[Reprinted from Review of Medicine and Pharmacy, September, 1875.] 
A REPLY TO PROF. DUNSTER'S LETTER ON “HOMEOPATHY 
IN THE UNIVERSITY.” 
Ann Arbor, August 17, 1875. 
Editors Detroit Review of Medicine and Pharmacy : 
Gents—Believing that the communication of Prof. E. S. Dun- 
ster, in reply to the article in the Medical Record, in reference to 
the history and relation of homeopathy to the old school in the 
medical department of the University, contains some elements of 
error calculated to mislead the minds of your readers, 1 beg to 
submit another view, presenting what is believed to be a true 
exhibit of the degree of union or fusion of the faculties of the 
two colleges now established in the medical department. 
The Board of Regents, in adopting the resolution “ That a 
homeopathic college be established,” of course implied that a 
definite curriculum of studies should be pursued to qualify the 
student for the honor of the degree of doctor of homeopathic 
medicine. This curriculum, it was also enacted, should be equal 
to that required by the student of the regular school in the same 
department. In conformity with established usage, this degree 
could be conferred by the Regents only on the recommendation of 
the faculty of the college of homeopathy. Now, as the faculty 
of any college consists of the teachers especially employed to 
qualify and recommend the student for the degree, it will at once 
be seen that the professors of anatomy, of physiology, surgery, 
chemistry and obstetrics, must be united practically with the 
newly appointed professors of homeopathic practice and materia 
medica to constitute such a faculty. The merely technical dodge 
that they are by appointment members of another faculty, will 
not convince any one to the contrary in opposition to this single 
prominent practical fact. The professors of the old school, there- 
fore, bear the same relation as teachers, examiners and final 
judges of qualifications for the degree in homeopathy, as they do 
to the class of candidates for honors in the school of regular medi- 
cine. By another technical dodge, to avoid an humiliating self- 
conviction by the faculty of the old school, the Regents have 
abolished the time-honored custom of affixing the signatures of 
the faculty to the diplomas. Hence, in the future the faculty no 
longer testify to the qualification of the graduate, but only the 
president and secretary. 
1 think, therefore, it will be conceded by every one who prefers 
actual facts to mere subterfuges, that as practically more than 
two-thirds of the faculty of the so-called college of homeopathy 
are also members of the faculty of the college of regular medi- 
cine, that the fusion of the faculties of the department of medicine 
is nearly complete; and, further, that of whatever of merit or 
obloquy may, in- the estimation of the regular profession, attach 
to such union for the promulgation of the absurd dogmas of 
homeopathy, the faculty of the old school will be entitled to a full 
share. 
Very respectfully, A. S. AN EXPLANATION FROM PROF. A. B. PALMER CALLED FOR 
BY ONE OF HIS OLD STUDENTS. 
Detroit, August, 1875. 
Editors of Detroit Review of Medicine and Pharmacy : 
I have this moment laid down a Philadelphia Medical and Sur- 
gical Reporter of August *28, 1868, and under the head of “ Cor- 
respondence,” I find a letter from Prof. A. B. Palmer, of our State 
University, explaining the position of the medical department of 
that institution in relation to the appointment of a homeopathic 
professor, which was unsuccessfully attempted at that time. 
Stating that the Regents under no circumstances would estab- 
lish a chair of homeopathy in the department at Ann Arbor, “ to 
disturb its curriculum, and introduce confusion and ruin," he finishes 
up in the following style: “ It can readily be understood that the 
medical faculty have been placed in a very embarrassing position; 
the pressing wants of the University, and charges of illiberality, 
unfairness and prejudice being on the one hand, and professional 
honor-and interests of medical science on the other. 
“ Hastily abandoning their positions would have led to the tri- 
umph of folly and error, and the ruin of the largest, and, as they 
believe, one of the best medical schools in the country; whilst 
quietly yielding to such an unnatural association would have been 
a sacrifice of self-respect and professional reputation which could 
not for a moment be thought of. They have done what they have 
regarded their duty to the profession and themselves, and we are 
happy in the belief that they have not sacrificed the honor or 
interests of either. 
•‘The most impressive lessons of wisdom are bought by experi- 
ence, and if the lessons of these experiences be heeded, no further 
attempts will be made to mingle in the same institution elements 
so totally incompatible as scientific medicine and the exclusive 
and absurd system of homeopathy.” 
