4 
  SMALL AND SIMPLE DOSES CONTRASTED WITH
      BLEEDING AND CONFUSED DRUGGING;
                 OR,

HOMCEOPATHY -ALLOPATHY.
A  LECTURE
DELIVERED BEFORE
THE HOMCEOPATHIC MEDICAL SOCIETY OF CANADA, AT
  ITS ANNUAL MEETING IN HAMILTON, MAY 15, 1855,

            AND REPEATED BY BEQUEST,

    . IN THE CITY OF TORONTO, JUNE 25, 1855.
PUBLISHED BY THE SOCIETY, WITH AN APPENDIX OF THE PROCEEDINGS
             OF THE SOCIETY.
BY JAMES LILLIE, M.D., D.D.,
          it*
     PROFESSOR OV MAOLAY COLLEGE, TORONTO.
      '''//jn'
       TORONTO:
PRINTED AT THE GLOBE BOOK AND JOB OFFICE.
1855. 
WBJ

   l?S5
                           ^Contents:

Organon of Hahnemann and Edinburgh Review, 1830—Hooping Cough,
    Drosera R.—Dyspepsia, Charcoal, Chalk—Principle of Homoeopathy
    easily disproved, if false—Allopathy professes to cure Acute Fever by
    Bleeding—Fallacy—Frank—Martyn Paine—Experiments of Dr.  M.
    Hall—Dogs bled to death—Patients too—Dr. M. Hall's comments—
    Bleeding unscientific—Endless contradictions of its leading advocates
    __Andral, (called) the first Pathologist in the  world, knows not how
    to bleed—Confessions—Recoveries not owing to  Bleeding, but to
    Nature—Homoeopathy and Acute Fever—Hahnemann—Aconite—
    His Challenge—Bleeding palliative merely to High Pulse—Aconite
    curative—Mr.  Liston, of London—Dr. A Fleming  of Edinburgh—
    Dr. F. mistakes the secondary action of Aconite for the primary—
    Author's experiments on himself and  family—Fleming's experiments
    on Dogs and  poor  patients—Drugs are poisons—Fatality of Allo-
    pathic mistakes and practice—Evidence apparently proving that Dr.
    Fleming poisoned patients  in Edinburgh Infirmary with Aconite—
    Folly of Medical prejudice against  infinitesmal doses, shewn from the
    nature of Fever—Nervous—Frank, Hall, Syme, Alison—A  miasm—
    word—thought—may  produce disease—Why may not a Decillionth
    cure it?—Scarlet Fever—Cholera—Elliotson's Confessions—Criticisms
    thereon—Hahnemann  and  Cholera—Statistics—Inflammation of the
    Lungs—Allopathic practice threefold more fatal than the disease—
    Dr. Dietl's famous experiment in Vienna—Homoeopathic treatment 
LECTURE.
  It is now a quarter of a century since my attention was
first drawn to Homoeopatby,by an article in the Edinburgh
Review of 1830.   After attending  medical classes in the
University of that city, I had abandoned the study of Physic,
under a deep conviction that whatever truth there might be
in Anatomy, Chemistry, Physiology, Pathology, or Botany,
considered merely ae natural sciences, still  the science of
healing, or Therapeutics, had no existence.  The discus-
sion in the Review, at  once acute and witty, bold, and  in
the  main candid, shook my medical scepticism, and I be-
came satisfied, if there was an art of healing at  all, that
the  Organon of Samuel Hahnemann must be its text-book.
  It was not, however,  till eight years after, that the subject
came under my attention once more,  with  an interest that
has been growing ever since.  It was then that Hooping
Cough invaded the parish of which I was  Pastor.   I was
led to test the pretensions of Hahnemann as to having dis-
covered a remedy.  I gave six globules of the Decillionth
of Drosera Rotundifolia, to six children respectively. Next
day I found  them all decidedly better.   Two  of  them had
never hooped, after taking the remedy.  Struck by this ap-
parent success,  neighbours came  for help.  Above  forty
cases were thus treated satisfactorily ; five or six  being
treated Allopathically, of  whom two  died.  I now  deter-
mined to  examine Hahnemann's Arzneimittellehre,Materia
Medica, or Exposition of  Remedies.   I was  arrested  by
the assertion on Vegetable Charcoal, that the  millionth  of 
4
 a grain was more powerful in its action on man, than  the
 whole grain in its  crude form.  Without  delay I  burned
 the wood, prepared the charcoal according to • directions,
 and gave some of the millionths to a farmer who complained
 of dyspepsia. On his return he was curious to know what
 what he had taken,as it had worked him so well,that he had
 got more good from it, than from anything he had ever tried.
 The very same experiment was made with  Calcarea Car-
 bonica, or Oyster shell, with the same happy results.   By
 experiments like these, I  soon became  completely con-
 vinced that Samuel Hahnemann had really discovered the
 true science of cure.
  What then is  the grand principle of the  system of
 Homoeopathy ? As the name implies, the principle is, that
 a drug can only cure a disease,  provided  it has the power
 of producing symptoms  analogous to  the  disease, in a
 healthy man.   For example how was  Hahnemann led to
 think of Drosera in Hooping Cough ?   Because  on trying
 the  juice of that plant on healthy individuals, he found  it
 produced a cough, which struck him as a  lively picture of
 the  disease. Thus the 58th symptom is, "Cough,the shocks
 of which succeed each other with such rapidity,that he can
 scarcely breathe."
  How was I led to think of giving charcoal to the farmer ?
 It  was because I  remembered especially, among  other
things that I found corresponding, the 249th symptom : "In
the  evening, pain in the pit of the  stomach, which was
 even painful to the  touch; at the same time nausea,and dis-
gust which seizes him, even on thinking of eating."   An-
other dyspeptic farmer was treated with Calcarea, because
the  symptoms  in the drag and the disease, were more ana-
 golous than in Charcoal. By touching  the  patient's system
 in the direction of the disease,the reaction  of the vital force
is called forth  against the disease in the direction of health; 
5
and as the vital force is a permament cause, the effect
which it produces is permanent ; that is, it is curative, not
palliative.
  One inference is very clear from this statement, viz., if
Hahnemann and his disciples are mistaken in these things
it must be the easiest thing in  the  world  to  demonstrate
their error.  Let a medical college take the  Drosera, and
try it on their own persons, and in the  circles which  they
can influence; if cough of the kind described is not provoked
—if the majority have no such  affection,then Homoeopathy
will reel under the blow.  Let  the provings be vigorously
pushed,and if the results still disprove Hahnemann's asser-
tions, his system must expire.  Or if, as is almost certain,
the  members of the Faculty  shrink  from the  ordeal  of
Hahnemann  and his  band, those heroes  and heroines of
humanity, and have no relish for the  idea of getting up
mimic Hooping Coughs on themselves and families, in or-
der to protect mankind from such miseries,let them do,as has
been done hundreds and thousands of times, let them give
the  remedy   in  the analogous disease,   and   if  expe-
rience  do not prove  the truth of the  system, it must fall.
But though  Hahnemann gave  this challenge,  and  lived
more  than half a century after, he  died without having
his challenge accepted.  Nay, has not Joerg, an  Allopath,
made similar experiments,  and confirmed Hahnemann's
results ?
   Allopathy, as the name indictates,  endeavours to  cure
by directly producing symptoms different from  those  of
the disease.   Thus a leading symptom in acute fever is fre-
quent and strong pulse. This pulse, Allopathy makes slow
and weak by bleeding.   The lancet does this directly and
 and primarily.  How  far this  process is safe and scien-
tific, we  shall now consider,by contrasting the two systems
 in their treatment of Inflammatory  fever;  after  which we 
6
may glance at their comparative results in the treatment of
Scarlet fever, Cholera, and Inflammation of the lungs.
  The great remedy of Allopathy in Inflammatory fever, is
bleeding.  It is strange, however, and, to a lover of man and
medicine,humiliating,to examine the contradictory opinions
and practices of Physicians about this favorite proceeding;
to witness their endless wranglings and mutual  denunci-
ations, about the How and the  Why, the  When and the
Howmuch, the supposed remedy is to be employed. Those
who are afraid of bleeding much  and often, and that is now
the vast and increasing majority, do not scruple to  accuse
the opposite method as absolutely  fatal;  while the  other
party retort the charge of killing by omission, with  indig-
nant energy.  Both cannot be right; nay it  is not necessary
that one should be so.  On the contrary we  may  find good
reasons for regarding both as completely deceived.
  Nothing is more common with Allopaths, than accusing
Homoeopaths of dealing  merely with symptoms ; while
they extol  Allopathy as  a rational science, that removes
the  causes of disease.  But how stands the  fact ?  That
bounding  pulse which they assail with the  lancet,is not the
cause of the fever.  It is merely what  they regard  as the
main symptom.   How do  they  dream of  drying  up the
spring by  drawing off a few pools  beside the flowing cur-
rent?  Alison tells us,he thus  subdues the overaction of the
heart.by withdrawing the  living stimulus of the blood; and
the  heart is  thus found to become quiet.   True, but does
is remain  so ?  Nay, it very soon  resumes its  bounding,
and that  probably^worse  than ""before.  This shews  that
the  bounding heart, as well as the bounding  artery at the
wrist, is merely an effect, and if  we would touch it to any
purpose, we must seek for its cause.
  Where  can this cause be found if not in the diseased ac-
tion  of the vital force ?   The mighty apparatus  through 
4
which the vital force operates, is the nervous  system ;  and
&s it is an anatomical fact, that no artery wanders from the
heart,  without its accompanying nerve, we are led  to ask,
Does the action of the artery depend on  the control of the
nerve ?  That it does so, is one of the clearest facts in Phy-
siology.   Why does the  heart of man spring at the in-
sulting word, if not because the  auditory nerve sent the
word to  the soul and brain,  which turned it  back on the
nervous centres of the chest ?  Why does the word of terror
quell the heart's action, and pale the cheek, and the ardent
appeal of pure affection suffuse the maiden's cheek with
loveliness ?   Why if not because the arteries, the veins, and
the capillaries, are all under  the empire of the nerves ? The
regal brain seated aloft in its vaulted  hall, sends  forth its
•messages by its myriads of nerves, and rules over the heart
below with all its tributaries.,
  The illustrious Frank, speaking of the convulsive rejec-
tion of a drop of water by the inflamed stomach, observes ;
*' We  cannot here deny the influence of the nervous system.
" The empire of the  nerves over the arteries and the veins
*' which they  surround,  manifests  itself sufficiently  by
" the coloring and sudden paleness of the face, the frequen-
'* cy of the pulse, the redness of the eyes, and the ferocious
■" look in the fire of  anger ; by the access of contagious mi-
<c asms on the circulation."
  That profound pathologist, Dr. Martyn Paine, of the Uni-
versity of New York, a philosopher who has written more
and better on this subject, than any man on this continent,
traces (p.  325 Ins.)  the action of an emetic  on the wind-
pipe and lungs, from the  stomach through the pneumogas-
tric nerve, thus breaking np  Croup or  Pneumonia (Inflam-
mation of the lungs.)
  Still I  would respectfully suggest to my venerable teach-
er, that his noble science would be better illustrated, if it 
8
should be a demonstrable fact, that  the  happy effect does
not depend on vomiting at all, but  on  the  vital action  of
the emetic (so called) on the nerves, and consequently on
the blood vessels of the chest.
   Hear Frank once more : " Sometimes the stomach throws
off only a small quantity of matter, but the vomiting is fol-
lowed by a great diminution of the symptons ; which allows
us to conjecture, that the greatest disorders sometimes de-
pend on slight causes,  or that the property of the emetic
consists less in the evacuation of impurities, than in a spe-
cial action of the abdominal nerves."
   If then such is the control of the nerves over the blood-
vessels why not deal with the nerves if we would affect
the pulse ?  To tamper for an hour or two with the move-
ments  of  the servant, who must  move  every  day, as his
master directs, is lost labor.   Let us persuade the  master,
if we can, to command the  servant, and then the servant
may do steadily what he is bidden.
   That a fever pulse  cannot  be reduced  by mere Blood-
letting, is demonstrated by the amplest experience.  If any-
thing is certain about this boasted agent, it is this, that just
as surely as it reduces the pulse at first,  it raises  it at last;
and as this secondary  effect results from the reaction of the
living force, it is necessarily  the  permanent one, because
that force is permanent.
   Thus Dr. M. Hall tells us (p. 142  of his work on blood-
letting,) that the pulse of his terrier  was  120, when it was
