N397* mm m v.'i AN ANSWER HOMOEOPATHIC DELUSIONS, DR. OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES. Kartvov 0x10.5 6vaq. B Y CHARLES NEIDHARD, M. D. Ovx ova£ aM.' yrta£- PHILADELPHIA: J DOBSON, 106 CHESNUT STREET. 1842. VTBk IS4& KING AND BAIRD, PRINTERS. No. 9 George Street. EXAMINATION OF DE. OLIYEE WENDELL HOLMES' DELUSIONS. After Professor Wood of Philadelphia had with a warn- ing voice admonished his students not to give way to the hallucinations of Homoeopathy, Professor Payne of New York had aimed a direct blow at the science ; Dr. Oliver Wendell Holmes of Boston has now also lifted his lance against that " popular delusion Homoeopathy," considering it " no more than an act of humanity to give it an examina- tion." His book consists of two lectures, the first of which com- prises four subjects, viz : 1. The Royal cure of the King's Evil, or Scrofula. 2. The weapon ointment and its twin absurdity, the sym- pathetic powder. 3. The Tarwater mania of Bishop Berkeley. 4. The history of the Metallic Tractors, or Perkinism. We do not feel ourselves called upon to dwell here on these delusions, or to decipher whatever of truth or falsehood may be found in them, but must confine ourselves to the second lecture, where he treats of Homoeopathy exclusively. Homoeopathy was first practiced in America, some ten or fifteen years ago, but excited no general attention until within the last five or six years. At that time many Ameri- can physicians in New York, Philadelphia, and other places, investigated the subject and became converts. The great majority of American physicians, however, merely treated the whole subject as eminently ridiculous, and not worthy of serious investigation. When this mode of action had become t/06373 4 somewhat stale, and no longer answered their purpose, they did not hesitate to speak of subtile poisons of which all the homoeopathic remedies were said to consist, entirely forget- ting that the same medicines were employed by the common method, and in much larger doses. If the new discovery had not met with a similar reception in every country, we might well feel surprised. But the progress of the new science being founded on an incontrovertible law of nature, could not be retarded by such means. The most respectable lay- men, and many eminent physicians,* came out in its defence, so that the physicians of the old school were at last compelled to give it a more honorable notice, and examine its claims. All those who have honestly and thoroughly studied the science, and made it the subject of practical experience, have become converts. All merely theoretical reasoners of course not. To this last class belongs the author of the present lec- ture. The reason of this neglect adduced by him, (on which in fact his whole argument ought to have rested,) is the fol- lowing : «that he could by no possibility perform any experi- ments, the result of which could not easily be explained away so as to be of no conclusive significance." At a later part of his discourse, he refers to the experiments of Andral and others, as proofs of this assertion. If he will candidly and dispassionately (not from his one-sided alJceopathic view) examine the account given of these trials by Dr. Curie, who was an eye-witness, he must perceive, that they deserve not the slightest credit, as coming from men confessedly igno- rant of the homoeopathic practice. It is to be regretted, that the author thus permitting him- self to be deterred by others, did not study the homoeopathic method, and institute a full course of experiments ; his con- clusions, we are sure, provided he had entered upon them with an honest purpose and in the right spirit, would then have been very different. " Take one case of disease after another," says Hahnemann in hisNotabene fuer meine Recensenten, Materia medica pura, * Among others the late Dr. Ticknor of New York. 5 Vol. III., "note down according to the instructions of the Or- ganon all the discoverable symptoms so clearly that the founder of Homoeopathy himself shall find no flaw in the accu- racy of the inquirer, (it is understood, that each is a case, for which a similar homoeopathic specific may be found, as made known by its peculiar symptoms) then apply the most suita- ble homoeopathic medicine, pure and unmixed, to the existing disease, in such small proportion as this doctrine prescribes, but, as the precept expressly declares, "with the removal of all foreign medicinal influence upon the patient, and then if you afford no relief, speedy, mild, and lasting relief, put to shame, I say, by the production of the authenticated docu- ments relating the whole history of the cures, after the strict observation of the rules prescribed by the homoeopathic doc- trine, that doctrine so openly and earnestly menacing the ancient darkness." "But beware, I beseech you, beware of any deception ! all knavery will come to light and brand you with an indelible mark. If then, after your conscientious trials, every other medical inquirer, in like manner, conscientious and careful, shall find a similar result—if all that the Homoeopathic doc- trine promises does not come to pass, after the most faithful fulfilment of all its instructions, then is Homoeopathy as good as lost—it is lost, if it is not beneficial—if it is not bene- ficial in the very highest degree." The main points, on which Dr. Holmes' whole discussion ought to have rested, he has therefore set aside, and he has consequently deprived himself of the most powerful means to crush (if that was his object as we must suspect,) the new doctrine. What were the other points left open to him, and how has he made use of them ? He ought to have given a logical and faithful history (although it might have been con- cise) of the homoeopathic doctrines from the time of their dis- covery to the present day; distinctly stating the main doctrines, which must be entirely separated from their theories, which even Hahnemann does not consider of much importance, with their progressive development in the course of fifty years, their changes and reformations. This we conceive would 1* 6 have been his proper course, and all this might have been comprised in a,very small space. But a mere superficial glance at the manner in which he has treated his subject, must convince us that for such a work the author was deficient in intellectual insight and phi- losophical acuteness, though in other respects he seems to be an amiable man, yet manifests a somewhat human prepos- session in favour of his ancient creed, and a wish not to be convinced. If he had pursued the above-mentioned course, he would have become aware, even if not converted to the truths of Homoeopathy, that its doctrines were of somewhat greater significance than the tarwater of Bishop Berkley, or the Metallic Tractors of Dr. Perkins. The comparatively slow but steady progress of the Homoeo- pathic practice must have made it evident to him, if he has at all studied the history of new discoveries, that here was not merely a new idea, that would last a day, but one which would lay the foundation of a sounder basis in medicine, and lead to still higher developements. He would have found in the new literature of Homoeopathy—and we advise him par- ticularly to read the address delivered before the Central Homoeopathic Society at Berlin, Aug. 10,1840, by Dr. Kurtz, physician to the Duke of Anhalt Dessau—that Homoeopathy did not come into the world to supplant the old doctrines, but that it only claims the discovery of a law (by no means per- fectly understood in its whole signification by many Homoeo- pathists) the cultivation of which would give a surer founda- tion to the materia medica and practice of medicine, than any other. He would also see, that enlightened Homceopathists are by no means overlooking the labours of those enthusiastic and zealous men, who are now forming, what is called the pathological and natural history school of Germany, and who are, though in another direction, enlarging the boundaries of medicine. Both schools have now perceived, that although travelling in different directions, they will finally come to a point, where they will meet, and that, in fact, the labours of both will tend to the same end, viz.