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/}U<&-3(^00,!S

HARVARD
COLLEGE
LIBRARY

HOM(EOPATHT

AND

ITS PRINCIPLES EXPLAINED.

ENGLISH HOMCEOPATHIC ASSOCIATION,
Instituted in May, A.D. 1845,

Being the Homceopathic General Association Jirat established in this country.

President
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE LORD ROBERT GROSVENOR, M.P.

Treasurer,
Thomas H. Johnston, Esq.

Committee,

W. ABNUM. Esq.
W. H. ASHUBST, Esq.
EDWARD BATES. Esq.
DONALD BROWN, Esq.
P. F. CURIE, Esq. M.D.
EDWABD CRONIN, Esq. M.D.
A. O. DEACON, Esq.
ROBERT S. DICK, Esq.
JOHN EPPS, Esq. M.D.
GEORGE N. EPPS. Esq. M.R.C.S.
ROBERT FRITH. Esq. M.R.C.S.
PETER GARDNER, Esq.
THOMAS H. JOHNSTON, Esq.

H. KELSALL. Esq. M.D., F.R.C.S.
JOHN MILLER. Esq.
W. M'OUBREY, Esq. M.D.
H. F. OSMAN, Esq. M.D.
C. T. PEARCE. Esq.
W. PERKINS. Esq.
JAMES STANSFELD. Esq.
PETER STUART, Esq.
ALLAN TEMPLETON, Esq.
J. THOMSON, Esq. M.D.
WILLIAM WARNE, Esq.
JAMES WILSON, Esq. M. P.

Honorary Secretary^ C. T. Pearce, Esq.

/^/^^n.^^^.^ ^^^..^ u.^;C^^^C^

HO MCE O PATH Y '^"^^

AND

ITS PRINCIPLES EXPLAINED.

By JOHN EPPS, M.D.

PUBLISHED BT THE ENGLISH HOM(EOPATHIC ASSOCIATION.

tONDON: W. & J. PIPER, 23, PATERNOSTER ROW;
; AND BAILLIERE, 219. REGENT STREET.

M.DCCC.L.

\ /nA^o^ ^GOO. 15

HARVARD COLLEGE LIBRARY

LONDON : PRINTED BT JOHN TRAPP, BUDOK ROW.

To the President and the Committee of the English
Homoeopathic Association.

My Lord and Gentlemen,

In accordance with the Resolution, by which you re-
quested me to draw up, for publication by the Association,
the Lectures delivered by me at Exeter Hall, in the year
1849, on the subject of Homoeopathy, I have endea^
voured to fulfil the duty thereby imposed. On com-
pleting its fulfilment, I must acknowledge the delay that
has taken place. Of its cause your kindness will render
unnecessary any detail, further than to state that the
work has been written in moments snatched from the
duties of a profession, which subjects its followers to
almost continual interruption. This condition having
existed, will serve also as apologetic of any imperfections
which the critical eye may discover in the work itself.

When this work was commenced, little was it sup-
posed, that it would be necessary to record an attack on
the personal liberty of one of the Members of the
Association, an attack, which all parties have agreed
in denouncing, and the particulars connected with which
are detailed fully in the Appendix. This has been an
additional source of delay.

VI ADDRESS.

This attack has tended, like all such attacks ge-
nerally do tend, to the honour and the progress of
Homoeopathy.

Congratulating the Association on the success of its
efforts in this matter, a success demonstrating the neces-
sity and the value of its existence, I beg to present
this tribute of my homage to the objects for which the
Association was established, and subscribe myself,

Your fellow-member and co-operator,

JOHN EPPS, M,D.

Jamiaty 1, 1850.

CONTENTS.

Chapter I. — The treatment and the progress of a truth.
— Explanatory theory of health and disease.

Chapter II. — The antipathic method. — Illustrations. — Its
unscientific character.

Chapter III. — The allopathic method. — Illustrations. — Its
destructive character.

Chapter IV. — The homoeopathic method, — Its scientific
character. — The life of Hahnenlann ; his genius and conscien-
tiousness.

Chapter V. — The universality of the homoeopathic law. —
Illustrations.

Chapter VI. — The characteristics of science. — Absence of
these in the old-system medicine, testified by its practitioners.
. — Presence of these in homoeopathy.

Chapter VII. — Certainty an impossibility under the old-
system treatment. — Complexity of the means used by old- system
practitioners. — Simplicity of the means used by the homoeopathic
practitioners.

Chapter VIII. — Futility of attempting to ascertain the vir-
tues of medicines from experiments on the SICK. — The mode
adopted by homoeopathists of learning their efifects from experi-
ments on the healthy, the only scientific mode.

Chapter IX. — What is false must be injurious. — Injuries
inflicted by the old-system medicine.

VIU CONTENTS.

Chapter X. — The power and the superior eflSeaey of infini-
tesimal quantities, the result of experience, not the consequence
of a theory, — All actions take place between bodies in infinitesi-
mal quantities. — Illustrations.

Chapter XI. — The action of infinitesimal quantities of medi-
cine curative only when administered in accordance with the
homoeopathic law.

Chapter XII. — The diet objection. — The imagination ob-.
jection. — The faith objection.

Chapter XIII. — The objection, "Nature does it all." —
Explanation of the mode in which nature works.

Chapter XIV. — Objection, Homoeopathy will not do in
acute cases. — Abuse of homoeopathy and of homoeopathists.

Chapter XV. — Objection, Homoeopathy has been tried and
found wanting.-^The true history of these trials. — Objection as
to the country whence homoeopathy came.

Chapter XVI. — The opponents of homoeopathy.

Chapter XVII. — The friends of homoeopathy. — The English
Homoeopathic Association. — The necessity existing for a homoe-
opathic hospital.

APPENDIX.

Section 1. — Treatment of cattle.

Section 2. — Hahnemann and his literary labours.

Section 3. — Ignorance of medical practitioners, both allo-
pathic and homoeopathic, on the subject of diet.

Section 4.— ^The progress of homoeopathy in various parts
of the world.

Section 5. — Facts in connexion with, and comments on the
trial of Mr. C. T. Pearce.

INDEX.

Page

Abstinence, remarks -with respect to . . 195

Active treatment producing death ... 23

Active treatment, inefficiency of, to cure , . . 20 — 29

Action of nature in disease .... 143

Advocates of homoeopathy .... 180

Africa, homoeopathic treatment in . . . 225

Ague, cured by Arsenicum .... 207

Alexis, case of, by Dr. Beaumont . 207

Alison, Professor, remarks of ... 66

Allopathy, invention of the term ... 29

Allopathy, physic made easy .... 153

Allopathic mode of treatment .... 20

America, progress of homoeopathy in . . . 225

Anatomy, distinction between it and physiology . 7

Anecdote of the Emperor of Russia . . . 185

Anecdote of Dr. Gregory .... 135

Anecdote of a little girl - . . . 136

Anecdote of Hahnemann .... 43

Anecdote illustrative of prejudice against homoeopathy . 153

Anecdote respecting smallpox . . 113

Animal kingdom, illustrations from . . . 108

Antimony, use of, denounced * . . . 177

Antipathic method of treatment, on what founded . . 19

Antipathic method of treatment, illustration of . . 15

Antipathic mode of treating constipation . . 18

Antipathic method of treatment . 13
Appendix ...... 185, 320

Armstrong's, Dr. treatment of scarlatina ... 94

Asiatic cholera ..... 89

Asiatic cholera. Dr. Foote's treatise on . . . 50

Atoms, respecting . . 103

Austrian rigour against homoeopathy . . 217

Austria, present success of homoeopathy in . . 218
Bavaria, King and Government of, decision respecting homoeopathy 218, 219

Beaumont's treatise on digestion . . . 207

X INDEX.

Page

Beddoes, Dr. case, illustrating the power of imagination . 134

Belladonna in scarlet fever .... 99

Belladonna in sore throat . . , . 49

Bichat, a high medical authority, his opinions on Materia Medica 58

Binns, Dr. a case by . . . . . 69

Bird, Dr. Golding, state of the professional mind . . , 77

Blake, Mr. persecution of . . . . 231

Blane, Sir Gilbert, remarks of . . . . 75

Blisters in epilepsy, their uselessness . . . 26
Blood, circidation of, according to the theory of Harvey, opposition to 177

Boerrhave, testimony of ... . 92

Bostock, Dr. on the uncertainty of opinion on fever . 59

Brande, Mr. in relation to stones in the bladder . . 18, 19

Brera on the treatment of pneumonia ... 94

British isles, success of homoeopathy in the - . 227

British Association, proposal made at . . . 85

British Homoeopathic Society .... 232

Brodie, Sir Benjamin, experiment of . . . 126
Brown's, Dr. testimony respecting the injuriousness of bleeding in mania 93

Brunswick, decree against homoeopathy in . . 222

Carson's observation ..... 66

Case in relation to inflammation of the eye . . 20

Case of Mrs. G. . . . . . 21

Case of Elizabeth Smith . . . . 23

Case of a nun ..... 134

Case of cow treated homoeopathically . . . 188

Case of ditto ■ . . . ■ . . . 191

Cases treated by Drs. Simon and Curie . . . 157

Cases treated homoeopathically, number of . . 229
Cattle treated homoeopathically . . . . 185, 188

Characteristics of the laws of the Creator ... 56

Cheats, homoeopathists called . « . . 168

Chemical antipathism . . . . . 18

Children will help on homoeopathy . . . 179

Chlorine gas, cough cured by . . . . 49

Cholera, indications presented by . . . 141

Cholera treated successfiilly in America and in Europe . 151

Christison's, Professor, work on poisons . . . 35

Combe, Dr. remarks on the stomach . • . 207
Compters, M. testification against the numerical method as applied to

medicine ' . . . . . . 84

Consumption, pulmonary . . . 140

Cordwell's, Mr. case of . . . 208

Consumption, various opinions respecting the treatment of . 92, 93

Coroner, comments on the conduct of . . 284

Coroner's inquests and homoeopdthy . . . 237

INDEX.

Cowan's, Dr. testimony
Cow treated

treated by Dr. Epps

Cows treated for lung disease by Mr. Stuart
Cow treated for inflammation of bowels and teats
Croup ....
Curie, Dr. mistaken decision against
Cure, two things required in
Cures performed without faith and imagination
Daubeny's, Dr. testimony on infinitesimal doses
Davis, Mr. evidence respecting Mr. Pearce
comments on evidence

science

Davy, on electrical induction by contact

Declaration against Dr« Curie's dietetics, its hastiness and want of

Definition of history and observation

Depletion of blood, quotation from the Lancet

Depositions ..

Destructive notion of overcoming disease .

Diet, how far to be trusted to

■ ignorance of medical men concerning
Dill, Dr. case of .

Disease, two things required in cure of

a struggle of nature

a departure from health

Distinction between an injured and a diseased part

Doctrine of incurability of acute diseases, by infinitesimal quantities,

contrary to fact
Drysdale's, Dr. statement

correspondence with Dr. Epps

Dublin medical press with respect to homoeopathy
Edinburgh B^view, notice of homoeopathy in
English Homoeopathic Association, address of

on tiie subject of formation of an

hospital

objects of

Epilepsy, cure of

Epilepsy, mode of treatment in . /^

Essex, respecting a patient in
Fact, communicated by P. Stuart, Esq.
Facts illustrating the law put forth by Hahnemann
Fact with respect to homoeopathy
Faith and imagination, useful auxiliaries ,
Faust, by Goethe
Fergusson's, Dr« experience
Fickel, house physician to hospital at Leipzig, character of, by Calmann
Foote's, Dr. dissertation de Cholera Indica

Page

61
189
191
192
194
138
210
153
138
122
275

276, 277, 278
121
211
1

90
313, 314, 315

11
131
205

25
153
141
9
146

152

228

228, 229

169

175
180

182

184

26, 27, 28, 29

47, 48, 49

179

137

172

141

Xll

IKDBX.

l*age

^Forbes, Dr. means of removing defects in the old system . 77, 78

— — on infinitesimal doses . . . 148

yForbes's, Dr. statement . . - . 142

■ — statement as to want of faith in physic by old physicians 147

quotation from the British and Foreign Medical Keview 61

Foreign in its source, objection to homoeopathy . . 160

Fragmenta de yiribus, &c. .... 37

France, progress of homoeopathy in . . . 224

Galvanism, phenomena of . . . . 110

Gardner, George, his case .... 15

Geneva, progress of homoeopathy in . . . 223

Girtanner's stiatement respecting the apparatus of medicines . 75
German, a writer, on Hahnemann, and the duty of the public with

respect to homoeopathy . . . ' . 177, 178

Germany gives us some of the greatest men . . 161
Gellert's fable . . . . .142

Gold leaf ihfinitesimally divided . . . 104

Gray, Dr. describes Hahnemann ... 40

Gregory, Professor, assertion by ... 76

Hahnemann, life of « . . . 30

Hahnemann's letter to Hufeland ... 33
researches to discover the laws with respect to medicine 34

Hahnemann, cures effected by . . . . 38

is appointed one of Duke Ferdinand's Councillors 39

Hahnemann's work on cure of chronic diseases . . 39

Hahnemann, bust of, by David .... 41

second marriage of, Mile d'Hervilly's conditiohs . 40

method of his labour ... 42

the obligation of medicine to . . 67

his remarks on the oldnsysteni presmption . 72

on the Materia Medica of the old system . 72

■ duty which mankind owes to . . 86

his literary character and productions . 198

Hahnemann's thesis . « . . . 32

nimierous volumes of cases ... 42

letter to a medical friend . , . 43

Hahnemann, various productions of . . . 199

respecting the operations of nature . . 141

death-bed scene, its dignified humility . 45

Haller^s remarks • . . . ... 81

Hasted, John, and Eliza Higgins, evidence at inquest . 277

Harris, Mr. evidence of ♦ . . . 285

Health, what constitutes it . « . . 7

Helmont, remark of, on the absurdity of prescriptions . 74

Hering, Dr. observations of ... . 38

Hering, Dr. on Hahnemann's work, " Chronic Diseases" 39

INDEX.

XUl

Page

Herschel, Sir John, electricity of a mass of mercury modified by an

infinitesimal quantity of potassium . . . 121

Hippocrates, notice respecting cholera morbus . . 61

Hoffinan, record by, concerning M. Andral . . 168

Holding the hand to the fire .... 120

Homoeopathy, effects of abuse on . . . 171

against popular prejudice . . . 176

presents certainty .... 64

decision against, in Geissen . . . 219

after success in Oeissen . . 220

distinctions from the old system . . 88

success of, in Ireland . . . 230

various successes of . . . 219

held in high estimation in Austria and Prussia, facts con-

cerning the same
Homoeopathic principles applied to the mind

• system, grandeur of

law, illustrations of

Honduras, Bay of, homoeopathy at

Horses treated homoeopathically •

H6tel Dieu, experience of Majendie at

Hunter, John, quotation from

Hurricane not a salutary process

Illustrations respecting the feelings of the coroner 284, 286,

Imagination, patients cured by .

Imitate nature. — ^In what this consists

Infinitesimal doses

'■ discovery of, by Hahnemann

two conditions necessary to their efficacy

mode of preparation of

Inquest on Mr. Pearce, report of

Inflammation of lungs

Inflammation of bowels in a cow, cured

Inquests, Coroners' . .

Iodine powder as a remedy in epilepsy

Ipecacuanha, powder of, in asthma

Issue, use of ....

Jenner, particulars of the life of

Johnson, Dr. review by . . .

Johnson's, Dr. James, on the deadliness of physic .

Jorg, Dr. remarks by .

Kieser, a high authority, his opinions on the treatment of disease

Kingdoms, mineral, vegetable, animal

Klockenbring, cured by Hahnemann

Lancet, acknowledgment by, of uncertainty in old-system physic

an advertisement in, quackery and homoeopathy

234, 236

227

138

144

286, 287, 288

134

140

100, 101

100

113

114

243

138

194

163

118

166

XIV

INDEX.

Lancet, acknowledgment respecting Mr. Brown

advertisement for medical officer, attack on

■ attack on Dr. Irvine, of Leeds

— — attack on Dr. Hayles, of Newcastle

extracts from

Mr. Newman's case

— ' notice of Lady Denbigh's death

quotation from, Sept 27, 1846

Ditto March 7, 1846

Ditto March 28, 1846

Ditto

Ditto 1843-6

an attack on Professor Henderson

in relation to homoeopathy

Law„ the term how applied

Lee's, Mr. Edwin, statement respecting the hospital at Leipzig

Liebig, remarks by .

Life power, misdirected, is disease

Like and identical, difierence between

Linnseus, respecting the agency of pollen

Logie's, Captain, experience respecting homoeopathy

Louis, M. on phthisis . ...

Lung-^sease in cows treated homoeopathically

Luther, Dr. observation on stomach as a general post-office

letter of .

Page

167

169, 170

170

164

171

165

166

165

57,58

168

169

163

172

107

226

192

185, 186, 187

145

110

62,63

173

Macartney, Dr. on modes of cure by nature
Magnetism and galvanism, phenomena of . •
Majendie's extraordinary statements
Manchester Medico-Ethical Association, ethics of

Marshall Hall, Dr. case by .... 23
Materia Medica Pura, when published

Medico-Ghirurgical Review . . . . 172
Medical Gazette's opinion of the Manchester Medico-Ethical Association 175

Medical members of the English Homoeopathic Association, list of 232

Medical warrior ..... 11

Medical witness in case of Mr. Pearce, comments on evidence of 272

** Medicine founded on experience," work by Hahnemann . 37

Medical witness, duty of .... 283

Medicines where obtained . . . . 1 15

Medicines act curatively in infinitesimal doses . . 118

Milan, progress of homoeopathy in . . . 224

Mills's logic, quotation from .... 82

Milton, quotation from .... 2

Mind to be considered in the cure of disease . , 137

Mode of proceeding of the homoeopathic physician . . 125

Molidre, quotation from . . , . 75

INDEX.

Montaigne, quotation from

Montague, Lady Mary, testimony respecting inoculation

Murray's description of a prescription

Materia Medica, quotation therefrom

Nature blind in cure of disease .

Nature, what it is . .