well.   It was bled eleven  ounces.  Two days after the
operation the  pulse was 160.  It was  bled again in the
evening 5| ounces.  The pulse fell to 108 ; but in two min-
utes rose to 116, and at half past 11 was 128.  Next morning
at 10, it was  140, and by 7 in the evening had returned  to
160 : nay it varied from 160 to 180.  Thus notwithstanding
the second bleeding, in  24 hours the pulse was higher than 
9
it was the evening before.  Next day the pulse still vibra-
ted between 160 and 180.   The day following the pulse
was still nearly the same.  The dog was bled a third time,
and the pulse fell, and varied from 96 to 108 , but in 20
minutes rose to  160.  Under the 4th bleeding, the pulse
fell to 108, and rose to 150.  The 5th bleeding brought it
down again to 108, but next day it was up again  to  160.
After the 6th bleeding we are told the pulse was slow, but
grew  gradually quicker, and, next day, varied from  150  to
160.  At the 8th bleeding the pulse was 158, and  fell  to
100, but in three hours was extremely frequent, and next
day was 160, and  jerking.  The  10th  bleeding made the
pulse 132, but next day it was 168.  Under the 11th it be-
came 132, but next day 180.  The 12th brought it down  to
120, but 5 hours after, it varied from 160 to 216 ; next  day
it was 180, and on the following 190.   Under the  13th,  it
sunk  to 128, to rise no more.  The poor dog died in con-
vulsions, with effusion on the brain.
  Dr. Hall gives six  other cases, in which dogs were bled
to death.  Although  all the seven experiments were varied
more  or less, the results were essentially the same.   Espe-
cially, there was not one fact to set  aside our allegation,
that as surely as the  pulse falls at first under the lancet, it
rises soon after; and above all, that while the fall may last
for hours, or minutes only, the rise continues for days.  It
must  surely seem a very odd logic, that would argue the
lowering of the pulse by bleeding, on the ground  of these
experiments. What they prove demonstrably, is, that bleed-
ing for a high pulse,  is a fatal delusion.  It is employing a
pernicious palliative  instead of a real cure.  Who can count
the myriads that have died the death of Dr. M. Hall's seven
dogs ?  Is this  a shocking question ?   What  is the fact ?
Look at p., 94 of Dr. Hall's volume, and  behold  that un-
happy mother bled two days in succession, seven ounces a 
10
day.   On the morning of the third  day the pulse  is  110.
She is bled again seven ounces.  In the evening, however,
the pulse was 132 and strong.  Leeches were ordered, but
not procured; and Mr. Hey found on his return,  that  the
pulse had fallen to 120, without any leeching at all.   Had
he only taken the hint to wait, the pulse  would probably
have come down still more, and the mother  been  saved.
But no?   Mr. Hey must bring down the pulse  of 120, by
taking three ounces from the temporal artery.  Well!   The
pulse did come down to 112 ; but mark, next morning, it
was up to 126.  Thus the three ounces, instead  of really,
that is permanently, lowering the pulse, actually raised it
six beats.  The artery again gave up its three ounces, and
things seemed better.  But lo !   In the evening, the pulse
is 140 !  Life is again drawn from the artery, and the pulse
falls to  120.    Now, Mr. Hey  becomes alarmed,  and
calls for  help.  All he has gained by his  four operations,
since the 3rd day, is to raise the pulse from 110 to 120. The
physicians arrive-—they blister.   Next morning the pulse
is 116 ; but at morn it is up again to 140 !  Palsy now be-
gins to set in ; the doctors fly to wine  and ammonia, and
after tossing for  a few days, and refusing all medicine, the
poor mother at last is still!
   It is dreadful to compare this  statement,  with the experi-
ment on  Dr. Hall's lower  animal ; and still more dreadful
to find Mr. Hey confessing that  the case was no exception,
even in his practice (and he was at the head of  his profes-
sion as a  surgeon,) but, on the contrary, was merely one of a
" melancholy" group. What unprejudiced mind can doubt,
they were bled to death ?
   Dr. Hall, commenting on that very case,  declares, (p.99,)
" It is impossible to  imagine a more  interesting  and in-
" structive train of events.  Nothing  but a careful exami-
" nation  is wanting, to make it  complete as an illustration 
11
" of the  effects of extreme loss of  blood  upon the brain,
" lungs,  and other organs of the body."
  Dr. Hall at p. 6 gives us the following " interesting and
instructive" passage :—" I have already stated the symptoms
"of reaction from loss of blood, accurately resemble those of
" power  in the  system, and of morbidly increased action of
" the encephalon (brain)  and that from these causes,  the
" case is apt to be mistaken, and mistreated by the further
" abstraction of blood.   The result of this  treatment is
" again apt to mislead us ; for all the  previous symptoms  are
" promptly and completely relieved;  and this relief in its
" turn again, suggests the use of the  lancet.  In this manner
" the last blood-letting may prove suddenly and unexpect-
" edly fatal."  Such then is the  blood-stained  circle  in
which the ablest Allopaths are almost necessitated, by their
own candid confession, to make their patients travel.
  Dr. Hall is very earnest in distinguishing inflammation
from irritation,  as an opposite  condition, demanding oppo-
site treatment;  while he allows that the symptoms of both
" accurately" resemble  each other during life,  and present
many common  appearances in death.  How then can they
be distinguished  from one  another ?  Dr.  M. Paine, how-
ever, rejects  the  distinction entirely, insists they  are one
state, and equally demand the lancet.   Still he maintains,
the weapon must be wielded with consummate skill, inas-
much as bleeding too little  would make the inflammation
worse, and bleeding too much would  light up inflammation,
where it had no existence  before.  But if the leaders of the
medical world are thus at issue, as to  the safe  use of the lan-
cet, how can it be expected that ordinary practitioners should
avoidthe most fatal mistakes? Whatever medical schools may
teach, they cannot teach the use of the lancet, for the teach.
ers themselves are all at odds what should be taught.  We
find  Hey, and Cordon, and Denman, all candidly acknow- 
12
 ledging the  fatality of their mistakes about blood-letting,
 and though they supposed, they found out at last a safer way,
by increasing the quantity drawn at the outset of the disease}
 they have failed in convincing a majority of practitioners of
 the correctness of their method.  Besides,what had the teach-
 ers of these able men been doing, not to instruct them how to
 use the fatal instrument, so as not to stumble over corpses in
 their way to truth  ?  The fact is, to this day, professors de-
 clare in effect that they cannot  teach the use of the lancet.
 For example, Dr. Elliotson, late Professor of the Practice of
 Physic in  the University of London, tells us (p. 123 of his
 lectures,) "I am satisfied, that general bleeding is continual-
 ly omitted, when it might be most advantageously adopted."
 Then (p. 129) he adds, "supposing, however, as is very likely
 to happen, that the patient has  been bled too much," and
 after perplexing himself and his readers,  he finally winds
 up by  saying; "these  matters,  however, cannot be learn-
 ed minutely by precept."  Nay, verily, " these matters" are
 not " learned" at all, if blunders, as Dr. E.  says, are  daily
 made in bleeding  too  little  and too much.  But then  it ia
clear if these matters cannot be learned, it must be, because
they cannot be taught; and if they cannot be taught, it can
only be, because they are not known.
  The  utter want of all science in bleeding, may be demon-
strated  from the practice and  confessions  of the famous
Andral of Paris.  This physician has the reputation  of being
the  first pathologist in the world. If any one knows how  to
bleed,  he must be  the  man. Judging from his writings, he
seems to be a man of truth  and candor. What then is his
testimony ? After detailing his first  case of Inflammation of
the  bowels (in his Clinique Medicale,) he declares "  here,
blood-letting exercised no beneficial influence." If so, it  is
clear Andral was mistaken in bleeding  at all. But it may be
said this proves nothing  against bleeding, it merely shows 
13
that a great man may blunder. Unfortunately, however, for
such a reply, Andral declares that this case was like "many
others,"—that it  is  " one  among a thousand," in which
bleeding was absolutely useless, nay, it did not  even "pre-
vent a new inflammation from setting in." Now if an  An-
dral may be a thousand times mistaken in bleeding, this can
only be,  because there is no science to guide in the opera-
tion. Commenting on his second case,Andral declare»,"here,
again the total inefficacy of blood-letting."   And  to con-
firm his view of this frequent inefficacy, he quotes the cases
of two medical students who died under the lancet, and thus
winds up ; " Here are two well marked cases where blood-
letting was  equally ineffectual,  either to  remove the still
slight symptoms which existed at the time it was employed,
or to prevent the development of more alarming symptoms."
Here it  cannot be  pretended,  that blood-letting was too
late in being resorted to, for  it is expressly allowed the
symptoms were "still slight " when it was employed.  But
if blood-letting cannot deal even with such cases, why should
it be  supposed  capable of curing more dangerous ones ?
Should it be pretended, that it is only on great emergencies,
that so powerful an agent should be employed,then the ques-
tion will be, why it  did not cure those two cases, when
they became more alarming ?   But this, Andral expressly
says, it failed to do.
   Andral gives the cases of other five medical students  who
were bled for fever, two of whom died.  Out  of these seven
young men,therefore,fourdiedin  spite,ifnot in consequence,
of bleeding. It is a singular fact, that one medical student,
whose, case  was rather severe, was  left by Andral without
any treatment at  all, and got well.  I call attention to this
now, because it is a  curious  confirmation  of what I will
soon mention at length viz,  the memorable result of Dr.
DietPs  experiment at Vienna,  when of the  patients bled, 
14
and vomited, and purged, about three times as many died, as
when left to nature  alone.  And it is worthy of still more
special notice, that five other cases of fever left by Andral to
nature, recovered.
  Weighing all these things carefully together,  I maintain,
that Allopathy cannot cure Inflammatory  fever.  That pa-
tients often get well under the lancet, and its  various ac-
companiments of Calonel, Tartar Emetic, Blisters,  &c, is
not denied.   These recoveries, however, are due to the re-
cuperative  energies of nature.  They take  place  in  spite
of, not in consequence of,  these dangerous expedients.
  Let us now very briefly consider the theory and practice
of Homoeopathy  in Acute  fever.  In 1811, Samuel Hahne-
mann published the first volume of his Arzaeimittellehre,
or Materia  Medica, containing an account, among other
things, of the action of Aconitum Napellus, on  the healthy
subject.  In the  introduction to that drug,  we find  the fol-
lowing  statements :—" Although the  following symptoms
" do not express all the medicinal  power  of this  precious
" plant, they do not the less furnish the sagacity  of the Horn-
" oeopathist, with the means of judging how far it  may be
" useful in  certain diseased conditions, against  which vul-
" gar medicine has  hitherto employed, often in vain,  and
" almost always with sad results, its dangerous resources,
" such as copious blood-lettings, and the apparatus of what
" it calls the  antiphlogistic treatment.  I  refer to  fevers,
" called purely inflammatory,  in which the  smallest  dose
" of Aconite, which allows us to renounce  all the remedies
" acting in an antipathic manner, cures with promptitude,
" and without leaving any consecutive affection.   In mea-
" sles, in miliary fever, in inflammatory fevers 'with pleu-
" risy &c.j the efficacy of this plant  is almost miraculous.
  " It is precisely in those cases, in which the partizans of
" Allopathy boast most loudly of their method ; it is in great, 
15
 " acute inflammatory fevers, in which they fancy themselves
 " alone able to save the patient by bold and frequent bleed -
 " ings, and think that so they will carry it over Homoeopa-
 " thy, that they deceive  themselves most grossly.   There,
 " in fact, Homoeopathy displays more than anywhere else
 " its immense superiority, as it has no need of shedding
 " one drop of blood (that precious vital juice, of which Al-
 " lopathy makes such enormous, thoughtless and irreparable
 " waste) in order to triumph over  these  dangerous  fevers,
 " and lead them back to health."