—the progress of medical 7 science. This same school, like a similar one in France, has begun to perceive, that without a much more perfect know- ledge of remedial agents, that without the zealous co-operation of the specific school, their labours will be of no avail and of no practical benefit. Dr. Oliver Wendell Holmes, then, instead of endeavouring to enquire, whether psora was the cause of chronic diseases, and whether only Hahnemann or all his followers.believed in this maxim, whether the Homoeopathic discovery could be compared with that of Perkins, etc.; whether it would take the lake of Agnano to complete the Homoeopathic dilu- tions, should, in the first place, have convinced himself by ac- tual trial, whether the dilutions are efficacious or not, and should have recorded his experiments with such accuracy, that no Homoeopathist could withhold his approval. Secondly, He should have examined the Homoeopathic maxim of giving only one medicine at a time, and its immense usefulness in gaining pure medical experience. Thirdly, That diseases are cured by following the Homoeo- pathic law. " Similia similibus curantur." These we consider the main principles, and on their truth or falsehood the whole science depends. If the author can controvert them, the science is already gone, and deserves not to be saved. The examination of the other principles, compared with these, although of importance, will be of less significance. Having, we believe, shown to him the true mode of settling forever the question of the truth or falsehood of Homoeopathy, we shall now examine his arguments somewhat in detail. Special examination of Dr. Oliver Wendell Holmes* Statements. The lecturer proceeds to furnish a very meagre sketch of Hahnemann's several doctrines; to the mode in which he states them, however, we cannot on the whole object, except that the following principle which he ascribes to Hahnemann, is incorrect. " Very little power is allowed to the curative efforts of nature. Hahnemann goes so far as to say, that no 8 one has ever seen the simple efforts of nature effect the dura- ble recovery of a patient from a chronic disease. In general, the Homoeopathist calls every recovery, which happens under his treatment, a cure." Hahnemann does not deny the curative powers of nature, but only describes her operations as not being at ail times worthy of imitation and seldom sufficient. Our opponents, in order to show how much more highly they esteem these powers than we do, attach great importance to the declaration, as though it were peculiar to their treatment, that it is always nature, which cures, but not their remedy, and yet such is precisely our belief. At the conclusion of the fifth principle, there is a foolish extract from Hahnemann's work on chronic diseases, and a few detached symptoms from that work are given, to prove its utter absurdity. Ultra doctrines, for the thousandth time re- futed, of the long duration of the effect of Homoeopathic re- medies, are again brought forward, but we obtain no new light on this subject. He might also here learn much, if his mind were prepared to receive a truth from Hahnemann. Many physicians already know, that if the healing power of nature has once received an impulse by any remedy, and if every disturbing influence is guarded against, the action of one dose will last much longer, than was formerly supposed. His question:—"Does Hahnemann represent Homoeopathy as it now exists?" cannot be settled here, as it would lead us too far. But we recommend to him, if he is really anxious about it, to study the German homoeopathic literature of the last five or ten years. The law "Similia Similibus." The lecturer says, page 34-" So far as I can learn from the conflicting statements made upon the subject, the follow. ing is the present condition of belief, l. All of any note" agree that the law Similia Similibus is the only fundamental principle in medicine. Of course, if any man does not agree to this, the name Homoeopathist can no longer be applied to him with propriety." 9 Dr. H. believes in the Homoeopathic law, but thinks that it is not the "sole law of nature in therapeutics." In this faith he has many Homoeopathic physicians on his side, parti- cularly in Germany, who believe in a homoeopathic, alloeo- pathic, and antipathic principle of cure. All, however, agree that the homoeopathic Jaw is the most important and mostly deserves cultivation, and that although in the present state of Homoeopathy, it will sometimes be necessary to have re- course in practice to those other principles, yet this will be less and less the case, the more the law of specifics becomes perfected. Our own opinion is, that all true cures are homoeopathic, but other cures, as Professor Eschenmayer justly observes, are mere indirect cures, and are always effected at the expense of the vital power.* The talented Dr. Helbig of Dresden takes the same ground of argument, and defends his position with great ingenuity in the Homoeopathic Journal, lately established at Berlin, by Dr. Vehsemeyer. Infinitesimal Doses. This is, and has been the great stumbling block with phy- sicians of the antiquated faith. How many volumes have not been written on this subject! We, with many Homoeopathic physicians, have never believed in the neces- sity of carrying the dilutions to that extent, which Hahnemann at one time recommended. But of their efficacy, provided they are used in the proper cases, i. e. specific, any one, who has made experiments with them, must be convinced. That, * Homoeopathy is the direct method, and Allceopathy the indirect. Of direct methods there can be only one, of the indirect many, as the antiphlo- gistic, resolvent, revulsive, deobstruent, etc. By the direct method an impulse is given to the specific reaction of the healing power, so that the disease is not only attacked in its effects upon the different organs and systems, as with the indirect method, but in its origin and seat, whereby it is prevented from passing through its different stages. See Professor Eshenmayer's Allceopathy and Homoeopathy, compared according to their respective principles. Tubingen, 1834. 10 however, the dose must be adapted to the constitution and sensibility of the patient, and that not only the dilutions in their different degrees of expansion, but also medicines in their material form duly developed, are used by the Homoeo- pathic practitioner, the author, who pretends to have read so many Homoeopathic writings, must know. It is true, that Hahnemann, elated by the magnitude of his discoveries, imagined at one time, that the highest dilutions were exclu- sively to be relied upon in all cases. He shared in this error the fate of all great discoverers, and he was always the first to rectify a statement, when it no longer accorded with his experience. Thus the new method, for ever progressing, has also in this respect undergone such changes, as a more mature experience warranted. But the lecturer tries hard to prove, that the small quantity of vaccine matter is active only on account of its possessing the susceptibility of multiplication, and that there is an im- mense difference between its action and that of the silex and sulphur homoeopathically developed. He shows thereby, what dependence can be placed on his reasoning in this mat- ter. It is evident that he has not in the least comprehended the action of the Homoeopathic remedies on the system. In the same way, he does not, or will not see, that the specific school has only mentioned the immense diffusion of the odour of musk and of the rose, and the effect of the poisonous influence of the «malaria," as familiar illustrations of the action of minute quantities of matter, but by no means iden- tical with the action of Homoeopathic remedies, and yet, after having pronounced the supposition of such an action as the height of absurdity, he says, in the next paragraph—" that notwithstanding these considerations all this may be true." What shall we think of such a critic ? Besides, he does not even seem to surmise, that it is only under certain condi- tions of the system, that these odours and malarias as well as the minute Homoeopathic preparations will exert any influence, and that they by no means act equally upon all persons. Small pox, yellow fever, and other contagious diseases will affect the system only under certain conditions 11 Odours of musk and of roses will affect some persons only. If his mind is not entirely overshaded, does not a glimpse of a great law, which the specific method seeks to develope, strike on his encumbered senses? Many explanations of the action of minute doses have been given at different periods by a number of Homoeopathic physicians, because the specific school naturally sought to reason on what was a truth without it, and which experience had fully verified. To all these some objections can be raised, although great pains have been taken to obtain a correct idea