0 -y- .*fi^ LIFE 0 F HAHNEMANN. WITH AN l/;\ ENGRAVING. r '"V \ ./" \jf cL/nute^t */£tf-Virzertzci/iST., LIFE OF HAHNEMANN. BY A. GERALD HULL, M. D. NEW YORK. DAVID FELT & CO. 245 PEARL, AND 34 WALL STREET, NEW YORK. 1841. LIFE OF HAHNEMANN. BY A. GERALD HULI, M, D. Hippocrates, deservedly honored with the title of Father of medical history, ap- pears before us as one of the most remark- able examples of humaa genius. The phi- losophical sects, of the 5th century before Christ, had invested the science of medicine with refined and ridiculous subtleties, the perplexities of which could scarcely be un- ravelled by themselves, and the mystic priesthood had usurped the privilege of alone knowing and practising the divine art of healing diseases. But the vestments of phi- losophy could not conceal absurdities, nor the frowas of religious dignitaries suppress knowledge, before the inquiring spirit of him, who fearlessly consigned the preten- sions of both to the judgments of the intel- ligent and learned of future times. Hippocrates deemed it a useless waste of time to search for the intimate essence, or proximate cause of disease, and with little reverence for hypotheses, he devoted him- self with untiring zeal and an eager desire for the truth to the task of discriminating, by trials of patients with and without me- dicines, between the symptoms of disease and the effects of medicines, while he earn- estly urged the value of a wholesome sys- tem of dietetics. After a long life conse- crated to the acquisition of medical know- ledge, and to the diminution of human suf- fering, we find that the labors of this great and good man scarcely presented the sem- blance of a theory, even when he considered Enormon or a principle of life, as the fun- damental power which governed life, health, or sickness; and there is no evidence af- forded by his writings that his practice was made to accord with any rules deduced from this declaration. From this period commenced a series of nearly two hundred theories, which have been too frequently reared by vivid imagina- tions without ample experience, but one and all defective, each possessing its brief and brilliant hour, but crumbling away before the unsparing test of experiment. Happier, far happier for the world would it have been if, instead of the ridiculous speculations with which it has^ been deluged, even the unpretending method of Hippocrates had continued to regulate the treatment of the sick. No one, cooversant with medical lit- erature, is ignorant of the numerous discre- pancies in practice which result from spec- ulative theories, nor of the sceptical senti- ments respecting them, entertained by those of the medical profession, who are best able to judge of their fallacy. If, from this chaos of speculation and dangerous contradictions, an innovation has arisen, which rejects hy- pothesis and avowedly depends upon the testimony of experience — an innovation which has been gradually and successful- ly progressing for half a century—and /VHNEMANN. 4 LIFB OF HJ which alleviates suffering, and actually re- stores the sick to health, we feel assured that a brief sketch of its founder will at- tract the attention, not only of those who have witnessed or experieaced the value of the truths it sets forth, but of all who re- vere the cause of medical science. The history of Homceopathia is identified with its founder—the venerable Hahne- mann. A strikiug and curious coiucideoce of history aod character will, we think, be perceived in our sketch, to exist be- tween Hippocrates and Hahnemann, if we consider the relative eras of general and medical history in which they pursued their career. Hahnemann, like Hippocrates, possessed of an acute peaetratioa, unhesi- tatingly exposed the pedantic jargon of the slaves of hypotheses—like him, was unre- mittingly engaged in searching for the de- velopemeut of pure testimoay—aod like him, was an ardent aad constant supporter of truth. Hippocrates was incidentally inspired by the truths of experieuce to utter " that me- dicines cures diseases similar to those they produce;" but the records of his distant era are barren as to the results of this convic- tion. Hahnemaaa felt the same convic- tion, and upon the doctrioe of similia simi- libus rests his preseat high fame. Hahuemann was;, born on the 10th of April, 1755, at Meissen, a small town in Saxony. The repeated evideuce of a bril- liant and reflective mind, which he exhibited during his youth, induced his father to ed- ucate him with the greatest care, until his coaoection with the Uaiversity of Leipsic, in 1775. Here his limited resources urged him to use uaremittiog exertioos, aad fiaally to support himself by trauslatiug a uumber of English medical works into German. Two years afterwards, he was attendiug the hospitals of Vieona, where his excel- lence of character, and extent of medical in- formation, completely won the friendship and confidence of Dr. Quarin, physician to the Hospital of Leopold, who frequently en- trusted the patients of that institution to young Hahnemann's care. His residence in Vieaua was not long, and his subsequent history presents him at Hermanostadt, as physician, librarian, and superintendent of a museum of coins, to the house of Baron von Briickental, governor of Transylvania. His improved circumstances enabled him to resort to Erlangen, where, after one year's study, he publicly defended a dissertation, Conspectus Jlffectuum spasmodicorum ozti- ologicus et therapeuticus, and obtained his degree of doctor or medicine in 1779. For a period of ten years he resided successively in the Saxon towns of Mansfield, Dessau and Magdeburg, and finally settled himself in Leipsic. Here we are presented with a very interesting epoch in the life of Hahne- mann. With a zeal and activity which he has eviaced through his'eutire life, he com- menced the practice of medicine, by at- tempting to reconcile the treatment of dis- ease with the splendid hypothetical edifices which have given such eclat to the medical literature of Germany. The more vigor- ously he pursued his iovestigatious, the more fallacious appeared the results, which produced an entire disbelief of the capabili- ty of ascertaining the causes of medical phe- nomena. Foiled in his anticipations, he next desired to examine the laws of these phenomena. That he might acquire all possible infor- mation, respecting this object, he applied himself with unceasing industry to an ex- amination of the experience of the most em- inent medical practitioners, and endeavored to collect a sufficient number of isolated facts from their writings, to erect a struct- ure worthy his ardent exertions; but the symptoms of disease were so imperfectly described, and were so intimately connected with existing theories, that, he was reluct- antly compelled to relinquish any further LIFE OF HAHNEMANN. 