"At [the] time [homeopathy was introduced: in the 18th century], mainstream medicine employed such measures as bloodletting and purging, used laxatives and enem

"At [the] time [homeopathy was introduced: in the 18th century], mainstream medicine employed such measures as bloodletting and purging, used laxatives and enemas, and administered complex mixtures, such as Venice treacle, which was made from 64 substances including opium, myrrh, and viper's flesh. Such measures often worsened symptoms and sometimes proved fatal." [1] In this context, giving a patient instead a medicine, which while doing no good, did no harm either, could be a very advantageous. [1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homeopathy#History http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homeopathy#History