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Bœnninghausen was in close touch with Hahnemann from 1830 until the close of Hahnemann’s life, and as long as Bœnninghausen lived he kept in close touch with all those practicing homœopathy. However, his literary work was much hampered by the permission to practice freely, and he did not publish his books as frequently after that event, although he spent much time at that labor. It is interesting to note that his earliest works found instant circulation among those interested in the new doctrine, and almost every practicing homœopath had Bœnninghausen’s works, in his library. Bœnninghausen’s works in the order of their appearance are listed here :
Attempt at a Homœopathic Therapy of Intermittent and Other Fevers, especially for would be homœopaths. Second augmented and revised edition. Part 1. The Pyrexy. 1864.
After the proclamation empowering him to practice medicine, Bœnninghausen founded the society for homœopathic physicians in Westphalia, which flourished for many years under the interest which was roused in the homœopaths whom Bœnninghausen drew about him. Bœnninghausen was a close friend of Adolph Lippe, and also of Carroll Dunham. Bœnninghausen for many years lived in Munster. He received patients daily from nine to two o’clock, from two to five he spent in walking about the suburbs and in the Botanical Gardens. He lived to attain the age of seventy-nine years, died following apoplexy on January 26, 1864.
No one man, except Hahnemann, has left so deep an impress upon the literature of Homœopathy, or has exerted so great an influence in favour of the Homœopathy taught by Hahnemann, as Bœnninghausen. His Therapeutic Pocket Book, first published in1846, has been a guide to many, and other of the works of his scholarly pen have also been held in demand by the believers in pure Homœopathy. He devoted himself especially to presenting the Materia Medica so that the chief characteristics of each remedy might be thoroughly understood by the practitioner and his writings are mostly devoted to that object. The great literary work of his life was probably his editorship of the Aphorisms of Hippocrates with the Glosses of a Homœopathist.
Of his seven sons the two eldest chose homœopathic medicine as their profession, which was a great joy to him. The elder of these sons practiced for a time in the neighborhood of his boyhood home, later going to Paris where he married the adopted daughter of Hahnemann’s widow. He lived with Madame Hahnemann and her daughter, and had access to Hahnemann’s library and manuscripts.