5 research in that direction. Afterwards, he presumed that the application of pure me- dicines in their simple forms would afford more satisfactory results, and therefore watched their operation with the most care- ful solicitude, aad accurately recorded their curative impressions upon a variety of symp- toms of disease. This very creditable effort exhibited, however, so much uncertainty in its continuation, that Hahnemann virtually abandoned the practice of his profession, preferring the pursuit of some other career, to the sacrifice of his conscience at the shrine of imagination. He now devoted his time principally to the study of the sciences of Chemistry and Mineralogy, and to the translation of a great number of interesting papers from the Eng- lish, French, and Italian periodicals. By thus employing his time, he was enabled to enrich the German scientific journals with foreign and original articles of great value. Among the latter, his treatise on the mode of preparing a form of mercury, which he discovered, that derives from him its name, mercurius solubilis Hahnemanni,—his re- searches on poisoning by arsenic, with legal evidence of imperative importance to medi- cal jurisprudence, and the celebrated Hah- nemannean wine-test, which exposed and prevented the adulteratiou of wiues with lead, conferred upon him an honorable rep- utation among the medical philosophers of the Continent. Hahnemann, while thus progressing in a career of celebrity, commenced a translation of the Materia Medica of Cullen. The in- ventive genius of the talented Scotch theo- rist, however efficient io prostrating the once equally popular Eclectic system of Boer- haave, who had previously dissipated the chemical reveries of Van Helmont, both re- markable instaoces exhibiting a severe com- mentary upon the inherent excellence and consequent stability of theories per se, and not framed on testimony, evinced too much hypothetical speculation for the truth- searching spirit of the German reformer. Hahnemann was not content with the ex- planation attempted in the Materia Medica, of the febrifuge operation of Cinchona. It was evident, theoretically, that the Peruvi- an bark, administered in obedience to prin- ciples, should almost specifically remove in- termittent fevers, but his unwearied investi- gatioos afforded iacoutrovertible evideace, that there were numerous forms of this dis- ease to which the Ciuchooa was eatirely inapplicable ; also that the bark applied to persons in health produced symptoms, sin- gularly analagous to those of the fever. This latter circumstance arrested the earn- est attention of Hahnemann, and caused him to try the experiment on himself, of taking the Cinchona when in health, and to become perfectly satisfied that the severe symptoms under which he labored were similar to those of one of the forms of pure intermittent fever! A therapeutical agent developing such singular power induced Hahnemanu to ac- quire by experimeat, corresponding effects from other medicinal substances, until a question originated in his mind whether the true mode of healing diseases did not depend upon the principle similia similibus curan- tur,\or the application of remedies for the cure of symptoms similar to those which the same medicines produce on a person in a state of health. Thus the year 1790 gave birth to the celebrated system of Hahnemann, which has received from him a Greek title, ex- pressive of its peculiarities—Homoeopathia. Hahnemann, now inspired with a lively hope, exerted himself indefatigably to sus- tain, by undeniable testimony, the truth of a system that promised so great a benefac- tion to humanity. The observance of a rigid self-denying regimen, and the appalling suf- ferings, which resulted from the administra- tion of the most energetic and poisonous remedies, were readily encountered for 6 LIFE OF HAHNEMANN. the illustration of the proposed law. He even induced his friends to repeat his ex- periments, which accorded so accurately with his own, that they must have removed any attempted charge of delusion. In confirmation of the verity of his nu- merous experiments, he directed his atten- tion to the records of ancient and modern medicine, and ascertained by both, that the Homoeopathic law was most interestingly developed in the operation of medicines de- signated as specifics. It was observed that mercury produced an exhibition of symp- toms in many respects analagous to those of the syphilitic disease. And is not the spe- cific virtue of mercury, for the cure of this complaint, familiar to every physician ? Sulphur was found to produce a cutaneous eruption, surprising in its resemblaoce to the itch, aad sulphur surely is uaiversally knowa as a specific remedy against this loathsome sickness. Beside these specifics, he noticed that some of the narcotic agents produced symptoms of mental aberration, coincident with those in the cure of which they are celebrated. Numerous selections of examples, sub- stantiating this law of medicine, were sub- sequently published by Hahnemann, in his meritorious production, "The Organon." Here we are informed that musk, a specific remedy in a particular form of Asthma, was noticed by Hoffmann to produce a similar state of spasmodic suffocation ; that arsenic, which affords relief to some of the forms of cancer, was observed by Amatus Lusitanus, Heinreich, aad others, to generate a state resembling that disease; that burns were more efficiently relieved by the application of the most stimulating remedies, as turpen- tine and spirits of wine; and that frozen limbs were restored by the use of the coldest means, as snow and ice water, with other familiar examples, which the experience of centuries has furnished. These investigations, conducted with sceptical reserve, were sufficient to convince Hahnemann, that he had obtained the out- line of a system, strictly dependent on testi- mony, and exempt from the fictitious bril- liancy of an ignis fatuus ever misleading its followers. He resumed the practice of me- dicine, confident that the noblest interests of philanthrophy would be subserved, if the administration of remedies could be regu- lated by the Homoeopathic principle. The application, therefore, of this principle to practice was managed with the greatest caution; the symptoms were detailed with minute accuracy, the medicines were care- fully selected, and cures more rapid and more certain than by the old method, delight- ed the anxious anticipations of Hahnemann. Unceasing repetitions of these results, ren- dered the verity of the Homoeopathic law, ao absolute certaiaty with him and his dis- ciples. However original the conception of this law with Hahnemann, he ascertain- ed, in the progress of his researches, that several emiaeat authorities had im- perfectly alluded to its priaciple. Thus Basil Valeatine, ia writings ascribed to Hippocrates, makes the observatioo, " that similar effects must by similar creating causes be treated, and not by opposite agen- cies." Detharding found that an infusion of senna would cure a kind of cholic in con- sequence of its power of creating a similar malady in healthy persons. Bertholon states that electricity is capable of extinguishing pains of disease precisely similar to those it has been known to excite