INAUGURAL ADDRESS READ BEFORE THE MAINE HOMEOPATHIC MEDICAL SOCIETY, 1IOSEA B. E4TON, M. D., Pkksident, BY Of Rod-port, in Camden, AT THK FOUETH ANNUAL MEETING OF TIIE SOCIETY, HELD IN -A.TJG-TTSTLA, Tuesday, May 24,1870, at 2 o’clock, P. M. PORTLAND: PRESS OF B. THURSTON & COMPANY. 1870. INAUGURAL ADDRESS READ BEFORE THE MAINE HOMEOPATHIC MEDICAL SOCIETY, BY HOSEA B. EATON, M. D., Pbhsident, Of Rockport, in Camden, AT THE FOURTH ANNUAL MEETING OF THE SOCIETY, HELD IN A.TJG-TJST.A., Tuesday, May 24,1870, at 2 o’clock, P. M. POtiTLAOT): PRESS OF B. THURSTON & COMPANY. 1870. ADDRESS. Gentlemen op the Maine Homeopathic Medical Society : In assuming the duties of this chair, to which I have been elevated by your confidence and suffrage, permit me to tender my warmest thanks for the honor con- ferred. Gentlemen, we are admonished of our mortality by the loss of. one of our intelligent and highly respected brothers in the profession, and a member of this society. In him the medical profession has lost a distinguished ornament, and society a consolation and a resource un- der the torments of disease. 4 GEORGE R. CLARK, M. D. ow iportx.a.in'd, RECORDING SECRETARY or T1IK Maine Homeopathic Medical Society, Ilub let, 1SC0, AGED 3 5 YEARS. 5 Otherwise, gentlemen, it is gi-atifying to announce the continued watchful care of Providence over our in- dividual membership, and the steady, successful, and rapidly increasing faith and patronage which is every- where bestowed on homeopathic physicians and sur- geons. Though no marked epidemic, like cholera or diphtheria, has prevailed, compelling whole sections of country to embrace homeopathy, the people see clearly our success in contrast with the old practice, which is so fatal. The year just closed has been the most active and important period of time that has elapsed since we have had a history. The American Institute of Homeopathy has held its quarter centennial anniversary in Boston, at which were represented more than twelve millions of the patrons of homeopathy, the only positive science of medicine. Some forty per cent of the wealth of the United States, and seven thousand physicians and sur- geons, all of them graduated in the science of medicine and surgery, and the majority of them from allopathic medical colleges, and many of them once Professors in those institutions of learning; also, one hundred authors on hygiene, ten medical colleges and medical 6 journals, hospitals, and dispensaries too numerous to he mentioned, but inferior to none in our country.* And let me. add, that for deep erudition, profound medical lote, and power for blessing the human race, in relieving the distressed, and curing the sick, it has never been equalled since time began. As guests of the city of Boston, the institute re- ceived such an ovation as homeopathy, the only pro- gressive school of medicine, had never before enjoyed. The municipal authorities had appi’opriated twenty- five hundred dollars for the purpose, and the largest hall, the best organ and music and entertainment the city could afford, was given to the organization. Indeed, so constant and rapid has been our increase, so perfect and unfailing our law of cure, so sure are we that those who give homeopathy a fair trial will be- come the followers of Hahnemann, so many eminent in medical science, on becoming acquainted with our materia medica, yield all their prejudice and embrace true medical science, that in the press of business we sometimes forget that there are those among us who are as ignorant of the only true law of cure (viz., that there is no essential difference between the principle of disease and the principle of the drug), as are the pa- 7 gans of Christianity, though missionary after mission- ary have long since proclaimed the great truths of the Gospel. • It is a well-known fact, that the priests! of heathen temples, wrapped in the prejudice and superstition of ages, are the most zealous opponents of, and the last to receive, the truth, and only do so when their people receive the light and their temples are tumbling down around them. And thus we find that many, less year by year, of the priests of the temple of allopathic medicine, blinded by the mist of two thousand years, bolt and bar that old medical castle, every plank of which is rotten and every step goes down to death. Oh, that some ray of the light of the nineteenth century might penetrate its gloom and shine on its Procrustean bed, on which its devotees are cut to the mark of past ages! Gentlemen, the present is a most auspicious time; for it is one of searching inquiry and advancing liberalism in every sphere, when men are getting long levers un- der .the errors of the past, and toppling them over