939 it moved to a purpose built clinic in Oxford Road, becoming Manchester Homeopathic Clinic. It remained there until the building was demolished in 1970 and the clinic moved to Brunswick Street where it remains today. The Clinic never became part of the NHS, but does provide treatment to NHS patients.