of their action. Our author, as we have seen, takes no such trouble, the laws of nature are clearly unfolded to his mind, and because a healthy child can swallow "a teaspoonful of a substance" in its crude state, "without harm," this sub- stance can have no effect on it in its developed state in case of sickness, thus even forgetting the old maxim—" Corpora non agunt nisi soluta." The most satisfactory attempt to explain the action of Homoeopathic remedies, has been furnished by Professor Doppler of Prague, whose work, I believe, has not yet been translated into English. Professor Doppler's explanation of the action of Homoeopathic remedies. The main points are briefly the following: " The active strength of a medicine is not to be judged of according to its weight, but according to the size of its effective surface. The physical surface is to be distinguished from the mathematical one; the general physical surface increases by trituration of the medicine with another body (sugar of milk) in a greater proportion, than the diameter of the individual particle di- minishes itself. Now if we only consent to the hundredfold diminution of an atom by each trituration, calculation will show, that the physical surface after the third trituration amounts to about two square miles, and that the small point of a knife full of the thirtieth trituration offers a surface of many 12 thousand square miles. If, therefore, the power of action is measured by the extent of surface, the apparent minuteness rises to a real and truly astonishing magnitude. The cause of the action of surfaces rests on the argument, that with the division of a body, electricity is developed, and that the quantity of free electricity increases in an equal ratio with the increased surface." " Examination of the proofs of the leading ideas of Hahnemann and his school. "In order to show," continues the author, "the axiom 1 similia similibus curantur,' to be the basis of the healing art, it is necessary 1. That the symptoms produced by drugs in healthy per- sons, should be faithfully studied and recorded. 2. That drugs should be shown to be always capable of curing those diseases most like their own symptoms." I. Defence of the trials by Hahnemann and his disciples with drugs on healthy persons. Hahnemann, after having published a small work on the positive effects of some drugs on the healthy, in the Latin language, first commenced with a number of students and young physicians his extensive experiments, which were afterwards published by him in his Materia Medica Pura, in six volumes, of which work the third edition has now appeared. These trials were all made with the doses usually given', commencing with one grain or drop, gradually increasing the dose, until a sensible effect was perceived. Each experi- menter was examined privately, according to his individual symptoms, and only after the most careful scrutiny a symp- tom was admitted as valid. The individual habit of the experimenter and his possible predisposition to any disease, was also taken into consideration. It was considered a most conscientious duty, to note down no symptom, which could 13 not be clearly and positively ascribed to the remedy. That notwithstanding all these precautions, some symptoms should not have been recorded, which may have sprung from other causes besides the remedy, it were folly to deny. It is there- fore, easy for the author to find some trifling symptoms, at which to take exception, although he says he has not" select- ed" them. A more grateful posterity will know how to honour Hahnemann and his first disciples for the noble and generous devotion, with which they subjected themselves to sufferings, in order to place the materia medica, which was, before his time, but a medical romance, on a surer founda- tion, for the benefit of mankind. At a subsequent period Drs. Trinks and Hartlaub and many physicians in the "Homoeopathic Archives," still further extended these trials either to other medicinal substances or to such as were only imperfectly experimented upon by Hahnemann. All these experiments have confirmed the symptoms of Hahnemann. It was at this period that a cer- tain Dr. i^c/fce/published some books of spurious symptoms in order to give the death blow, as he thought, to Homoeopa- thy. After his trials had been repeated on the same sub- stances by some homoeopathic physicians, their fallacy was immediately discovered ; and this man had to leave his coun- try in disgrace. A fact like this shows conclusively that the symptoms obtained by trials on the healthy are not so vague as the lecturer in his self complacency would make us believe. At a still later period several University Professors, of whom we shall only name Dr. Martin, of Jena,* instituted still more accurate trials with their students. Every experi- menter had to give an account of his previous diseases, here- ditary predispositions, habit of body, mental disposition, etc.; their diet during the trial, in which, of course, every other medicinal substance had to be avoided, was regulated, and finally the state of the thermometer, the weather, etc. was also marked for each day, so that the trials should more and more tend towards perfection. * See his experiments with Kali chloricum in archives of Homoeopathy, vol. xvi. No. 3, p. 181. 14 Of all this, however, Dr. O. W. Holmes knows nothing, or wishes to know nothing. He does not see that the Homoeo- pathic school is well aware of the imperfect state of their trials,—and that it is never stationary—that, while he is ex- amining the outworks, it is laying stone upon stone for its great edifice. He must, with many of his brethren, bestir himself, or the " shadowy" system, which in the " calm and serious judgment of the wisest members of the profession does not deserve a public rebuke," will even build its halls and temples (hinc illae lachrymae) in his own literary city, so open to every thing great and true, and we wish from our heart, that a farther examination of Homoeopathy may un- fold to him, not its shadow as hitherto, but its real substance and intrinsic worth. But "Messrs. Andral, Double, Louis Fleury, and Joerg, have made experiments with many substances upon the healthy, and they utterly deny that their effects have at all corresponded with Hahnemann's assertions." page 42. That neither of these- gentlemen knew any thing of the system they were endeavouring to refute has been fully shown__ even to satiety—in the first volume of " Journal Homoeopa- thique de Paris." We have lately again looked over the whole discussion in the Academy on the subject, and have been astonished at the imbecility and total want of justice manifested by these highplaced judges. To show the nature of the testimony of these gentlemen, and what credit they de- serve, we will give a literal translation from the speech of Andral, delivered March 17, 1835, in the Academy of Medi- cine. " We commenced," says Andral, " our experiments on the healthy first with China; it is said to produce an intermittent fever. We first commenced with the homoeopathic globules__ no effect. We gave at last extract of bark and sulphate of quinine. Some experimenters, who had a weak stomach, felt a little vertigo and headach,etc; reaction of the weak sto- mach ; but no attack of intermittent fever at all. Others who had strong stomachs, felt nothing at all. We experimented with Aconite, which is said to produce an inflammatory fever, 15 —we again felt nothing. Sulphur, they say, will produce the itch : we took sulphur, and did not get the itch (!!!) From Arnica, which is said to cure contusions, and to pro- duce in healthy persons a pain as if beaten, we experienced nothing. I have continued the experiments, and never have I received any favourable results. On the whole we might have put all the homoeopathic remedies in a hat, and taken one out haphazard to try it, for according to the materia medica pura, all remedies produce the same symptoms, vertigo and headach, etc. It is therefore quite improper (? !) to say, that remedies produce diseases similar to those which they shall cure." Is a testimony like this worthy of a "most philosophical, candid, and brilliant instructor ?" and what will be that of the other members of the academy ? But such is the nature of these experiments, on which the author relies so much. Is it possible, that experiments continued faithfully for a year couid produce no other result? Hahnemann e. g. never maintained that bark would produce an intermittent fever in one person, but only that the symptoms collected from a number of persons, would