  I do not apologize for the length of these quotations, since
 they really embody the most important announcement that
 was ever made in Medicine.   If these statements of the
 founder of Homoeopathy be not true, it is the easiest thing
 in the  world to disprove them.  Inflammatory fevers are
 no such rarities in this world, nor is a drop of Aconite so
 hard to procure, and divide, that  the  enemies of Homoeo-
 pathy could have had any difficulty in covering Hahnemann
 with shame, by challenging him to make his words good,
 in the presence  of impartial witnesses.   But  this,  these
 false brethren (for Hahnemann  was a regular physician as
 well as they) never dared to do.  What they did, was, to
 harrass the immortal reformer of Physic, by low malignant
 prosecutions of the apothecaries, first at Koenigslutter, and
 then in Leipsic, and to drive him into exile in Anhalt Coe-
 then, thus confessing by implication the impossibility of
 meeting Hahnemann in the field of fact, and scientific con-
 troversy.
  In the prolegomena to his Materia Medica, Hahnemann
thus appeals  to his unworthy  persecutors :  " But  I  will
" point out to my adversaries a more powerful, an infallible
" way of overturning, if it be possible, this doctrine, which
" threatens to stifle their conjectural art.
  " Homoeopathy rests solely on experience.  Imitate me, 
16
" says she, with a loud voice, but imitate  well,  and you
" will see, at every step, the confirmation of what I advance.
" What no Materia Medica, what no system of Medicine or
" Therapeutics, have ever been able hitherto to do, she de-
" mands with load voice ; she will oe judged by the results."
  This gauntlet has lain before the  eyes  of Allopathy for
forty-four years, and it lies untouched this day.
  Hahnemann declares in  the passage formerly quoted,
that the smallest dose of Aconite enables us  to dispense
with all  antipathic agents, in the case of Inflammatory fe-
vers.   For example, were we to try to restore a frozen limb
by hot water, we should be using an antipathic  agent, just
as we should be doing, were we to apply snow to a burn.
Experience  demonstrates, that  the  successful practice is,
snow for the frozen limb, and warm alcohol for burns. Hah -
nemann justly claims these  popular facts, as instances of
the Homoeopathic law, by which the agent  acting  in the
direction of the disease, wakes up the  vital force, against
the disease, in the direction of cure.
  Bleeding  is antipathic to a high pulse, because  its  pri-
mary action is to lower the pulse.   The necessary result is,
that the vital force reacts, and  raises the pulse  as high, or
higher than  before.   To bring down the pulse therefore, as
well as to allay all the accompanying  fever symptoms, it
is necessary to employ an agent, whose primary action is
to quicken the pulse.   The secondary result is, that the vi-
tal force reacts against the drug, in the direction of health.
Many substances possess this primary power of raising the
pulse, and  are thus homoeopathic  to  Inflammatory fever.
None, however, in this inestimable virtue, equals the Acon-
itum Napellus.   The  extraordinary power  of this " pre-
cious plant," as Hahnemann truly designates it, can no lon-
ger be denied, even by Allopathy.  The  late  Mr.  Liston,
one of the most eminent surgeons of the age, proclaimed the 
17
power of Aconite, in very small doses, to  subdue Inflam-
matory fever, and had  the  moral courage  (and it was
not small) to own, that he had learned the fact from Homoe-
opathy.   Alas !   That so few seem to be able to afford to
follow his example.
  What shall we say of Dr. Alexander Fleming, President
of the Royal Medical Society of Edinburgh, who, ten years
ago, came out with an inaugural dissertation on Aconitum
Napellus, setting forth  its  marvellous  powers in curing
acute Rheumatism, and inferring, forsooth, that" it will pro-
bably be found," highly useful in Pneumonia, Pleuritis, &c !
Now I would ask, did  not Dr. A. Fleming  know, that
Aconite in Acute inflammations, had been proclaimed by
Hahnemann, as with trumpet, 40 years before ?  If he knew
it, and tried to conceal it, that he might seem to be a dis-
coverer of the very truths, which Homoeopaths are acting
on, every hour, throughout the civilized world, then his as-
surance is  only  matched by  his disingenuousness.  If he
did not know it, his  ignorance totally disqualified him for
the task he undertook. In either case, the Medical Faculty
ty of the Senatus Academicusof Edinburgh, are sharers in
his deep demerit.
  Dr. Fleming does  not seem  to be aware  there is such
a thing as Homoeopathy  in  the world.   He  very quietly
tells us, p. 31 that " Aconite exerts a direct sedative action
" on the vascular system, reducing, in the first instance, the
" frequency of the pulse."  Now, if this be true ; if Aconite
indeed reduces,  " in the first  instance, the frequency of the
pulse," it must be antipathic to Inflammatory fever, not
Homoeopathic to it, as Hahnemann supposes.   In that case,
Hahnemann was entirely mistaken in saying that he cured
Inflammatory fever, by a remedy that was not antipathic.
Is it possible that Dr. Fleming  was aware of the  vast sig-
nificancy of his declaration, that the primary action of Aeon- 
fS
ite brought down the high pulse ?  If,  as he supposes, he
has proved this, he has given Homoeopathy  as  a science,
its death blow.  He has proved, that Hahnemann did  not
know what he was doing, when he wrote his  dissertation
on Aconite, and that his disciples are really Allopathists in
the greater part of their practice.
  If Aconite acts directly  as a sedative, reducing,  ia the
first instance, the frequency of the pulse, then  it acts pre-
cisely like bleeding, and its indirect action would necessa-
rily be to elevate the pulse, under the antagonism of the vi-
tal force.  But where, in that case, would be the advantage
of Aconite over Bleeding, which Dr.  Fleming wrote  his
dissertation to demonstrate ?  The truth is, the direct  ac-
tion of Aconite is on the nervous system, and  its primary
action on  the pulse, is to raise it; the secondary effect, and
the  permanent one, being the falling of the pulse below  its
original beat, under the  reaction  of the vital force.  This
secondary effect, Dr. Fleming  mistakes for the primary,
and consequently the graduating medal of 1844, was as-
signed under a mistake.
  I speak  on this  subject with the confidence inspired  by
18 years continual experience.  I know  that the primary
action of Aconite is to heighten the pulse.  I have repeat-
edly called the attention of professional  men on the  other
side, to this remarkable  fact.  Again  and again,  have I
asked them to feel the morbid pulse, its rise and fall, under
the  action of a small fraction of a drop of Aconite, has been
predicted, and within fifteen minutes  has the  prediction
been fulfilled.
  It was only last Friday week, that one drop  of Aconite
was dissolved in a tumbler of water,  poured back and  for-
ward from one tumbler to another 50 times,  and divided
among 4 persons, whose ages were 55, 18, 11,8.  Their
pulses just before taking the dose, which was a table spoon- 
19
ful of the solution, stood 61, 50, 76, 72.  A few minutes af-
ter swallowing, the pulses were respectively, 63, 60, 84, 90 ;
i. e.  3, 10, 8, and 18 beats, higher than before  taking the
dose.  In half an hour, however, the first pulse  which  had
risen 3 beats under the primary action af the Aconite,  had
fallen to 54, that is, 7 beats below its original beat of 61.
  One week after the last experiment, 3 drops were dissol-
ved in the same way, and divided among 3 males, whose
ages were 55, 20, 18.  Before the dose, the pulses were 62,
80, 72.  A few minutes after the dose,  the pulses were  64,
88, 76 respectively, having risen 2, 8, and 4 beats.  In less
than half an hour, however, they had fallen to 58, 70,  70,
that  is 4, 10, and 2  beats respectively, below the original
point.
  How then has Dr.  Fleming been misled in so simple  a
matter ? Apparently, by not looking after the primary  ef-
fect, till the secondary had set in.  Thus p. 23 he says,  that
one hour or more after 5 or 6 drops, the pulse is  found  to
be diminished in strength.  " Thus a  pulse which  in the
" normal state beats 72 in the  minute, will, by  that time,
" have fallen to about 64."  To ascertain the primitive ef-
fect however, the Dr. should have examined the pulse, a few
minutes after the dose was taken.  Had he done so he would
have found out, that the pulse did not fall from 72 to 64 by
a direct descent, but first  rose, probably to 80, and then be-
gan to  fall to 64.  And it is just because  the  pulse  goes
round by 80 in such a case, that it is   disposed to  remain
steadily at a lower figure.
  Had Dr. Fleming  properly attended to his own  experi-
ments, on the dogs which he killed with Aconitine, he might
have found out the truth,  on this all important point, about
the primary action of Aconite.  Thus  in his 14th  experi-
ment on the English terrier, p.  102, he tells us that  " in 20
minutes" (i. e. after the poison had  been  taken) " severe 
20
" retching came on ; he began to stagger, and the  inspira-
" tion became laborious (18 per minute.) The pulse was then
" (that is 20 minutes after taking the poison) " 144, regular,
"of good strength.  In an hour and a half it had  fallen to
" 68."  Here is a fall of more than one half.   Now I  ask
Dr. F., was 144 the natural pulse of the terrier?  This
could hardly be 20 minutes after taking the poison, when
the symptoms of death were on the dog.  Dr. M. Hall's
terrier had a pulse of 120 before the first bleeding.  If the
pulse of Dr. F.'s was about the same,before it took the Acon-
itine, it is clear the pulse must have risen  in 20  minutes
about 24 beats. Dr. F,.  therefore, contradicts what must be
the real  meaning of his own record, when he tells us, that
the direct action of Aconite, reduces the pulse.  The direct
action on the terrier, must have raised the pulse.
   The same fact seems to be implied  still more strikingly,
in the case of the colly dog ; p. 103.   Here  the pulse is first
200; this could not be the natural pulse.   We are told, the
200 fell  to 134 in 22 minutes.  15 minutes, however,  and
5 more, are noted as stages after taking the poison.  I in-
fer then, that the 200 must refer to what came up  15 or 20
minutes after the drug was injected.   Dr.  F.'s dogs, there-
fore, are as fatal to his medical philosophy as Dr. M. Hall's,
to the curative effect of Bleeding.
   It is demonstrated then, that the primary effect  of Acon-
ite, is precisely the opposite of the primary effect of Bleed-
ing.   The Aconite raises the pulse first, and  then the  vital
force brings it down ; while Bleeding brings down the pulse
first; and then the  vital force raises it.   It  is, therefore, a
downright absurdity to say that the one  may be  a substi-
tute for the other, Dr. F,'s book then is a pompous  perplex-
ity.  When he uses Aconite to  bring down  a pulse, he is
 merely  a Homoeopathist in the  dark.
   There is, besides, neither sense nor science in  Dr.  F.'s 
21
dose of Aconite.  " As an antiphlogistic," says he, " 5 mi-
nims (drops) ought to be given at " first and repeated in 4
hours."  Whyywe?  Why always five?  Why repeated in
four hours ?   Is there any infallible virtue in these numbers
to maks them suitable for  all Inflammatory  states ?  If I
have found  a single drop, or the quarter  of it, producing
such results on myself, and other healthy persons, may not
a much smaller dose be  suitable, for one in disease ?  If
Dr. F. never tried, what right has he to contradict those who
have ?   Is he not aware, that the susceptibilities of sickness
to the action of a drug, analogous in its effects to the symp-
toms of the disease, are far greater than in health ? If he does
not know this, Dr. Christon has taught him to little purpose,
and he would need to  take a course of drug provings under
Professor Joerg, of  Leipsic.
   " Medicines operate most  powerfully ," says this emi-
" nent Allopath, " upon the sick, when  the symptoms cor-
" respond with those  of the disease.   A very small dose of
" medicinal Arnica, will produce a violent effect upon per-
" sons who  have an irritable  condition of the  oesophagus
"and stomach.*"   This is the  grand  reason, why it was
absolutely  necessary for Hahnemann  to reduee his dose,
unless  he  intended  to kill his  patients, it being the pole
star of his  course,  to give no remedy, whose proved action
on the healthy subject, did not correspond with  the  symp-
toms of the  case.
   The unreflecting abuse of drugs, or poisons (for all drugs
are poison)  in crude doses, has been  the bane of medicine,
and human hopes, and family joy, for thousands of  years.
What has turned Arsenic more than once out of the Phar-
macopoeia,  but the  odium arising from the poisonings  pro-
duced by the absurd, blind bungling of men calling them-