Newtonian theory

Noble, Mr. of Manchester Medico-Ethical Association

Northampton Asylimi, annual report of

Nux Vomica

Objections to homoeopathy refuted

first, diet cures

answered

-that faith cures
-that nature does all .
-homoeopathy useless in acute cases
-it comes from Germany

Old system has no fixed rule

Opium, one of the best remedies in constipation

sleep induced by, its uncomfortable character

Organon, a work by Hahnemann

Paris, decision of the Academy of Medicine of

Past and present, quotation from

Patients cured by abstaining from old-system physic

Payne, Sarah, eyidence of

Pearce, Mr. case of .

Peruyian Bark, facts concerning

experiment with, by Hahnemann

Piatt, Mr. Baron, sununing up of

Progress of homoeopathy

Prussia, stringency of the law in, respecting medical men

Purgatives, blindness and death caused by use of

Purgative medicines in constipation, unscientific use

Purgatives, destructive character testified to by aUopathists

Quin, Dr. on Asiatic cholera

Quinine, injurious efiects from its use

Keid, Dr. remarks of .

Keniedial agents, various

Kemedies, allopathic and antipathic

Rush, Dr. on consumption

remarks of, on the production of diseases by medicines

quotation from

Science produces certainty

Seton, inefficient use of, in epilepsy

Shakespere, quotation from

Shying horse, fiogging, illustrative of homoeopathic treatment

Page

126

142

140

174

128

129

130

137

139

148

160

156

132

248—278

238—320

162

214—236

216

150

115

. 89

29,

XVI

INDEX.

Simpson, Mr, respecting treatment of typhus
Sleep, modes of inducing

natural and forced, the difference

want of, under disease, the voice of nature

Smallpox, death from .

Smiles's, Dr., testification to prevention not curey the physician'f

Southwood Smith, Dr. case by .

Spain, progress of homoeopathy in

Squill, use of, in inflammation of lungs

Stomach in a state of health, conditions of

Strangury and its cure by Cantharis

Stuart, P. Esq. treatment of cows

Sulphur, itch cured by . . .

Susceptibility of impression increased under disease

Swedish philosopher, assertion of

Sydenham, remarks by . • •

Symptoms grouped, as produced by medicine and disease

not salutary processes

useful as indications .

Tanjore, homoeopathy in . . .

Tartar Emetic, its inefficiency in epilepsy

. • prohibited

Taylor, Mr. on medical jurisprudence

Tetanus .....

Term, pathogenetic, defined

Thiele, Dr. Basil, experience in smallpox .

Thunder storm not a salutary effort

Tichnowitz, return concerning cholera

Tropical climates, diseases of, by Dr. Johnson

Truth, how discovered

opposition to, and triumph of «

Ulrici's remark on Shakespere

Unfairness manifested against homoeopathists

Vaccine virus, homoeopathic

Varioujs experiments by Tomlinson, Spallanzani, &c.

Vienna, successful homoeopathic treatment at

Vindictiveness against homoeopathy

Wakley, Mr. M. as Coroner

Water infinitesimally divided

Water alone to be given in certain states of the stomach

Wigs prohibited ....

WxMc^a, Mr. work, entitled Austria, &c. .

Williams's, Dr. testimony

Yeasty an illustration of infinitesimal action

object

Page

113

223

206

188, 189

116

143

227

177

281

153

151

154

109

150

153

209, 287, 288, 289, 290

104

212

177

149

108

CHAPTER I.

Certain axioms in regard to the discovery and the propagation
of truth, — The perfection of truth. — Definition of a genius.
Opposition to the discoverers and the applyers of truth.
Triumph of truth, — The undignified opposition to Homceo-
pathy, — The three kingdoms in nature. — General and
distinctive features, — Life and its actions. — Organs and
functions. — The conditions necessary to health. — Exhibitions
of health, — The conditio'ns necessary to disease, — Exhibi-
tions of disease. — Points of contrast between health and
disease. — Picture of a medical warrior. — The heroic system
of medicine. — The physician^ s object. — The means by which
he realises his object. — Remedies,

The peculiar position, in which the professional advocate of OHAP. I.
Homoeopathy at present stands, being one of antagonism to the
majority of that profession to which he belongs, renders it neces-
sary, or, at least advantageous, that any history or explanation
or defence of what the homoeopathist believes in reference to
medical practice, to be the truth, should be prefaced by a brief
reference to the treatment which Truth has, in all ages, expe-
rienced when first introduced to the notice of mankind.

History, the record of the experience of individuals in J)ast
times ; Observation, the experience of the individual in times
present ; and the Convictions, produced by the observation of
ment^ phenomena and of the steps through which the mind has
passed in its several progresses towards truth, testify to the
following axioms : — That truth has been discovered at distinct
and often at distant intervals ; That the opposition, always created
upon the discovery and the diflFiision of any truth, has been pro-
portioned in strength, intensity, and amount, to the interests

2 . THE DISCOVERY OF TRUTH.

CHAP. I. which the truth, by the very necessity of its nature, either must,
or appears likely to, overturn ; and, That truth has ultimately
triumphed.

In regard to the first axiom, that truth has been discovered

AT DISTINCT AND OFTEN DISTANT INTERVALS, do not the factS,

that the world has existed so many hundreds of years, and that,
though so much truth has been discovered, so much remains un-
discovered, testify to the soundness of this axiom ? This axiom
does not imply that truth was ever imperfect. It came perfect
from the Divine mind, and exists in the universe in all its glorious
perfection. Even ancient mythology teaches this, when it in its
poetic relation declares, that Minerva, the goddess of wisdom,
came forth from the brain of the mythological chief god Jupiter,
fiilly formed and perfectly armed ; a relation vividly testifying to
the belief among the philosophers of olden times in the, as origi-
nally created, perfection of truth. In reference to the essential
perfection of truth, and, at the same time, its gradual discovery
by man at distinct and often distant intervals, how appropriate
are the beautiftil imagery and the forcible language of Milton, in
his speech for the liberty of unlicensed printing, addressed to the
parliament : " Truth indeed came into the world with her Divine
Master, and was a perfect shape, most glorious to look upon ; but
when he ascended, then straight arose a wicked race of deceivers,
who took the virgin truth, hewed her lovely form into a thousand
pieces, and scattered them to the four winds. From that time
ever since, the sad friends of truth, such as durst appear, went
up and down, gathering up limb by limb still as they could
find them. We have not found them all, lords and commons,
nor ever shall do, till her Master's second coining: he shall
bring together every joint and member, and shall, mould them
into an immortal feature of loveliness and perfection."

Indeed, the truths of creation have been written on the pages
of that wide spread book ever since the day when the sons of
God shouted for joy on beholding the beautiful lines of the
Divine hand-writing; that hand-writing has been there ever
since ; but a genius, one, who can read and record with a beauty
Hearing to its perfection, the fingering of God, has appeared only
once in a century ; and it was not till the last century, that the
genuised eye of Hahnemann read the great truth, which the

THE OPPOSITION TO TRUTH DISCOVERED. ' O

Divine mind has established to reguhie the dctian of the bodies^ CHAP. I.
created for the cure of man^s diseases.

The second axiom, That the opposition, always created
UPON the discovery and the diffusion of any truth,

HAS been proportioned IN STRENGTH, INTENSITY, AND
AMOUNT, TO THE INTERESTS, WHICH THE TRUTH, BY THE
VERY NECESSITY OF ITS NATURE, EITHER MUST OR APPEARS

LIKELY TO OVERTURN, is too Well attested to admit of doubt.
It i$ established as a het, and its establishment is a glorious step
in the progress of mind. Who does not know how Galileo was
persecuted because he discovered and demonstrated what the
Creator had appointed, namely, the earth to go round the sun ?
Who does not know how violently the Newtonian system of
gravitation was opposed ? Who has not heard how the illustrious
Harvey was persecuted by his medical contemporaries for dis-
covering and describing the way in which the Creator directed
the blood to circulate ? Who is not aware of the opposition
which inoculation with the small pox encountered?* And, to
descend to a still later period, are not many now living, who
have heafd the abuse heaped upon Jenner, for his glorious dis-

• Lady Mary Montague protested that in the four or five years hnmediately suc-
ceeding her arriTal at home, she seldom passed a day without repenting of her patri'
otic undertaking ; and she vowed she never would have attempted it if she had
foreseen the vexation, the persecution, and even the obloquy it brought upon her.
The clamours raised against the practice, and of course against her, were beyond
belief. The faculty all rose in arms to a man, foretelling failure and the most disas-
trous consequences ; the clergy descanted from their pulpits on the impiety of thus
seeking to take events out of the hands of Providence ; and the common people were
taught to hoot at her as an unnatural mother who had risked the lives of her own
children. We now read in grave medical biography, that the discovery was instantly
hailed, and the method adopted by the principal members of that profession. Very
likely they left this recorded ; for, whenever an invention or a project — and the same
may be said of persons — ^has made its way so well by itself as to establish a certain
reputation, most people are sure to find out that they always patronised it from the be-
ginning, and a happy gift of forgetfulness enables many to believe their own assertion.
But what said Lady Mary of the actual fact and actual time ? Why, that the four
great physicians deputed by government to watch the progress of her daughter's
inoculation, betrayed not only such incredulity as to its success, but such an wn-
willingness to have it sutceeed — such an evident spirit of rancour and malignity, that
she never cared to leave the child alone with them one second, lest it should in some
secret way suffer from their interference.

4 OPPOSITION TO APPLICATIONS OF TRUTH.

CHAP. I. covery, that vaccination is a protection, appointed by heaven,
against the devastator, small pox.*

Inventors have had a similar opposition. How Franklin was
denounced for his impiety in using lightning rods to draw away
uninjuriously to the earth heaven's lightning ? How Arkwright
was insulted and ridiculed when he invented the spinning jenny ?
How Windsor was denounced as a visionary when he exhibited
the plan of lighting London with gas ? And was not Fulton
deemed almost insane when he asserted that he would navigate
the ocean by steam ?

An opposition equally powerful has been raised against the dis-
coverers of moral and religious truths. When the strong-minded,
the profound-reasoning Paul, had declared at Ephesus the great
principle, that to worship images is irrational and contrary to
truth, so strong was the opposition of Demetrius and others,
engaged in making silver shrines for the imaged goddess Diana,
that " they with one voice for about the space of two hours, cried
out, Great is Diana of the Ephesians," Acts xxiv. 34.

Whateley, the logician, has expressed the state of matters in
reference to this axiom very clearly : — " In proportion as any
branch of study leads to important and useful results — ^in pro-
portion as it gains ground in public estimation — ^in proportion as
it tends to overturn existing errors, in the same degree it may be
expected to call forth angry declamation from those who are
trying to despise what they will not learn, and wedded to preju-
dices which they cannot defend."

In the contemplation of these struggles how encouraging is
the third axiom, that truth has ultimately triumphed.

* " IIow was this still greater discovery of the immortal Jemier received —
Vaccination ? Like every other discovery — ^with ridicule and contempt. By the
Royal College of Physicians, not only was Jenner persecuted and oppressed ; but
long even after the benefits which his practice had conferred upon mankind had been
universally admitted, the pedants of that most pedantic of bodies refused to give him
their license to practice his profession in London ; because, with a proper feeling of
self-respect, he declined to undergo at their hands a school-boy examination in Greek
and Latin. Even religion and the Bible were made engines of attack against him.
From these Errhman of Frankfort deduced his chief grounds of accusation against
the new practice ; and he gravely attempted to prove from quotations of the pro-
phetical parts of Scripture, and the writings of the Others of the church, that Vacci-
nation was the real Anti-ChrisV* — Dickson's Falla^cies of the Faculty,

ULTIMATE TRIUMPH OP TRUTH. 5

Many indeed have been the difficulties she has had to go CHAP. I.
through. Well has it been observed by an ecclesiastic, " Truth
is a guest that often brings those who entertain her into
trouble."* Flames, faggots, tortures, racks, fiery furnaces, were,
in ancient times, the lot of her adherents. In modem times,
prisons, law-expenses, transportations, exilings, have been and
are the portions ; but still truth has risen triumphantly over her
foes, and the experience of the past abundantly justifies the
zealous admirer of a truth, not as yet received, to expect that,
in time, the object of his admiration will be the admiration of
millions, and what may have been to him misery, or at least
suffering, will be, to thousands, joy.

These axioms have a relation to Homoeopathy, as subject,
even at the present time, to an opposition, not characterised by
the dignity, which becomes those, who profess to be scientific,
and not regulated by a regard for the decencies, which ought
always to be manifested by all who represent themselves as
engaged in the practice of a profession, more especially having
to do with conditions, which, of all others, must tend to humanize
the mind.

These axioms will serve to explain why Homoeopathy was not
discovered before, why Homoeopathy has been so violently and
unfeirly opposed, and why to the struggle for its establishment
a successfiil issue may be expected. '

What is this Homoeopathy ?

To make the answer to this question clear and thus to demon-
strate the truth of Homoeopathy, it will be necessary to notice
some particulars in connexion with life ; for it is to life in its
modifications that Homoeopathy has relation.

The observant mind looks over the universe and beholds an
immense variety of objects; in fact, they seem innumerable.
Confusion must result fi'om this view, was not the mind endowed
with a power which leads to the arranging of bodies, having
similarities, into groups.

This power in exercise has led to the referring of all natural
objects to one or other of three great divisions, which, on the
account, that the individuals belonging to each division are regu-

* Bishop Home's Sermons, vol. i. p. 200,

6 LIFE AND ITS ACTIOJfS.

CHAP. I. lated by certain laws distinctive of each, are designated kinq-
DOMS : and the mineral kingdom, the vegetable kingdom, and
the animal kingdom, are phrases appreciated by all.

One feature specially marks the objects of the mineral king-
dom : it is the absence of life. These objects are said to be
inanimate. Wanting this life, they in general have a dull, a
sombre hue, an inactive appearance. They are valued because
useful, and the sources of multitudinous comforts.

How different is the vegetable kingdom ! How cheering are
the objects belonging to it. Indeed this kingdom by the beauty
of its objects affords depositaries in which man delights to place
his most genuine and pure feelings. Who has not, at some
period of his life, associated with the lily the virgin purity,
and with the rose the beauty of her, who has gained the first
warm impulses of his heart ?

And why is the vegetable kingdom so pleasing ? Is it not
fi-om this, that the individuals constituting its objects, have life ?
and life is beauty.

How still more distinct is the animal kingdom. Life is bpau-
tiful, but the life of vegetable existence, unaided by the life of
animal existence, becomes wearying; but what renders animal
life so pleasing ? The subjects belonging to it, have, like those
of the vegetable kingdom, life, but they have an addition, and
that addition is MOTION.

ITie general distinctions between minerals, vegetables, and
animals, all readily recognize. An examination, a little more
minute, discovers other distinctions ; demonstrates that the parts,
composing these individuals, are very different. A sameness, an
oneness prevail in the parts of a mineral ; but the parts of a
vegetable and those of an animal are distinct and diverse in
appearance. In fact, they are found to be apparatuses for the
performance of certain duties, connected with life, and these dis-
tinct parts, as performing these duties, are called organs ; they
are the working apparatuses of life.

On examining still more minutely the individual vegetables
and animals, it is found, that these work-apparatuses, these
organs, become more numerous just in proportion as the duties
or functions, which the individual vegetable or animal has to
perform, are numerous and complicated.

ORGANS AND FUNCTIONS. 7

Animals have more numerous and compKeated apparatuses CHAP. I.
or organs than have vegetables, and the feet, that they move^
while vegetables do not, will explain this ; for, as tnotion-beings,
they have more duties to perform than beings, whieh do not
move.

Animals themselves differ in the number and the complexity
of their organs, and the naturalist has traced the various amount,
varying in exact accordance to the functions to be performed by
each, from the simplest form of animal existence up to the highest,

MAN.

The head of the animal kingdom is man. He has life and has
manifestations of that life more numerous and peculiar than any
other animal, and he has apparatuses or organs in proportion.

Man, then, so fer as his body is concerned, is a machine, con-
sisting of many machines or organs : through these machines or
organs, the life, animated nature's endowment, acts, and the
actions, produced by this life operating through these oi^anic
parts, i.e. the functions of these parts, are, in other words, the
manifestations of life, appointed by the Creator to take place in
conjunction with these parts: they are sometimes called the
manifestations of vitality.

The human machine is, therefore, a little microcosm, in which
life acts, realising the wonderfal uses, for which the Creator
constituted the human being.

The organs of this microcosm, anatomy unfolds ; the functions
or uses, physiology declares.

As long as these organs are in their natural, called some-
times normal state, the life, acting through them, presents the
phenmnena of vitality in so beautifiil an order, so suitable a har-
mony, that nothing but the habituation to the phenomena prevents
the mind being struck with wonder. These orderly phenomena,
these beautifully harmonizing manifestations, are health.

Sometimes life, from its dawn to its close, presents a succes-
sive series, varying according to age, of these orderly phenomena,
these beautiftiUy harmonizing manifestations.

Thus the living human being is seen to pass from the help-
lessness, the vegetative happiness, or, at least, comfort of infancy,
into the playfiilness and the prattling and the rapid development
of childhood : the childhood's playfiilness into the life-fiiU, the

8 * HEALTH AND ITS MANIFESTATIONS.

CHAP. I: firmer, the more settled activity of youth, the prattling into full
developed speech, and the softness of the frame into solidity
combined with softness : then the youth gradually assumes the
forms of manhood, and the girl the beauties of womanhood, the
mind expanding with the body : the impassioned eye, the new
tendernesses of nature proclaim the development of feelings, that
add, in their proper activity, some of the highest charms to life:
the previously single become united by that invisible link, of
wliich marriage is merely the visible sign ; and the result is, a
new existence, in which, if not the physical and mental features
of both parents, at least the feelings of love in both, are concen-
tered. The mature man endued with powers of mind, is seen
struggling with manly energy and persevering assiduity in his
duties, cheered by her, who is his helpmeet ; and life onward
moves till moulded into a more sobered aspect, the aspect of old
age ; and, at last, having distributed to their rising descendants
the results of their matured wisdom, the aged, softened by their
kindlier sjinpathies, surrounded by their oflfepring, fell asleep,
satisfied with the enjoyments they have had in time, and regard-
ing these as a foretaste of those they have to enjoy through
eternity.

Of what is this the picture ? Of what but an uninterrupted
possession of that state of organs, through which, the life
acting produces that beautifiil harmony of manifestations, called
health.