correspond to a particular kind of intermittent fever. The same is the case with the inflamma- tory fever, produced by Aconite, the itch by Sulphur, etc. Must not every sensible person perceive, that large quanti- ties of medicine, taken for such a long time, must at least produce some symptoms, even if they should prove unfavour- able to the homoeopathic trials, as can be proved, in a direct manner, by the experiments of Professor Joerg, who had ob- tained a great number of symptoms, but only as he alleges not those which Hahnemann saw. There is, however, one fact connected with these experiments, which deserves comme- moration. All physicians of the common method have hitherto given Saltpetre to diminish inflammatory action, Lau- rocerasus in affections of the bronchia, and Asafoetida in hys- terical diseases. Professor Joerg, having made experiments with them on the healthy, said: we dare not prescribe these remedies in these affections, because they produce them on healthy persons. Seeing the blow which he dealt on his own 16 method by this assertion, he afterwards sought to retract it, but it was too late to diminish the effect it had produced on the people, as his opinion had already spread over Europe in numerous publications and republications. II. Defence of the Homoeopathic Practice : or as the author has it, " it is necessary to show, that medicinal sub- stances are always capable of curing diseases most like their own symptoms." Not to prove the truth of the Homoeopathic law, which rests on a higher and surer basis, but to show that this law might already have been discovered before him, Hahnemann gave in his Organon a great number of extracts from the works of ancient authors, where cures could more or less dis- tinctly be traced to this Jaw. It was not difficult for a fault- searching critic like the author, to discover some passages, where the cure might be ascribed to other causes, besides the homoeopathic law, as described by Hahnemann. But the great majority of his references are entirely accurate, as has been proved by many homoeopathic physicians in Germany. If the author had made himself acquainted with these discus- sions, he might have spared himself a great deal of trouble. But the most striking proof which he alleges of the unfair- ness of Hahnemann's quotations, is, the cure by the Princess Eudosia of a person who had fainted, by means of rose- water. " Is it possible," he exclaims with a warmth which sounds strange in a man of his cool judgment, "that a man who is guilty of such pedantic folly as this, a recovery which is happening every day-from a breath of air—a drop or two of water—untying a bonnet string—loosening a staylace— and which can hardly help happening, whatever is done,— is it possible, that such a man is the Newton, the Columbus, the Harvey of the nineteenth century !" We will admit that a person who has fainted, may often be restored by the above means or by nature alone; what proof can he, on the other hand, give, that rosewater does not produce that effect* Is he so well acquainted with the pure effects of rosewater 17 on the healthy, as to be able to make such a positive asser- tion ? Let him give us his trials of rosewater on persons of different constitutions and sexes. Let him prove it by a num- ber of well recorded facts, and we, at least, may give him some credit. But gentlemen of his class think themselves be- yond such experiments. In their school of speculations and apodictic reasoning, calm observation finds no place; and whatever they cannot comprehend, is pronounced an ab- surdity. In the next place, he seeks in a sophistical manner to dis- credit the familiar explanations given by Hahnemann, of the homoeopathic law, as the cure of frozen limbs by cold, burns, by the application of heat, etc. " We deceive ourselves by names," says the writer, " if we suppose the frozen part to be treated by cold, and not by heat. The snow may even be actually warmer than the part to which it is applied. But even if it were at the same temperature when applied, it never did and never could do the least good to a frozen part, except as a mode of regulating the application of what ?— of heat. But the heat must be applied gradually, just as food must be given, a little at a time, to those perishing with hunger." This reasoning may perhaps satisfy those who have never meditated on the subject, but the specific school, to whom their law has been for a numberof years a subject of profound study, may perhaps impart some new ideas to a man who seems to think, that he has penetrated with his single mind all the mysteries of the art of healing. If he will carefully observe the'manner in which a limb becomes frozen, he must see that the healthy reaction of the part is restored in an entirely similar manner, by the application of cold (snow or ice- water,) as it has been produced, that is gradually.* We farther maintain, that nature itself employs a process * To treat frozen limbs and burns with snow and fire is nothing but a gradual transition, because all sudden transitions exhaust the vital power; they can only be useful where no mortification has taken place, but pro- duce no effects in the sequelae. C. Hering, in Archiv. xv. p. 18, 1833. 2* IS of removing inflammation from any part of the body, simi- lar to that which has caused it. The truth of the Homoeopathic law, in an anatomico- physiological point of view, proved by the microscopical discoveries of Kaltenbrunner. The learned Dr. Kaltenbrunner, an alloeopathic physician,in a work on " microscopical discoveries in inflammation," has the following striking sentence, which we advise Dr. Holmes to consider well and meditate upon. Let him impugn a witness like Kaltenbrunner, and " explain it away," if he can :—" After a wound has been received," says Kalten- brunner, «there commences accelerated motion, and a tur- gescence of the blood in the vessels surrounding it. From this point, those alterations extend to a greater or less dis- tance. In some of the smaller blood-vessels nearest to the wound, the motion of the blood is thrown into disorder, some canals being entirely emptied ; in some it accumulates in ir- regular masses, while in others again it diffuses itself into the parenchyma, forming reddish islands of blood, at the same time the parenchyma begins to swell." This state, denoted by the changes, which proceed from the wound and depend- ent on the injury, is evidently morbid, and called by Kalten- brunner morbid inflammation. But he observes farther, that in all cases, for the cure and dissipation of this mor- bid inflammation, a state perfectly similar to it is deve- loped, which he calls the curative inflammation. " Driven with accelerated motion, masses of the globules of the blood (here and there) rush by starts from their canals and pour themselves into the parenchyma of the inflamed part. Here they lie, as bright red spots or islands of differ- ent sizes. Soon the whole wound is surrounded by these islands, and the intervening parenehyma becomes highly tur- gid. This process, which appears at first at the circumfer- ence of the inflammation, by degrees also involves the cen- tre, completely resembling the morbid inflammation, and it 19 is "by its means, that the morbid changes produced by the latter, are gradually extinguished." Taking it for granted that the physician is never more than the servant of nature, it may be asked : Can the Ho- moeopathic principle be more beautifully illustrated than by these discoveries ? And if this question can only be an- swered in the affirmative, we farther ask : Can the principle of the " common" healing art be as well established in an anatomico-physiological point of view as that of Homoeopa- thy ? This last question must decidedly be answered in the negative; the so called Alloeopathic medicine finds not the least support in the microscopical discoveries on Pathogeny. Thus nature itself confirms the homoeopathic law. But even if these cures were true, they would, according to the lecturer, be " subversive to the great principle of Homoeopa- thy ;" because it is not same that cures same, but like that cures like. Here he also might learn much, and there are some cases on record, mentioned in an American medical jour- nal, where the painter's colic, produced by lead, was actually cured by that remedy. But as far as the experience of the Specific school at present goes, the remedy and the disease must only be alike in certain characteristic symptoms, whilst in others, they may be unlike, and yet a cure be effected. The best views on this intricate