              * Vid. Dr. W. Heuderson'a Rep.  P. 235. 
22
selves physicians, who with all their  learning, never could
learn the necessity of dividing a grain of Arsenic  into  100,
still less 1000, and least of all, 1,000,000 parts?  The conse-
quence was, that last century Sir George Baker absolutely
refused to touch  Arsenic in ague,  because forsooth, Sir
George had found no ague so dangerous as Arsenic.  This
was only because somehow he could not learn the necessi-
ty of dividing a grain into  100 parts.  Had he  found the
hundredth still dangerous, was it a very hard thing to  find
out, that  a thousandth might possibly be safer ? But the idea
of diminishing the dose, however simple, was hid from his
eyes, as it is this  day  from the eyes  of 99 out  of every
100 doctors in the world.  So far as we know, Hahnemann
was the first man that ever thought of thai simple thing.
What has been paralyzing the progress of Aconite in Allo-
pathic practice, in  spite of the attention  drawn  to  it by
Hahnemann and Homoeophathy, and Fleming's blind  ex-
periments ?   The deaths that, no doubt, have followed the
abuse of it in crude drops.   What killed Dr. Male of  Bir-
mingham a few years  since, but his own fingers dealing out
for himself drops of Aconite ?  How did Mr.Brown of Glas-
gow, 3 years ago, find a grave?  By  Whitley, the medical
student, counting out  25 drops at a druggist's counter ?
   How has Dr. Fleming gained his gold  medal?  In the
midst of the bodies of God's poor whom  his Aconite  has
slain.  Do I bear false witness?  Dr. A. Fleming is him-
self the witness.  At  p. 25 of his book, I find these words,
" Fourth degree of operation.  On the administration  of a
"fourth dose of five minims, two hours after the  third, the
"symptoms assume a more alarming character.   The coun-
" tenance becomes pale and  sunken, froth issues  from
" the mouth and, the  prostration  increases.   Some,  thus
" affecteJ, have stated, that they felt  as if dying  from ex-
" cessive loss of blood.  (So your Aconite, Dr. F., vnll do 
25
 the work of a lancet.)  " Consciousness usually remains ;
 *' or there may be slight wandering delirium; as occurs also
 "" after profuse haemorrhage.  The voice is whispering or is
 " altogether lost.  The pulse becomes still smaller, weaker,
 " and more irregular ; and the breathing  more imperfect.
 *' The surface is colder than before, and is Govered with a
 " clammy sweat."
   " I have seen patients recover  from  this state."  Have
 you seen them recover ?   Then it is  fair  to believe,  you
 have seen them not "recover from this state."  Now  Dr.
 who put them into " this state" from which they did not
 <c recover."   Was it not you with your drops of Aconite ?
 You dropped them out of the world.  Go on, Sir, with your
 testimony.
   " When the action of the drug is earried to a fatal extent,
 " the individual becomes entirely blind, deaf, and speech-
 " less.  He either retains his consciousness to the last,  or
 " is affected with slight wandering delirium ; the pupils are
 ix dilated, general muscular tremors, or even slight convul-
 sions supervene, the pulse becomes imperceptible,  both
 " at the wrist and heart; the temperature of the surface sinks
 ** still  lower than before, and at length after a few hurried
 " gasps,  death by syncope  takes place."  Indeed.  And
 where did you make these  striking experiments, Dr ?   In
 Charlotte Square in the dwellings of the opulent?  Oh no.
 It was in  Edinburgh Infimary, on the  bodies  of the poor,
 who went there for healing, and found in your hands agony
 and death.  It is a lasting  infamy to the Physicians of the
 Lnfimary that they allowed you to make such experiments,
 and it is not for the honour of the Medical Faculty,  that
 they crowned them with their medal.
   It is impossible to imagine a stronger proof of folly  in
 professional men, than the  prejudice against Homoeopathy
on account of the smallness of the dose, as if any thing but 
24
experience could determine it ? As to the action, or the no,
action, of Hahnemann's decillionths, the Allopath is abso-
lutely without experience.  How then can he  reasonably
say any thing about it ?  One of the most learned of the Phy-
sicians of Germany,  (if Hufeland may be believed,) comes
forth, and solemnly declares, he has ascertained the extra-
ordinary curative  action of doses  unprecedentedly small.
How do his brethren receive him ?  Do they put his strange
assertions to the test of experiment (no murderous experi-
ments like these of the Edinburgh Infirmary)?   No !  They
abuse him as a mad-man, or an impostor, hound the apo-
thecaries on him,and hunt him from place to place,as if he
had been a mad dog.  This was their  legitimate practice.
The only logical  reply to Hahnemann, was :  Experience
is against you; but that reply was  never given.  It has
not been  given to  this hour.  For  though  Andral did, at
last, pretend  to test the matter,—in such  a man, it  was
pretending of the most singular kind ; since he was absolute-
ly ignorant of the  science; not knowing even  the meaning
of the word Homoeopathy.   How  then could   he try the
thing ?
   Though experience alone can decide on any question in
Medicine, and especially on the quantity in  which  drugs
should  be administered, still it is a fact that all legitimate
analogy would  suggest the likelihood, that a remedy  for
fever, should not  be  given  in a gross dose.   The  reason
is, fever in its essence, is a derangement  of  the  nervous
system.   We found the  eloquent  Frank  illustrating " the
empire  of the nerves,"by referring  to " miasms derang-
ing the circulation."  He accordingly, calls fever the " sha-
dow of the disease," rather than the disease itself; and if so,
then the body of the disease must be  found in  the nervous
system.  This has been a favorite idea with medical phil-
 osophers, from the time of Frederick  Hoffman at least. 
25
  Dr. M. Hall  says, p. 119 " fever appears to consist in an
" affection of the nervous system, and the  heart "  The af-
fection of the nervous system, then, is,primary.
  Syme, in his Principles of Surgery, states p. 9,  " being
<c thus obliged to admit as the essence of inflammation, the
" disturbance of nervous energy in the part,  we may  em-
" ploy this also to account for the changes observed in the
" in the circulation, which  have never  satisfactorily  been
" explained otherwise. "
  The eminent Dr. Alison  in his " Outlines of Physiology
and Pathology " gives five reasons for believing fever to de-
pend on nervous derangement.   He  refers, p. 443, toother
reasons for this view, and  concludes thus : " We judge the
" immediate cause of the alteration in the vascular system
" to be,therefore, an impression on the nervous system,  con-
" sequent on the local inflammation,and acting on the organs
" of circulation, in a  manner somewhat analogous to a  con-
" cussion, or a  violent sensation, or  emotion. "
   Now I argue thus ;  if fever depend on some shock of the
nervous system,—if violent anger will give a man Inflamma-
tion of the  liver, we  ought by all means, if  we would act
rationally, to bring our remedies to bear on the immediate
source of the disease.  We must direct our attention to ac-
ting on the nervous system.  To pierce a vein, is a  very
round about way of reaching a nerve.  It is trifling about
the effect, while the  cause continues. It is chasing Frank's
" shadow, " instead  of laying  hold  of the body, and  thus
arresting the shadow in a moment.  It  is a gallop in the
direction of death, and if death is not the invariable result,
it is just because something breaks off  the hunt, it may be
Calomel, or Tartar Emetic, or  Blistering,  or  terror paraly-
zing the physician,   and thus the lancet  is not plied to its
final consummation,  as on the poor doomed  dogs of Dr.
M. Hall. 
26
   Now if we must deal with the  nervous system in fever,
 how shall we go about the operation ? By doses of an ounce,
 or a scruple, or even a grain ?  If a miasm, which  no man
 ever saw, or tasted, or smelled, may light up a  fever by
 means of the nervous system, why may not a decillionth
 of Aconite, which no man ever saw, or tasted, or smelled,
 extinguish the  fever  by acting on the  nervous  system ?
 True, a decillionth is very little, very light; it baffles even
 the imagination.   But who will say it is less, or lighter than
 a miasm ?  Who ever guaged or weighed  a miasm ?  Do
 these cavillers at decillionths not  know, that a disgusting
 recollection, a mere thought,  may excite such loathing as to
 empty the stomach ?  Will they tell us what is the  weight
 of the thought, or what may be its dimensions ?   Did they
 never read of the idiosyncratic effect of Shylock's bag-pipe
 ^ singing i' the nose, " a dose of which Scottish melody ta-
 ken by the ear, produced such singular effects on  the  well
 known Rousseau.*
   If these views of the principles of Homoeopathy and Allo-
 pathy, are well founded, we need not be surprised, if expe-
 rience at the bed side confirms them.  Let us then examine
 a few  practical  results of the two methods of treating dis-
 ease.  The points to be contrasted  are Scarlet  fever, Chol-
era,  and Inflammation of the  lungs.
   Scarlet  fever, in its severer form especially, has long been
 a scourge to families.   Allopathy  has differed with itself
 as much about the proper treatment of this disease, as  of
 most others.  Bleeding, as usual, has its strong advocates,
 and  its doubtful, or decided  opponents  Mason Good, re-
garding the complaint as one  of debility, trembles to bleed,
and  hesitates to  abstain.  Frank  taught bleeding,  but in-
sists strongly on the necessity of caution.  EHiotson prefers
• Vid. Prof. Hendersons Hoiirejpathy, &". 
27
leeches, if he must bleed, though he allows the lancet may
be wanted.  Plenciz and Armstrong are strenuous for gen-
eral bleeding.   Withering is as earnest against bleeding, as
he is in favor  of vomiting.  Many are  enthusiastic about
opium.   Some cry  up Ammonia;  but Elliotson laughs at
them, denies the cases to have  been generally  Scarlatina,
and says a bit of sugar every day,  would have done just as
well.   Currie, of Liverpool, used cold water.   How is it
possible that science should  produce such discordances ?
  It is generally true, that while Allopathic faith is a Babel
of all conceivable contradictions,and its practice a correspon-
ding chaos of bewildering expedients, Homoeopathy glories
ina the precision of its principle, and the harmony of its prac-
tical applications. Thus  there  is not a Homoeopathist in the
world, who does not treat pure Inflammatory fever by Aco-
nite, and true Scarlatina by Belladonna.
  Not only has Hahnemann presented the world with  the
true specific in Scarlatina, he has also fully demonstrated the
protecting power of the remedy, when suitably   employed,
in preventing the disease altogether.   Prevention is  better
than cure ;  andifJenner is immortal by his  improvement
in innoculation, a similar glory  awaits Hahnemann for his
triumph in Scarlet Fever.  The' fact of the preventive  ac-
tion of Belladonna has been fully demonstrated on the con-
tinent of Europe, especially in Germany, while  it has been
too much neglected everywhere else.   The matter has re-
ceived some attention in Edinburgh.  Mr.  Bell  tried it in
Watson's Hospital;  but  began with the fifth of a grain of
the extract; morning and evening.   He  found this injured
the boys' health.  He diminished the dose,  but not / suffici-
ently to avoid evil consequences, and on the whole  doubts
the expediency of using Belladonna.   Now there ought to
be no doubt about the inexpediency of using such a poison,
in such doses, in such a case.   Bell's pretended trials of 
28
 Hahnemann's discovery, fully demonstrate this; and they
 also imply the sagacity of Hahnemann, in diminishing the
 dose, in order to attain the good  without the evil.  If we
"will meddle with a man's discoyery, we are bound to fol-
