Adolph Hahnemann Allshorn
Buried: 18/05/1889, aged 44
Plot no: 63667 | Section: K09 / A2
Homeopathy, the longest established alternative medicine to come out of Europe, was created in 1796 by Samuel Hahnemann. Hahnemann rejected the mainstream medicine of the late 18th century as irrational and inadvisable because it was largely ineffective and often harmful. He advocated the use of single drugs at lower doses and promoted an immaterial, vitalist view of how living organisms function. The term homeopathy was coined by Hahnemann and first appeared in print in 1807.
Homoeopathy first came to Britain in the 1830's, mainly through the strongly interconnected German and British Royal families. It was previously was very popular amongst the European Royalties and nobility. British Royals and aristocrats soon followed suit and the therapy became very popular, they not only patronised homoeopathic physicians, but they also gave generous financial assistance with the setting up of homoeopathic hospitals, pharmacies and free homoeopathic dispensaries for the poor. In the 1840's the London School of Homoeopathy was established as a teaching centre. This merged in the late 1870's with the London Homoeopathic Hospital.
Homeopathic glass vials circa 1865.
This family grave has several members who are closely linked to Homeopathic Medicine, which was founded by Samuel Hahnemann in 1796 and this name was probably given to Adolph H. Allshorn in recognition of the family's professional careers in this field. Buried within this grave are seven family members, including his brother Edward George Allshorn.
Adolph Hahnemann Allshorn was born in Enfield, to George Edward and Fanny Allshorn, and later baptised in Enfield on 2nd October 1844. A Scottish census held in 1851 shows Adolphus living with his parents, at 52 Hanover Street, Edinburgh, along with his 2 brothers and sister. There was one servant. The Census shows the family still living in Edinburgh in 1861 and Adolphus is a medical student – although the spelling of the surname is different. This would correspond to his gaining his medical qualification in 1865 at Edinburgh.
He studied medicine and became Licentiate of the Royal College of Surgeons Edinburgh (L.R.C.S.E) in 1865, studied medicine at Edinburgh University in 1866 and was a member of the Royal Botanical Society, Edinburgh and the General Council of Edinburgh.
His first wife was Rebecca Annie Tegg, who he married in 1872 in Hackney, and with whom he had six children. His second wife was Florence Ada Whitehouse with whom he had a further 4 children. The census of 1881 shows him living at 90 Dalston Lane with his second wife Florence.
The Allshorn headstone.
Adolph practised as a Homeopathic Doctor in Sheffield and then moved his practice to 7 Dalston Lane, Hackney, (now a Hair Dressers) with a second shop at 90 Dalston Lane (Victorian House now divided into Villas and a Surveyors Firm at Ground Level) and a branch at 51 Edgware Road, which was managed by his one of his sons, George Edward Allshorn who was a Homeopathic Chemist and Druggist. He is highlighted in the Medical Directory, 1875.
Adolphus published a book in 1875, On the Protuberant Abdomen: an outline of Its Causes and Treatment, which is still available today. He also published an article, in the Hackney and Kingsland Gazette in 1871, offering Remedies for Diarrhoea.
According to records he died in April 1889 in Maidstone in Kent. We could assume that he returned to Abney Park to be buried with his first wife.
William Charles Allshorn, 1847 to 1890 (brother)
William was born in Edinburgh, Midlothian, 1847 - the census shows him living there in 1851. He was a surgeon and a member of the College of English Dentists, as was his Father. He lived at 7 Dalston Lane, Hackney and had an Homeopathic Pharmacy at 51, Edgware Road. (now a Restaurant). He is buried in the family grave at Abney Park Cemetery.
An article again in the Hackney and Kingsland Gazette, published 5th April 1893, advertised the use of Allock’s Porous Plasters which reduced the risk of catching a cold and they could be obtained from the Chemist of Allshorn and Company at 4 Dalston Lane.
George Edward Allshorn, 1848 to 1901 (brother)
George was born in Edinburgh and lived in Princes Street, as shown in the voters register, in 1855 through to 1865 where he was working as a Homeopathic Druggist. He qualified as Doctor of Medicine at Edinburgh University. He lived at 7 Dalston Road, according to the electoral roll of 1894 and 1900.
George Edward Allshorn,1819 to 1870 (father)
George was born in Edinburgh. He was a prominent Homeopathic Doctor, qualifying from Edinburgh University, before becoming a graduate of the Homeopathic Medical College of Pennsylvania (1857), and then a Licentiate of the Royal College of Surgeons and Midwifery at Edinburgh University, was a member of the College of Dentists, England, and held membership within the following societies, Hahnemann Medical, British Homeopathic Northern, Botanical and Royal Medical Society of Edinburgh and Surgeon at the Southern Homeopathic Dispensary for Diseases for Women and Children, the Darlington Homeopathic Dispensary and Stoke Newington Homeopathic Dispensary. He was a member of The Association For the Protection of Homeopathic Practitioner’s and Student’s, which still exists today.
He is shown as working in the Stoke Newington Homeopathic Dispensary in Dalston Lane, when he relocated to Hackney, following a serious Railway accident, to recuperate with his family. He died on 7th January 1870, after a seizure.
Obituary for G. E. Allshorn, from the Lancet.