into the rushing tidal wave of knowledge. We have passed the stage of doubt and scepticism, and our system of practice, “ similia similibus curan- 8 tur” born of tlie sciences and cradled in the schools’ has been rocked by the storms of bitterest hostility and ostracism, till we come to rest firmly on the rock of knowledge, demanding and receiving our rights, and, like truth, bidding defiance to all our foes; and here, in view of the past, may we not hope that the disgraceful bigotry and illegal transactions witnessed in our should be courts of justice have passed forever away; when allopathic physicians, disregarding all the obligations and solemnities of an oath, and with perjured hearts and bribed tongues make statements false to anatomy, physiology, surgery, and therapeutics; false to all known laws of life, simply because their opponent was a homeopathist and" left the old school of medicine and drugging for the new discoveries of modern science, which is so surely rendering them obsolete. Such men should remember that history is not for a day. There is a bar where all witnesses will tell the truth ; there will be no judge to take a bribe; he who pleaded the widow’s cause amiss, and by delay, delaying ever made the law at night more intricate than at dawn, arid on the morrow further from the close than when the sun last set, till he who in the suit was poorest, by his empty coders, proved his cause the icorse. 9 Those on that morn will find custom no excuse for sin, and find that plain-dealing was a virtue, but too late, and that all liars shall their portion have among the cursed without the gates of life. I was acquainted with a physician upon whom allop- athy had placed many honors. He was a member of the “Maine Medical Association,” but when thrown into competition with homeopathy, and seeing its supe- rior success, had the intelligence and honesty to fairly investigate its claims, and after curing hundreds of cases that were allopathically incurable, and all cases of dis- ease in much less time, embraced publicly the law of true medical science, and found himself no longer in doubt and uncertainty in the treatment of disease. In this new science every remedy had been proved on the healthy, not as in the old school by experiment on the sick, and he quit forever the quick-sand of old physic; and in so doing he had violated the 7th sec- tion of the Constitution of the Maine Medical Associ- ation, which reads : “ Any member of this association who shall abandon the legitimate domain of medicine for the practice of homeopathy, hydropathy, or any kin- dred delusion, or, under any consideration, shall adopt principles of practice repugnant to true medical sci- 10 ence, shall be regarded as destitute of professional hon- esty, totally unworthy of public confidence, and no longer entitled to membership in this association.” Gentlemen, God has not given to one man, one age, or one sect, all knowledge, nor all there is of truth. But here Ave find an allopathic association whose Avhole history is full of contradictions and inconsistency, pretending to be guardians of the health, morals, and minds of the people, and even propose a “medical act” giving them the power to say who shall practice med- icine in this State. Can men pre-pledged to false ideas, be honest ? O bigotry and conceit, thy bumps are large! That 7th section, Avhen deprived of the flourish of an allopathic pen, simply means, if any member dares know more than another; if he investigates new fields of medical science or steps from the routine prac- tice of ages, or cures his patients without drugs, or gives them Avater instead of dosing them Avith Avhisky, he is no longer entitled to membership; and this physician Avas expelled, as Avas Harvey from a similar association, for discovering the circulation of the blood ; Jenner for vaccination, and Dr. II. B. Gram, not only expelled but hounded by allopathic physicians from 11 place to place, in the city of New York, for having in- trod need into that city a medical reform which has al- ready lessened its mortality twenty per cent. Something New Under the Sun.