 low his directions, in making his experiments   If we can
 improve on  his plan,  so  much  the better.   But,  if by
 our conceited officiousness,  we injure truth, the health of
 those intrusted to us, as well as the reputation  of a great
 benefactor of humanity, we are deeply criminal.
   In regard to the  Allopathic treatment of  cholera, I will
 quote the very candid, honest, and no doubt, correct state-
 ment of Dr. Elliotson :—
   " As respects this country" says he " I cannot but think
 " if all the patients had  been left alone, the mortality would
 " have been the  same as it has been.  If all the persons at-
 tacked with cholera had been put into warm beds, made
 " comfortable, and left alone,  although many would have
 " died, who have been  saved,—yet on the whole, I think,
 " the mortality would not have been greater,than after all that
 " has been done : for we are not in the least more informed re-
 " garding the proper remedies, than we were when the first
 " case of cholera occurred; we have  not been  instructed
 " in the least, by those who have  had  the disease to treat.
 " Some say they have cured the disease  by bleeding; oth-
 " ers, by calomel; others by opium ; and others  again say
 " that opium does harm.  No doubt many poor creatures
 " died uncomfortably, who would have died tranquilly, if
 " nothing had been done for them.  Some were placed in
 " hot water, or in hot air, and had opium and calomel, and
 " other stimulants, which  altogether were more than their
 " system could  bear,  and  more  than  would have  been
 " borne, if they had been so treated in perfect health.
   " I am sorry to say, that of the  cases  I had to treat, the
 " patients  nearly all died.  I tried two  or  three sorts of 
29
" treatment.  Some had calomel and opium in large and
" full doses:  but they died.   Hot air was  applied exter-
" nally, and I got two to  breathe  hot air.  I had  a tube
" passed through boiling water, so  that they might inhale
" hot air.   It was found vain, to attempt  to warm people
" by hot air applied externally; they were nearly as  cold
" as before,  we could not  raise their temperature ; and
" therefore thought of making them  breathe  hot  air; but
" both patients died about  the  time that  death usually
" takes place. It was said that saline treatment was likely
" to be of use ;  and I accordingly tried it on some patients.
" At first I exhibited half a  drachm  of Sesqui-Carbonate
" of Soda  every hour: and thinking that might not be quite
"enough,  I  exhibited a drachm: in  one  patient  at St.
" Thomas  Hospital I ordered an injection  containing an
" ounce of the same  remedy: but the greater  part of it
" came away, and the patient  died.  Hot  air was used in
" this case, as well as in the others."
  One or two words on this plain passage.   1st. I agree
with the Dr.  that too many  of these patients were  killed,
and that they were before death, more or less tortured, but
I maintain, there is not an atom of proof, that one of the
few who got well, was cured.
   2d.  The Dr. seems surprised at the obstinacy of the cold
of cholera, resisting not only external heat, but even inter-
nal.  " It was  found vain  to attempt to warm people,"
thus,—I wonder  a  man so intelligent as Elliotson  ever
made so absurd an attempt.  Had he been dealing with cold
sticks, or stones, no doubt they  would have become warm.
Nay if after  his patients were dead, he had put the bodies
into warm water, they too would have become warm. But to
pursue the same method with a living body,that is found ef
fectual with  a dead one, is to ignore the fundamental fact in
Physiology,  Pathology, and  Therapeutics^ viz., the  all-per- 
30
  vading, all-controlling energy of the vital force.  Were EI-
  liotson to treat a frozen limb, as he did his half-frozen chol-
  era patients, he would put it in hot water, and of course
  kill it, after torturing it.   Such  practice is pure Allopathy,
  precisely analogous to palliating constipation by castor oil,
  diarrhoea by opium, fever by bleeding.  Immediate ease is
  purchased  at the  expense of permanent  mischief.  It  is
  like trying to cure poverty by usury.
     3d. I  agree with the Dr. that  he and his Allopathic breth-
  ren were just as ignorant,when he made his confession,of a
  real remedy for cholera, as they were  when the first patient
  was treated in England. But J maintain that this confessed
  helplessness of Allopathy, after years of study and practice,
  demonstrated the inability of Allopathy to find a remedy.
  And the reason is, it is without one principle  to guide it
  in the search.  Accordingly this day  Allopathy is as igno-
  rant of  a remedy for cholera, as Elliotson  confessed it was
  when he lectured.   Now  contrast with this, the facts  on
  the other side.
    Before Hahnemann ever  saw a cholera case,  he pro*
  claimed Camphor as a leading remedy, from merely read-
  ing  an  account of the symptoms of cholera.  These  he per-
  ceived  were a picture of his provings of camphor.  He was
  sure, therefore, that camphor must cure cholera.   He had
  not even to try first, before advising. Accordingly, thousands
  of hands throughout the civilized world are busy, whenever
  cholera comes, in demonstrating the truth of Hahmenann's
  prediction.  He declares that " at Berlin  and Magdeburg
  alone, thousands of families  having  followed his  instruc-
  tions respecting the treatment by camphor restoring those
  of this number who were attacked by the epidemic, restor-
1  ed them often in less than a quarter of an hour." (Joslin on
  Choi.)
     The Genius of Hahnemann shines  forth on cholera,  a* 
31
well as scarlet  fever, in having discovered a preservative
treatment.   This  most generons  and  self-denying of all
achievements of medical science, (for as prevention of dis-
ease prevails,  fees  must fail;)  belongs to   Hahnemann
more than to any other name in history.  The alternation
of decillionth doses  of copper and veratrum, at regular in-
tervals, has  been thoroughly tested, and its efficacy es-
tablished.
   Let  us now contrast for a moment  the two methods, in
the statistical records on cholera.  In the Allopathic  Hos-
pitals  of France and Italy, the mortality is given at 63 per
cent.  In 1823, in the city of  New York, the mortality in
Hospitals, including Bellevue, was nearly 50.   In Vienna
the two systems were brought into close comparison ; 4,500
were treated in the old way, of whom  1,360 died, i. e. 31
per  cent;  581  were treated Homoeopathically,  of whom
eight per cent died i.e. about one  fourth  of Austrian, one
sixth of American, and one eighth of Parisian Allopathy.
   That these results are genuine,  is  demonstrated by the
fact, that after the Austrian Government ascertained them,
it decreed the right of the Homoeopathic physicians to prac-
tice and dispense medecines  in Austria. Dr.  Balfour of
Edinburgh, an Allopath, thus  writes from Vienna, 1o Dr.
Forbes, of the Medical Chirurgical Review, " During the first
" appearance of cholera  here, the practice of Homeopathy
" was  first  introduced ;  and cholera  when it came again
" renewed the favorable impulse previously given, as it was
" through Dr. Fleishman's successful treatment  of this  di-
il sease that the restrictive laws were removed, and homoeo-
" pathists obtained leave to practice and dispense medicines
" in Austria.   Since that time their number has increased
11 more than three fold in Vienna and its provinces."
   We see  then, that the very disease which Dr. Elliotson
 allows he could not treat at all, is declared, by Dr, Balfour, 
S2
to have been successfully treated  by Dr.  Fleischmann  of
Vienna. Surely EUiotson is a sufficient witness of his own
failures, and Balfour of Fleischmann's success.
  A very rapid contrast of the two systems  in their treat-
ment of Inflammation of the lungs.  Here we find the same
confusion and disastrous results, as in other departments
of Allopathic practice.  With most, bleeding is  ostensibly
the grand remedy, though, as usual, there is no counting
the shades and varieties among its advocates ; some being
loud and heroic, others timid and ambiguous, from Bouil-
laud with his coup sur coup, Anglice, cut and come again,
to Mason  Good, who is much afraid of Typhus  setting in,
and would fain get along with  leeches, and  a bold exhi-
bition of emetics, though he is singular in his admiration of
bold vomiting.
  The distinguished Louis of Paris lost  nearly one-third of
his first list of cases, though they had  been selected to en-
sure favorable results.  The treatment was bleeding exclu-
sively.   In his second set he  drew  more blood  at once,
though less on the whole,  combining Tartar Emetic  and
Blisters.  The  cases were again selected.  The deaths
were 14 per cent.  Bouillaud lost 14|  per cent.  Taylor,
Walshe, and Peacock lost 30 per cent; or, on the most fa-
vorable allowance, 26.
  Along with these results let us compare the never-to-be-
forgotten experiments of Dr. Dietl, of Vienna.  " To  try
conclusions " this original inquirer divided his Pneumonia
patients into three bands, resolving to treat one set by bleed-
ing, another by Tartar Emetic, and the last by nature.  The
happy imagination which  suggested  the plan, being still
strong in Dietl, he fortunately made the third band nearly as
large as the other two : 85 were bled, and 20| per cent. died.
 106 had full doses of Tartar Emetic, and 201 per cent died.
 189 were left to kind nature, and only 1\ per cent died.  It 
33
is clear, therefore, that nearly three times as many died un-
der  the lancet,  and the  drug, respectively, as  under the
kindly hand of nature.  It is undeniable then by the testi-
mony of Allopaths themselves, that in Inflammation of the
lungs no treatment at all is three or four times better than
theirs.
  It affords a curious glimpse of medical human nature, to
contemplate the result of this famous trial on its distin-
guished author. One would think thatDietl would henceforth
forswear lancet and Tartar Emetic,—at least in pneumonia.
But no ! Dietl's practice is heroic and doubtless he is a  hero.
The eleven whom bleeding has slain, are lying on the  one
hand, and the fifteen whom Tartar Emetic has poisoned, are
lying on the other, but he is not alarmed.  Instead of turning
Homoeopathist, he detests the modern system more than ever
and clings more fondly than before to his darling  Allopathy.
Still this constancy may be more professional than absolute.
I have heard  of  doctors  who  were readier to give drugs
than to take them, and possibly were  Dietl himself taken
with Pneumonia, he might prefer  doing nothing to trying
either the sharp steel, or the cruel emetic.  If not, it is clear,
his chance of becoming a martyr to Allopathy would be
three to one.
  We are deficient in Homoeopathic statistics on Pneumo-
nia-  Dr.  Henderson, of Edinburgh University, to whom I
am indebted for  these details, reports eleven cases in the
British Journal of Homoeopathy.  They were all promptly
cured.  To the same author, I am indebted for an account of
Tessier's fifty cases. He is, I believe, the only Hospital Phy-
sician in Paris who is a Homoeopath. His cases were, on the
whole, decidedly more unfavorable than Louis's or Bouil-
laud's, yet he only lost 3, i. e. 6 per cent, while Louis lost
more than 14 per cent, in his more successful attempt;  and
his result is the best that exists in the records of Allopathy. 
34
  The health of the body stands  second in importance, only
to the health of its great inhabitant, the  soul.  Called as I
was to discourse in a neighboring city on the former subject,
I did not feel at liberty to decline the invitation which was
addressed to me, to repeat the discourse  in  this place.   I
have spoken as unto wise men, and  it remains for you to
meditate, and to decide, on what I say. 
PROCEEDINGS.
                                     Hamilton, February Slh, 1854.