in healthy indi- viduals. Boulduc attributes the same pow- er to rhubarb in its action on diarrhoeas. Stcerck conjectured with some timidity, that the stramonium, in consequence of the va- rious forms of mental hallucination and de- rangement it had been observed to produce on persons in health, might be successfully used in the treatment of maniacs, by creat- ing new trains of thought. LIFE OF HAHNEMANN. Btahl, the celebrated Danish physician, has been quoted by our founder as having expressed himself most explicitly on this idea as follows: "The received method in medicine, of treating diseases by opposite remedies—that is to say, by medicines which are opposed to the effects they produce, (con- traria contrariis)—is completely false and absurd. I am convinced on the contrary, that diseases are subdued by agents which produce a similar affection, (similia simili- bus,) burns by the heat of a fire, to which the parts are exposed ; the frost bite by snow or icy-cold water; and inflammation and contusions by spirituous applications; It is by these means I have succeeded in curing a disposition to acidity of the stomach, by using very small doses of sulphuric acid in cases where a multitude of absorbing pow- ders had been administered to no purpose." Rau and Hering quote similar opinions from other writers beside those mentioned by Hahnemaan. j, Paracelsus, who also believed in applying specifics to diseases, in the course of his writings, observes: " It is a perverted me- thod taught by Galen, to give remedies which produce the contrary of the disease ; remedies ought to be administered which act similarly to it:" Hieronymus Cardamus also manifested some doubts as to the Ga- lenian method, in consequence of observing that diarrhoeas were so frequently cured by evacuants. Thomas Erastus coincided with Cardamus and Paracelsus in their suspi- cions. These gentlemen did not carry out the inception of their experience; but it was received as singular, " passing strange," and they were honored for their acute obser- vation. Hahnemann elaborated this prin- ciple by tedious and life-enduring trials, but as his results were found to strike at the vi- tality of discordant usages, he was denounc- ed and persecuted as a casuist, a knave, or fool! Hahnemann, in pursuing his course of the new practice, developed quite early a very important feature of the system—the size of the doses. He observed that medicines, even in fractions of a grain, if Homceopa- thically indicated, frequently produced an aggravation of symptoms that demanded the intervention of an antidote. To obviate this objectionable effect, he conceived a pe- culiar mode of diluting remedial agents, which divests them of so much of their spe- cific power to increase, while it augments the power to extinguish diseases, as in the older method had been found productive of so much danger and suffering. A knowledge of such a result, prompted conscientious Allo- pathists to inquire of themselves whether the violent forms of disease, the broken and wast- ed constitutions, and even lingering deaths, which had occurred so often in ordinary practice, were not more attributable to large doses of medicines indicated Homoeopathic- ally, than to the manifestations of sickness itself ? The rejection of Allopathia, by many who pursued the inquiry, requires no com- ment. Hahnemann soon began to find that the application of the Homoeopathic principle was answered by the most brilliant success. Klockenbring, one of the German literati, had become deranged by an epigrammatic shaft from Kotzebue, and was confined in the Lunatic Hospital founded by Duke Er- nest of Gotha, at Georgenthal. The resto- ration of this individual to sanity, and other conspicuous examples gave Homoeopathia such eclat, that the most violent opposition was raised by Allopathic physicians and apothecaries, who perceived, in its ul- timate establishment, a serious detri- ment to their own interests. The Allopathist would be compelled to study his profession anew, and the apothecary to relinquish his occupation. Hahnemann, well aware of the extreme accuracy required in the preparation of Ho- moeopathic medicines, and of the great respon- 8 LIFE OF HAHNEMANN. sibility necessarily dependent on the promul- gation of a new system, could not rely upon the apothecaries, whose interests so directly clashed with its extension, and was there- fore, compelled to prepare the remedies him- self. An obsolete law was soon discovered, which conferred upon privileged apotheca- ries an exclusive monopoly, denying to phy- sicians the power of dispensing medicines, and imposing a heavy penalty upon all who neglected its observance. Hahnemann, ex- tremely desirous of perfecting his system, preferred to abandon Brunswick and Koen- ingslutter, theatres of his primary cures, rather than endanger its progress by sub- mitting to the petty tyranny of his opponents, who insisted upon enforcing this law. He visited Hamburg, Eilenburg, and finally pursued his investigations in Torgau. His exertions furnished a number of articles for Huefland's Journal, which elicited the most virulent attacks, but which the firmness of Hahnemann, and the intrinsic merit of the system enabled him triumphantly to repel. The scarlet fever, which raged epidemic- ally in Germany, in the year 1800, besides affording an opportunity of testing the Ho- moeopathic law, contributed a singular and invaluable addition to the system, in the use of prophylactics. Hahnemann had no- ticed, that children who were poisoned with the berries of belladonna, displayed an erup- tion and other symptoms similar to those of the scarlet fever, and therefore applied it to that disease, and met with decided success. Reflection then gave rise to a question with him, that if the vaccine, which is so ex- tremely analagous to small-pox, served as a preventive against the latter, why should not belladonna, in the same respect, prove to be a preservative against scarlet fever ? Ex- periments, instituted in consequence, estab- lished the existence of its prophylactic pow- er, and, at the present day, is generally used with such intention in Germany,both by Allopathists and Homoeopathists. The same remedial and preventive property was also found, by him, to belong to cuprum and ve- ratrum album against cholera, while that disease was making its ravages on the con- tinent. Other medicinal substances have attained a similar distinction. Hahnemann, who coincided with the im- mortal Haller, that remedies should not be employed in disease, until their effects were known on persons in health, continued the trial of remedies, which he commenced at the time of his discovering the pathogenetic effects of cinchona, and with the pure avail- able testimony of other practitioners, pub- lished the product of fifteen years' diligent labor, in 1805, under the title of Fragmenta de viribus Medicamentorum positivis. For the next five years, he was engaged in preparing his " Organon of the healing art" which he published in 1810, being the result of twenty years' observations, and