—The lives of the patrons of homeopathy insured for ten per cent less than those of any other system of medicine. After many years of investigation by those who care nothing about the different theories of medicine, mon- ey being the object, many insurance companies state that persons treated by the homeopathic system enjoy more robust health, are less frequently attacked by disease, and, when attacked, recover more rapidly than those treated by any other system; that with respect to the more fatal class of disease, the mortality under homeopathy is small in comparison Avith that of allop- athy ; that there are diseases not curable at all under the latter system, which are jierfectly curable under the former; finding that the medicines prescribed by hom- eopaths do not injure the constitution, whereas those employed by allopaths not unfrequently entail the most serious, and, in many instances, fatal consequences. Here Ave have testimony borne to the great practi- cal value of homeopathy which nothing can gainsay, against Avhich ridicule and abuse, the only iveapons by 12 which we have hitherto been attacked, can avail noth- ing. The subject lias been investigated by insurance men in every civilized country, being forced to its examina- tion by an observation of the ever-increasing conquests of homeopathy, especially among the highest and best classes of society. And the result is, the establishment of four new insurance companies,—The Atlantic Mutual of Albany ; the Homeopathic Mutual Life Insurance Company, New York City, N. Y.; the Hahnemann Life Insurance Pioneer, 18G5, of Cleveland, Ohio; and Widows and Orphans’, St. Louis, Mo.,—all of which insure homeop- athists ten per cent less than allopathists. Of every thousand persons insured, only one-half per cent die by accident, and such other causes as may not be influenced by medical treatment. In twenty-one European allopathic hospitals there was an average mortality of 11 per cent, while in twen- ty-one European homeopathic hospitals the average mortality was five per cent. In the Convent of Refuge, Marseilles, under allopa- thic control from 1841 to 1849, there was an average mortality of 5 9-10 per cent, while in the same institu- 13 lion under homeopathic control from 1849 to 1854, it was 2 1-2 per cent. Indeed, if we take the average of mortality as gath- ered from all sources by life insurance agents and gov- ernment reports in Europe and America, we find in all diseases in hospitals the per centage of mortality to be allopathic 10, homeopathic 5 per cent. In cholera, in hospitals, allopaths lose 48 per cent, homeopaths 18 ; in yellow fever, allopaths 34, homeo- path's 9; in typhus fever, allopaths 45, homeopaths 8; in pneumonia, allopaths 33, homeopaths 6. And even these results give an inadequate idea of the superiority of homeopathic treatment, for they say nothing of the duration of treatment. If it cures so many more, is it not probable that it cures more speedily ? That the contrast may be more apparent, we will give the report of the Inspector of the Michigan State Prison, during 1867-8-9, under allopathic treatment. Average number of prisoners, 435 ; deaths, 39; days’ labor lost, 23,000; cost of medicine, 1668 dollars. Under homeopathic treatment in 1860-1-2, average number of prisoners, 544 (109 more); 20 deaths; 10,- 000 days’ labor lost; cost of medicine, 500 dollars. 14 RESULT IN TABULAR FORM. At. No. Pris. Deaths. Days’ Labor Lost. Cost Med. 3 yrs. .allopathy, 435 39 23,000 $1,668 3 yrs. homeopathy, 544 20 10,000 500 In favor homeopathy, -SH— —ts* 13,000 $1,168 Gentlemen, these statistics gathered from myriads of the sick in every enlightened country point as unerring- ly to homeopathy as the dominant school of practice in the future as the needle to the pole. And what are the advantages to be claimed for ho- meopathy : 1st. A greater chance of escaping death. 2nd. A more speedy recovery, which is a diminution of suffering, and economy of time. 3rd. A more simple and agreeable treatment. 4th. A freedom from liability to subsequent ill con- sequences. And just in proportion to the increase of homeo- pathic physicians and surgeons is human life being lengthened out to its ancient limits, the bounds set, the days, weeks, months, and years all numbered in the threescore years and ten; and if the wicked do not live out half their days, how can the willfully ignorant, with these statistics before them, expect to live out 15 tlaeir days, while persisting in allopathic drugging and empirical dosing. The want and demand of our' time is more homeo- pathic surgeons and physicians, who are liberally pat- ronized wherever found, and we should give more en- couragement to young men who desire to qualify them- selves to become successful practitioners. And over thousands of beds, where lie the sick and suffering, we stretch out our hands to our allopathic brethren and bid them come over and help us. We cannot go to you; as soon would we expect our missionaries to be converted to paganism and bow in heathen temples, as a homeopathic physician to go back to allopathy; that was never known, never. We have escaped that pernicious practice of mercu- ry, opium, blisters, emetics, caustics, cathartics, syrups, and whisky, forever; though we feel a truly fraternal good will and fellowship toward all who devote