    A meeting of the Homoeopathic Physicians, convened at the Burlington
 Hotel, Hamilton, C. W., pursuant  to  notice.   Dr.  A. T. Bull of London,
■stated the object of the meeting, whereupon Dr. 3.  3. Lancaster was called
to the Chair, and Dr.  W. A. Grreenleaf appointed Secretary.
    The following resolution was then moved by Dr. 3. C. Peterson, second-
ed by Dr. A. N. Wolverton :
    Resolved,—That it is expedient for the advancement of the cause of
Homoeopathy ;  and the mutual benefit of social intercourse of practitioners
thereof, that an  Association be formed ; and that this meatiag do institute
a society, to be known as the Homoeopathic Medical Society of Canada.
    The resolution was carried, and, on motion, the Chair appointed a Com -
mittee, consisting of Drs. Wolverton, Bull and Grreenleaf to prepare a Con-
stitution and By-Laws.
    The Committee retired and after due deliberation reported the annexed
Constitution and By-Laws—which, on motion of Dr. Peterson,  seconded
by Dr. Fields, was received and adopted.
    Moved  by Dr.  Peterson,  seconded  by Dr.  Springer,  that the Charr
appoint a Committee to nominate officers, to hold office for one year from
the next ensuing annual  meeting ;  Drs. Peterson, Bull and Wolverton were
appointed.
    The Committee reported the following named gentlemen:
    For President, Arthur Fisher, M.  D., of Montreal, C. E. ; 1st Vice-
President, A.  N. Wolverton, M. D., of Hamilton, C. W.; 2nd Vice-Presi-
dent, Dr.  J. J. Lancaster, of Eden Vale ; Secretary and Treasurer, W. A.
Greenleaf, M. D., of St. OatheriQes  ; Censors, A.  T. Bull, M. D., of London,
J. C. Peterson, M.  D,, of Hamilton, and Gh W.  Campbell, M. D., of  Sid-
dlesville ; Corresponding Secretary, Dr. Wm. Springer, of Hamilton.
    Who  were unanimously elected.
    Dr. Fields  offered the following resolution :
    Resolved,—That a Committee  of three be  appointed  by  the  Chair, te
report an address t® be  read  at the annual naeetiug, and for publication. 
36
   The motion was earried, and  Drs. Bull, Wolverton, and  Greenleaf ap-
pointed.
   Dr. Bull offered the following resolution :
   Resolved,—That Dr. James Lillie of Montreal, be invited to deliver an
address before this Society, at their  annual meeting in May, and  that the
Secretary be instructed to correspond with him for that purpose.
   The following was offered by Dr. Peterson :
   Resolved,—That each member of the Society be requested to report at
the annual meeting, at least one case cured by a single remedy.—Carried.
   Dr. Peterson presented a report of the medical treatment of St. Mary's
Orphan Asylum, at Hamilton, from January, 1853 to January, 1855, inclu-
sive, which was placed  on tile.
   After discussing some important points of treatment  and other matters
of interest to the Society, an adjourment was carried, to meet in Hamilton
on the third Tuesday of May next ensuing.
ANNUAL   MEETIN G.
                                        Hamilton, 15th May, 1855.