containing a full explanation of the Homce- pathic mode of practice. In the course of the ensuing year, he re- turned to Leipsic, defended in public an es- say, De Helleborismo veterum, and pursued the practice and teaching of Homoeopathia. At the same time he commenced the publi- cation of his Materia Medica Pura, six volumes of which appeared in succession. During the highly successful progress of his labors in Leipsic, his opponents instigat- ed the apothecaries to enforce the law re- specting the preparation of medicines, al- ready adverted to, by which he was obliged to relinquish his lucrative practice in that city, or endanger the advancement of the true art of healing. He chose the former alter- native, and preferring the rule of right to the motive of interest, left the Saxon metropolis forever. The Duke of Anhalt Coethen gen- erously offered him an asylum. He repair- ed to Coethen in 1821, where he was not only favored with an entire immunity from the apothecaries' monopoly, but enjoyed a titulary distinction, (Counsellor of State,) LIFE OF HAHNEMANN. which raised him above the reach of the petty personal rancors, to which he had been so long subjected. Before leaving Leipsic, he had commenc- ed a work of the utmost importance to Ho- moeopathia. It was an inquiry into the comparative fitness of the remedies then known for the treatment of chronic diseases. This research, which he continued with un- abated industry for seven years after his ar- rival at Coethen, resulted in the publication of a work on chronic diseases, in four vol- umes, octavo. The appearande of this great production, made a new era in the history of Homoeopathia, and had the effect of redoub- ling the zeal and numbers of his disciples, and also of affording important positions for the renewal of the long medical war, which the publication of his earlier works had ex- cited. He maintains in his theory of chroni- cal diseases, (i. e. such diseases as under the best diet and regimen, will not get Well, but steadily go on destroying the health, until life is terminated, that such ailments,of which there are a great multitude,) spring from three contagious miasms, psora, syphilis, and sycosis.* He affirms that amoog the articles of the materia medica, there are some which possess the power of producing eruptions similar to those produced by the psoric poison, whose action endures for a long time, and that they possess the power of curing the chronic diseases resulting from the application of that miasm: these reme^ dies he calls antipsorics. The same is af- firmed of syphilis, and of sycosisj and he has accordingly, a class of remedies, called antisyphilitics, and another called antisy- cotics. The noble and unalterable generosity of Ferdinand, Duke of Anhalt Coethen, and * By Sycosis is meant that secondary form of gonorrhea, which consists of warty excrescences about the genitals, caries of nasal bones, &c. 2 fifteen years unmolested residence of Hah- nemann in his Dutchy must be forever es- teemed an important crisis in the fate of Homoeopathia. Hahnemann had now emerged from the thraldom of the petty and selfish persecuting spirits that would have sacrificed him and truth alike at the shrine of interest, and, now fortified by the im- pulses of an invincible determination, ad- vanced onward to perfect the principles which a series of painful experiments on himself and friends had contributed to confirm. Year after year the light of the new sci* ence became more and more diffused over the face of Europe with increased splendor, until the genius of Hahnemann received the homage of grateful thousands who travelled far and wide to solicit immunity from suffer- ing, through the dispensations of this modern Esculapius. As Weimar had been resound- ed over the world as the literary Athens of Germany, where the wizzard Wieland assembled a Herder, Goethe, Musaeus and Schiller to erect the great fabric of German literature, so the master spirit of Hahnemann transformed the quiet Coethen into a medi- cal Athens, where a Brunnow, Muhlenbein, Stapf and Moritz Muller, successfully con^ centrated their energies to perfect the edifice he had so well designed. The cultivated classes of Europe, whose discrimination is universal and exact, while they sought for the delicious repasts ofliteratureinthe clas* sic groves of Weimar, pursued with a more exalted zeal the study of the humanities, and a pure medical philosophy, which the benevolence and ability of Hahnemann had rendered so luminous within the quiet re* treat of Coethen. In addition to the euviable reputation and brilliant popularity that attended Hahne^ mann during his residence at Coethen, his domestic relations added an additional en- joyment to his post-meridian years. Al^ though a widower, he was surrounded by 10 LIFE OF HAHNEMANN. an affectionate family of children who par- ticipated in the trials of their parent through weal and woe, and fearlessly exposed their constitutions and lives to the experiments with drugs which were instituted to estab- lish the great principle of similia simili- bus. They rendered his home an abode of hope, and Dane or Englander, Russian, Si- lesian or American, could terminate his pilgrimage, and return satisfied, that, how- ever bitter and vindictive the assaults of the exterior world, at the domestic altar of the father of Homoeopathia was a shrine of peace. A trait of character especially mani- fest at this period of Hahnemann's career commands our deepest regard—his char- itable treatment of the poor, medically and pecuniarily. The poor of the dis- trict of Coethen were especially the ben- eficiaries of his medical skill and attain- ments, although the incessant applications of the influential and wealthy were more than sufficient to engross his entire time. The unwearied attention bestowed by him upon an infant in particular, elicited the ar- dent eulogium of the distinguished Peschier of Geneva, who took advantage of the op- portunity to record the habits of practice adopted by Hahnemann, which will give to the initiated, at least, some idea of the gi- gantic industry of our great Reformist. " Hahnemann records with great precision the totality of symptoms or entire group of sufferings of the patient, inclusive of all constitutional ailments, previously mani- fested in his own person, or of any heredi- tary taints characteristic of his progenitors. On the completion of his record the symp- toms of the disease are most carefully ar- ranged to correspond with the indications of the drug he deems most appropriate to the case; but in reaching this conclusion he neither confides in his memory, nor relies solely upon- his long experience, but has constantly before him the Materia Medica and RuckerVs Repertory, from whence he culls every remedy the emergency of the disease demands. As he pursues this course towards every patient, we can readily con- ceive how completely and incessantly his time must be occupied by the history of his consultations. It is not, therefore, by hap- hazard or by routine, that Hahnemann treats the sick ; but guided by a pure con- science, and exercising a profound re- flection, this medical philosopher not only exerts himself to accomplish cures, but, if possible, to perfect the science of Homoeo- pathia by keeping up a course of continual observations on the action of remedies, whether ancient or recent, which are daily essayed in the crucibles of experience. The Register of his Consultations, every day increasing in magnitude, forms at this moment a stupendous Medical Encyclope- dia. We have seen upon one of the shelves of Hahnemann's library, thirty-six quarto volumes of at least 500 pages each, entirely written by his own hand ; and to those who are curious as to the penmanship of the ven- erable octogenarian, who has never used spectacles, we can testify to writing as fine and beautiful as the mignonne of Didot. But this is only a part of the daily occupa- tion of this great man; medical corres- pondeoce holds ao important place in the occupation of his time, and this is truly immense. The collection of his received letters, which are subsequently arranged into volumes, forms no trifling compilation; and the repertory alone of his letters, con- taining the names of his correspondents and the dates of their missives, is an enormous volume, in folio, which is kept under the superintendance of Miss Hahnemann." What an invaluable treasury of practical medical lore is thus gathering for posterity! The phases of disease have been most dili- gently watched by his disciples, and the Ho- moeopathic principle has been by them most accurately tested in the applications of drugs LIFE OF HAHNEMANN. 11 to diseases, but the faithful testimony of our founder, who has forever been honored for a severe philosophy and unwavering vera- city, will form a guide for the neophyte in his practice, which the compilations of one and all of his followers cannot hope to rival. The mantle of every great reformer rests upon his shoulders, and his inspirations like theirs, seem heaven-prompted for the evolution of eternal truth. After a continuously progressive career of success and honors, a very important change both as to locality and domestic sit- uation, occurred in the life of Hahne mann. During the year 1835, circumstances elicited his attention and affection towards Miss Marie Melonie d'Hervilly-Gohier, of Paris, a lady perfectly independent as to for- tune, and descended from an ancient family of wealth and rank. Our venerable octoge- narian,—whose weeds of widowhood had been faded for very many years—profited by the opportunity to take a second wife, and consummated a union fraught with import- ant results to Homoeopathia, and especially conducive of happiness to his declining years. This lady's conspicuous and useful position has before attracted our admira- tion, not enough, I trust, to exclude its present iteration, and also the irresistable agency of Hahnemann's marriage. His constant companion and guardian— a second wife, and bride of his eightieth year—episodial as it might seem, constitutes an interesting part of his recent history. Madame Hahnemann, for some time an in- valid, had exhausted the resources of Allo- pathia in vain, when her good genius di- rected her to the ministrations of Hahne- maoo. Rescued from lingering disease, and promptly restored to health, respect, admiration and gratitude led to the forma- tion of the present relation. Madame Hah- nemann is not influenced by the circum- stances of ordinary attachments to her husband, but seems inspired by an unweary- ing devotion to the genius of the author of Homoeopathia. Peschier, of Geneva, has eloquently alluded to this union. " Hahne- mann is to his wife a more than mortal existence; she adores him—we cannot rep- resent the sentiments by a different expres- sion ; it seems as if she had unreservedly consecrated her life to the residue of his ; she is never absent from him ; she only ex- ists as a shadow of himself; she is his alter ego." Madame Hahnemann independent- ly of her present connexion, is an extraordi- nary woman, and a worthy consort to our founder. Gifted with brilliant talents, their exercise have been rewarded by cones- ponding accomplishments. Mistress of the German, English and other languages, the literature of every civilized country affords to a discriminating taste its richest treas- ures. The productions of her closet have ranked her among the poets of France; and the creations of her pencil have placed her among the artists of the Louvre. She paints with a skillful hand, and of her many efforts none have declared her talent more prominently than the faithful portrait of the great man we admire. The union of this lady with Hahnemann was preceded by an incident characteristic of a generous nature. Hahnemann, whose extensive practice at Anhalt Coethen had been the source of pro- lific emolument, had accumulated a large fortune, the influence of which might have been esteemed more efficient in winning a junior bride than the usual pretensions of a man who had passed his eightieth year. But the bride elect, whose delicate percep- tions anticipated comment, and whose dis- interestedness repelled the intimation of in- justice, made it an essential condition of change of name, that she should be exclud- ed from participation in the avails of his estate, and, on the contrary, that he should settle the major part of it upon his children by a former marriage ; reserving for himself such annuity only as might be considered 12 LIFE OF HAHNEMANN. necessary for his personal expenses. Inde- pendent herself as to revenue, neither pres- ent nor future luxuries of wealth could in- duce her to swerve from a noble duty, and the family of her husband in the possession of an ample competence, can never reflect aught upon one, at least, of the few exam- ples of steprparents devoid of selfishness. The curious, and perhaps those who have slightly misrepresented Hahnemann's liber rality to his children, and Miss d'Hervil- ly's disinterestedness, may be better suited with the official documents of the mar- riage, as truth never burns an hooest conscience. " Mademoiselle d' Hervilly, on consenting to the marriage, insisted upon two conditions; 1. That she was not to receive any por- tion of the property of Hahnemann either during his life or after his decease, but that the whole should descend to his children by a former wife. 2. That Hahnemann should at once dis- tribute his immediately available funds among his children. The first condition was incorporated into^he marriage contract, and the second was directly complied with. A large German fortune was consequently divided among his children, Hahnemann retaining the interest only of 15,000 dollars for his immediate use, which surplus was finally to be apportioned in the same man- ner. Madame Hahnemann would accept of no other compliment than a plain, gold marriage-ring." Shortly after this event, Hahnemann was complimented by the Gallican Homoeopathic Society of Paris, with the title of honorary President, to which he answered in his char- acteristic style, alluding with