"A history of botanical remedies, hypnotic suggestion, water cures, and other alternative medicine in nineteenth-century America"--Dust jacket.

Medicine at the crossroads -- Every man his own physician : Thomson's botanic medicine -- The only true science of the mind : phrenology -- Quenching thirst, healing pain : hydropathy -- Dilutions of health : homeopathy -- Hypnotized : Mesmer and his mental magic -- Selling snake oil : patent medicine -- Manual medicine : osteopathy and chiropractic -- The fall and rise of alternative medicine.