subject are contained in Dr. Helbig's articles, published in Dr. Vehsemeyer's Berlin Horn. Journal. At page 50, Dr. Holmes says, " We must look for facts as to the actual working of Homoeopathy, to three sources : " 1. The statements of the unprofessional public. " 2. The assertions of homoeopathic practitioners. " 3. The results of trials by competent and honest phy- sicians not pledged to the system." Under the first head, the author undertakes to prove to the unprofessional public, that when they feel themselves re- stored to health by means of Homoeopathy, that they are by no means entitled to consider themselves to be so, because " they know nothing of the natural progress of a malady, of its ordinary duration, of its various modes of terminating, 20 of its liability to accidental compliances, because," he adds, " they are in too great a state of excitement from benevo- lence, sympathy, or zeal for a new medical discovery." For- tunately for them, sick people have no such scruples as our Doctor, and feel comfortable enough, if cured of their dis- eases. We believe that the laity, in many instances, are better, and, at least, more candid, judges of the truths of a new dis- covery, than its professors. In most cases, the professors of a science in which a new discovery has been made threaten- ing to overthrow the old fabric, are the last to acknowledge its importance; and the more popular or celebrated they may happen to be, the more difficult it is for them to be convinced of its truth. The history of all new discoveries conclusively shows this. We are glad that the author has mentioned the subject of the Asiatic cholera, but his artful insinuations with regard to the bills of mortality in the Homoeopathic Hospitals, will avail him nothing to disprove the authenticated documents, which every where showed the immense superiority of the new method. Before its appearance in Europe, the oppo- nents of Homoeopathy said: "Only let the cholera come, and Homoeopathy will be consigned to merited oblivion. Here is a disease which cannot be trifled with, where active interference is necessary." Some physicians of the old ra- tional school proposed the firing of cannonballs, to destroy the contagious effect of that disease. It was on that occa- sion that the celebrated satirical writer, Dr. Mises, remarked, that he should never have expected, that such large pills would become fashionable in medicine. Hundreds of books were written on the subject, and the most absurd speculations were entertained as to its origin, by the so called "rational'-* physicians. But in the success of its treatment, the utter in- competency of the old method was never made more clearly manifest. How did the new school, on the contrary, pro- ceed ? As soon as the cholera made its appearance, it care- * A term, which the physicians of the old school have now arrowed to themselves in Europe, in contradistinction to their Homoeopathic brethren. v 21 fully investigated all its phenomena, without troubling itself about its hidden cause, and prescribed such specific medicines as were indicated in its particular stages, the Camphor in the commencement, and Cuprum, Veratrum, Arsenic, etc., accord- ing to the predominating symptoms ; or Acid Phosph. in the so called cholerine, etc. etc. Its grand therapeutic law always enabled it to discover the specific for each particular case, and whilst among the physicians of the old school, the greatest diversity of opinion and treatment prevailed, there reigned among the Homoeopathists, who were guided by the law of specifics, a complete unanimity, from " Quin of Lon- don, to Spohr, of Gandersheim." The consequence was, that whilst the physicians of the old school lost nearly one- half of their patients, the new school, even when cholera was at its height, lost only from 10 to 20 per cent., and some- times even less. A few extracts from authenticated government documents of some [decided) cases of Asiatic Cholera, treated ac- cording to the Specific Method. At Raab, in Hungary, by Dr. Jos. de Bagody, of 154 cases of Cholerine, 2 died; and of 148 cases of Asiatic Cholera, at its height, 6 died. Dr. Veith, of Vienna, did not lose one patient out of 50; and his brother, Professor Veith, not one out of 45, during the whole epidemic. At Trieste, out of 50 Cholera patients, 47 were cured. At Botzen,Roveredo, Oberlan near Vienna, similar results were obtained. These accounts seem to be more favourable, if we^com- pare with them the official government reports of the com- mon methods at Munich and other places, according to which, in the former place, out of 1,264 patients, 553 died, 472 were cured, and 239 still remained under treatment. In the cholera hospital of Gumpendorf, at Vienna, out of 728 cases, only 438 patients were cured ! It is of course very easy for the author to deny the authen- 22 ticity of these reports, a pleasure of which we will not deprive him. It was the surprising success of Homoeopathy in a disease like the Asiatic cholera, that first opened the eyes of the community to its real value. From that moment, the new art rapidly began to gain the ascendency in Europe. The " fancy practitioners," as Dr. H. is pleased to call the advo- cates of the new doctrine, from that time, dated their first great triumph. Equally groundless is his almost insane insinuation against the venerable Dr. Muhlenbein, physician to the Duke of Brunswick, " that he was not consulted in any serious case of disease :" and this too, of a physician who had for fifty years the largest practice of any medical man in that. Duchy, the first twenty-seven years of which he practised alloeopa- thically, and the remainder according to homoeopathic prin- ciples. How can an honorable physician publicly proclaim such a barefaced falsehood ? Ah ! he must account for the fact, because he could not otherwise get over it, that, whilst the mortality among Dr. Muhlenbein's patients during his alloeopathic practice was six per cent., it was only one per cent, since his adoption of the homoeopathic method. Our friend, Dr. C. Hering, has also lately mentioned to us that during the last five years of his practice in Philadelphia, dur- ing which time he has every year attended from five to six hundred acute cases, the mortality has never reached two per cent. A similar result, our own practice, and that of other homoeopathic physicians in Philadelphia, pre- sents. The cures detailed in the " French archives of Homoeopa- thy" are next reviewed by the author, and he puts of course not the least confidence in them. " Nobody," says the lec- turer, " doubts that some patients recover under every form of practice. Probably all are willing to allow a large ma- jority, for instance, ninety in a hundred, of such cases as a physician is called to in daily practice, would recover sooner or later, with more or less difficulty, provided nothing were done to interfere seriously with the effQrts of nature." 23 Here is a comfortable assertion: of a hundred patients, ninety will recover without medicine. It is as plain as it can be. Yes, ninety persons will get well by the pure efforts of nature. If, then, of a hundred patients, ninety will get well without medicine, it may be calculated, that about five will die, and therefore only five be benefitted by the allceopathic treatment. Very few physicians would suffice to attend them ; all the other ninety have therefore been trifled with by the rest of the physicians. We should like to know whether Dr. H. prescribes only to ten out of a hundred pa- tients to whom he is called ? 