some feeling to the new partner, of his advanced age: " Gentlemen and Honorable Associates! I am deeply impressed by the sentiments that you have had the kindness to commu- nicate with such delicate courtesy through your honorable secretary; I accept with high gratification the title of honorary mem- ber which your transmitted Diploma con- fers upon me, and beg leave to answer the gracious compliment with sincere acknow- ledgments. Our benificent art is making rapid pro- gress in France, as your letter informs me, and general report confirms it. The Society recently established at Paris, which has named me its honorary President, affords a delightful evidence of its truth. I love France and her noble people, so great, so generous, so disposed to rectify an abuse by the adoption of a new and efficient reform. This predeliction has been augmented in my heart by my marriage with one of the noble daughters of France, in every re- spect worthy of her country. May that God, of whom I am but a mor- tal instrument, bless the efforts of all of you who are laboring wjth me in the attainment of a medical reformation of the utmost ne- cessity for the welfare of mankind. Blind as many still remain, let us render them a service despite their repugnance ; in course of time we shall receive their benedictions, for our principle, like sun-light, is one of the most prominent truths of nature. I commend myself to your remembrance and friendship, with the best wishes for your health and happiness. Hahnemann." Coethen, February, 18S5. Hahnemann's predeliction was seemingly a presentiment of the change he soon after achieved in quitting the groves of Coethen for the palaces of the French Capital. Pes- chier thus details the event and its oc- casion : " The Master has finally reached Paris; but he has not come like a multitude of dis- tinguished men both past and present, to effect a display or to advance the celebrity of his name. Hahnemann, conducted by LIFE OF HAHNEMANN. 13 his Parisian spouse, has retreated to the j capital to obtain repose from his immense' practical labors, to live inconspicuously if! possible, and to quietly conclude a sci- entific production written by himself in French, and destined to present his doctrine in a light best adapted to the genius and spirit of the French people. Homoeopathia, as a medical doctrine, has been for a number years the object of numerous attacks ; the Homoeopathists themselves, have discuss- ed the theory of its author, have rejected certain peculiarities, and have substituted different ideas. Hahnemann has not yet taken the trouble to answer these critics, and has allowed their objections to accu- mulate; it is now presumed that he will canvass these cavillings, and will appropri- ate his energies to the creation of a work in which he will arrange his reflections anew, and will present an argumentative array of testimony perfectly ample to silence unjust or incompetent criticism. I have stated that Hahnemann desired to remain inconspicuous; in confirmation it is true that he took such precautions that his most faithful Parisian disciples, those who would have esteemed it the highest pleasure to have welcomed him, were ignorant of his arrival for a fortnight or more. He selected a residence out of the way ; he made no visits; he even denied himself his wonted and necessary exercise, but a reoowo like his owo traverses distaoce and penetrates walls. In brief time his dwelling has be- come known, and, at this moment, his por- tal, as in Germany is besieged by the mul- titudes who esteem health as the first of human blessings." From this moment, Hahnemann has been coerced to continue an active part in the propagation of Homoeopathia through the incessant appeals urged upon his skill and benevolence by professional adherents and anxious invalids. Complimented at once, by Royal grant, with the full privileges of medical practice, he formed the great con- sulting fountain of Europe, and Paris has consequently become the important centre where are gathered all the interesting ele- ments of this mighty reform. Under his auspices a Parisian Homoeopathic Society has accumulated an irresistable force of unshrinking reformers, who have labored diligently, and developed new resources for the advancement of Homoeopathia. Three skillfully conducted periodicals, comprising the abilities of Jourdan, Leon Simon, Curie and Molin, which have diffused a know- ledge of this system among the laity of all French Europe—translations of all the im- portant works elaborated in Germany—the establishment of two Homoeopathic infirm- aries—the organization of two Homoeopa- thic Medical Colleges, and the avowed con- version of three prominent Professors of the Paris University, Brechet, Amdssat and Marjolin, further attest a most encourag- ing progress,and the inspiring presenceof the master spirit of the Homoeopathic refor- mation. For those who may feel interested in the personal appearance and circumstances of Hahnemann since his Parisian residence, I take the liberty of repeating an account of my interview with the Reformist, which I have elsewhere published. A confessed Homoeopathist—an ardent and firm believer ia the immutable truth of the priuciple similia similibus—it was like a high pleasure aud solema duty, on the part of the writer, when visiting Europe, to seek the founder of our beneficent system of cure. Furnished with letters from my kind col- league, Dr. Hering, of Philadelphia, and my valued friend, Dr. Quin, of London j I found a welcome access to our venerable master. Minuteness of description will be excused in the present narration, from the interest that necessarily attaches itself to all things connected with Hahnemann; and my first visit will represent in these details 14 LIFE OF HAHNEMANN. all the circumstances of further acquaint- ance. At this period, Hahnemann occupied a spacious mansion in the vicinity of the Jardins de Luxembourg, at Paris. Usher- ed by the attendant into the grand saloon, at a moment when he was engaged with a patient in his adjoining study, I had an op- portunity of individualizing the appoint- ments of this noble apartment. Its walls were hung with varied and choice paintings in oil, many of them the productions of his accomplished wife. Vases, busts and med- als—donatives from those whose gratitude his cures have evoked—were disposed in tasteful arrangement, and his centre table was laden with the productions of German, French and other tongues—presentation copies—alike giving evidence of the abund- ant labors of his zealous disciples, and of the almost miraculous extension his sys- tem has acquired throughout the entire civil- ized world. Introduced into the library or study, I had for the first time, the inexpressible gratifica- tion of beholding the face and grasping the hand of the great Reformist of our century. I felt myself in the presence of a mighty in- tellect—once compelled to struggle with keen adversuy, to contend with the persecu- tion and cupidity of his rivals, and, in ban- ishment, to depend upon the protective