   The Society met at the Hall of the  Mechanics' Institute, in the city of
Hamilton, in accordance with the adjourmeut of the previous meeting.
   A considerable number  being present, the meeting was called to order
at half-past eleven o'clock, a. m., Dr. Wolverton, 1st Vice-President, in the
chair.
   It was moved and carried, that a recess be taken until 2  o'clock, p. m.
   The Society met at 2 o'clock, p. m., Dr. Fisher, the President, in the chair.
   The minutes of the meeting in February were read and  approved.   An
election of new  members then took place, which  resulted in the election of
seven full members and  two inceptive members,  who signed the  Constitu-
tion and took their seats in the Convention.
   The Treasurer  presented his  report which was  read,  and, on motion,
adopted.
   The Committee on printing presented a report, which was accepted, and
the Committee  discharged.
   The Committee appointed to prepare an address reported,  That in con-
sequence of the address  of Dr. Lillie, they should withhold  what had been
prepared,  and request a  copy of Dr. Lillie's for publication.  Accepted and
Committee discharged.
   Report of the  medical treatment of St. Mary's Asylum, Dr.  Peterson,
physician, was presented, and ordered to be placed in the Archives of the
Society. 
37
   The following resolution was offered by Dr. Greenleaf :
   Resolved,—That all reports of Committees be made in writing.—Car-
ried.
   On motion, the' Chair appointed Drs. Wolverton, Greenleaf and Peter-
son, a Committee on Printing and Publishing.
   Dr. Young offered the following resolution, seconded by Dr. Adams :
   Resolved,—That the word " Provincial" be stricken out of Aiticle 1st,
paragraph 1st, of the Constitution.
   Adopted after a short discussion.
   Moved by Dr. Greenleaf, seconded by Dr. Peterson  that when  this
meeting adjourn, we  adjourn to meet at Toronto, on the third Tuesday of
May,  1850.—Carried.
   Moved, that Drs. Adams, Lillie, and Schuch, be a Committee to provide
for the above  meeting —Carried.
   On motion, the Chair appointed Drs. Adams, Bull, and Greenleaf, a Com-
mittee to  procure a seal for the Society.
   A lengthy discussion arose on the best plan of treatment of intermittent^
and seminal weakness,  the preparation of remedies, &c, which continued
until time for  adjournment, when the Society adjourned to meet at  seven
o'clock, p. m.,  to hear the  annual address of Dr. Lillie.