Such a picture is sometimes to be beheld : it would be always
beheld, were men for a series of generations to act in obedience
to all the laws of the Creator.

But though this picture of undisturbed, of harmonizing mani-
festations may be seen, sometimes, in all its untarnished glory,
more frequently varied and bedimmed, other less pleasing pic-
tures are very frequently forced upon the notice.

Behold the little infent, attacked with severe pain, writhing in
convulsions, burned up with heat, rejecting the very breast, on
which it used to hang with inexpressible satisfaction ; and, com-
bined with this, i& seen the anxious eye of the mother, dull with
the lengthened watching. And what is this ? Is it health ? No.
It is life ; but is it life acting in a regular way ? Surely not, —
it is life acting in an irregular way — it is disease.

DISEASE AND ITS MANIFESTATIONS. 9

Again, behold the youth, fall of power, " with marrow whose CHAP. I.
bones are moistened," in the hey-dey of life, afiFected with turgid
cheeks, flashing eyes, enlarged and throbbing arteries in his
temples, talking madly, trying to break from the kind hands that
restrain him. What is this ? Is it life ? Yes, it is. Is it life
in regular action ? No. It is life in irregular action — it is

DISEASE.

See the fall grown man, the centre of the social circle, the
provider for the wants of his happy home, the bread-winner for
them all — ^the man of strong energy, of active habits — laid on
the bed of sickness : See his pallid look, his anxious countenance,
his sunken eyes, his panting nostrils, his brow clothed with the
cold damp of death, his fingers convulsively active in picking the
bed clothes ; and, at his side, see the loved one, who lives in
him, living a new life — a life of unsleeping activity, watching
every look and speaking thanks in her looks at every respite
from his pains, his restlessness. What is this ? Is it death ?
No ; it is life, exhausting itself in its destructive efforts — ^it is

DISEASE.

What then is disease but irregular, abnormal, manifestcL-
tians of life'^. Disease is vitality disturbed in its manifestations :
life, not disturbed in its own nature, but disturbed, because the
apparatuses, the organs, through which it acts, are not in their
natural, their normal, their regular state.

Health, then, is life, acting through the organs of the body in
their natural, their regular, their nonnal condition: disease,
also, is life, acting through the organs in an unnatural, an irre-
gular, an abnormal condition: in other words, health is life,
acting through healthy organs : disease is life, acting through
unhealthy organs.

But it is LIFE IN BOTH. Disease and health, both are life's
actions, both are the effects of vitality.

The conditions, essential to health, are life and a natural con-
dition of the organs ; a condition, like that in which they were
created, and in relation to which they were pronounced " good."

The conditions, essential to disease, are life and a condition
of the organs contrary to nature, in which disturbed condition
the life, acting through them, will, id most cases, if unaided, end
in death.

10 POINTS OF CONTRAST BETWEEN HEALTH AND DISEASE.

CHAP. I. Health is the rule ; disease is the exception : health is the
standard ; disease is the deviation from that standard : health is
the offepring of the harmony existing between the life and the
organs ; disease is the oflfepring of the discord between the life
and the organs.

Health is the straight line, beginning and ending in life,
and in God, the Author of life: disease is the deviation from
the straight line, beginning in the violation of the Creator's
law, as recorded in man's physical constitution, and ending in
death.

A swimmer goes into deep water : he makes a regular and
slow efiFort, keeps himself buoyant, and is saved. A person, not
a swimmer, gets into deep water, uses violent eflEbrts, struggles
hard, and exhausting himself with the struggling, sinks.

Both use their muscular power ; the one to safety, the other
to destruction. Health is the name for the graceftil, the safety-
producing action : disease is the name for the violent, the de-
structive action.

Disease is the name for the phenomena of life disturbed in the
manifestation of the phenomena, the struggle : it bears the same
relation to these as the word " battle" bears to the phenomena,
exhibited in killing, piercing, cutting, shooting, dying, which a
field of battle presents. A battle can be fought, but you cannot
fight the battle.

There is no self-existent, independent matter or thing, called
disease, to overcome ; it is only life, struggling injuriously.

To conclude these illustrations: health is regular, orderly
active life : disease is irregular, disorderly active life.

Beautifiilly and cleverly has the talented author of " the Past
and the Present" remarked, " All misery is feculty misdirected;
strength that has not yet found its way." The same is definitive
of disease. — " It is life-power misdirected : it is life's strength
that has not found its way."

These illustrative explanations of life and disease have been
made thus numerous, because of the importance connected with
accurate notions of what disease is : since if this view of disease
be understood and adopted, the dreadfully destructive notion will
be annihilated, which actually imagines that, in destroying
the power of life to manifest symptoms, disease is overcome :

EVILS FROM ERRORS REGARDING DISEASE. 11

a notion practically founded on the ofttimes fetal assumption, CHAP. I.
that there is more power in disease than in health.

Necessary, indeed, are these illustrations, for how common is
the phrase, " overcoming disease :" and the phrase is common
because the idea of overcoming disease is almost universally
prevalent ; hence the phrases, " the more violent the disease, the
more violent the remedy ;" " violent diseases require violent
remedies."

With such maxims as these influencing the minds of medical
practitioners, it is no wonder that violent medicinal means should
abound : no wonder that medical practice presents

Bleedings, Moxas, Salivations,

Leechings, Issues, Emetizings,

Cuppings, Tartar emetic rubbings. Drastic purgatives,

Blisterings, Mustard poultices, Opiates,

Setons, Mercurial frictions, &c. &c. &c.

What a dreadfid warrior is the old system medical practi-
tioner. Hanging at his side is a war complement of sharp-
cutting lancets : dangling from his belt he has a powerftil cupping
instrument : on his back is a blister : frgm his shoulders hang
plasters : skeins of thread and seton needles are arranged round
his neck : issue peas form bracelets round his wrist : a bag of
mustard is suspended from one arm, tartar emetic omtment
from the other : and some match boxes, with cotton and a lamp
to bum holes in the body, to make moxas, he holds in one hand,
and, in the other, countless agents, potent against the constitu-
tion but not against disease.

Such is his panoply. He is so armed because he has, at
least so he thinks, to overcome disease ; and so much does the
force of his weapons raise him to the character of a slayer, that
this system of medical treatment has been and is called the
" heroic*^ system.

But the physician's object is to remove the symptoms, which
indicate the life power struggling injuriously : his object is to
alter the state of the organ or organs, which the life, acting
through, causes the manifestations produced to be irregular, to
be diseased.

The inquiry now occurs, What are the means by which he

12 MEANS BT WHICH DISEASE IS REMOVED.

CHAP. I. can realize this object quickly^ safely^ and favourably^ (" curatio
tuto, cito, jucunde.^^)

It is well known, that, between the stomach in the state of
health and certain articles in the aggregate called food, a rela-,
tionship has been fixed, which ensures that, when the articles are
taken, nourishment must result.

An equally fixed relationship has beeit established between the
body in a state of disease and certain articles, which, when ad-
ministered as the Creator has appointed, have the power of caus-
ing a state, which is simultaneous with the removal of disease.

These bodies are called remedies, and they have, it is likely,
existed from the earliest time. Tn fact, the thought is not to be
regarded as altogether visionary, which suggests, that the change
which took place at the fall, which converted plants into weeds,
might have been arranged so that the diseases which soon were
to develop themselves should be successfiilly antagonised by the
properties of the degenerated plants.

It is not necessary to notice either the immense niunber of
medical systems, which have been promulgated at diflFerent
periods of the world's history, or the still greater variety of
medicinal substances.

It will be sufficient to notice the two systems, under which
medicines, as acting upon diseases, have been grouped ; the first
being that, in which the medicines act or are supposed to act, in
inducing an action in the diseased part or system of a kind
directly opposite to that, principally prominent in the disease,
the practitioner thus expecting to overcome the disease ; the
second being that, in which medicines are used to induce an
action, a new diseased action, in a part different from that, in
which the disease first manifests itself. The first system is
called ANTIPATHIC, or antipathy, from avn, anti, against, and
iraBogf pathos, suflEering ; and the latter allopathy, from aWos,
alios, another, and vaOog, pathos : the, former produces an afflic-
tion against or opposite to the disease : the latter produces an
action in another part.

The antipathic method is in one point of view, putting out a
fire by heaping damp combustible materials thereon : The allo-
pathic is to light a fire in another part of the building to put out
the fire in another part.

CONTRARIES TREATED BY CONTRARIES. 13

CHAPTER 11.

The Antipathic mode of treating disease. — This method appa^
rently rational^ reaMy unscientific. — The cause of sleepless-
ness. — The absurdity of opiates to force sleep. — Forced sleep
not curative. — Th£ injuriousness of subduing pain by opium.
Dr. Curriers case. — Opium in subduing pain produces
palsy. — Alkalies in aridity of the stomach. — Acids in alka-
line urinary deposits. — Alkalies in acid deposits. — The
antipathic system founded on a mistake : the mental cha-
ra^cter of its supporters.

The Antipathic method is presented under a great variety chap. it.
of aspects.

To a person troubled with acidity of the stomach, alkaline
foodies, which chemically neutralize acids, (carbonate of soda is
an instance,) are given. To a patient suffering from alkaline
deposits in his urine, acids, such as lemon juice, which chemically
neutralize alkalies, are administered. K a person is sleepless,
opium, which produces stupefaction and insensibility, is given.
To one experiencing excruciating pain, opium, or some other
stupefeiction-producing substance, is administered : for a person
constipated, purgatives are prescribed : for one relaxed, astrin-
gents or substances that bind are ordered : and if the pulse is
rapid and strong, blood letting, which lowers the pulse and the
strength, is practised on the individual.

This method is literally contraries treated by contraries,
(contraria contrariis curantur.) This method has, at first view,
feasibility. K, in pain, what better than to have the pain
relieved ? K sleepless, what better than to have sleep induced ?
K the digestive system does not manifest the results of its
activity in regular alvine action, why not make those results
apparent ?

14 ANTIPATHY UNSCIENTIFIC.

CHAP. 11. An examination of this system will show its unscientific
character, its absurdity, its futility.

The individual cases may be examined.

A sick person is sleepless. He prays for something to cause
him to sleep. The wish is natural, and the physician ought to
be able to aid him. The antipathic physician seeks to aid him
by giving him an opiate. In so doing he acts empirically with-
out science. Why is the patient sleepless ? Sleep is the natural
condition of man for certain hours of the twenty-four. If
this natural condition does not occur, there must exist some
cause to prevent its occurrence. In other words, in order that
sleep should take place, it is necessary that the nervous system
should be in an undisturbed, quiescent condition. But the nervous
system cannot be in this quiescent condition if any injurious
cause is acting upon the system. The nervous system is thereby of
necessity disturbed, and the want of sleep is the consequence of
this disturbance. And this disturbance of the nervous system
causmg the absence of sleep, is one of the greatest benefits which
it confers on the possessor, for it is by this restlessness that the
individual, is warned of the existence of some injurious Cause
acting on his constitution. In fact, this sleeplessness is an
effect of the nervous system doing its duty. The scientific, the
homoeopathic practitioner, devises means by which the injurious
cause and its eflFects are removed, and then sleep comes of
nature's wont. What, on the other hand, does the antipathic
practitioner ? He prescribes opium, that is a means by which
the natural, the proper, the warning-giving sensitiveness of the
nervous system is deadened, and thus he forces sleep, not by
diminishing the power of the injurious agent, nor by altering the
conditions which the injurious agency has induced in the living
fabric, but by deadening the power of perception of the nervous
system. He acts like the man, who attempted to extinguish the
fire, by gagging the watchman, who cried out fire.

But note the sleep produced by the opium. Is it a refi*eshing
sleep ? It is not, indeed, a sleep ; it is a stupefaction. Contrast
that stupefaction-sleep with the sleep, which occurs when the
diseased state is in process of cure, in other words, when the
irregular state of the diseased organ or organs is in process of
reduction to regularity.

FORCED SLEEP NOT CURATIVE. 15

But in inducing this sleep, does he overcome the diseased CHAP. II.
condition ? By no means : he only masks it. Does he expel
the enemy, wearing out the constitution ? No : he only hides
it. He does to the patient what the cold does to the man,
who, from the intense cold is made to feel sleepy : he sleeps, and
he no longer feels the cold ; but the cold feels him, and grasps
in his sleep with his cold hands his beating heart and stops it.
But it was comfortable for the man not to feel the cold ; and, with
the comfort he died.

In fact, not only is the disease not stayed by this forced sleep,
but it progresses : for, notwithstanding the patient sleeps, the
disease does not. All that happens is, that he does not feel
it going on: he gains a delusive respite: he sleeps before
execution.

To take another illustration, the antipathist gives anodynes or
sedatives to allay pain, and he thinks he does wonders. But
what is pain ? It, like sleeplessness, is an indication, produced
by the nervous system by the existence of some injurious cause
acting upon the general system. It is a friend this pain. It is
the voice of Nature speaking in language loud as she can speak,
' There is danger.' The antipathist gives some medicine, which
he says will relieve this pain. But how ? by deadening the power
of perception on the part of the nervous system. The scientific
practitioner will remove the pain, but then he removes the state
which causes the nervous system to be impressed so as to cause
this pain. In feet, antipathy is empiricism of the lowest kind.

An illustration of this antipathic method, taken from the
practice of one who was an ornament to his profession, namely,
the late Dr. Currie, of Liverpool. The case is related in his
treatise entitled, Medical Reports^ on the Effects of Water,
Cold and Warm, as a Remedy in Fever and other Diseases, Ac.

" George Gardner, a soldier in the StafiFordshire militia, was
put under my care by his officers, on the 20th of February, 1781.
About a fortnight before, after severe dancing and hard drinking
at a country wedding, in which he had been employed two days
and nights, he fell suddenly into a fit, which lasted an hour and
a half, during which his consciousness was abolished. The head
was pulled towards the left shoulder, the left comer of the
mouth was thrown upwards, the eyes were hollow, the counte-

16 THE ABUSE OF OPIUM IN SUBDUING PAIN.

CHAP. II. nance pale and ghastly, the fisuje and neck bedewed with a cold
sweat ; but his most distressing symptom was a violent pain
under the ensiform cartilage, with a sudden interruption of his
breathing every fourth or fifth inspiration, by a convulsive
hiccup, accompanied by a violent contraction of the muscles of
the abdomen and lower extremities. He felt on this occasion as
if he had received an unexpected blow on the pit of the stomach.
Before I saw him he had been bled and vomited repeatedly, and
had used the warm bath, not only without alleviation but with
aggravation of his complaints.

" He first took a grain of opium every other hour, afterwards a
grain every hour, and at » last two grains every hour ; but he
grew worse and worse during the two days on which this course
was continued. The spasms extended to the back and shoxdders,
the head was at times retracted, and the muscles of the abdomen
partook of the general affection. Being no longer able to swal-
low the pills, he took no medicine of any kind on the night of
the 22nd, in the course of which general convulsions, came on,
and returned once or twice in every hour. The tincture of
opium (liquid laudanum) was now directed to be given, and an
ounce of the quick-silver ointment to be rubbed in on each
thigh. In twenty-four hours he took two ounces and a half of
the tincture without sleep or alleviation of pain. The dose
being increased, in the next twenty-six hours he swallowed five
ounces and a half of the laudanum, a quantity which, at that
time, was I believe unexampled. He lay now in a state of
torpor. The rigidity of the spasms was indeed much lessened,
and the general convulsions nearly gone ; but the debility was
extreme ; a complete hemiplegia, (a loss of power in one half of
the body), had supervened ; the patient's eyes were fixed, and
his speech feultering and unintelligible."

How instructive is this case. The pain was deadened by the
opium, but it was so only because the opium had so destroyed
the power of the nervous system, as Dr. Currie acknowledges,
as to produce palsy.

But the patient was not cured of his disease by the opium.
" As this young soldier appeared on the utmost verge of life, it
seemed no longer safe to continue the laudanum, which had
relieved spasm only in so far as it had brought on general

CONSTIPATION AND PURGATIVES. 17

paralysis. For the next six days he seemed to revive : the cHAP. IL
convulsions kept oflF, though the twitchings and convulsive
hiccup continued. But on the night of the 1st of March he was
seized, during sleep, with a convulsion as severe as ever, and this
was followed by a return of all his symptoms with their former
violence. The jaws were indeed more completely locked than
before, deglutition was become impossible, and the pain under
the ensiform cartilage was so extreme as to force from the
patient the most piercing cries.

The preceding illustrations of the antipathic system are suffi-
cient to demonstrate its empirical character. Still it seems useful
to refer to other illustrations in connexion with the system, be-
cause these are considered by the advocates of antipathy as
presenting the best evidences of the excellence of the system.

Of these, the first illustration has reference to the use of
purgative medicines in constipation : That is, the bowels do not
exhibit the usual regularity in the discharge of their contents :
what more natural argues and practices the antipathist, than
to give some medicine which will force them to discharge their
contents ? To the untrained mind such a proceeding is perfectly
natural; the trained mind discovers the unscientific and con-
sequently injurious character of this palliative antipathic treat-
ment : and the discovery is obtained by the recognition of the
facts, first, that the more purgative medicine is taken the more
constipated do the bowels become ; second, that the more fre-
quently the purgative is taken, the greater is the dose required
to produce any effect ; and, third, that decided injuries are pro-
duced by the purgatives administered.

The homoeopathist, on the other hand, recognizes the pri-
mary truth, that the intestines are in perpetual motion, and
that motion is of such a nature as to keep up a perpetual carry-
ing forward of their contents ; an action so constant that it
takes place both during sleep and during waking. The
homceopathist fiirther recognizes, that if this carrying on action
(peristaltic action as it is called,) is not manifested in the dis-
charge of the contents of the bowels, the cause is to be found
in some diseased state, which, as a whole, causes as a part of
that whole, the non-expulsion. And the homoeopathist contem-
plating the diseased state as a whole, and the constipation as a

18 ACIDS BY ALKALIES.

€11AP. 11. part of the whole, finds a remedy for the whole diseased state,
and, this administered, the constipation ceases.

The antipathist, in other words, treats the constipation as a
primary disease, and thinks that while he forces an opposite
effect he gains the end : the homceopathist regards the consti-
pation as one feature in a general diseased state, and seeks in
the curing of the diseased state by a remedy suited to it as a
whole, the solution of one effect — ^the constipation. The
antipathist gains his end empirically, and injuriously to the
system in general, and to the intestinal tube in particular: the,
homoeopathist gains the end sought without any injury to the
constitution, and with benefit to the intestinal tube.