shelter of a noble stranger—now independ- ently situated in the heart of Europe, and proudly eminent in the admiration of lite- rati, philosophers, noblemen and crowoed heads! Hahnemann, who is now approaching his 90th year, recalls in his venerable appear- ance the ideal of a Seneca or Plato, an Aris- totle or Socrates. Attached to the usages of his study, he was, as is his general habit, attired in a morning gown, his silvered locks flowing on either side of his head from be- neath a small and close German cap, after the fashion of a University student. His capacious head, of the finest Saxon mould, presented a full broad face, expressive of a noble benevolence and high intelligence, while the illumined eye and speaking lip in- dicated the ceaseless energy and unyielding determination that have enabled him, amid the most disheartening embarrassments, to achieve the reward of his proudest aspira- tions—the triumph of a celestial truth—to which he has thus impressively alluded : " I present to you a truth long sought for— a divine revelation of a principle of eternal nature. I appeal to existing facts alone to convince you; and when a conscientious and complete course of study shall crown your researches with success, then, as I have done, bless Providence for the immense ben- efaction he has allowed to descend upon the earth through my humble agency, for I have been but a feeble instrument of that Omnip- otence before which we all bow in hu- mility."* I had anticipated many exhibitions of the progress of age in the physical condition of Hahnemann. But his firmness of figure, activity of movement and unimpaired sight and hearing are characteristic of the perfect health he enjoys, and form no slight or in- conclusive commentary upon the excellence of the Homoeopathic regimen he has so scru- pulously and so long observed. His mental faculties seem, also, in the judgment of all who have known him long, to retain the vigor of former days; and if I may be al- lowed to judge by the masterly criticisms and powerful arguments I have heard fall from his lips, the apogtle of modern Ger- many has not succumbed to the ordinary ravages of time, but, in manhood and strength of intellect is, in his green old " Lord of the Hon heart and eagle eye." * Allocution de Samuel Hahnemann, a l'ouver. ture de la SociStS Homoeopathique Gallicane, a Paris. LIFE OF HAHNEMANN. 15 Since my return to America the Homoe- opathic bulletins have presented the grate- ful details of a very high tribute of respect that has been conferred upon Hahnemann, in reference to his long and successful ca- reer. On the occasion of one of his late birth days, a grand festival was organized by the disciples and friends of this good old sage ; and the array of noblemen, gen- tlemen, men of science and letters, was of a character to diffuse an impression auspi- cious to Homoeopathia to the remotest boundaries of civilized Europe. The im- mense saloon of Hahnemann's present resi- dence, in de Milan street, was crowded by the admirers who assembled to do him ho- mage. In the centre of the saloon stood his marble bust, executed by the celebrated David, a strong personal friend and ardent adherent of Homoeopathia. The bust was crowned with a golden chaplet of laurel io- terwoven with the flowers of Cicuta, Bella- donna and Digitalis, through which were interspersed the engraved names of the most eminent Homosopathists in Europe and America. One of the distinguished Homosopathists of Paris, Dr. Leon Simon, attended by Lord Elgin, Count des Guidi and others, now took the old gentleman by the hand and conducted him to the garland- ed bust, proclaiming to him in an eloquent address his deserved attainment of man's greatest boon-—immortality ! Two brilliant poems, which such an occasion could so well inspire, were delivered, the one in French, the other in Italian, by their re- spective composers with thrilling effect. The talents of such German musical virtu- osi as Kalkbrenner, Panofka and Hate, con- tributed to the impressive festivities. We conclude our imperfect sketch of the life of Samuel Hahnemann with a list of the works he has published, as the best pos- sible commentary of character which can be composed. Like the wounds in dead Caesar's robe, they plead with mute elo- quence an oblivion of all censure whether merited or malevolent. This work, much of which was perform- ed years before the noisy ephemerides (the Johnsons and Chapmans, the Reeses, Paynes and Andrals) of our times saw the light of day—this monumental pile erected by one architect and laborer, had its beginning while Cullen and Brown of Scotland, Dar- win of England, and Hufeland of Germany were yet unknown to fame. Let those who, ignorant of its structure or dimensions, have wantonly reviled its author, compare this work with whatever either and all of them have accomplished, and then revile again if they can. The architect is still busy : the Capital is not yet exposed ! Bibliotheca Hahnemanni. TRANSLATIONS FROM THE ENGLISH. 1. John Stedtmann's physiologiscbe Versuche und Beobachtungen. Leipzig, 1777. Original. Physiological essays and ob- servations, by John Stedtmann. London, 1769. 8vo. 2. Nugent's Versuch uber die Wasser- scheu. Leipzig, 1777. Original. An essay on Hydrophobia. London, 1753. 8vo. 3. "William Falconer's Versuch uber die mineralischen Wasser und Bader. Leipzig, 1777. Original. On Mineral baths and Wa- ters, by W. Falconers. Bath, 1775. 8vo. 4. Ball's neuere Herilkunst. Leipzig, 1777. Original. Ball's Modern Practice of Physic. 2 vols. 8vo. 16 LIFE OF HAHNEMANN. 5. Dr. M. Ryan's Natur und Kur der Lungenschwindsucht. Leipzig, 1790. Original. An Inquiry into the nature, causes and cure of consumption. London, 1787. 8vo. 6. A. Young's Annalen des Ackerbaues. Leipzig, 1790. Original. Young's Annals of Agricul- ture. London, 1786. 2 vols. 8vo. 7. Cullen's Materia Medica. Leipzig, 1790. Original. A treatise on the Materia Medica, by W. Cullen, M. D. Edinburgh, 1789. 2 vols. 8vo. 8. I. Grigg's Vorsichtsregeln fur das Weibliche Geschlecht, besonders in der Schwvangerschaft und dem Kindbette.— Leipzig, 1791. Original. Grigg's Advice to the Female Sex. London, 1789. 8vo. 9. D. Monro's Arzneimittellehre. Leip* zig, 1791. Original. Monro's Materia Medica. London, 1788. 2 vols. 8vo. 10. F. Ringby's chemische Bemerkun- gen Uber den Zucker. Dresden, 1791. Original. Chemical remarks on Sugar, by F. Ringby. London, 1788. 2 vols. 8vo. 11. Brown's Elementen der Medecine. Leipzig, 1801. Original. Browu's Elements of Medi- cine. FROM THE FRENCH. 1. Demachy's Laborant im Grossen oder Kunst die chymischen Produkte fabrikmas- sig zu verfertigen. Leipzig, 1784. Original. Procedes chymiques ranges methodiquement et definis. Neufchatel, 1780. 2 vols. 8vo. 2. Der Liquerfabrikaut. Leipzig, 1785. Original, L'art du Destillateur Liquo- rista, par Demachy et Dubisson. Paris, 1775. 2 vols. 8vo. 3. Demachy's Kunst des Epissfabrikan- ten. Leipzig, 1787. Original. Demachy's L'art du Vinai- grier. Neufchatel, 1780. 