                        EVENING  SESSION.

    At the appointed hour, the Society assembled, with a large and intelli-
gent audience, at the Hall of the Mechanics' Institute.
    The President, Dr. Fisher,  called the meeting to order and after some
well-timed  remarks  of the rise  and progress of Homoeopathy in  Canada,
introduced Dr. James Lillie,  who proceeded to deliver his  address.
   On motion it  was
    Resolved,—That a copy of Dr. Lillie's address be requested for publica-
tion ; and that one thousand copies be published for the use of the me.nbers.
    The Society then adjourned to meet at Toronto  in May, 1856.

                                           W. A. GREENLEAF,
                                                         Secretary. 
CONSTITUTION.
    We, the undersigned physicians residing in the province of Canada, be-
lieving the law propounded by Hahnemann:

                   " ISimilia ISimUibus Curantur,"

to be a fundamental truth in medicine, do agree to form an Association
under the following Constitution :

              .  Article I.—NAME AND OBJECT.

    \' I. The Association shall be styled the " Homoeopathic Medical Society
of Canada," and its object shall be  the advancement of the  science  of
medicine.
                   Article II.—OF MEMBERS.

    I I. Any educated Physician of this Province, of good standing, acknow-
ledging the Homoeopathic Law of cure, may be elected a member of this
Society; and any student regularly entered upon the study of medicine with
a  Homoeopathic  Physician  may be  elected  Inceptive  members,  by  a
majority of the members present at any regular meeting.

                   Article III.—OF OFFICERS.

    $ I. The officers of this Society shall be, a President, two Vice-Presi-
dents,  a  Secretary, a Corresponding  Secretary,  and such Examiners and
Censors as shall be provided  for in the By-Laws.  The Secretary shall act
as Treasurer.
    I II.  The officers shall be elected at the Annual meeting, by  a majority
of all the members present

                   Article IV.—OF MEETINGS.

   \ I. There shall be a meeting  of  the Society annually, on  the third
Tuesday of May, at such place as be may designated at the previous annual
meeting.   The President, may also  convene special  meetings at such time
and place as he may deem expedient.
    g II.  This Constitution may be amended by a vote of two-thirds of the
members present  at the annual meeting. 
BY-LAWS.
                   Article I.—OF ELECTIONS.

   | I. The officers elected  at any annual meeting  shall hold  office until
the adjournment of the annual meeting next after that at which they were
elected and until their successors are chosen.
   \ II. All elections shall  be  by ballot.  No  Candidate for membership
shall be ballotted  for, unless proposed by a member of the Society, and
seconded by two other members, nor unless he shall have received a certifi-
cate of qualification from two at least of the Censors of this Society.

                    Article II—OF MEMBERS.

   § I. No person shall be  entitled to the privileges of membership until
he shall have signed  the Constitution, and paid  to the Treasurer an initia-
tion fee of one pound currency.
   \ II. Inceptive members to  be entitled to  membership with right  to
speak, but not to vote, on payment of five shillings currency.
   \ III. Expenses incurred shall be equally assessed upon the  members.

                     Article III.—OF ORDER.

   \ I. Seven members shall be necessary to constitute a  quorum for the
transaction of business.
   § II. The usual order of business shall be as follows :—
   1. Calling of the Roll.
   2. Reading minutes of last meeting and approval.
   3. Proposition and election of members.
   4. Reports of Committees.
   5. Reading Communications.
   6. Miscellaneous business.
   7.  Election of officers.
   8. Adjournment.
   \ III. Communications read  before the Society  become its property,
to be deposited in  its Archives ; l>ut no paper shall be published as a part
of the transactions without an express resolution to that effect 
40
                   Article IV—OF OFFICERS.

   \ I. The President shall preside at all meetings of the Society.   In his
absence the Vice-Presidents shall preside in their  order.  It shall  be the
duty of the President to deliver an address at the Annual and Semi-Annual
Meetings of the Society, or to make some other provision for that purpose.
   \ II. The Secretary shall have charge of the Archives of the Society,
keep a record of it3 proceedings and a list of its members, and give notice
of its meetings.   He shall  also make an annual report of the state  of  the
funds of the Society.
   \ III. There shall be elected at each annual meeting, three Censors who
shall examine applicants for membership and give  certificates, which shall
entitle the applicant to a certificate of membership  on compliance with  the
foregoing provisions of the Constitution and By-Laws, signed by  the Pre-
sident and Secretary of this Society, and for  which  he shall pay the  sum of
five shillings currency.

                 Article V—OF AMENDMENTS.

   \ I. The By-Laws may be amended by a majority of the  members  pre-
sent at any annual meeting.
PKIXTKD AT THE GLOBE OFFICE, 22, KING STREET WEST, TORONTO. 
  SMALL AND SIMPLE DOSES CONTRASTED WITH
      BLEEDING AND CONFUSED DRUGGING;
                 or,

HOMCEOPATHY -ALLOPATHY.
A  LECTURE  (^
      DELIVERED BEFORE
THE HOMOEOPATHIC MEDICAL SOCIETY OF CANADA, AT
  ITS ANNUAL MEETING IN HAMILTON, MAY 15, 185a,
       AND REPEATED BY REQUEST,


IN THE CITY OF TORONTO, JUNE 25, 1855.
PUBLISHED BY THE SOCIETY, WITH AN APPENDIX OF THE PROCEEDINGS
             OF THE SOCIETY.
BY JAMES  LILLIE, M.I)., D.T).,
     PROFESSOR OF MACT.AY COLLEGE, TORONTO.
       TORONTO:
PRINTED AT THE GLOBE BOOK AND JOB OFFICE.

          1855. 
 
 



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