The remaining illustrations have relation to a chemical anti-
pathism : thus to correct acidity in the stomach, the antipathist
gives alkalies : to remove the condition that causes the deposit
of the uric acid fix)m the urine, the antipathist administers
alkalies ; and to remove the condition that causes alkaline depo-
sits from the urine, he exhibits acids : that is, he prescribes the
chemical opposites. To the empirical mind these modes of
proceeding appear feasible; but the mind trained to exact obser-
vation recognizes, as proofe of the unsoundness of these prac-
tices, first, that persons still suffer fi'om acidity though they
have taken, according to their own assertion, carbonate of soda
sufficient to stock a chemist's shop ; second, that the continued
exhibition of alkalies to persons having had acid urine, causes
at length a deposit of the alkaline deposits ; and, third, that if
acids are administered to remove the alkaline deposits, these
acids will at length cause the uric acid deposit.*

• A particular source of difficulty has further been pointed out by Mr. Brande,
attending the attempt to exhibit medicines acting on stones in the bladder (lithon-
triptics) as solvents. The phosphates of lime and magnesia, which eidst in the urine,
are retained in solution principally by its excess of acid : if, therefore, with the
view of dissolving a uric acid calculus, or preventing its increase, alkalies be given
so as to neutralize this acid, the deposition of the phosphates may be favoured, and
n layer of them may even form on the existing calculus. And there is reason to believe,
that the softness and sponginess which have been observed not unfrequently on the
^5urface of calculi, in patients who have continued for a long period the use of alkalies,
and which have been regarded as proofs of partial solution, have arisen fi*oni a dei>o-
pition of this kind. If, on the other hand, from the state of the urine, or from the

CHARACTER OP THE ANTIPATHIC METHOD, 19

The antipathic method is founded upon a mistake of what CIIAP. li.
disease is. Disease, as has been ab*eady explained, is life,
acting through a disordered organ : and the various symptoms
are nothing but manifestations of that life struggling to recover
health : and the antipathist gives a curious kind of aid in that
struggle, either by destroying the power of that life by deaden-
ing the susceptibility of the nervous system, or by forcing
action.

It is a practice which suits the vulgar medical practitioner, like
as the practice of driving away sorrow by intoxication suits the
common vulgar. It is a practice, which suits the timid and the
mere traders in the profession, enabling them to afford at times
immediate temporary relief, an object desired by the timid, be-
cause they have not the courage to wait till the necessary series
of changes in the diseased state has been passed through, and
desired also by the dishonest, as such professional traders are,
because they seek merely to please the patient, and do not re-
gard the ultimate results on the patient's constitution.

information Afitbrded by a small calculus being discharged, there were reason to
believe that a calculus in the bladder consisted chiefly of phosphate of ammonia and
magnesia, if we attempted the solution of this by the administration of weak acids,
we run the hazard of causing the deposition of uric acid. It is accordingly found
that these effects take place. In different cases, it has been remarked, that when
alkalies have been given to correct the deponHon of wrie add, or the red sediment
or gravel from the urine, they have, when, continued too long after having produced
this effect, caused the deposition of the whitk sediment or gravel,— the phosphate of
ammonia and magnesia ; and, on the other hand, Mr. Brande has remarked that
when acids were given with the view of removing the deposition of the phosphates,
they have, after some time, caused a separation of uric acid.— Professor Murray's
Materia Medica, p. 361, sixth edition.

20 ALLOPATHIC METHOD OF CURING DISEASE.

CHAPTER III.

Allopathic method. — Ulustrationa : Purgatives in inflammation
of the eye. — Bleeding in pneumonia. — Dr. Marshall HdU
and bleeding. — Dr. Southwood Smithes ease of Dr. Dill. —
JEpilepsy : the extensive use of allopathy therein. — The use
of blisters. — The ineflicacy of iodine. — The inefjicacy of
tartar emetic ointment : the temporary relief by this ex-
plained. — Hie use of the issue and the use of the geton in
this disease, — The chara^iter of the allopathic practice. —
Oood reason for deprecation by a medical journalist of the
term allopathy.

CHAP. in. The second method, in accordance with which remedies have
been used to cure disease, is that by which it is attempted to
cure disease in one part of the system, by inducing a disease in
some other part of the system.

This is the allopathic mode.

The nature of this mode will be best developed by a few
illustrations.

The following case was related at a medical society by a
medical gentleman of considerable practice.

He stated the case of a patient, who had been labouring un-
der a violent inflammation of the eye. He could not bear the
slightest light. The pains he endured were intense. The prac-
titioner prescribed an exceedingly powerftd purgative medicine.
As long as the medicine continued to act the patient felt better.
Directly the purgative effect ceased, then the eye again become
worse. The purgative medicine was again taken, and, during
the violence of its action, the violent inflamimation and the intense
pains in the eye were relieved. Directly the action of the purga-

PURGATIVES IN EYE DISEASES. 21

tive again ceased, the eye again became very painfiil. Thus the CHAP. III.
medical gentleman proceeded until he found that he gained
nothing but temporary relief, and he was at the same time
injuring the constitution and exhausting the powers of his
patient.

The explanation of this case and of the treatment is simple.
The patient had a state contrary to the natural condition, induced
in his eye. The life, acting through the diseased orgp^n, pro-
duced morbid manifestations, namely, the intense pains, the
intolerance of light, &c.

The purgative medicine, irritating the intestines, that is, in-
ducing an unnatural condition in the intestines, created another
direction, in which the life manifested itself unnaturally, in other
words, created a disease.

The life action was thus directed away from the eye to the
intestines, and, so long as the medicine, the irritating cause,
continued to act upon the intestines, or, in other words, so long
as the new disease in the intestines continued, so long there was
a suspension of the active disease in the eye. But the diseased
state still existed passive, ready to awaken into renewed activity
directly the intestine ceased to demand the life power to its aid :
hence the return of the symptoms.

Still the patient is relieved by the purging: and this reliefs
being mistaken for cure, has led to the extensive use of purgative
medicines: persons forgetting, that the purgative relieves by
inducing another disease : and, in this way can be explained the
statement sincerely made by many, of the great benefits they
have derived from various empirical pills, and other much lauded
purgative medicines. Relief is what they seek: relief they
obtain : but the diseases, produced by the purgative medicines
they use, not appearing immediately^ are not referred to the
action of these medicines, in fact the parties think, that all that
is wanted is more of the pills to cure the very diseases, which
the previous exhibition of the pills has induced.

To give another case, illustrative of the allopathic mode of
treating disease.

Mrs. G., aged 25, who previously to her marriage, had been
treated homoeopathically with success for supposed consumptive
symptoms, was seized in January, 1840, one Saturday night.

22 INFLAMMATION OF LUNGS AND BLEEDING.

CHAP. III. having gone rather poorly to bed, with a violent pain in her
rigiht Bide, which awaked her. So violent was the pain, that
medical aid near at hand was sought in the night.

Early the next morning, the patient not being relieved, the
surgeon removed " a large basin of blood" from the right arm,
calling the disease inflammation of the lungs.

This bleeding appeared to give relief, but did not wholly
rem^ove the pain.

Pills and mixtures were supplied. The pain returned with its
original violence. Eighteen leeches were applied, and the dis-
charge of blood kept up by warm poultices.

Slight relief was obtained, but the pain, not being removed,
after a few hours, recourse was had to another copious bleeding
from the left arm. Leeches, the pain not being removed, were
again applied.

The pain still remained.

The bowels being confined, as they had been the whole time,
(a conunon phenomenon in most diseases, but not itself a
disease), a powerful purgative was administered, which caused
profuse and violent purging.

The pain still not being removed, on the Tuesday night, ano-
ther " large basin of blood" was taken from the right arm, but
without any proportionate relief.

The bowels remained in a state of constant action from the
purgatives administered.

On the fifth day after the attack symptoms oi premature hibour
came on : the surgeon now gave stimulants. A six months' child,
dead, was bom in the afternoon of the same day.

At six, the patient was placed in bed, exhausted and insen-
sible, remaining so for several hours, when she rallied, conversed
with her family, felt conscious of her approaching dissolution,
and died on the day week after the seizure, after having suffered,
as her brother, who wrote to me, stated, " in the short space of
eight days, more excruciating torment than fells to the lot of
some mortals during a life-time." In tsjci, she was killed.

This surgeon treated the disease as the books direct : as most
similarly taught practitioners would have done. He afforded
relief by the bleeding ! Then, why not bleed ? The bleeding did
not cure : it suspended the action of life in one part, the part

Dll. MARSHALL HALL AND BLEEDING. 23

diseased, for a time, but the state of that part not being altered, CHAP. ill.
it, when the suspension of the life's action in that direction
ceased to operate, again drew the life action to itself, and the
disease, unmitigated, again presented itself. Again the counter-
acting, the allopathic power was called into action by the leeches,
and the warm poultices, and relief was afforded : but the state
of the part affected was not altered, and, at length, nature sunk
exhausted in the struggle.

Here was active treatment ; " severe diseases," say they, "re-
quire severe remedies." The patient had both : and the verdict
was not " bled to deaths

Here then was a fine, handsome, young female, in the beauty
of womanhood, married about seven months, cut off, a victim of
system-, killed by the regular medical course. Had she died
under homoeopathic treatment a coroner's inquest would have
been held, and the verdict would have been, died for want of
active treatment.

On the case just recorded it may be said, that the disease
treated might not have been inflammation: that the pain
might not have been inflammatory: the practitioner, though
legally qualified, might not have been really qualified.

He was both legally qualified and properly qualified according
to the old system. In fiaujt he was a gentleman, who during his
medical education had as a pupil received his instruction, in the
virtues of remedies fi'om the author, when acting as a Lecturer
at the Westminster Dispensary School of Medicine,

To demonstrate further the destructive action of this allopathic
practice, and, in so doing, to demonstrate that the practice in
the case referred to was not at all out of the usual course, a case
is taken from the practice of an eminent physician of London,
one £simed for his physiological discoveries. The case is pub-
lished by the physician himself, namely, Dr. Marshall Hall.

" Elizabeth Smith, aged 18, having been much out of health
during two months, was admitted into Bartholomew's Hospital
on October the 29th, complaining of violent pain across the
abdoinen augmented on pressure; the breathing hurried, the
]>ulse 110 and hard, the bowels confined ; she was placed in bed
and bled firom the arm, and although in the recumbent posture
she fainted when twelve ounces of blood had been taken.

24 DR. SOUTHWOOD SMITH AND BLEEDING.

CHAP. III. *' On the 30th the pain continued unabated ; she was again
bled in the recumbent position, and syncope occurred when
fourteen ounces had flowed. Forty drops of tincture of opium
were given immediately after bleeding.

" On the 31st, fifteen ounces of blood were taken, in the same
manner and with the same eflect, and twenty leeches were
applied.

" On November the 1st, thirty leeches were applied. On the
3rd the pain and the tenderness of the bowels were increased, the
pulse hard and 115; eleven ounces of blood were taken, and syn-
cope was again produced, and seven ounces were drawn from the
loins by cupping, still the pain was unabated on the 7th, and
she had become extremely feeble, (not unlikely), the pxdse was
130, the retina had become acutely sensitive to light ; the ex-
tremities cold, and the legs swollen ; and the urine was limpid
and sometimes passed involuntarily.

" She now took the extract of hemlock at bed time and with
great relief — ^this (stupifying) relief continued for six or seven
days. The pain then returned, and eventually the patient left
the hospital little benefitted."

Here are antipathic and allopathic modes combined.

The bleeding seemed to have aflforded but little relief: and at
last, finding it ineflectual, and the pain continuing severe, (and
surely if the pain was not inflammatory in the preceding case it
covld not have been so in the present case, and, therefore, the
objections as to the unwiseness of the treatment would apply
in both) the physician orders an anodyne, the extract of hem-
lock.

This did soothe the pain, but how ? By overcoming the dis-
eased action ? By no means : but by diminishing the suscepti-
bility of the nervous system to be impressed ; but directly the
first eflect of this anodyne had ceased, the susceptibility being
restored, the pain returns, and the patient is dismissed from the
Hospital. Where to ? If not to the grave, to suffer all her life
from chronic disease.

Another physician, who has attained a prominent -position in
the metropolis is Dr. Southwood Smith. The following case
is one published by himself, and consequently may be quoted as
aflbrding a true statement of the case. It is recorded here as

DB^ dill's case. 25

published in theMedieal Gfuzette, containing some notes by the CHAP. IIL
Editor of that periodical.

" The case of Dr. Dill demands our most serious attention,
and deserves that of our readers. It is adduced as an example
of severe cerebral affection, in which cases. Dr. S. af5rms, * the
bleeding must be large and early as it is copious.' ' I saw him,'
says Dr. Smith, * before there was any pain in the head, or even
in the back, while he was yet only feeble and chilly. The aspect
of his countenance, the state of his pulse, which was slow and
labouring, and the answer he returned to two or three questions,
satisfied me of the inordinate, I may say the ferocious attack that
was at hand.' — ^p. 398.

" Whatever may be the opinion of our readers, as to the above
signs indicating a ferocious cerebral attack, they will one and all
agree with us, that the ferocious attack was met with a ferocious
treatment ; for an emetic was given without delay, and * blood
was taken from the arm, to the extent of twenty ounces^ This
blood was not inflamed. Severe pains in the limbs and loins,
and intense pain in the head, came on during the night — and
early in the morning bhod was again drawn to the extent of
sixteen ounces, * with great diminution, but not entire removal of
the pain.' Towards the afternoon, he was again bled to sixteen
ounces. * The pain was now quite gone — ^the blood from both
these bleedings intensely inflamed.'* {Inflamed^ according to Dr.
Smith's notions — ^but mark, in his own words — ^the first blood
drawn was " not inflamed." Were the lancet a preventive of
inflammation, how came the blood to be inflamed afteb so many
bleedings?]

"During the night the pain returned, and in the morning,
notwithstanding the eyes were dull, and begioning to be suffused,
the fiwje blanched, (no wonder !) and the pulse slow and inter-
mittent, and weak, twelve leeches were applied to the temples —
and as these did not entirely remove the pain, more blood, to the
extent of sixteen ounces, was taken by cupping. The operation
afforded great relief— -but the following morning, the pain re-
turned, and again was fclood abstracted to sixteen ounces. Im-
mediate relief followed this second operation ; but, unfortunately,
the pain returned with great violence, towards evening; and it
was now impossible to carry the bleeding any further.' Typhoid

26 EPILEPSY AND THE USE OF BLISTERS.

CHAP. III. symptoms now began to show themselves ; * the for on the totigue
was becoming brown, and there was already slight tremoJr in the
hands.' What was to be done ? Ice and evaporating lotions were
of no avail ; — ^but happily for Dr. Dill, the affusion <rf cold water
on the head, ' the cold dash,' was thought of and employed — and
this being etfectually applied, the relief was ' instantaneous and
most complete.' So that this case, announced as a severe cere-
bral afiection, and treated, in anticipation, by copious blood-
letting, BEFORE ther^ was any pain in the head ^oMle the patient
was yet only feeble and chilly, which grew worse and wopse as
the blood-letting was repeated, until, after the abstraction of
ninety ounces of blood, the patient had become in a * state of
intense suffering,' and * imminent danger,' and was relieved at
last by the cold dash — ^this case, we say, is brought forward P& a
specimen of the extent to which copious blood-letting may some-
times be REQUIRED ! ! Most sincerely do we congratulate Dr.
Dill on his escape, not fix)m a dangerous disease, but from a
DANGEROUS REMEDY."— jM^eZt^ja? Gazette.

As might be supposed, Dr. Dill died : he never rallied.
Such then is the allopathic mode in connexion with the treat-
ment of a/:ute diseases.

An illustration or two may be taken in reference to this
method in connexion with <3ke treatment of chrome diseases.

A chronic disease, in which the allopathic system has been
most extensively Carried out with temporary efficacy but with
permanent injury and failure, is Epilepsy.

The patients in almost every case have been subjected to
bleeding by the lancet, bleeding by leeches, bleeding by ciq)ping,
and these to an extent almost terrific; these means have &iled,
and the allopathic system under the form of counteraction has
been adopted.

The first means adopted is the blister.

This produces considerable irritation in the part on which the
blister is applied, and, as long as a discharge is kept up from
the blistered surface, the epileptie seizure is kept off or lessened
in severity. The fact of the suspension of the attack, while
the irritation is kept up, urges the medical practitioner to make
every effort to jw^serve a perpetually blistered surfsu^e.
applies a blister first to one spot and then to another, and th^n 1

IODINE ALLOPATHICALLY USED. 27

when he had travelled over ahnost every part of the body that CHAP. III.
is blisterable, he attempt* to keep up a discharge by applying to
the abraded surface some blistering salve. The case seems to
prosper favourably, till at last, as if the disease had been, as
it were, accumulating its strength, an attack of epilepsy, more
severe than almost any the patient has ever before experienced,
occurs, and either the desponding practitioner gives up the case,
or the disapi>Qiuted patient seeks other aid«

The patient applies to some other practitioner. This one
thinks the previous practitioner did not act with sufficient power.
He therefore seeks for a more powerfiil irritant and vesicant.
He finds that iodine powder, sprinkled upon the surface of a
plaster and applied to the skin produces a most intense irritation ;
in &ct, the irritation is like to a burning fire. He thinks
further, that perhaps the iodine by absorption may act medicinally
upon the diseased state. He applies his remedy with great
confidence, the patient bears the agony with philosophic resigna-
tion, believing that benefit is to result. Benefit does result, the
attack is postponed : weeks pa$s and the patient seems delivered :
but, like as i^ the former case, the irritation subsides, and the
attack comes on again and occurs with increasing violence.

The patient is again applied to to have a fi*esh application of
the iodine plaster, but having found no permanent relief, he rer
fvLse^ the repetition of the torment.