I have called your attention to the foregoing simply with the 
view of asking Prof. Palmer, as one who years ago sat under his 
teachings, and therefore could not fail to imbibe many of the 
ideas he held regarding homeopathy at that time, and which he 
must still have held when he penned the above, how he reconciles 
his conscience to the present position of things in the University? 
Are “ professional honor and the interests of medical science ” less 
dear to him now than then ? Has he concluded to sacrifice “ self- 
respect and professional reputation ” by quietly yielding to “ such 
an unnatural association?” Or has he just discovered that the 
“ elements so totally incompatible as scientific medicine and the 
exclusive and absurd system of homeopathy ” are more compatible 
than he thought they were? I pause for a reply. Verily, con- 
sistency is a jewel! 
HENRY A. CLELAND, M. D. PROF, A. B. PALMER’S VIEWS CONCERNING HOMEOPATHY IN 
MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY. 
The friends of this gentleman have waited long and patiently 
for an expression of his opinions concerning his present relations. 
They are interested to know whether he has changed his prin- 
ciples on which for so long a time and so valiantly he fought the 
enemies of scientific medicine. Upon what platform does he now 
stand ? We cannot answer this question, but we can show what 
he once believed. This we shall do by some brief extracts from 
the proceedings of the eighth annual meeting of the American 
Medical Association.—Peninsular Journal of Medicint, Vol. 3, p. 21. 
Dr. Atlee, of Pa., offered the following resolutions: 
Resolved, That, to secure efficient teaching in medical schools 
where a prime object is to enforce practical precepts, a large 
degree of harmony must exist among the teachers, and confidence 
be reposed in them by their pupils. 
Resolved, That any such unnatural union as the mingling of an 
exclusive system, such as homoeopathy, with scientific medication 
in a school, setting aside all questions of its untruthfulness, cannot 
fail, by the destruction of union and confidence, and the produc- 
tion of confusion and disorder, unsettling and distracting the 
minds of the learners, to so far impair the usefulness of teaching 
as to render any school adopting such a jiolicy unworthy the sup- 
port of the profession. 
The resolutions were seconded, accompanied by the remark 
that they had reference to an attempt made in Michigan to thrust 
homoeopathy into the medical department of the University of that 
State. Dr. Palmer, the delegate from the medical department of 
the University, was called upon for a statement upon the subject. 
Wo quote but a small portion of his :omewhat extended remarks. 
He said that such an attempt as had been referred to had been 
made, and that a report had gone forth that such a chair had 
actually been established. An act had passed the Legislature 
during the last hours of its recent session providing that a chair 
of homoeopathy should be established in the medical department of 
the University, although the regents had not, and he believed 
would not, make any such appointment. 
He had no doubt that the sentiments contained in the resolutions 
offered by the gentleman from Pennsylvania were those of this 
learned and dignified body—a body which had been spoken of as “ the assembled wisdom of the profession,” and that all men of 
sense and principle in the profession, who had reflected upon the 
subject, or who knew anything of medical schools, entertained 
such views. 
He well knew that a school adopting such a course as was 
indicated and denounced in the resolutions would fall under 
the deep condemnation of all regular physicians, and that without 
their confidence and support it could be supplied only by such 
materials as the irregular are usually made of, and must fail and 
become extinct as a respectable and orthodox institution. It 
could not and would not receive your support. This being the 
unquestionable fact, the sentiments ot the 'resolutions being’"*su6h 
as the profession entertained and would act upon, he could but 
approve whatever might be the result of their expression at this 
time and by this body. If there were any present that entertained 
other views; if there were any that would extend their patronage to 
a school where such incongruities were brought together; where the 
lecture of one hour was flatly contradicted by that of the next; 
where all union, and all harmony, and all concord were destroyed; 
where a policy was adopted which would be the same in effect as 
the introduction of a Mohammedan teacher into a Christian Sun- 
day school or bible class ; if any could approve or tolerate such a 
cause, he hoped we should hear from them; but if, as he antici- 
pated, we were all of one heart and one mind, let there be a united 
expression, which should show to the regents of the University of 
Michigan, what would be the result to their cherished institution. 
Again, the founders of the medical department of the Uni- 
versity sought in its to fallow vonr .direction ;. 
connected with it now seek to render it worthy of your approval; 
and in the worst event, should they fail to accomplish this object, 
they intend at least to save their own professional honor 
untarnished amid the ruin. The resolutions of Dr. Atlee, and the 
remarks upon them, were received with strong expressions of 
approval, and the resolutions were unanimously adopted.