them- selves to the care of the sick, we can but feel, that that physician who is satisfied with allojDathic attain- ments has a very erroneous idea of the value of human life. We demand of our legislators an act for the eleva- tion of the standard of medical requirements, an act 16 against imposition from itinerant pretenders, and the suppression of empiricism. And we most respectfully demand of our govern- ment, as patriots, the same privileges in the army and navy as is granted in the armies and navies of Europe. In the war between Austria and Prussia the two schools stood upon the same footing. In the late American conflict homeopathic physicians and surgeons were scattered throughout the armies, saving the lives of thousands, and had we been recog- nized and thus publicly permitted to use our remedies, thousands more would have been saved. I witnessed while in the army, as a volunteer sur- geon, the same superiority of our medicines on the field, in tents and hospitals, as in my more private practice; and it is the unanimous testimony of every homeopathic surgeon in the army, that had the new school of scientific medicine been recognized, thousands of patriots would now have been enjoying the blessings of liberty, for which they fought, instead of dying of diseases which might and would have been cured had their desires, and the petitions of two and one-half millions to Congress been granted. ‘ No arru in the day of the conflict could wound him, Though war launched her thunder in fury to kill; But these self-styled regulars in the hospital found hiru, And stretched him in death with their vile calomel.’ 17 Of the Christian, the philanthropist, and the tem- perance men, we ask a careful examination of the relia- ble statistics referred to, and still others now being gathered throughout the world, showing the alarming destruction of our race by drug medicines; and on learning the enormous consumption of opium in its thousand forms of soothing syrups, cordials, pain-killers, and cough remedies, and then the poverty, crime, mis- ery, and disease produced by alcoholic stimulants, learx ! that these are the two great panaceas of allo- for all the ills of life. From infancy to old age, it is opium, whisky, brandy, wine, bitters, the never failing prescription; and when we know how strong such habits are, may we not say without fear of contra- diction, that there is not an opium-eater or a drunkard in our land upon whom the habit was not first formed by the prescription or advice of an allopathic physician. God be praised that homeopaths prescribe no poison- ous medicines. The gordian-knot of intemperance can only be cut by allowing no liquors to be manufactured which will intoxicate, except alcohol, which will satisfy all the de- mands of art, and to educate the people in this law of nature, viz.: 18 That no medicinal agent, whatever its name, which will break down, enervate, and destroy the life of a healthy human being, can be of any possible benefit to the sick, though all the allopathic physicians in the world should stand behind every license law, and every drunkard, shouting whisky, whisky, whisky!! Gentlemen, there is no history more interesting to a reflective mind than that of medical reform ; the prov- idential beginning, the progress of new ideas against rooted prejudices and their final triumph. But as reformers we must not only have a perfect knowledge of the past and present state of medical sci- jfXJL ence, be well read in allopathic law? and chemical dis- constantly revealing new truths to our under- standing, but we must be the best of anatomists, thor- ough physicians, understand the laws of life, learned pathologists, skillful surgeons, capable obstetricians, un- derstand all phases of diseases, endemic, epidemic, and contagious. To this must be added botany, toxicolo- gy, materia medica, pharmacy, and medical jurispru- dence. We should tire in such attainments did we not see before us many who have accomplished the above, and are still pushing their investigations into new fields of 19 medical science; our society setting no bounds to hu- man knowledge, as does the seventh section of the constitution of the Maine Medical Association. Gen- tlemen, it is ours to labor. It is the boast of Christianity that the poor have the gospel preached to them; how much more is it to the honor of our profession, that they command the best medical talent of the land; and, as we toil on, we will honor that profession which relieves physical suffering; which is laden with the benedictions, that reaches be- yond the occasion, that profession which watches over the pale-faced sleeper, and ministers to the lips of the % fainting; that gives to the outstretched hand