The practitioner is obliged to have recourse to some other
aJlopatbic medicinal agent. He prescribes the use of fartar
emetic (HUtment. It is rubbed on some part of the body, perhaps
on the upper part of the back. The ointment soon causing irri-
tation and itching in the skin, the epileptic patient begins to feel
better. LitUo elevations rise on tj^e skin, they itch and bum.
He feels still better. The red pointed elevations assume a
different colour ; they become filled with pus* The patient feels
still more relieved--4he attack keeps off. But now the pustules
begin to heal, and the symptoms, precursory to an attack, begin
to appear. The practitioner immediately orders the oitttment to
be rubbed on some other part of the back : the same process of
eruptive itching, burning, and pus-formation, is gone through at
the middle of the back, the pi).ti?nt is ag(tm relieved, though not
to the same ei^tent as he was by the first application of the oint-

D 2

28 THE ISSUE AN ALLOPATHIC MEANS.

CHAP. in. ment — the attacks are kept off, but the premonitory symptoms
appear sooner this time, and the practitioner is obliged to occupy
the remainder of the patient's back even before the middle part
is healed.

The premonitory symptoms appear sooner under this applica-
tion than they did before, and the arm is the surface next used
upon which to produce the pustules.

This time more benefit is experienced — ^the premonitory symp-
toms are longer delayed, and hope cheers bofli the patient and
the practitioner.

But again, the attaxjk makes its appearance upon any un-
usual excitement, and the patient, after having had the irritation
and the inconvenience of a purulent discharge, defiling to linen,
unpleasant to smell, painful to touch, weakening to the frame,
for a period of months, finds hhnself again the victim of this his
attending foe.

Benefit but not cure has resulted. The explanation is not
difficult.

While the pustules are forming and ripening, technically,
during the maturoMon of the pustules, the vital power is directed
to the production and the development of the pustules: the action
in the diseased organ is suspended, and so long as the life's
ax5tion is kept directed to the part, cropped with pustules, so
long does the epileptic attack, that is the actim of Ufe thT(mgh
the diseased part, remain unmanifested.

The practitioner then flies to the issue. He finds this does
great good. The new action, produced by the insertion in the
flesh of a foreign body, namely a pea, suspends the vital action,
which, acting through the diseased part, constitutes the epilepsy]
and the practitioner hopes the victory is won. A few we^s
pass. The life action is reverting to its old channel : the issued
surfece begins to heal ; the practitioner determines it shall not
heal : he applies caustic : is obliged to watch diligently to keep
the healing process from taking place : for he thinks, so long as
the issued part remains unhealed, so long is the patient safe. The
absence of the attacks would seem to sanction this; but at
length, though the issue still may discharge, an attack comes on,
perhaps more severe than any previous one.

The practitioner finds one agent still left. It is the seton. a'

ALLOPATHY EXHAUSTS THE POWERS OP LIFE. 29

skein of thread or some other substance is passed through the CHAP. III.
patient's neck. Intense pain is produced. A purulent discharge
is caused. The epileptic attacks are for the time avoided. But
the flesh sur&ces surrounding the body introduced become
changed in their character, so that the irritation becomes lessened.
Fresh skeins of thread are introduced to keep up the irritation ;
but, at length the habituation to the foreign body becomes so
complete that the irritation is not sufficient to call to itself the
life power; and the life power, not being withdrawn from the part
diseased connected with the epileptic seizure, allows the diseased
action to be again resumed in that part, and an epileptic seizure
takes place.

These illustrations will satisfy every enlightened mind, that
the allopathic* mode is, like the antipathic, merely a nutke-ahift ;
that it may keep o£F the disease, but then it keeps it off only as
long as the new action, induced by the treatment, is powerfiil
enough to arrest the lifers action to the new direction ; and as,
in so arresting, and so directing the life's action, it is exhausting
the powers of life, the stock with which each one is endowed, the
duty of every well wisher to himself is to ascertain if there are
not means, by which diseases can be subdued without such
exhaustion. Such means do exist : Hom(EOPATHT presents them.

* The inyention of the term Allopathy was a happy one. It presents a pomt, in
which the system of treatment can be viewed in its reality, and after thus viewed
•can be seen to be unscientific. It is not a matter of wcmder that the Editor of the
Lancet should repudiate the use of the word Allopathy, and thus express himself—
'* The less the term allopathy is used by professional men the better," page 220,
vol. 1, 1846.

30 HAHNEMAlfN'S CHILDHOOD AND YOUTH.

CHAPTER IV.

The life of Hahnemann. — flia childhood and youth.-^ffis
indefatigable industry, — Hia extensive erudition.-^His dis-
satisfaction with the old system of m£dicine : relinquishment
of medical practice. — His discoveries in chemistry. — Dis-
covery of the Homoeopathic law, while translating CuUen^s
Materia Medica. — His various works. — The dignity of
his character. — The vulgar-mindedness of his revUers. —
His death.

CHAP. IV. Samuel Christian Frederick Hahnemann wag bom at
Meissen, in Upper Saxony, April lO, 1755. His early educa-
tion was limited, his parents not having the means to send him
to any of the public schools.

The same necessity of circumstances caused his parents to
apprentice him to a tradesman; but his master, having dis-
covered in the boy traces of genius, urged upon Hahnemann's
parents their duty to endeavour to find an occupation more in
accordance with the boy's mental endowments.

The head master of a first-rate classical academy at Afi-a,
near Meissen, was consulted : and by his generous interference
Hahnemann was admitted, firee of charge, to the advantages
presented by the academy.

The tradesman's judgment was soon justified, for Hahnemann
made in a short time such progress in his studies, as to gain in
the academy the appointment of assistant teacher.

Hahnemann's predilection^ were for natural history, particu-
larly botany.

To pursue the latter he took advantage of every opportunity.

HAHNEMANN'S INDEFATIGABLE INDUSTRY. 31

He explored the woods, climbed the mountain, collected plants, CHAP, iv.
prepared them for preservation, and systematically arranged
them in a herbarium.

Such mental directions exhibit that love of observation, that
determination in obtaining the end sought for, that exactness,
that order, that patiaitness of recording fexjts and observations,
always exhibited by rnffH of great minds. These capabilities
developing themselves more and more each year, gave to
Hahnemann a power, which, by its beneficial exercise, has ren-
dered him the greatest man that ever trod this earth, when this
earth is viewed as peopled by individuals liable to bodily

The period at length arrived when Hahnemann should select
a profession : he chose medicine. His fi-iend, the head master
of the academy at Afra, approving his choice, aided him in
obtaining admission to the university of Leipzick, whither he
went in 1775, with exactly the same number of crowns in his
pocket as that of his years.

Thrown thus upon his resources Hahnemann, while engaged
in prosecuting his studies with all diligence, supported himself
by giving instructions in the German language to the foreign
students, and by translating English aod French works into
German.

After studying two years at Leipzick and obtaining a theoretical
knowledge of medicine, Hahnemann proceeded to Vienna, to gain
there a knowledge of medical practice.

While At Vienna, his industry and talent gained so completely
the confidence of his medical professor, Dr. Quaiin, physician
to the Hospital of Leopold, as to cause Dr. Quarin to entrust to
Hahnemann the almost sole care of b portion of the Hospital.
Dr. Quarin was fiirther so pleased with him, that he recommended
him to a situation at Hermanstadt, comprising the duties of
physician, librarian, and superintendent of a museum of coins to
the Baron von Burchenthal, governor of Transylvania. While
so ^igaged he cultivated an acquaintance with the works of the
Araibian physicians, and the medical literature of tiie middle
ages.

Having obtained fi'om the emoluments of this situation suf-
ficient means to finish his education, he, on the 10th day of

32 Hahnemann's extensive erudition.

CHAP. IV. August, 1779, graduated as Doctor in Medicine in the University
of Erlangen.*

Soon after having obtained his doctorate, he was appointed as
district physician at Gommem, near Magdeburg. This appoint-
ment ensured to him practice and pecuniary emolument: a feet,
which deserves record as meeting successfully any insinuation,
that he was led to develope his theory, because he had no means
of living except by some extraordinary movement.

He, as Dr. Gray remarks, page 261, Journal of Health and
Disease, vol. iv. " with zeal and activity commenced the practice
of medicine, by attempting to reconcile the treatment of disease
with the splendid, hypothetical systems which have given such
eclat to the medical literature of Germany* The more vigor-
ously he pursued his investigations, the more fallacious appeared
the results, inducing at last an entire disbelief of the capability
of ascertaining the causes of medical phenomena. Foiled in
his anticipations, he next desired to examine the laws of these
phenomena.

That he might acquire all possible information respecting this
object, he applied himself with unceasing industry to an examina-
tion of the experience of the most eminent medical practitioners,
and endeavoured to collect a sufficient number of isolated fe«ts
from their writings, to erect a structure worthy his ardent exer-
tions; but the symptoms of disease were so imperfectly described,
and were so intimately connected with existing theories, that he
was reluctantly compelled to relinquish any ftirther research in
that direction. Afterwards, he presumed that the application of
pure medicines in their simple forms would afford more satis-
factory results, and therefore watched their operation with the
most careftil solicitude, and accurately recorded their curative
impressions upon a variety of symptoms of disease."

The diligence with which he pursued the study of medicine,
the acumen with which he penetrated it to obtain satisfactory
bases for practice, discovered to him after eight years of prac-
tice, pursued with the most scrupulous caution, that medicine
consisted of a mass of contradictory observations and theories,
and convinced him of the impotence of the ordinary method of

* His thesis was Conspectus affectuum spasmodicorum oetiologicus et therapeuticus.

. HAHNEMANN'S RENUNCIATION OF PRACTICE. 33

cure: and finding the more deeply he penetrated, the more un- chap. iv.
satisfectory were the results, he became disgusted, and deter-
mined to relinquish medical practice, for he could not con-
scientiously use means, concerning which there existed little or
no positive knowledge. To repeat in his own words, as con-
tained in his letter to Hufeland —

" It was agony to me to walk always in darkness, with no other
light than that which could be derived from books, when I had
to heal the sick, and to prescribe according to such or such an
hypothesis concerning diseases, substances, which owed their
places in the Materia Medica to an arbitrary decision. I could
not conscientiously treat the unknown morbid condition of my
sufiering brethren by these unknown medicines, which, being very
active substances, may (unless applied with the most rigorous
exactness, which the physician cannot exercise, because their
peculiar effects have not yet been examined,) so easily occasion
death, or produce chronic affections and chronic maladies, often
more difficult to cure than the original disease. •

" To become thus the murderer and the tormentor of my bre-
thren, was to me an idea so frightful and overwhelming, that soon
after my marriage, I renounced the practice of medicine, that I
might no longer incur the risk of doing injury,"

The honesty, the open-eyedness, and the conscientiousness that
led him to the perception of these views, and to experience the
agony which they produced, caused him to take this step of re-
nouncing the practice of medicine : a step, which none but such
a genius as Hahnemann could have taken ; such step requiring a
high intellectual power to recognize these views, and a high moral
power so to appreciate their force, as to create an amount of
conviction, equivalent to the enduring the sacrifice of the means
of support.

His love of truth was rewarded by the great Author of
truth.

Hahnemann became a father. His children became subject to
disease.. This roused his mind to fresh activity, to fresh mor-
tification at the impotency of the medical art. He asked himself
" where could I find assistance, sure assistanqe, without theories
of medicines, which rest only on vague observations ; often
even on pure conjectures ; with these innumerable doctrines re-
.; E

34 HIS CONVICTION OF THE CREATOR'S GOODNESS.

CHAP. IV. garding diseases which compose our systems of diseases or
nosologies ?

" Where then can sure help be found ? exclaimed the sorrowing
father, overwhelmed with the complaint and sujQFering of his dear
children. Every where around him he beheld the darkness and
dreariness of a desert : no consolation for his oppressed heart,"

Against the thought, urged by many, that it is not in the
nature of medicine itself to attain to a high degree of certainty,
Hahnemann's benevolent mind rose rebellious.

'^ Blasphemous, shameful thought ! I exclaimed with indigna-
tion. What ! could not the infinite wisdom of the spirit which
animates the universe produce means of allaying the suffering
caused by diseases which, nevertheless, it has permitted to afflict
mankind?

" Is it possible that the sovereign paternal goodness of Him,
whom no name can worthily designate ; who provides liberally
for wants even of animalculae invisible to us ; who sheds with
profusion life and well-being through all the creation— should be
capable of an act of tyranny, and not have willed that man, made
after his image, should be able, with the divine inspiration which
penetrates and animates him, to find, in the immensity of created
things, means suited to deliver his brethren fi'om suffering often
worse than death itself? Could He, the father of all, behold
with indifference the martyrdom to which diseases condemn the
best beloved of his creatures, and not permit the genius of man
(which, however, makes all things possible), to discover an easy
and sure method of contemplating them under their real aspect,
and of examining medicines to learn in what case each of them
may be useful* — ^may famish a real and certain assistance ? I
had rather renounce all the systems in the world than iadmit such
a blasphemous idea."

Not being able to find out this method, he devoted his time
principally to the study of the sciences of chemistry and miner-
alogy, and to the translation of a great number of interesting
papers fi'om the English, 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 fi:om hina

HAHNEMANN'S SKILL AS A CHEMIST. 35

its name, mercurius soluhilis Hahnemanni, — his researches on CHAP. IV.
poisoning by arsenic,* with legal evidence of imperative imports
ance to medical jurisprudence, and the celebrated Hahnemann
nean wine-test, which exposed and prevented the adulteration of
wines with lead, conferred upon him an honourable reputation
among the medical philosophers of the continent.

In one of his works he developed plans for the more scientific
instruction of the apothecary, a work which brought him into
great repute with the apothecaries, of Germany, and exercised a
most beneficial influence on that branch of medicine. In fact,
all his writings, including the many interesting notes appended
to his translations, " denote the learned and thoroughly accom-
plished physician, the strict and conscientious man, the earnest
inquirer after truth and the profound observer."

Among the works which came under his notice, the celebrated
work on Materia Medica, or Medicines, by the illustrious Dr.
Cullen, was one. This was in the year 1790.

• Professor Christison, in his standard work on Poisons, has recognized Hahne-
mann's labours in reference to the testing of arsenic. Referring to Hahnemann's
work, *• Uber die Arsenic Vergiftung," (Upon the poisoning by Arsenic,) he thus
writes, p. 260 : — "It is stated by Hahnemann in his elaborate work on Arsenic,'*
Ac. He quotes Hahnemann's work, firsts in relation to the quantity of arsenic that
water by boiling will take up ; second^ in reference to the test of oxide of arsenic ;
third, as to the quantity of oxide of arsenic soluble in water at blood heat with agi-
tation ; fourthf as to the quantity in the solid state that Hahnemann professed him-
self able to detect. Professor Christison quotes Hahnemann, fifthly/, in proof that
the garlic odour of the arsenious acid vapour is not a satisfactory test. Hahnemann
states, that' " phosphorus, phosphoric acid and the phosphates give out a similar
odour" ; sixthly, that this is not a satisfactory test, because, further, a small portion
of vegetable or animal matter obscures entirely the alliaceous smell ; seventhly, in
reference to the solubility of the sulphurets of arsenic in water ; eighthly, in reference
to the time in which arsenic taken is fatal ; ninthly, in reference to the effects
of arsenic, ae a poison on the limbs ; ienthly, as to the effect on the hair and the
skin ; eleventhly, as to the effects of the famous poison o^tta tofana, in reference to
which Christison remarks, *' an equally vigorous and somewhat clearer account of
the symptoms is given by Hahnemann ; twelfthly, in reference to fatal results in two
cases, reported by Hahnemann, where arsenic had been applied to a cutaneous dis-
ease of the scalp.

It is quite certain, that had not Hahnemann exhibited great tact and extensive
research in reference to arsenic. Professor Christison could not have been able to
hjive quoted from him so many particulars ; and had not Professor Christison believed
Hahnemann's statements to be those of a conscientious and an accurate observer, he
would not have quoted them at all.

E 2

36 DISCOVERY OF THE HOMCEOPATHIC LAW. '

CHAP. IV. In translating the article on Peruvian bark,^ he was much
struck with the account given of the febrifiige, or fever-expelling
properties of this valuable remedial agent. He determined to try
it upon himself, (a mark of that decision of mind so essential to
investigation), and being in the enjoyment of robust health, be-
gan his experiments. The first dose produced symptoms in him
similar to those of intermittent fever or ague, which bark so often
effectually cures: the resemblance between his symptoms and
those which are presented in intermittent fever, for which he
knew this remedy was feimous, so struck him, that he was, in a
moment of inspiration, thus breathed upon his dormant genius,
led to glance at, and to discover the first lines of the truth,
written in creation, that the law, on which the beneficial applica-
tion of all medicines is founded, is this, that medicines cure dis-
eases by their power to produce, when taken by healthy persons,
symptoms similar to the diseases they cure, or to quote Hahne-
mann's words, " that medicines can cure those diseases only,
which are analogous to those which they themselves are capable
of producing."

Hahnemann had as yet discovered only the first traces of this
^ aw. He had discovered that Peruvian bark, administered to a
healthy person, produces symptoms, similar to those, which are
present in the disease, which it cures.

But Hahnemann was not one of those men whom Lord Bacon
described as "beginning to build ships with materials not sufiicient
to make boats." He continued his experiments on himself, his
wife, his family, and his iriends, for a period of six years^ experi-
menting with different medicines, and found the same truth to be
exhibited in reference to the various medicines he tried, namely,
that they produced, when taken by a healthy person, the same
symptoms as are presented in those diseases, which these medi-
cines are known to have cured.

• Regarding the effects of Peruvian bark, some writers have denied the effects
produced on Hahnemann. They assert that Peruvian bark will not produce inter-
mittent fever in a ^healthy man ; that is, their assertion of impossibility is to be
deemed equivalent to the destruction of a fact. They show their ignorance of even
allopathic medical literature, in thus asserting. In the Journal of Health and Disease,
page 209, vol. iii., will be found a full statement of the facts collected even by
allopathists demonstrating the accuracy of Hahnemann's observations.

Hahnemann's works. 37

It may be remarked here, that other observers had noted, but chap, iv.
without any reference to the existence of the law, that mercury,
if taken improperly, produces diseases exactly similar to those
it cures : that the itch is cured by sulphur, and sulphur taken,
others have suggested and Hahnemann has established, will
produce an eruption similar to the itch.

