Hahnemann presents a Latin thesis on June 26, 1812, entitled "A Medical Historical Dissertation on the Helleborism of the Ancients."

His thesis very thoroughly examines the historical literature and seeks to differentiate between the ancient use of Helleborus niger, or black hellebore and the medicinal uses of the "white hellebore", botanically Veratrum album, both of which are poisonous plants.

Hahnemann will continue practicing and researching homeopathy, as well as writing and lecturing for the rest of his life on the premise that the symptoms of a disease are evidence of a curative process occurring in the body as a response to the disease.

He had moved his family back to Leipzig in early 1811 with the intention of teaching his new medical system at the University of Leipzig.

As required by the university statutes, to become a faculty member he had been required to submit and defend a thesis on a medical topic of his choice.