0 no ! it is only to account in some way, for homoeopathic cures, that he involves him- self in such perplexities. The homoeopathic experiments of Bailly and Andral and others, are again here referred to as " being decisive proofs" of the " nullity" of Homoeopathy, although their total want of knowledge of the subject was fully shown by the Editors of the Homoeopathic Examiner. But as soon as respectable physicians have become converted to the truths of Homoeo- pathy, our author will not admit their testimony, because they now belong to the homoeopathic party,and are "pledged" to the system. These experiments, however, being appealed to so con- stantly by our opponents, and as it is important that the lay reader should obtain a correct impression, we shall subjoin the account given of them by Dr. Curie, who was present at the time in Paris: Dr. Bailly's Statements. " Dr. Bailly declared that he had for five months confided several of the patients in one of his wards in the Hospital (L'Hotel Dieu) to the care of two of the disciples of Hahne- mann, and that, under their management, no cure had been effected. It is true that Dr. Bailly allowed two homoeopathic physi- cians to trea>t certain sick persons in the Hotel Dieu ; but it 24 is also true, that the greater part of the cases put under their care, were decidedly incurable. Dr. Bailly was, at that time, engaged in experiments with Kreosote, and, in his quality of member of the academic commission, was trying its effect upon a great number of the patients under his care : this might be the reason why he could not furnish these gen- tlemen with the curable patients, which he had promised them. They, however, accepted such patients as he was pleased to assign to them, but declared, at the same time, that almost all of them were incurable. The homoeopathists accepted these cases; first, because they considered it an advantage to appear on so great a medical theatre; secondly, because they were persuaded that, in the end, they should receive curable cases; and, thirdly, because, in their honest zeal, for homoeopathy, they were resolved to encounter any difficulties, however great; for, being themselves sure of the truth of their doctrines, they were satisfied that, sooner or later, they should convince the most incredulous. Such were their motives. It is, moreover, a fact that Dr. Simon and myself (who were the physicians intrusted with these cases) addressed a letter to Mr. Bailly, on the 6th of January, 1834,* (when about a month had elapsed after the cases were given to us,) in which we declared our intention to withdraw from the Hotel Dieu, if cases impartially selected, were not assigned to us. By referring to that journal, however, the reader will be satisfied that none but chronic, and generally incurable cases were allowed to us, and that we were likewise deprived of every facility in the treatment of them. Dr. Bailly, however, has omitted to state (which he might and probably would have done, had not his private register been lost,) that the condition of several of the incurable pa- tients was ameliorated by our treatment, and that the few curable ones were actually cured ! Amongst the cases al- luded to, were several which I shall here notice ; namely, * Printed in the « Archives et Journal de la Medicine Homceopa- thique," Tome Troisieme, No. XII., for July, 1835. 25 three cases of chronic catarrh of the chest, one of chronic affection of the liver, attended with hemorrhoids, and one of excessive emaciation, produced by lead-colic. All these cases were so considerably ameliorated, that the patients left the hospital at their own request. A perfect cure was ef- fected on a patient who had an inflammatory tumour on the thigh; upon another, who had intermittent fever, and that too, after a third relapse, under the alloeopathic treatment; and on a third, who, having lost the power of speech by an attack of apoplexy, had his voice restored. These cases are not mentioned in Dr. Bailly's report, owing probably to the loss of his register; but he there ac- knowledges the cure of two other cases, although the manner in which they are reported, shows that he felt it more diffi- cult to refute, than to ridicule homoeopathy. In one of them, he says, the patient returned to the Hotel Dieu three weeks after his discharge, and died there in the course of a few days. The other patient, he admits, left the hospital perfectly cured ; but he says, that it required more than two months of homoeopathic treatment to effect it; whilst another pa- tient, affected with the same malady, was cured in a few weeks, by the usual practice. To be correct in this last in- stance, Dr. Bailly should have said, that the case under his own care was that of a patient suffering from typhus fever, unattended by any alarming symptom; whilst the patient under the care of the homoeopathists, was in a state of in- tense delirium, which rendered it necessary to put him under restraint. He ought also to have added, that, in the latter, fever was accompanied with inflammation of the lungs, and bloody and purulent expectoration ; and that the unfortunate individual had a severe relapse during his convalescence, in consequence of being incautiously permitted to use food di- rectly opposed to the advice of his homoeopathic attendants. In regard to the first-mentioned case, some explanation is necessary. It was one of destruction of the uterus by cancer, and of suppuration of the lungs; to which was superadded a mercurial disease, caused by strong injections of corrosive 3 26 sublimate. The mercurial disease was completely cured by the homoeopathists; but the others were, from the com- mencement, declared by them to be incurable ; and it was to these last mentioned diseases, that the patient fell a victim, after her return to the Hotel Dieu. I have mentioned the loss of Dr. Bailly's private register, or notebook. That register contained a complete description of the diseases with which this patient was affected, the treatment which was followed, and the changes which were observed. We requested Dr. B. to give us the register, or, at all events, a copy of the observations there inserted, with the intention of laying them before the public, in order that they might judge whether these experiments, incomplete as they undoubtedly were, and made under very unfavourable circumstances, proved anything, in the slightest degree un- favourable to homoeopathy. Dr. B.'s reply to us was, that " the Register had been mislaid." We leave the reader to draw his own conclusions from this fact;—the accident was certainly an ungenerous one ;—and we have only to add, that this unfortunate and ill-timed loss deprives us of the only indisputable evidence it was in our power to offer to the public (for it was the evidence of our opponents /) that the experiments in Paris, even though unfairly chosen, did by no means wholly fail, as had been unjustly asserted. Remarks as to Dr. Andral. To Dr. Andral, it is quite impossible to make any specific, precise, and critical reply, because no homoeopathist witnessed the numerous experiments which he states to have made himself; but, as he consulted no one on the proper manner of making them, we think it may be fairly presumed, that he was not acquainted with the specific medicine for each case, nor with the precise and essential conditions, on which suc- cess depended. This will speedily receive confirmation. A short time, indeed, previous to the discussion of the question of homoeopathy by the Academic de Medicine, Dr. Andral men- tioned, in course of conversation with the author of this work, 27 that, although he had directed his attention to the subject, his mind was not made up as to its merits, and frankly avowed that he knew very little about the practice involved in the new doctrines. How, then, could Mr. Andral, who acknow- ledged that he had scarcely acquired the elements of homoeo- pathic practice, venture to pronounce sentence on these doc- trines ? What opinion would be formed of a jury which should condemn, before it made itself acquainted with the facts of a case ? Yet such precisely was M. Andral's posi- tion ! But there is a fact to be stated here, which is perfectly de- cisive as to M. Andral:—he had absolutely no guide in the prescription of homoeopathic medicines, and he made a wrong application of every one that he employed, as has been clearly shown in the "Archives de la Medicine Homoeo- pathique," Tome Premier, No. I., for July, 1834. No com- ments nor details can add force to this decisive fact. Examination of some additional statements. When Homoeopathy first came into general vogue, a great number of physicians and laymen, who had been cured by it, felt it a kind of conscientious duty to publish their convic- tions and impressions on the subject. Many of the " seven hundred volumes," of which the literature of Homoeopathy is composed were of this nature. Whatever we may think of their literary value, we must at least feel grateful to their authors for their good intentions. We therefore freely ad- mit to the lecturer, that all these will naturally soon be for- gotten, because they have answered the purpose for which they were written. But, although not so many books are published now on Homoeopathy as formerly, the sounder and more enduring literature has undoubtedly increased, of which Dr. H. might easily satisfy himself by looking over some of the later homoeopathic publications. Whether the many distinguished men in Germany, France, and Italy, who have openly proclaimed their homoeopathic convictions, are really deserving that distinction, a more