After six years' patiently and carefully conducted experiments,
Hahnemann, at length, in the year 1796, published his views in
a periodical, namely, Hufeland's Journal, therein proclaiming the
grand principle, already stated, namely, that diseases are cured
most quickly, safely, and effectually, by medicines, which are
capable of producing in a healthy person symptoms, similar
to those existing in the diseases. These views were published
under the modest title, " Concerning a new principle for dis-
covering the curative virtues of medicines." Notwithstanding
sneering animadversions were the only reply he received, and he
gained no co-operation to aid him in the inquiries, which the
principle if investigated as to its truth necessitated, he determined
to tread the path of enquiry.

StiU pursuing his investigations with unwearied assiduity,
cheered, no doubt, by the nobleness of the pursuit in which he
was engaged, he fifteen years after the discovery of the principle,
presented to the world a work, in two volimies, modestly en-
titled, " Fragmenta de viribus medicamentorum positivis, sive
obviis in corpore sano ;" (Fragments connecting the positive
or obvious powers of medicines on healthy persons.) This
work, containing the results pf his experiments with twenty-
seven medicines on himself, his family, his zealous friends and
disciples, was published in 1805.

This work, the product of fifteen years' diligent research and
experiment on his own person and on the persons of those, who
had the. zeal and the martyr-like spirit to endure the sufierings
necessarily produced, was answered either by indifierence or by
downright ridicule.

In 1810, having had five years more experience, he published
his work, " Medicine founded on Experience," forming the basis
of his " Organon of the healing Art," (Organon der Heilkunst).

In this work he attempts theoretically to explain and demon-
strate the homoeopathic law, indicates the manner of its applica-

38 HAHNEMANN'S MATERIA MBDICA.

CHAP. IV. tion to individual cases of disease, teaches the art of preparing
medicines for this purpose, and offers the rules according to
which the effects of medicines are to be investigated upon the
system in health.

This work was received with amazement : as Dr. Hering ob-
serves, " before a single scientific inquirer of reputation had made
any experiments, and thus investigated the truth of the new
doctrine, the reviewers with very learned and suitable conclu-
sions, proved that the author's theories were good for nothing,
and that the small doses were ridiculous. To no purpose did
Hahnemann urge to the investigation of the fundamental prin-
ciples of his doctrines by experiment, it was considered not at all
worth the pains."

Amid all this opposition a small band of faithful followers
assembled round Hahnemann who aided his inquiries by experi-
ments on their own persons. Some of them have been or are, as
might be supposed, the leading physicians in Germany and con-
tinental Europe. With the information collected from the ex-
periments on himself, his family, and these attached followers,
Hahnemann, in 1811, published the first edition of his Materia
Medica Pura, a work which, being the result of continued expe-
riments and the most careful observations, was not completed
till ten years after, in 1821.

In the mean time Hahnemann was effecting many extraordi-
nary cures in Leipzick, where he taught and practised; these cures
excited, not, as they ought to have done, the approbation and the
imitation of his medical brethren, but the ill will and the envy.

Among the cures effected by him one in particular arrested
public attention. Klockenbring, one of the German literati, had
become deranged, having had his vanity and pride intensely
wounded by an epigrammatic shaft from Kotzebue. He was
confined in the lunatic hospital, founded by Duke Ernest of
Gothe, at Geoi^enthal. Hahnemann restored him to sanity.

In consequence of the united intrigues of the apothecaries and
physicians in Leipzick, Hahnemann was now obliged to leave that
city, wherein he had for the space of thirty years, been elaborat-
ing his new art, where he had practised it successftiUy, and where
he had publicly taught, and gained his disciples. The laws
which prohibit the dispensing of medicines by physicians, under

PERSECUTION OF HAHNEMANN. 39

a heavy penalty, and permit it only to the privileged apothecaries, CHAP. IV.
were brought to bear against him. Hahnemann who always
gave the simple medicine, in his entirely novel preparations, in
which an extraordinary care and accuracy were indispensable,
could not possibly commit this labour, upon which the certainty
of the result, and the welfere of his patients depended, to the
apothecaries : who, not at all &miliar in such unheard of niceties,
regarded the whole business as absurd, and whose pecuniary in-
terests had to suflFer. thereby, quite as much as the pecuniary in-
terests of the patients were benefitted.

In one of those happy moments of inspiration he threw out the
apposite question : — " Had you interdicted Raphael, Titian, and
Da Vinci firom mixing their own colours, where would now have
been their master pieces ?" When therefore, in spite of his de-
fence, the judges wrested the dispensation laws against him, he
would no more practice in opposition to the laws, and in his old
age he left his native land, obeyed the call of a German prince
(who granted him the privilege of practising his profession in
his dominions), and went to reside at Anhalt Coethen.

At Anhalt Coethen Hahnemann found an asylum. Ferdi-
nand, the duke of this little German state, has made himself a
name of greatness by the noble and imaltered and generous sup-
port he extended to Hahnemann during the fifteen years he
resided ^t Coethen; the duke appointed him one of his councillors.

Hahnemann, here unmolested, carried on his medical inquiries.
His views and practical success had collected around him many
disciples and an immense number of patients ; in fact, as Dr.
Gray remarks, " the master spirit of Hahnemann transformed
the quiet Coethen into a medical Athens, where a Brunnow,
Miihlenbein, Stapf and Moritz Miiller, successfiiUy contri-
buted their energies to perfect the edifice which he had so well
designed.

The finiit of these labours, carried on for twelve years, was
seen in the publication, when in his seventy-third year, of a work
" On the Cure of Chronic Diseases ;" " a communication," Dr,
Hering remarks, " concerning a new and most important species
of remedies, a treasury of new observations and experience
scarcely to be overlooked, with entirely new and peculiar direc-
tions for the employment of these remedies in disease.

40 HONOURS CONFERRED ON HAHNEMANN.

CHAP. IV. A circumstance transpired aboiit this time in Hahnemann's
life which is worthy of notice. He had been a widower for some
time. Miss Marie Melonie d'Hervilley Gohier, who, as an inva-
lid, had exhausted in vain the resources of allopathy, was cured
by Hahnemann. This lady became the wife of Hahnemann, and
not only his wife but his devoted disciple.* Peschier of Geneva
thus alludes to the union of Hahnemann to his wife : —

" Hahnemann is to his wife a more than mortal existence ;
she adores Mm — ^we cannot represent the sentiments by a differ-
ent expression; it seems as if she had unreservedly consecrated
her life to the residue of his ; she is never absent from him ;
she only exists as a shadow of himself; she is his alter ego^

Soon after this Hahnemann was elected by the Gallican Ho-
moeopathic Society of Paris, honorary president ; this was fol-
lowed by his settling in Paris.

Dr. Gray, who visited him at this time at Paris, thus describes
the venerable philosopher : —

" Hahnemann, who is now approaching his 90th year, recalls
in his venerable appearance the ideal of a Seneca or Plato, an
Aristotle 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 beneath a
small and close German cap, after the fashion of a University
student. His capacious head, of the finest Saxon mould, pre-
sente(J a fiill broad face, expressive of a noble benevolence and
high intelligence, while the illumined eye and speaking lip indi-
cated the ceaseless energy and unyielding determination that
have enabled him, amid the most disheartening embarrassments,

* ** Mademoiselle d'Hervilly, on consenting to the marriage, insisted upon
two conditions:

1. That she was not to receive any portion 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 distribute his immediately available funds
among his children. The first condition was incorporated into the marriage con-
tract, and the second was directly complied with. A large German fortune
was consequently divided among his children, Hahnemann retaining the interest
only of 16,000 dollars for his immediate use, which surplus was finally to be appor-
tioned in the same manner. Madame Hahnemann would accept of no other com-
pliment than a plain, gold marriage-ring."

HONOUR PAID TO HAHNEMANN. 41

to achieve the reward of his proudest aspirations — ^the triumph OHAP. iv.
of a celestial truth.

" I had anticipated many exhibitions of the progress of age
in the physical condition of Ebhnemann. But his firmness of
figure, activity of movement and imimpaired sight and hearing,
are characteristic of the perfect health he enjoys, and form no
slight or inconclusive commentary upon the excellence of the
Homoeopathic regimen he has so scrupulously and so long
observed. His mental fsM^ulties seem, also, in the judgment of
all who have known him long, to retain the vigour of former *
days ; and if I may be allowed to judge by the masterly criti-
cisms and powerfiil arguments I have heard fall from his lips,
the apostle of modem Germany has not succumbed to the
ordinary ravages of time, but, in manhood and strength of in-
tellect is, in his green old age,

*'Lord of the lion heart and eagle eye."

Hahnemann lived to enjoy his crown.

" On the occasion of one of his late birth days, a grand
festival was organized by the disciples and fiiends of this good
old sage: and the array of noblemen, gentlemen, men of
science and letters, was of a character to diffuse an impres-
sion auspicious to Homoeopathy to the remotest boundaries
of civilized Exirope. The immense saloon of Hahnemann's
residence was crowded by the admirers who assembled to
do him homage. In the centre of the saloon stood his
marble bust, executed by the celebrated David, a strong
personal friend and ardent adherent of Homoeopathy. The
bust was crowned with a golden chaplet of laurel inter-
woven with the flowers of Cicuta, Belladonna and Digitalis,
through which were interspersed the engraved names of the most
eminent homoeopathists in Europe and America. One of
the distinguished homoeopathists of Paris, Dr. Leon Simon,
attended by Lord Elgin, Count de Guidi and others, now took
the old gentleman by the hand and conducted him to the gar-
landed 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 the

42 HIS PROCEEDING IN TAKING CASE.

CBIAP. IV. respective composers withthrilling effect. The talents of such
German musical virtuosi as Kalkbrenner, Panofka and Hate
contributed to the impressive festivities."

Hahnemann, though at this age, still laboured.

It may be interesting to notice the method of his labours.
May this method be diligently adhered to by his followers.

'' Hahnemann records with great precision the totality of symp-
toms or entire group of sufferings of the patient, inclusive of
ail constitutional ailments, previously manifested in his own
person, or of any hereditary taints characteristic of his progeni-
tors. On the completion of his record the symptoms of the
disease are most carefully arranged 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 JRiickerfs
Repertory, from whence he culls every remedy the emergency
of the disease demands. As he pursues this course towards
every patient, it can be readily conceived 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 reflection, this medical
philosopher not only exerts himself to accomphsh cures, but,
if possible, to perfect the science of Homoeopathy by keeping
up a course of continual observations on the action of remedies
whether ancient or recent, which are daily assayed in the
crucibles of experience.

The Register of his Consultations, every day increasing in
magnitude, forms at this moment a stupendous Medical Encyclo-
pedia. 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 venerable octogenarian, who has
never used spectacles, we can testify to writing as fine and
beautifiil as the mignonne of Didot. But this is only a part
of the daily occupation of this great man ; medical correspond-
ence holds an important place in the occupation of his time,
and this is truly immense. The collection of his received letters

HIS CHARACTER AS A PHILOSOPHER. 43

which are subsequently arranged into volumes, forms no trifling CHAP. iv.
compilation ; and the repertory alone of his letters, containing
the names of his correspondents and the dates of their missives,
is an enormous volume, in folio, which is kept under l;he
superintendance of Miss Hahnemann."

That such was the regular course of his proceedings, the two
following facts are worthy of record : —

A gentleman from Mexico had come to England on purpose to
consult the author for a partial bUndness, which had been caused
by the excessive use or abuse of mercurial and other medicines.
His case was one so peculiar that the author deemed it his duty,
for the patient's sake, to recommend him to see Hahnemann at
Paris. He went ; saw Hahnemann, who told him he thought he
could cure him in about a year, but that he must reside in Paris
and see him weekly. The gentleman, not wishing to stay in
Paris, wanted to be guided by Hahnemann otherwise. Hahne-
mann decUned, and gave up the case rather than deviate from the
course which he deemed necessary for the patient's benefit.

The second fact relates to a patient, who, being about to go to
Paris, wished to consult Hahnemann. He did consult him, and
the following letter, besides showing the excellent French of the
venerable man, shows his adherence to his own rules respecting
minuteness of dose, and manifests at the same time the energy
of his mind. The letter follows in lithograph, as exhibiting the
beauty and the firmness of the hand-writingof the aged philosopher.

To conclude this notice of Hahnemann.

Hahnemann had all the characteristics of a philosopher.

He felt, as all great discoverers and inventors have felt, the
dignity both of the truth he discovered, and of himself as the
discoverer of a great truth.

In writing to one of his medical friends he thus presents his
perceptions : —

" 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 benefaction he has
allowed to descend upon the earth through my humble agency,

44 HIS DIGNITY AND HUMILITY.

CUAP. iv. for I have been but a feeble instrument of that Omnipotence be-
fore which we all bow in humility."

Holding the dignity of the truth he discovered, he despised all
extrinsic aid to foster it.

" Our art requires no political levers, no worldly decorations.
At present it grows with slow progress amid the abundance of
weeds which luxuriate about it ; it grows unobserved, from an
unlikely acorn into a little plant; soon may its head be seen over-
topping the rank weedy herbage. Only wait; — ^it is striking
deep its roots in the earth ; it is strengthening itself unperceived,
but all the more certainly ; and in its own time it will increase,
till it becomes an oak of God, whose arms, unmoved by the
wildest storm, stretch in all directions, that the suffering children
of men may be revived under its beneficent shadow."

Feeling as he did his dignity to be not in himself as a man of
talent, but in him, as a discoverer of a truth, he thus writes to a
correspondent who flattered him.

" One word more; no more encomiums of me, I altogether dis-
like them ; for I feel myself to be nothing more than an upright
man who merely does his duty. Let us express our regard for
one another only in simple words, and conduct indicating mutual
respect.

" What we perform in this department is a religious work for
the good of humanity."

He felt that the promulgation of the truth must excite opposi-
tion, but this he disregarded : he remarks : —

♦' K the path, which I discovered, while setting at defiance all
prevalent prejudices, and simply contemplating Nature, be as
directly at variance with all the dogmata of the schools, as were
the bold sentences, which Luther nailed to the Schloss-kirche
of Wittenberg, opposed to the spirit of a crippling hierarchy, the
fault lies neither with Luther's truth nor mine."

Hahnemann thus showed his greatness by standing manftdly
by his truth, disregarding all opposition by his fellow-men.

While self-content in relation to his fellow-men, he felt like
all great men do, intense humility in the sight of his Creator.

Referring to the anxiety experienced during the confinement
of his wife and the fear lest he should lose her, he thus
writes, contemplating the last thirty years : —

niS HUMILITY IN THE SIGHT OF GOD. 45

" Whither are they gone? Do you not believe that the remain- CHAP. I v. •
ing thirty will hasten as quickly ? Then you will be as near
your departure from this preliminary school of earth as he who
now writes, and who cannot reckon upon having more than a few
brief years to spend among men, until the time comes for him
to uncloak himself of his present garment of corruption, and in
calm joy, to enter into the kingdom of the All-loving One.

In such an hour I have made an inviolable vow to cherish
within me simplicity, honesty and truth; and partly in self-
culture as becomes a denizen of eternity, partly in the benefec-
tion of my neighbours, to find contentment and happiness
beneath the eye of the Father of all living — ^the God of truth —
whose universal presence always surrounds us ; from whom we
cannot conceal the inmost thoughts of our souls, and before
whose holiness the holiest of us stands condenmed. So have I
striven in that heart-quailing hour to fashion an inner life, such
as is required for our eternal existence, and our passage into the
land of perfection. Vainly do we attempt to conceal from our-
selves in our younger years, that to this end alone we exist ;
irresistibly we are borne on toward this exalted goal. How fast
have the thirty years of our life vanished."

His intense humility in the sight of the Author of truth is
thus expressed by him : —

" It is perhaps time that I quit this earth, but I leave it all,
and always, in the hands of my God."

He also said on the same occasion —

" My head is ftill of truth for the good of mankind, and I have
no wish to live but in so far as I can serve my fellow-men."

When his dying moment arrived, and his devoted wife re-
marked to him —

" Providence owes you a mitigation of your sufferings, since,
in your life, you have alleviated the sufferings of so many, and
yourself endured so much ! * Me,' replied the dying sage,
' Why then me ? Each man here below works as God gives him
strength, and meets with a greater or less reward at the judgment-
seat of man ; but he can claim no reward at the judgment-seat
of God. God owes me nothing, but I owe God much — yea, all.' "

The progress of Hahnemann from childhood presents all the
elements of true greatness.

46 HAHNEMANN'S CALUMNIATORS.

CHAP. IV. When all these fects, when this portraiture of the man are
borne in mind, will not every ingenuous person feel indignation at
the base vulgarity of those of the professed leaders of medical
literature, who are powerful only in the strength of their vul-
garity, who have dared to denounce this noble-minded, this high-
toned moral philosopher, this bower-down of his selfhood at
the shrine of duty, as an "impostor," as a "knave."

Such was Hahnemann's progress: its results may be reviewed.
He discovered that the feet, established in reference to Peruvian
bark, namely, that bark, being a specific for ague, depends
upon its power of producing a disease similar to ague : that the
principle, embodied in this fact, applies to all other specifics for
diseases, these owing their specific properties to the power of
producing symptoms exactly similar to those diseases, in the
cure of which they are specific. He found fiirther, that this
principle applies not only to the medicines, commonly called
specifics, but that all medecines are specifics, and that each
medicine is a specific, a certain cure for the disease, to the symp-
toms of which it is able to excite corresponding symptoms in a
healthy person : and, at length, so universal was the principle
found to be, that Hahnemann stated it in the paraphrastic
statement —

** Similia similibus curantur*' — " Likes by likes are cured.*'

Such then is the principle. But to impress it still more, it
may be stated in another form. Hahnemann found, that every
individual medicine produces a particular group of symptoms,
which may be regarded, being deviations firom the usual mani-
festations of life, as a disease ; and this group of symptoms,
being produced by a medicinal agent, the disease thus produced
being different firom that, produced fi'om other causes, he desig-
nates a medicinal disease : This was step first : Hahnemann
fiirther knew that certain natural diseases, that is, diseases, pro-
duced by causes not medicinal, present certain groups of symp-
toms : St^p second : He then established, that there is such a
relation established between the groups of symptoms, produced
by a medicine, and the group of symptoms, produced in a disease,
that, if the medicine, producing this group, is given to a patient,
labouring under the corresponding group, the patient must be
cured : in fact, that the remedy is the specific to the disease.

ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE LAW. 47

CHAPTER V.

lUustrationa of the HomoeopatMc law presented in Nature, —
Curious fa^t in regard to Sanctus. — Dr. KentisKa hum
liniment, — Difference between like and identical. — Peculiar
effect of ipeca^cuanha, — Illustrations of the Homoeopathic
principle in relation to the mind, — The Scripture rule, —
Shakspeare, — Hippocrates. — John Hunter* s views corroho^
rative of the Homoeopathic law. — Vaccination, — JTie simi-
larity between small pox and cow pock, — Experiments of
Dr. Bazil Thiele and of Mr, Ceeley,

The law put forth by Homoeopathists being one which is in CHAP. v.
opposition to those hitherto deemed regulatory in medicine, and
having, from its character of novelty, a position in which it is
likely to be scanned with exactness, and to be met with doubt, it
seems meet to consider whether the probabilities, derived from
the observation of the facts in nature, will afford any evidence
favouring the law itself. In fact, as this is a new principle, a
newly discovered law, leading to quite a new practice, it may be
advantageous to seek to justify it more ftiUy from nature by
noticing facts illustrative.

Before enumerating these illustrations, let it be remembered,
that the homoeopathic mode of cure is founded upon this, that the
inducing a medicinal disease^ in symptoms similar to those pre-
sented in natural disease, will cure the natural disease.

You knock yourself. You rub the part knocked — that is, you

use a succession of gentle hut rapid
hnockings.

You are palsied. You use strychnine, which produces

palsy.

48 DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LIKE AND IDENTICAL.

CHAP. V. Ton bum your flngert !>/ a hot cinder or Tou hold the finger to the fire— that is,
a hot iron. you put heat, the same thing, in imoOur

form, to your finger.

To his friend, Mr. Peter Stuart, of Liverpool, the ship-owner
who first supplied his ship^s crew with homoeopathic remedial
means, the author is indebted for the following interesting illus-
ration. — Jone^^a History of the Ghriatian Church, vol. i., p. 249.

'' The most barbarous indignities were inflicted upon Sanctus,
the deacon, to extort from him something injurious to the gospel,
which he sustained in a maimer more than human ; and such
was the firmness with which he resisted the most intense suffer-
ings, that to every question put to him by his tormentors, he had
uniformly one reply — * I am a ehristian.' This provoked the
executioners so much that they applied red hot plates of iron
to the tenderest parts of his body, till he was one wound, and
scarcely retained the appearance of the human form. Having
left him a few days in this ulcerated condition, they hoped to
make him more exquisitely sensible to fresh tortures, but the
renewal of similar applications, while he was dreadfully swelled,
was found to have the efiect of reducing him to his former shape
and restoring him to the use of his limbs."

You scald yourself. You apply hot spirits of turpentine and

Dr. Kentish's bum* liniment; but ycu
do not do identically by scalding youi-
self again.

Some seem not to recognize the difference between the like
and the identical. The homoeopathist does not say if a man has
overloaded his stomach by taking one dinner, he is to cure him-
self by taking another dinner ; or that a man, who is drunk, is
to cure himself by an additional debauch ; but he maintains, that
to cure the consequences of an overloaded stomach he is to take

* In the London Pharmacopseia, published by authority, there is a preparation,
called linimentum terebinthinse, or turpentine liniment, or Dr. Kentish's bum lini-
ment, consisting of resin, wax, and oil of turpentine. This was introduced in the
Pharmacopseia, haying been used with such extraordinarily beneficial results by Dr.
Kentish, a physician, who practised in mining districts, where scalds and bums are
so very frequent. The plan of this gentleman was to wash the scalded or burned
part with hot spirit of turpentine, and then to cover a rag with the liniment, itself
highly heating and stimulating, and apply it over the burned or scalded sur&ce.

ILLUStRATlONS OF THE HOMEOPATHIC LAW.

a medicine, which has the power of producing symptoms similar CHAP. v.
to those, which an overloaded stomach produces ; and that to
cure drunkenness — ^that is, to remove its effects, the person must
take that medicine, which has the power of producing symptoms
similar to those produced by the intoxicating liquor taken.

Tou are frost bitten.

Tou rub with snow, a result of frost, but
you do not expose yourself to the iden-
tical frost again.

If the homoeopathic law is violated, and the cold feet are ex-
posed to the heat of the fire, chilblains are caused.

You are griped.

You are relaxed in the bowels.

You are sick.

You have asthma.

You use colocynth, which gripes.

You use rhubarb, which relaxes the
bowels.

You use antimony, which produces sick-
ness.

You use ipecacuanha, which produces an
asthma.

A medical friend can never remain in his pharmacy room when
any prescription containing ipecacuanha is being made up : it
brings on an asthmatic paroxysm. Dr. Chapman, of America,
in his Materia Medica, testified to the power of ipecacuanha in
asthma.

You have sore throat.

You have sweating sickness.

You have strangury.

You inhale chlorine gas, and have induced
a violent wheezing cough with expec-
toration.

You have ague.

Belladonna taken, which, according to Mr.
Wade, produces swelling of the tonsils
and inflammation of the palate, (London
Medical and Physical Journal, 1827,^
will cure it.

Medicines are given which excite sweat ;
and Sennertus, in his work De Febri-
bus IV. cap. 16, relates that the Eng-
lish sweating sickness in 1485, which,
Willis states, carried off at first ninety-
nine patients out of one hundred, was
only subdued by the administration of
sudorifics.

Cantharis, which produces strangury,
will cure it.

Chlorine has become famous in cough
affections, particularly in phthisis.

You give arsenicum, which produces
ague, and it is cured. Hippocrates,
Lancet 280.

50 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE HOMCEOPATHIC LAW.

CHAP. V. In Asiatic cholera there is excessive cold- Dr. Foote, who trarelled in India and
ness. Persia, states, in his Treatise on Asiatic

Cholera, that the Persians treat this
disease with great success hy cold
water.
Your horse is about to shy from fright. You strike him, and, by this other fiight,

prevent his shying.

View this principle in reference to the mind and see its success.

You have grief. ** The theatre often has been resorted to

to remove fits of low spirits, and it is a
singular fact, that a tragedy oftener
dissipates them than a comedy. The
remedy, though distressing to persons,
with healthy minds, is like the tempera-
ture of cold water to persons benumbed
with frost ; it is exactly proportioned
to the excitability of their minds, and
it not only abstracts attention from
themselves but revives their spirits.'*
Dr. Benjamin Rush.

You weep. ** Weep with those who weep." — Bible.

You rejoice. ** Rejoice with them who rejoice." —

Bible.

Fools attempt to cure grief hy laughing. This is the anti-
pathic mode.

Why is sympathy so soothing ? It is the addition of a form
of grief to a form of grief: it is the addition of a form of joy to
joy : we obey the Divine command, divine, and therefore accord-
ant to man's natural constitution, " To weep with those who
weep, and to rejoice with those who rejoice."

** let me join
Griefs to thy griefs, and echo sighs to thine,'*

observes the poet : and Shakspeare, before whom scarcely any
mental emotion seems to have passed unobserved, thus apostro-
phizes in Romeo and Juliet —

** Tut, man ! one fire burns out another's burning,

One pain is lessened by another's anguish ;
Turn giddy, and be holp by backward turning ;

One desperate grief cures with another's languish ;
Take thou some new infection to thy eye,
And the rank poison of the old will die."

Ulrici, in his treatise on Shakspeare and the dramatic art,

ILLUSTRATIONS OP THE HOMEOPATHIC LAW. 51

is criticising the " Taming of the Shrew," and, in referring to CHAP. v.
that part where the feigned violence of Petruchio is the medi-
cine to cure the violent temper of his cursed Kate, remarks,
" a feigned perversity of temper has become the medicine of a -
real disease ; and the drama itself, founded on psychological
observation, is a representation of homoeopathic treatment of the
mind."

The principle of overcoming one action by a similar action
thus occurs in nature. Some cases in which such overcoming,
in connexion with remedial agents, has been manifested under
accidental circumstances, have been noticed : a few more may
be selected.

Hippocrates relates the history of a prevailing cholera mor-
bus, which had resisted the usual remedies, but was accidentally
cured by white hellebore : white hellebore produces, when taken,
a cholera. Book V.

De Hean,* Sarcone,t and Pringle,t cured pleurisies by means
of squill : and Wagner? observes, that this plant produces pleu-
risy and inflammation of the lungs.

Ipecacuanha produces vomiting, and ipecacuanha in homoeo-
pathic doses is a most effectual remedy for vomiting.

Nux vomica produces morning sickness ; and for morning
sickness there is no better remedy than nux vomica in infini-
tesimal doses.

Opium, it is well known, produces constipation : and hence,
under the antipathic system, when the practitioner gives opiates
to induce sleep, he prescribes on the following morning a purga-
tive draught, to obviate the effect of the opiate on the bowels.

Homoeopathists have proved, that opium is one of the best
remedies for constipation, curing some most obstinate constipa-
tions ; and in two diseases, namely, ileus and incarcerated hernia,
in which it has been used with success by the allopathic prac-
titioner, the homoeopathist' sees the reason of its success, the
allopathist does not : he talks, it is true, of its relieving spasm.

* Ratio Medendi, b. I., p. 13.
t Geschichte der Krankeiten in NeapoL torn. i. 175.
I Obseryations on the diseases of the Army, ed. vii. 143.
^ Observationes Clinicae, Lubeck, 1739.

52 ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE HOMOSOPATHIC LAW.

CUA?. V. but this is mere assertion, and exhibits his ignorance of the
nature of the operation of the opium.

Jalap produces colics, and much uneasiness, and agitation, and
it is one of the best remedies for curing the sharp bowel pains,
which attack young children, making them so restless, and caus-
ing them to cry so violently.

Baric has been already referred to, as producing an intermit-
tent fever, like that it cures : Mercury^ as producing a disease
similar to that it cures : Sulphur^ producing the itch, which it
cures.

Illustration might be added to illustration, but these few
will serve to show the general bearing of the principle ; indeed,
it may be asserted with very little hesitation, that all actions
and reactions are dependent upon the homoeopathic law.

The homoeopathic law is the rendering definite, in regard
to the use of remedies, the principle put forth so clearly by
John Hunter. He says, "As I reckon every operation in the
body an action, whether universal or partial, it appears to
me, beyond a doubt, that no two actions can take place in
the same constitution, nor two local diseases in the same part
at the same time.

" It naturally results from this principle, that no two different
fevers can exist in the same constitution, nor in the same part,
at one and the same time.

^' A patient may have the scrofula, scurvy, lues, small-pox,
&c., at the same time ; all this is indeed possible, but then no
two of them can exist in the same part of the body at the same
time."^

Such were the views of this extraordinary man, and homoe-
pathy verifies them. The homoeopathic principle, discovered
by Hahnemann, demonstrates the acuteness and the accuracy
of Hunter ; homoeopathy stating that it is impossible that two
similar diseases, " two different fevers," to use Hunter's phrase,
can exist in the same constitution at the same time ; and the
homoeopathic physician, feeling this, labours to discover the

* John Hunter's Treatise on the Blood, &o. — Fourth Edition, 1794, Intro-
duction, pages 4, 5.

VACCINATION HOMCBOPATHIC, 53

medicine which will produce a similar disease ; he administers CHAP. v.
that and cures the patient.

As medical director to the Royal Jennerian and London Vac-
cine Institution twenty years, the author has vacciaated upwards
of one hundred and twenty thousand children, and has seen
thousands, who have been protected through life from the small
pox, by the small quantity of vaccine virus introduced into their
systems early in life. What is this but a disease, homoeopathic
to small pox, preventing small pox.*

* ** Experiments of late years hare proved that, if yaccinia and variola are not
identical, they are, at least, undoubtedly modifications of one miastti, and give
rise to very similar symptoms.

Dr. Basil Thiele of Kasan (Russia) inoculated a cow with smallpox matter, and
found that by so doing he could produce the true vaccinia, which was afterwards
serviceable for vaccination. On the 3rd day after the inoculation, a hardness is
perceived in the cellular tissue of the udder ; on the 5th, a vaccine-like pustule is
formed ; on the 7th and 9th, this contains a clear lymph ; from the 9th to the 11th
it begins to dry, and leaves a small superficial cicatrix. The matter so obtained can
be either immediately employed, or kept for some time between glass. Dr. Thiele* s
first experiments were made in 1836, and successftilly repeated in 1838. Since that
time the subject has been admirably examined in this country by Dr. Ceely, (Trans, of
Med. and Surg. Assoc, vol. viii., for 1840), who has fully corroborated by his own
experiments the observations of Dr. Thiele, whose trials were not known in this
country at the time Dr. Ceely made his investigations, which makes the confirmation
even more satisfactory. The subject had been previously investigated, however, by
Dr. Sunderland (Med. Gaz., Nov. 1831.)

** The fundamental identity of the two diseases is further illustrated by other ex-
periments of Dr. Thiele, which show, that, by being subjected to a very simple pro-
cess, the variolous can be converted into the vaccine matter. The lymph from
smallpox must be kept for ten days between pieces of glass waxed together, and then
diluted with warm cow-milk, after which it assumes the appearance of conmion vac-
cine matter. Vaccination with this produces large pustules, and the common vaccine
fever appears twice ; the first time between the 3rd and 4th days, and again more
severely between the 11th and 14th. The redness of the circumference is more
marked than in ordinary vaccination, and sometimes very small pustules appear.
The cicatrix is larger and deeper than common, and its margin is at times sharp.
When the operation is successively repeated upon 10 different persons, inoculating
one from the other, the pox becomes more and more like the vaccinia until it is im-
possible to distinguish it. If there be no consecutive fever, the inoculation may be
made from arm to arm without dilution with milk. If this rule be not attended to,
then true smallpox appears. These observations were taken from experiments on
about 3000 persons.*' (Fletcher's Pathology, note by Editors, p. 137. See also
Bulletin de TAcad. Roy. de M6d6cine, Janv. 1841. Also Edin. Med. and Surg.
Journ., July, 1841, p. 290.)

•' A more striking resemblance between the two diseases, though a much more

54: VACCINATION HOMCEOPATHIC.

CHAP. V. Numerous other evidences* might be brought to show that
there is a homoeopathy in nature : that the remedies, most suc-
cessful in curing diseases imder the old systems, owe their efficaxjy
entirely to their homoeopathicity to the diseases for which they
have been employed : and that the wonderful cures, sometimes
effected by accident, owe their production to the medicines pre-
scribed being those homoeopathic to the disease, in which they
were so successfully given. This view will be more ftdly illus-
trated in a subsequent chapter.

rare occurrence in cowpox, is what may be called a crop of secondary eruptions. I
do not recollect that these have been recorded by more than three writers.*' (Adams's
Popular View of Vaccine Inoculation, p. 160, Lond. 1807.)

The three instances referred to are those noticed by the Rev. Mr. Hall (Med.
Joum., vol. ii. p. 402). Another of two cases in Madeira (same Journal, vol. ix.,
p. 309), and the third by M. Halle, to be met with in Med. and Chir. Review,
vol. XV., p. 6, Miscel. In this paper the author notices several anomala which ap-
peared during a general vaccination at Lucca ; among the rest he remarks eruptions
of pustules over the whole surface of the body, which took place at the time of the
appearance of the areola round the inoculated part. These eruptions, which might
easily be mistaken for variolous, differed, however, essentially from them in the
manner of their formation, in the order in which they dried away, and especially in
the nature of the fluid they contained.

We have seen a well-marked instance of eruption occurring in this city, on the
person of a dairy-maid, where the original pustule was visible on the inside of the
middle finger, and the greater part of the body covered with a pustular eruption,

A general eruption was also observed at the H6pital Cochin (British and For. Med.
Review, No. xxv., Jan. 1842, p. 247). — ZV. Black's Principles and Practice of
Homoeopathy, p. 43, 44.

* Those, wishing to prosecute further these illustrations, will find in the Appen-
dix many interesting facts. See Appendix.

THE CHARACTERISTICS OF SCIENCE. 00

CHAPTER VI.

The characteristics of science ; certainty^ simplicity^ power, —
The want of certainty in the old-system medicine ; testimo-
nies by its practitioners : its presence in the Homoeopathic
system, — T?ie want of faith in the practitioners of the old-
system medicine. — Quotations from the writings of Cowan,
Forbes, Feryusson, Bostock, Magendie, and others.

The results of mind must be manifestative of the mind whence CHAP. VI.
they come. The Creator, as a God of order, must have estab-
lished order in the creation, that is, must have impressed the
I character of the Divine Mind on the results of that mind's
action.

The fact is so : the phenomena of the universe present regu-
larity, i. e. order. The human mind is led by this regularity, and
also by the consequent uniformity of phenomena, to seek for the
caiise of such regularity ; and, in so searching, the philosopher
carefully links the phenomenon consequent with the phenomenon
antecedent, and thus establishes in his own mind such a fixed
connexion between these phenomena, that he is led to seek for
some term, expressive of the cause of such connexion, and the
term " Law" is that which has been and is used. It is by re-
peatedly exchanging one hypothesis for another that the true
law of nature is at length evolved ; that is, those uniformities,
which exist among a certain set of phenomena, are reduced to
their simplest form of expression."*

* Introduction to the Study of Natural Philosophy, by Tomlinson, p. 7.

56 THE LAWS OF CREATION.

CHAP. VI. Thus man finds that caloric^, applied to a body, causes that
body to occupy a larger space. Repeated experiments with
various bodies still farther demonstrate, that expansion is the
consequent of the application of the antecedent something, caloric.
He sees the connexion ; says, the caloric is the cause of the ex-
pansion ; and deduces at length as a law, fixed in the universe,
CALORIC EXPANDS BODIES. In fact, he recognizes what has
been so well asserted by the Swedish philosopher, " the discern-
ment of universal connexion and continuity amounts to the dis-
covery of truth." — The Animal Kingdom, p. 157, vol. i., Ed.
1843.

Extending his, inquiries man at length attains to natural
science, which is a knowledge of the laws of the Creator. These
laws are characterized by certainty in their results, by simplicity
in their application, by power in their effects, and by their fitness
to explain the phenomena presented in relation to them in the
natural world.

It is a just deduction firom these characteristics of science,
that, if the law which Homoeopathy embodies be true. Homoeo-
pathy must present these characteristics in a marked degree.