the cup of water, and trims the lamp of hope in the night of despair. OUES THE REWARD. We have lived to see the sick restored to health without drugs. Eighty years ago saw the dawn of a new day in the practice of medicine; since which time we have wit- nessed its general adoption among the leai’ned and wealthy classes of Europe. The czar and royal family of Russia, the pope and 20 most of the nobility and bishops of Rome, the empe- ror and empress of France, are all patrons of homeopa- thy, while it is recognized and patronized by every government in Europe, and its principles of practice recommended by life insurance companies; and two years since we saw it controling the cattle plague of England and Holland. [See Government Reports.] Homeopathy was introduced into this country in 1826 by Dr. IT. B. Gram, of New York; soon after into Philadelphia, and from these radiating points the true light of medical reform beamed out in every direction. In 1837 it crossed the Alleghanies and kindled a fire in the iron city of the West, and its radiant light has pierced the surrounding darkness, filled with glory the broad valley of the Ohio, lit up the Mississippi and lakes, and its healing beams reflected from the snow- capped summits of the Rocky Mountains, now descends in beauteous rays across the golden valley of Sacramen- to and along the Pacific slope. In New England, it has flourished gloriously, and all through the Southern States, in Mexico, South Amer- ica, Canada, and the West India Islands, there are nu- merous adherents and enthusiastic supporters of this scientific medical reform. 21 During tlie year I have sent a few cases of our med- icines, with books, to Americans residing in Yokohama, Japan, and Hong Kong, China. I have imagined the thoughts of the Celestials while watching the effect of a pellet, and should they attempt its analysis, no doubt they would be satisfied if they used Mr. Roscoe’s spectroscope, whose wonderful deli- cacy may be imagined when his statement is realized, that the presence (not the 3d or 40,000th tritura- tion) of a grain may be detected, but the “ one, one hundred and eighty millionth of a grain of soda can easily be detected.” Whether the Orientals will adopt our system of cure, or continue to ship toads for the cure of consumption, or plug the anus to cure cholera as recommended in the London Lancet, where it is supposed we get only the cream of allopathic science, I know not. Tlius, gentlemen, has homeopathy encircled the world in our own time, and the names of those who have introduced this reform in new places, will serve as a watchword to animate the votaries of science on- ward, and nerve them up for the encounter; and their memories, like signal fires blazing from afar and stream- ing through the lapse of ages, will, in the darkest night 22 of human intellect, serve to assemble the partisans of wisdom, and bid them hope. Earth has no tomb for such as Hahnemann; his teach- ings are graven on memory, they brighten the pages of history, they are speaking to-day from a thousand loud-tongued trumpets, and his voice is heard through- out the earth. It influences emperors, kings, senates, and his form overshadows the medical schools of the world. These rewards are ample and abundant here, and in that day when a cup of water shall not be unrewarded, then shall we have an affinity with the Highest, the earth shall smile in universal law, and become harmo- nious in universal love. MINE HOMEOPATHIC MEDICAL SOCIETY. OFFICERS FOR 18TO-71. President. W. L. Thompson, M. D., Augusta. Vice-Presidents. N. G. H. Pulsifer, M. D Waterville. I. S. IIall, M. I) Ilallowell. Recording Secretary. S. H. Boynton, M. D., Rockland. Cot'respondiny Secretary. J. B. Bell, M. D Augusta. Treasurer. AVm. Gallupe, M. D., ; ....Bangor. Censors. M. R. Pulsifer, M. D % Ellsworth. S. P. Graves, M. D., Saco. J. M. Blaisdell, M. D Bangor. C. A. Cochran, M. D Winthrop. T. L. Bradford, M. D Skowhegan. HOMEOPATHIC PHARMACY! No. 92 Exchange Street, Portland, Me. M. SEAVEY, M. D. Will hereafter devote his whole attention to the preparation and le of HOMEOPATHIC MEDICINES. lie is constantly supplied with MOTHER TINCTURES, FIRST DECIMAL TRITURATIONS, and imported articles in his line, from the most reliable sources in the country, and can sell to Physicians and Dealers At as low prices as articles of equal quality can be purchased in any other city. He has over ONE HUNDRED remedies in Uelir- manil’s 200tli Dilution, which he will sell in liquid or pellets. Also, a good assortment of Professional and Domestic Books, Sugar of Milk, Globulesf Vials and Corks, Fainilg and Phy- sicians’ Pocket Cases, Arnica Surgeons’ and Court Plaster, Rubber and Glass Syringes, Envelopes, Diet