just 28 posterity will decide, and even now a great number of scien- tific men of the present generation, have already decided. That all the celebrated physicians of Europe should at once show the magnanimity and disinterestedness to become stu- dents, where they consider themselves masters, is not to be presumed, and even our author, who seems to think this necessary, in order to establish the homoeopathic truth, will, we suppose, see the impossibility of the occurrence of such an event. As to his assertion that" if a Professorship of Homoeopathia is really in existence in Jena or Heidelberg, it is a mere harmless piece of toleration on the part of the government, and it has neither a salary, nor an occupant," we are con- strained to pronounce it a positive falsehood. Dr. 1. W. Ar- nold is actually Professor at the University of Heidelberg, and has been appointed by the government. The same is the case with the following Professors : Professor Werber is actually a Professor at the University of Freyburg ; Dr. Ed- ward Martin at Jena; Professor Chevalier de Horatiis at Naples (who, our author falsely asserts, has given up Ho- moeopathy ;) Professors Palmieri, Tagliavini, Romano, Quad. ranti, Quadri, and Botto, respectively at Rome, Ascoli, Florence, Naples, and Genoa ; Professors Ribes, and Amo- ros of L'Ecole de Medicine, at Montpellier; Professors Wah- lenburg, at Upsala ; Kirschleger at Strasburg, etc. etc. etc. But at a subsequent page, there appears a letter from Dr. Breschet, where the latter denies all participation in that " Charlatanism" Homoeopathy. We hope we shall soon be enabled to give a true account of this matter, which we can only do by writing to Paris. At present we can only say, that it is sometimes convenient to deny publicly, what is pri- vately admitted. This may or may not be the case here. We feel more anxious to know the true state of the case with regard to him as well as to Professors Amussat and Marjo- hn, as the report originated in a letter from Dr. Croserio to ourselves. " Finally," says Dr. H, page 62, "in order to correct the error of any who might suppose that the whole medical pro- 29 fession of Germany has long since fallen into the delusions of Hahnemann, I will quote two lines, which a celebrated ana- tomist and surgeon addressed to the French Academy of Medicine, in 1335: 'I happened to be in Germany some months since, at a meeting of nearly six hundred physicians; one of them wished to bring up the question of Homoeo- pathy, they would not even listen to him.' " This, unfortu- nately for our lecturer, is again positively untrue. The so- ciety to which he alludes is not a society of physicians, but of naturalists, who, in consequence of an article of their bye-laws are expressly forbidden to touch any question which might give rise to angry debates. Thus also recoils back upon him this blow, which no doubt Dr. H. thought was a final one. We next receive a statistical table of the " only four Ho- moeopathic journals published at Paris," with their list of sub- scribers, showing a gradual decrease from the year 1833. This a correspondent of the author purports to have extracted from the account books of the publishing firm. The four journals are headed by the " Bibliotheque Homoeopathique," which most unfortunately for our author and his correspond- ent in Paris, is not at all published in Paris, but at Geneva, by the venerable Dr. Peschier, so long and so justly distin- guished as a physician of the old school, before he became an acknowledged Homoeopathist, after which, of course, all his former merits were forgotten. This journaljhas had for a great number of years, a most extensive circulation, not only in Switzerland, but also in France, Belgium, and Italy. We are unable to say how far the statements of the author with regard to the subscription list of the other three Homoeo- pathic Journals he mentions, is correct, but should they even be correct, it would only show, as is already seen by the title of the last mentioned Journal, which is called " Revue Critique et Retrospective de la Matiere Medicate,''' that, whilst the interest in the ephemereal homoeopathic produc tions of the press diminishes, it increases in the more lasting ones. As our friend Dr. Croserio in Paris will shortly pub- lish his homoeopathic almanac, wherein the most accurate 3* 30 statistical tables on everything appertaining to Homoeopathy are to be included, we may refer the author to this publica- tion for further information. What remains yet, are some unfortunate attempts at humour, with regard to the high rank of some advocates of Homoeopathy, and the " inevitable" Perkins is again brought forward to disprove the Homoeopathic Doctrines. Finally, he gives a well written historical account of the discoveries of Harvey and Jenner, and the difficulties their general introduction had to encounter, at the end of which he merely remarks, " Homoeopathy has had a still more ex- tended trial, and we have seen with what results." On this we can-only remark, that if it is attended with so many diffi- culties, and a loss of so many years to introduce discoveries like those of Jenner and Harvey, where it was only neces- sary to verify a simple fact, we must not wonder that a much longer time must elapse for the general adoption of an im- mense science like that of Homoeopathy, which lays the foundation to a new structure in medicine, and which re- quired a long study for its practical application. The last specimen which Dr. Holmes gives of his ingenuity in taking advantage of every, and even the slightest circum- stance of assailing his opponents, is the assertion that Dr. Bigel, Professor of midwifery in St. Petersburg, and a distin- guished homoeopathist for many years, who has written many homoeopathic v/orks, has quitted the homoeopathic ranks, and is now actively engaged in " throwing cold water upon his patients and future prospects of Homoeopathy ;" by which fine phrase he simply means, that he has become an advocate of the cold water treatment. All homoeopathic physicians are advocates of the pure efforts of nature to re- store health,* and all are consequently favourable to the ap- * Whilst writing the above, a friend has handed to us a review of Dr. 0. W. Holmes lectures, in the Boston Christian Examiner. The follow- ing passage, on which our eye glanced accidentally, is directly to the point: « The change in modern practice to a less active interference with powerful and perturbating and debilitating agents, and a greater reliance upon the efforts of nature, is obvious to all, and is due to the gradual in- 31 plication of cold water, and recommend it in every appropri- ate case. They do not on this account, as our author would falsely make the world believe, desert their homoeopathic convictions. As the best answer to the author's "conjectures as to the particular manner in which Homoeopathy is to break up and disappear," we have translated the following letter from our valued friend Dr. Croserio, which we have just received from Paris. fluence which the observation of judicious men on the effects of remedies, as used in various ways by others as well as themselves, has had on their views of the powers of those remedies." Who these judicious men are, is seen above. On the whole, the review is written with candour and judgment, and all his objections to Homceopathy arise from an insufficient knowledge of the subject. HOMCEOPATHY IN EUROPE. FOR THE YEAR 1841. Paris, Sept. 25, 1S41. Dear and honoured Colleague, I thank you greatly for your kind letter, as well as for the number of the Homoeopathic Examiner, and Dr. Hull's inte- resting Memoir. I beg you to thank our learned colleague for me. The statements with regard to Homoeopathy in the State of New York, will be valuable matter for my " An- nuaire Homoeopathique." If I could regularly receive the Homoeopathic Examiner, so rich in discussions and instructive facts, I would notice it " in extensum" in our " Bibliotheque Homoeopathique," and I feel persuaded that it would possess great interest for our readers. A long time has elapsed, dear sir, since I last gave you an account of homoeopathy in the old world. 