8vo. 4. Die Kennzeichen der Giite und Ver- falschung der Arzneimittel, von I. B. Sande. Dresden, 1787. Original. La falsification des Medica- ments devoilee. Bruxelles, 1784. 8vo. 5. De la Metherie uber die reine Luft uod verwandte Luftarten. Leipzig, 1790. Original. Essay sur l'air pur et les dif- ferents especes d'air. Paris, 1785. 2 vols. 8vo. FROM THE ITALIAN. A. Fabroni's Kunst, wein zu verfertigen. Leipzig, 1790. Original. Dell arte di fabre il vino. FROM THE LATIN. Albrecht von Haller's Materia Medica. Leipzig, 1806. 1 vol. 8vo. Hahnemann's original essats and works IN LATIN. 1. Dissertatio inauguralis medica. Con- spectus affectnum spasmodicorum aetiolo- gicus et therapeuticus. Erlangae. 1779. 4 vols. 2. Dissertatio historico — medica de Helleborismo veterum. Leipzig, 1812. 4 vols* 8. Fragmenta de viribus medicamento- rum positivis S. in sano corpore humanis observatis. Leipzig, 1805. 2 vols. IN GERMAN. 1. A Treatise on the detection and cure of poisoning with arsenic. Leipzig, 1788. 1 toI. 8vo. * LIFE OF HAHNEMANN. 17 2. An essay upon the bad effects arising from the use of anthracite coal fires. Dres- den, 1787. 1 vol. 8vo. 3. An essay upon the influence of various kinds of air. 1788. 4 vo. 4. Directions for detecting Iron and Lead in wine. 1788. 4vo. 5. An essay upon Bile and Gall Stones. 1788. 4vo. 6. An essay upon a new and very effi- cient agent in the prevention of putrefaction. 1788. 7. An essay on Baryta. 1789. 8. Upon the detection of a new constit- uent in Graphites. 1789. 9. An essay upon the Principium adstrin- gens of vegetables. 1789. 10. Remarks upon the Mercurius Solu- bilis Hahnemanni, with exact directions for its preparation. 1789. A second edition was called for in 1790. 11. A treatise on Syphilis, and its treat- ment with mercurius solubilis. Leipzig, 1789. 1 vol. 8vo. 12. An essay on the best means of avoid- ing salivation and the destructive effects of mercury. 1791. 18. A treatise on the best method of pre- serving health. Frankfort, 1792. 2 vols. Svo. A second edition was published at Leipzig in 1796. 14. The Apothecaries Lexicon. Leipzig, 1793. 2 vols. A second edition was pub- lished in 1795. 15. Remarks upon the Wurtemberg and Hahnemannean wine test. 1793. 16. Remarks upon the Cassel yellow. Erfurt, 1793. 1 vol. 4vo. 17. Remarks upon the Hahnemannean wine test, and the new Liquor probatorius fortior. 1793. 18. An essay upon the regulation of the passions. Leipzig, 1795. 19. Socrates and Physon. 1795. 20. An essay on the qualifications of a true physician. 1795. 3 21. A Manual for Mothers. 1796. 22. An article in defence of Klocken- bring. 1796. 23. An essay upon the new method of discovering the curative powers of medi- cines, and a criticism upon the methods previously employed. 1796. 24. Are the obstacles to the attainment of certainty and simplicity in the practice of medicine insurmountable. 1797. 25. An essay on Colic. 1797. 26. Antidotes to several heroic vegetable poisons. 1798. 27. A criticism of Brown's Elements of Medicine. 1801. 28. A treatise on Continued and Remit- ting fevers. 1801. 29. An essay on periodical diseases. 1801. 30. Remarks upon the candor and hu- manity that distinguishes physicians of the 19th century. 1801. 31. A treatise on the cure and prevention of scarlet fever. Gotha. 1801. 1vol. 32. An essay on the efficacy of small doses of medicine, and of Belladonna in par- ticular. 1801. 33. A treatise on the cure and prevention of Hydrophobia. 1803- 34. An essay on Coffee. Dresden.— 1803. The above essay was translated into French by Baron Brunnow in 1824, under the title of: Traite sur les effets du cafe; into Danish in 1827, by Dr. H. L. Lund, of Kopenhagen, under the title of: Kaffeen i sine Virkinger ; into the Hungarian dialect in 1829, by Dr. A. Budann, under the title of: A Kafe Munkalatjai. It has also been translated into Russian by Dr. Alexander Peterson, of St. Petersburg; into the Ital- ian and Spanish languages; and finally into English, and published in the American Journal of Homoeopathia in 1834; from whence it was republished in the Homoeo- 18 LIFE OF HAHNEMANN. pathic Examiner in 1840, and copied in the Health Journal during the same year. 35. JEsculapins upon the balance. Leip- zig. 1805. 1 vol. 36. A new System of medicine, based upon pure experience. Berlin, 1805. lvol. 8vo. 37. Remarks upon the proposed substi- tutes for Peruvian bark, and upon substitutes in general. 1805. 38. An essay on scarlet fever. 1808. 39. An essay on the value of the Spec- ulative Systems of Medicine. 1808. 40. Remarks on the insufficiency of the present Materia Medica. 1808. 41. An essay on the abuse, and dreadful effects of mercury. 1808. 42. Upon the necessity of a reform in the practice of Medicine. 1808. 43. A treatise upon Syphilis. 1809. 44. An essay on nervous fevers. 1809. 45. On the Signs of the Times, as re- gards the practice of medicine. 1809. 46. A monograph on the only three pos sible methods of curing disease. 47. The Organon. Dresden, 1810. 1 vol. 8vo. A second edition was published at Leipzig in 1819; a third, in 1824; a fourth, in 1823; and a fifth, in 1833. It was translated into French by Baron Brun- now in 1824; a second French edition was published at Dresden in 1832; a third at Paris in 1833; and Dr. A. I. L. Jourdan published a fourth in 1834. It was translat- ed and published in the Hungarian dialect at Pest in 1830, under the title of: Orga- non (Eletmiise) aGyogymuveszsegnek vagy Hahnemann Samuel. Into Italian by Dr. Guranta ; into Swedish in 1836, by Dr. P. I. Lindbeck, of Stockholm, under the title of: S. Hahnemann Organon for Lage- Konst. Into English at Dublin, by Dr. C. H. Devrient, in 1833. And in Amer- ica by Dr. Constantine Hering of Phila. 48. The pure Materia Medica. Dres- den, 1811. 6 vols. 8vo. A second edition was published in 1822; a third, in 1830; and a fourth, in 1833. It was translated into Latin in 1826, by Dr. Siapf, Gross, and Brutinow ; into French by Dr. Bigel, in 1827, under the title of: Matere Medicale pure de Dr. Hahnemann ; into Italian by Dr. Fr. Romaine, in 1825, under the title of: Pura dottrina delle medecine del Dr. Hah- nemann ; and Dr. Quin, of London is at present engaged in translating it into Eng- lish. 49. A Dissertaiion upon the use of Ho- moeopathic remedies by physicians of the old school. 1812. 50. A treatise upon nervous and hospital fevers. 1814. 51. A treatise upon Syphilis. 1816. 52. An essay on Burns. 1816. A se- cond edition was published during the same year. 53. Remarks upon Suicide. 1819. 54. An essay upon Purpura miliaris 1821. 55. Upon the most certain method of preventing the extension of Homoeopathia. 1825. 56. Chronic diseases. Dresden, 1828. 4 vols. 8vo. A second edition was called for in 1830, and a third, in 1835. It was trans- lated into French in 1832, by Dr. Jourdan- and a second French edition was edited by Dr. Bigel. 57. An essay on Allopathia. Leipzig, 1831. 1 vol. 8vo. 58. A treatise on cholera. 1831. lvol. 8vo. A second edition was published at Coethen in 1831; a third at Leipzig during the same year; a fourth at Berlin, in 1831, edited by Counsellor Sliiler; and a fifth, at Nuremberg, in 1332.