Two articles by Dr.P.S.Brown [no relationship!] are available on line through the website www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov. These articles reprinted from Medical History magazine date back to the 1980's and are sympathetic to the herbalists and the advocates and users of herbal medicine and their ongoing fight against medical orthodoxy and the pharmaceutical industry.

"Herbalists and Medical Botanists in Mid-Nineteenth-century Britain with special reference to Bristol.' http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/picrender.fcgi?tool=pmcentrez&artid=1139220&blobtype=pdf

"The Vicissitudes of Herbalism in late nineteenth and early twentieth century Britain."
http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/picrender.fcgi?tool=pmcentrez&artid=1139482&blobtype=pdf

The second article is probably of more general interest. There are references to Mrs.Leyel and the Society of Herbalists and several references to Herbal Review magazine.

Of particular interest is reference to Herbal Review, 1980, No.5 pages 12 to 15. I recall reading it back in, well, 1980. It is an extract from the memoirs of Albert Orbell FNIMH. Mr.Orbell, who was for many years editor of Health from Herbs magazine and for many years ran a well regarded practice in Ilford, Essex, talks of his 'apprenticeship' to a herbalist in the East-end of London.on of his duties was mixing herbal smoking mixture in the loft over the shop.unfortunately Mr.Orbell died before completing his Memoirs, thus they were never published in full.

In the first article there are several references to William Fox,the nineteenth century Sheffield herbalist. I recall Debs mentioning in one of her posts that she recently obtained one of his books.

Kevin

[Edited to add direct links to the two articles]

Hi Kevin

A couple of interesting articles there, thanks for sharing! I did indeed mention I'd got hold of William Fox's "The Working Man's Model Family Botanic Guide", problem was I bought it via Amazon and a couple of days after purchasing the book for a bargain price of £4.95 plus postage, my money was refunded and I was told that the book was no longer for sale as it had already been sold!!! So I'm still looking for that one, although I did manage to get Harold Wards "Herbal Manual".

Re the Herbal Review references in the Vicissitudes article, I'm hoping that between the copies of Herbs that the Society still has and with the help of Society members we'll be able to get together a complete back catalogue of all the Society's journals and if we don't have physical copies we'll at least be able to borrow them to take electronic copies and when articles are referenced in the future. We'll either be able to make them available to members via the new members only area (coming soon) and to the public for a small fee.

Debs

Hi Debs,

Sorry you didnot get the William Fox book,better luck next time!He was a great advocate of the Thomsonian use of steam baths.As he lived in Sheffield,in view of the winter climate there quite appropriate.

When I am next in Europe I have te following books,all obtained through Amazon awaiting me.

Herbal Simples by Dr.W.T.Fernie[U.S. reprint of 1919 edition.He was a favourite of MT Quelch and Mrs.Leyel].

Culpeper's English Physician and Complete Herbal edited by William Ferrier[this is the edition published by the Society of Herbalists in 1938.Apparently there is a forward by HRH The Princess Louise.Mrs.Leyel knew them all!]

Common Plants and their Use in Medicine by Richard.L.Hool[This is the Mr.Hool who founded a herbal business inlancashire in the 1870's,still in existence.Published in 1922 by National Association of Medical Herbalists Lancashire Branch].

I really must buy some new books and I shall not forget to use the Herb Society link to Amazon.

I must say I am finding the Forum most enjoyable.Keep up the good work.

Regards Kevin

Hi Kevin

Just thought I'd let you know that I've just been digging through some old issues of The Herbal Review looking for something else (for new members this is what the Herb Society journal was called prior to being called Herbs), and I've stumbled across the article you referred to in your post above "An Excerpt From The Memoirs Of Mr Albert Orbell", interesting stuff, if you'd like me to scan the article and email it to you let me know?

Debs

Hi Debs,
If you could do that I should be most grateful.

Funnily enough I have again been trying to buy a copy of the William Fox book.
Maybe this time I shall be lucky.
Regards
Kevin