1 will now endeavour to communicate to you, in a few words, the most striking facts. Lisbon, which, from the honourable decision of its Royal Academy of Medicine towards Hahnemann, appeared eager for progress, has nevertheless remained stationary. The philanthropical zeal of men, distinguished both by their rank and learning, who came to confirm their homoeopa- thic convictions in France, and desired to introduce them into their own country, has proved fruitless. They were un- able to rouse the indolent inactivity of the physicians of that country, and ignorance won the day. In Spain, the case has been different. Several old practitioners in Madrid have studied the new medical doctrines with perseverance and success. The students of the university attend Dr. Coil's homoeopathic lectures eagerly and assiduously. Valladolid, 33 Barcelona, Badajos, Cadiz, and other important towns of the kingdom, have their homoeopathic practitioners, and the Academy of Medicine, at Madrid, forwarded to Hahnemann, of their own accord, the diploma of honorary membership in their society. In France, we have made some important acquisitions among the old physicians. The south, which hitherto lin- gered behind, actually advances. At Montpelier, several professors of this celebrated school have embraced Homoeo- pathy. A lawyer, distinguished for his abilities, rich, and more than fifty years of age, has submitted himself to the examin- ations of the faculty, and obtained the degree of Doctor of Me- dicine, animated solely by his enthusiasm for homoeopathy, and the desire to spread its benefits gratuitously among his fellow citizens, that they might not be exposed to the mal- treatment of the alloeopathists and the apothecaries. The mayor of a corporation near Fontainbleau is prepar- ing to do likewise, although he has already passed his sixtieth year. The benefits produced by homoeopathy must be indeed powerful, to influence to such a degree, men whose fortunes and years would lead them rather to repose, than to pursue the painful labours of the student in so intricate a science, or to undergo the anxiety of examinations, solely for the sa- tisfaction of their consciences, and love for their fellow beings. Our dispensaries in Paris have the care of more than 10,000 patients annually. The friends of homoeopathy give us reason to hope, that we shall be able to establish soon an hospital. The school of Medicine at Paris has begun to dread the new doctrines. It is awakening from the extreme indifference with which it has treated them hitherto. See- ing their incessant progress, and the number of patients our school cures daily, it dreads the spreading of the contagion to its own bosom, and especially among the students, whose desire, above all, is to learn to cure, previous to returning to their homes. To avoid this, they have expressly forbidden them to defend any of the principles of this doctrine in their inaugural dissertations, under penalty of being rejected. 34 This prohibition only serves to excite their curiosity, and many of them come to my clinical course, to see the monster who frightens all their professors. Thus Providence always permits some small good to come out of the greatest evil. You will doubtless be glad to learn that our venerable master enjoys excellent health, notwithstanding his great age. His body and mind preserve all the activity and energy of middle age. He is going to publish the sixth edition of his Organon, revised, in French, and written entirely by his own hand, in the intervals taken from his occupations with the immense circle of patients by whom he is continually sur- rounded. The 10th of August, we celebrated at his own house, the 62d anniversary of his doctorate. The guests were nu- merous and animated with pleasure in seeing this man thus recompensed in his old age, for his immense labours in the cause of humanity. The illustrious host, also visibly rejoiced in seeing himself surrounded by his attached friends, his nu- merous patients and disciples; for his heart is open like a child's to every mark of friendship and affection. Drs. Ca- Jandra of Palermo, and Sommers of Berlin, read, each of them, a copy of verses in their mother tongue, on a subject of great interest to the company; for these " reunions" have a peculiar character of cosmopolitanism, which is met with no where else. The language of the country is the one least spoken, and I had the pleasure of conversing in Spanish, Ita- lian, English, and German. This is a centre, where all na- tions unite in brotherhood, in sentiments of veneration for the illustrious founder of homoeopathy, and in reciprocal tes- timonies to the superiority of this doctrine to all others which have preceded it, being, for the most part, living proofs of that power to which they owe their health, and, many of them, their lives. Italy also advances in the adoption of the new truths. We have excellent news from Turin, and particularly from Milan, where the Austrian General-in-chief, Conte de Ra- dosky, has been lately cured by homoeopathy, of a sarcoma 35 of the bone, which it had been pronounced indispensable to extract. This cure makes a good deal of noise in Italy, and doubtless also in Austria, by the high rank and reputation of the patient, and has opened the eyes of the most incredulous to the power of the small doses, as they are termed. Rome will become a powerful centre for the propagation of the new doctrines. Wahle, of Leipsic, with his experience and perspicuity, has gone to the assistance of those of his col- leagues who have been practising for several years past in that city. You know the skill of this distinguished homoeo- pathist, and may be sure that, notwithstanding his modesty, he will make himself well known in that metropolis. Hah- nemann himself induced him to take this step, in order that homoeopathy might have a worthy representative in that capital. I will not mention Sicily, for there homoeopathy is embraced by the majority of the inhabitants; but Naples, which, after having given the first impulse to the establish- ment of homoeopathy in the south of Europe, had remained stationary, notwithstanding the activity and ability of its worthy apostles, Romano, Mauro, and De Horatiis, has aroused itself again of late, and several physicians have joined this illustrious triumvirate, either in the capital or the province, to spread the blessings of the new school of medi- cine among the unhappy inhabitants of this happy climate. Germany is always the classic ground of homoeopathy. It is so well acclimated there, that physicians come thither from all parts, and are forced to remain there, despite them- selves, by patients who will not be treated under another system, or at least will not suffer their blood to be shed in the profuse manner of the old school. All physicians indeed have modified their practice more or less, according to the laws of the simple doctrine of Hahnemann. You are doubtless aware, through the journals of the coun- try, of the unanimity of opinion that homoeopathy has ob- tained in the two chambers of the kingdom of Saxony,— twice on occasions of subsidies being demanded by the Ho- moeopathic Hospital at Leipsic, which the ministers were desirous of refusing. The most powerful arguments adduced were, namely, That homoeopathy had sensibly modified the practice of all the physicians in Germany, and that conse- quently it was important for the government to facilitate its study, and conduce to its perfection. 'The houses of the Grand Duchy of Baden have also signed a similar statement in favour of homoeopathy. The burgomasters of the city of Meissen have bestowed the title of honorary citizenship on Hahnemann, and have had the delicacy to present the diploma to him, through the Minister of Saxony, on the 10th of April, his birthday. This spontaneous act of the principal association of a city, in favour of the founder of doctrines which they consider beneficial to humanity, living twelve hundred miles apart from them, and all these acts of public bodies, are the best proofs of the consideration and esteem in which homoeopathy is held throughout the country. The clinical homoeopathical hospital at Leipsic answers its pur- pose well since it has been directed by young Professor Noack. His treatment has been extremely successful, and his clinical lectures on homoeopathy, excellent and well at- tended. Dr. Fischer, of Vienna, has also been very successful in his homoeopathic hospital. This physician often uses applica- tions of cold water as an hygienic auxiliary to homoeopathic specifics given internally. Thus you perceive, dear sir, that homoeopathy, notwith- standing the powerful attacks it has had to repulse, from individual interests anfl the established habits of two thou- sand years, in less than half a century has penetrated the whole "corps social," and we may well hope that it will soon become paramount in every school. Adieu—ever yours, CROSERIO. NATIONAL LIBRARY OF MEDICINE NLM Q2751AD1 t NLM027518016