The scientific character of Homoeopathy in possessing these
characteristics will perhaps be exhibited most strongly by ex-
hibiting previously the want of these characteristics by the old
system of medicine.

The want of certainty in the old system of medicine is exhibited
in the fact, that the old system Aoa no fixed rule in the use of

A medical periodical, the most objurgatory of Homoeopathy,
is the Lancet, Some of the proofe of this want of certainty in
connexion with the old system practice may, on this account,
be taken from its pages : —

" If the practice of medicine is to he redeemed from the re-
proach of imcertainty, which is at present attached to it, — if as
a science, medicine is to rank with other departments of natural
knowledge, it must be by having all its various branches ad-
vanced, without exception."*

Here is an acknowledgment that uncertainty is at present

* Lancet, page 125, vol. i., 1844.

UNCERTAINTY OF THE OLD SYSTEM MEDICINE. 57

attached to the practice of medicine. There is something want- chap. VI,
ing in order that medicine may be redeemed from the reproach
of uncertainty.

The editor of the same periodical in detailing some of the
causes of the uncertainty, points out an immensity of knowledge
as necessary to be attained before the uncertainty can cease :

" We want, too, to know of what our remedies consist^ — and
what changes they pass through in their uses — ^the part they
take as compounds — or what ftmctions their components seve-
rally perform in the innumerable chemical processes, the decom-
positions and recompositions of organic substances, incessantly
going on within a living organism — ^all this is almost, if not
altogether unknown."

But the lack of the information, necessary in order to the
realization of certainty in reference to the action of medicines,
is stated to be greater even than that already expressed.

" It is not sufficient that the most minute examination of the
tissues of the body and its organs, by the most improved micro-
scopes, should render our knowledge of morbid changes occurring
in disease perfect. If we could attain to a complete interpreta-
tion of physical signs and the fiiUest etiology, (that is, the causes
of diseases), still, without a knowledge of the elementary consti-
tution of the materials of the body, of the aliments, of the
chemical changes these aliments and materials undergo in the
processes of life, and ere they are cast out of the body in the
excretions, our pathology must necessarily be imperfect. Nay,
it is still necessary that we should study these excretions fiirther,
and trace the chemical changes they are subject to under the
influence of remedial agents, and until they are resolved into such
forms as they ultimately take after having served the purposes
of the economy. And, moreover, parallel with our chemico-
pathology must be our investigation into the nature and opera-
tions of remedial agents. It is, perhaps, not saying too much to
aver that there is not a single agent employed in medicine, about
which there is not at present some point to be decided by a more
elaborate chemistry. Scarcely is there one remedy known to be
such; save empirically, the effects of which on the chemical con-
stitution of the fluids, of the solids, of the secretions, are not,
almost, if not altogether, unknown."

58 UNCERTAINTY OP THE OLD SYSTEM MEDICINE.

CHAP. VI. K these matters are necessary to be known in order to enable
the old system practitioner to practice physic with certainty,
and yet are unknown, how uncertain must be the old system
practice.*

But as additional evidence of the want of certainty in the old
system, the following acknowledgment from this same periodical
is peculiarly appropriate :

" No less haziness and imcertainty hang around all our vege-
table remedies, especially those which are indigenous to this
country. The compilers of systems of materia medica and dis*
pensatories are, after all, but compilers. They cannot be ex-
pected to verify the statements they make. Thojre is vwt one
that we are acquainted with who has fairly given the autho-
rities, upon which his accounts of the effects of vegetable remedies
are stated. Nothing therefore is more difficult than to discri-
minate between confiicting opinions, and no part of medicine,
as it is known and practised, is so badly represented in books."

With the acknowledgements here made, that the compilers of
systems of materia medica are not expected to vmfy the state-
ments they make; that the authorities for the effects stated
are hardly ever given; need it be wondered that uncertainly
should prevail in the old system medicine, when, with this want of
authorities medical men of the old system act with medicines
as if all was established. And well may the writer add, as he does :
r— "If the natural philosopher or scientific chemist turn from his
own science to therapeutics, he would be led either to abandon
his confidence in the uniformity and stahility of the laws of
nature, or to infer that the spirit of modem science has not yet
animated \he practical physician '^^

Bichat is held forth as an authority by the editor of the
periodical referred to, and the following is his language : —

" There is not in the Materia Medica — ^that is, in the history
of remedies — ^any general system ; but this science has been by
turns influenced by those who have ruled in medicine. The in-

* It should be understood that the homoeopathist does not regard these as at all
necessary to successful practice ; in fact, he believes that many of the iuquiries here
related are as absurd and impossible as the search afler the philosopher's stone.

t iMMet, 1844, vol. i. p. 464.

UNCERTAINTY OP THE OLD SYSTEM MEDICINE, 59

coherent assemblage of opinions themselves incoherent, it is CHAP. vi.
perhaps, of all the sciences, the best representation of the caprices
of the human mind. What do I say? It is not a science for the
methodic mind ; it is a shapeless assemblage of inexact ideas ;
of observations often puerile ; of deceitful means ; of formulas as
absurdly conceived, as they are festidiously collected. It is said,
' the practice of medicine is disheartening.' I say more— -it is
not in any respect that of a reasoning man, when we draw the

principles in a great measure from our Materia Medica."

Bichat, Anat. Geo, Consid. Gen, tom. i. page 46.

The impossibility of arriving at certainty is established by the
fact that results, after the use of the most directly opposite
means, have been obtained so nearly alike that it is impossible
to detect the difference.

Mr. Simpson, in a letter to the Journal referred to, thus states
his experience: — " Having seenagreatnumber of cases of the worst
kind of typhus fever, in BeljGeist, Dublin, Edinburgh, and London
and having seen all kinds of treatment tried with nearly the
same average success, I was at a loss to account for such contra-
dictory results. I had always heard the subject reasoned on in
a mathematical manner, and, of course, expected precise conse-
quences to given premises — namely, if (as one party say) you
have ten cases of typhus fever, and don't bleed, you are sure to
lose the half of them ; but if you do bleed, you will, to a cer-
tainty, save nine of them. The advocates of the other system
make the same calculations with the same confidence, as to the
results. To my surprise, I foimd the one party neoHy as suc-
cessful as the other, '^

The imcertainty of opinion regarding the most common of
diseases, or, perhaps, more correctly stated, the most common
concomitant of most diseases — namely, fever, is thus attested
by Dr. Bostock : — Cyclopcedia of Practical Medicine^ p. 68.

" Let us apply these remarks to the case of fever, the disease
which has been styled the touchstone of medical theory, and
which may be pronounced to be its opprobrium^ At the termi-
nation of the last century, while the doctrine of Cullen was
generally embraced, typhus fever was called a disease of debility,
and was of course to be cured by tonics and stimulants. No
sooner was it ascertained to exist, than bark and wine were ad-

60 DR. bostock's testimony.

CHAP. VI. ministered in as large doses as the patient could be induced, or
was found able, to take. No doubt was entertained of their
power over the disease ; the only question that caused any doubt
in the mind of the practitioner was, whether the patient could
hear the quantity that would be necessary for the cure» To this
treatment succeeded that of cold affusion. The high character
and literary reputation of the individual who proposed this
remedy, its simplicity and easy application, the candid spirit
which was manifested, and the strong testimonials which were
adduced by his contemporaries, bore down all opposition, and we
flattered ourselves that we had at length subdued the formidable
monster. But we were doomed to experience the ordinary pro-
cess of disappointment ; the practice, as usual, was found ineffi-
cient or injurious, and it was, after a short time, supplanted by
the use of the lancet. But this practice was even more short-
lived than its predecessors ; and thus, in a space of less than
forty years, we have gone through three revolutions of opinion
with respect to our treatment of a disease of very frequent occur-
rence, and of the most decisive and urgent symptoms. Are we
then to conclude that all medical treatment is of no avail ? — ^that
it is all imaginary or deceptive ? We should feel most unwilling
to be compelled to form such a conclusion."

Dr. James Johnson, one of the most judicious of the old-system
practitioners, recommends, in his " Diseases of Tropical Cli-
mates," as the bdsis of all successful treatment, " bleeding and
calomel." Dr. Dickson asserts that " bleeding and calomel are
the most deadly enemies in a tropical climate."

Dr. Rush, of Philadelphia, thus writes : — " It seems to be one
of the rules of faith in our art, that every truth must be helped
into belief by some persuasive fiction of the school. And I here
owe it to the general reader to confess, that as far as I know,
the medical profession can scarcely produce a single volume in its
practical department, from the works of Hippocrates down to
the last made text-book, which, by the requisitions of an exact
philosophy, will not be found to contain nearly as much fiction as
truth" The author adds, further, " Upon these points, and
bearing in mind that we have now in medicine the recorded
practice of more than two thousand years — let the reader refer
to the proceedings of the medical profession during the prevalence

DRS. CHAMBERS, COWAN, AND FORBES* TESTIMONY. 61

of the so-called ' Asiatic cholera,' and he will find their history CHAP. vi.
everywhere exhibiting an extraordinary picture of prefetory
panic, vulgar wonder, doubt, ignorance, obtrusive vanity, plans
for profit and popularity, fatal blunders, distracting contradic-
tions, and egregious empiricisms."

In fact, such is the want of certainty, that the best physi-
cians of the old system are sceptical respecting the virtues of
medicines.

Dr. Williams, who was many years physician to St. Thomas's
Hospital, who lectured there on the theory and the practice of
medicine, and who wrote an elaborate work, entitled " Elements
of Medicine^^^ his Mend Dr. Chambers declares, concluded his
career by having " in truth little faith in physic"*

Dr. Cowan, a physician of some eminence practising at Read-
ing, in his translation of a work by. P. Ch. A. Louis, entitled,
" Pathological Researches on Phthisis^ remarks, " Medicine for
many very evident reasons has been and continues to be the
victim of varied and contradictory hypothesis : the minds of all
who have attempted to trace its deviatory course, have wearied
in the vague conflict of opinions, and have either sheltered them-
selves under the authority of a name, or satisfied their doubts by
the creation of a principle quite as hypothetical and uncertain as
any by which they were previously bewildered."

Dr. Forbes, physician to the Queen's household, thus writes in
The British and Foreign Medical Review, 1846 : — " Who
among us, in feet, of any considerable experience, and who has
thought somewhat, as well as prescribed, but is ready to admit,
that in a large proportion of the cases he treats, whether his prac-
tice in individual instances be directed by precept and example, by
theory, by observation, by experience, by habit, by accident, or
by whatsoever principle of action, he has no positive proof, or
rather, no proof whatever, often, indeed, very little probability,
that the remedies administered by him exert any beneficial influ-
ence over the disease ? We often may hope, and fi'equently be-
lieve, and sometimes feel confident, that we do good even in this
class of cases ; but the honest philosophical thinker, the experi-
enced scientific observer, will hesitate, even in the best of cases.

♦ Anniversary addr^s to the Royal Medical and Chirurgical Society, March, 1846.

62 DR. fergusson's testimony.

CHAP. Vl. ®re he commit himself by the positive assertion that the gocMi
has been done by him.

" * Has Dr. Latham,' it is asked, ' erer seen patients affected
with severe acute rheumatism sent forth from the hospital in a
state of (to their feelings) complete restoration, which patients
had nevertheless undergone no treatment but that signified by
abstinence, the free use of diluents, and the occasional admini-
stration of a gentle laxative ? Probably he has not. We have,
and we confess that such sights have shaken our faith.' "

Dr. Fergusson, an army physician, after a long residence and
extensive practice in the West Indies and America, and during
the Peninsular war, states his experience in reference to the same
disease, fever : —

" The term fever is as mysterious as it is comprehensive ; it is,
in a great degree, peculiar to the human race, and never as an
idiopathic disease, affects the lower animals. The uncivilized
man appears to possess, to a certain extent, an exemption ; for
the negro tribes feel little of malarious fever, and the Indian races
are far less subject to it than European * * * Have we any safe-
guard ? None, but in the good keeping, good condition, physical
and moral, of the troops : no remedy after the disease is estab-
lished, none whatever in the way of physic ; for the best physi-
cian that ever existed will lose more patients than the most
ignorant hospital mate, if he neglects the precautions of discipline
and cleanliness ; and if both be on a par in this respect, the event
will, in nine cases out of ten, be precisely the same. Hence it
appears that physic does nothing, and has done nothing towards
establishing a better mode of treatment since the days of Hip-
pocrates."

To these statements may be added those of Magendie ; opinions
delivered by him not more than three years since, and addressed
to the students of medicine, studying at the Hotel Dieu at Paris,
to which he is physician, and as such, must have had extensive
opportunities of judging of the effects of medicine: —

" Medicine can only exist but inasmuch as patients have £aith
in it, and claim its assistance. It is not by theories that it lives,
but by clients."

He adds : —

" Listen to those whom you meet with in society, and you will

magendie's testimony. 63

be surprised to hear of the wonderfiil cures which Homoeopathy CHAP. VI.
has performed. Moreover, we must not deny that many patients
have recovered their health in a most unhoped for manner while
under homoeopathic treatment. This brings us back to a ques-
tion which I have often raised, and which I have endeavoured to
elucidate by experiments for the last ten years — ^namely, what is
the influence of treatment on the progress of disease ?

" In hospitals, as well as in private practice, we must first
take into consideration the influence on the mind of the patient.
Now there can be no doubt but that a patient who takes a me-
dicine experiences immediate benefit, firom the conviction that
it will fiivourably modify his disease. If this favourable result
takes place, what has been the real share of the medicinal
substance administered? Medical men are always inclined to
attribute the cure of the disease they treat to the means which
they have employed ; but recollect that disease generally follows
its course, without being influenced by the medication employed
against it."

He then makes the following astounding statement, at once
showing the perfect uncertainty of the old-system medi-
cine : —

" These reflections explain at once the cures of which Homoe-
opathy is so proud. Homoeopathy, instead of bleeding a patient,
will place gravely on his tongue a globule of aconite, which he
will swallow with confidence and faith. You then see the disease
improve. But it would have improved just as well without
globules, provided some singular operation had struck the imagi-
nation of the patient.

" What I state respecting medicinal substances is equally ap-
plicable to bleeding. A patient is seized with the symptoms to
which the term inflammatory has been applied, and asks to be
bled, believing that the loss of blood will cure him. You open a
vein, and the abstraction of a certain quantity of the vital fluid
is followed by an amelioration of the symptoms. But take care
how you interpret the fact ; the improvement may be owing to
the moral effect produced, more than to the venesection. I will
mention as a proof what I have often observed in my wards at
the H6tel Dieu. A patient labouring under acute disease, pneu-
monia, for instance, enters the hospital, believing firmly that he

64 THE CERTAINTY OF HOM(EOPATHY.

CHAP. VI. ought to be bled ; I bleed him, but merely to the extent of two
or three ounces, too small a quantity for the circulation to be in
the least influenced by its abstraction. Nevertheless, the patient
becomes more calm, and says he is better. A mere trial of
bleeding will thus often suffice to arrest the progress of a disease
which, under another physician, would be treated by abundant
depletion. For more than ten years I have not found it neces-
sary to have recourse to copious bleeding ; in other words, I have
rather endeavoured to act on the mind of the patient than on the
circulation, and I have no hesitation in asserting that my prac-
tice has not been the less suceessfiil. Indeed, were I to tell you
my mind entirely, I should say, that it is more especially in the
hospitals, in which the most active treatment is adopted, that the
mortality is the most considerable,'^^

These testimonies leave no room for doubt as to the uncer-
tainty of the old system medicine. Magendie's testimony decides
the question, not as to the power of homoeopathic remedies,
which he presumes to give an opinion upon without ever having
tried, but as to the inefficacy of the old system practice ; in fiujt,
his concluding testimony is an efficient answer, that homoe-
opathists can use, to rebut the nonsense talked about the great
efficacy of what is called active treatment.

How> in relation to this uncertainty, does homoeopathy stand ?

Homoeopathy presents certainty, in presenting a law.

It teaches that a law regulates the action of medicines on dis-
eased bodies : this law being, " diseases are cured most

QUICKLY, SAFELY, AND EFFECTUALLY, BY MEDICINES WHICH
ARE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING SYMPTOMS SIMILAR TO THOSE
EXISTING IN THE PATIENT, AND WHICH CHARACTERISE HIS
DISORDER.

It maintains that this law is universal; that all medicines
acting curatively, have acted, do act, and will for ever act,
in accordance with the principle embodied in this law ; in feujt,
that all medicines are specifics — each one being specific to the
given disease, of which, if taken by a healthy person, it pro-
duces the resemblance.

This clear, well-defined law gives certainty, and presents
simplicity. It affi)rds the foundation on which the homoe-
opathist builds. It affi)rds the mariner's compass, which enables

SCIENTIFIC CHARACTER OF HOM(EOPATHT. 65

him to steer clear of all the quicksands which the misdirected CHAP. \h
ability of Cullen, Boerrhave, Brown, Clutterbuck, Broussais,
Armstrong, and others, have thrown up, to the destruction of
medical navigators, and of the crews with which they were
entrusted.

The homoBopathist ensconces himself in this one point.
He cannot be charged with beating about the bush. He stands
upon an unity. He has no loophole of retreat. He gives his
opponent the knowledge of his vital part. Disprove the law,
and homoeopathy is undone.

But in thus propounding his principle he feels his strength
in this, that his foundation is a law of the Creator — a law,
the discovery of which arose from careful deduction, resulting
from a happy coincidence which affected the mind of Hahne-
mann; even as a happy coincidence affected the mind of Newton,
and led to the discovery, by deduction, of the law of gravitation.

Having this law, the homoeopathist is not troubled in his
curative proceedings, by the contending opinions and never-
ending inquiries respecting coimteraction, revulsion, stimulation,
depletion, palliation, &c.

Homoeopathy presents certainty in the treatment of disease. It
opens to view the consolatory doctrine, that, to cure a disease all
that is required is to find a substance, either presented in nature
or contrived by art, which, if taken by a person in health, will
produce in him symptoms similar to those manifested in the
disease : give that to the diseased, and the diseased will be cured.

Homoeopathy thus brings medicine within the range of the
ecca/Jt sciences. It realizes the doctrine, that order reigns in
the department of nature relating to remedial agents, as it
does in other departments of nature. It establishes that the
Creator has established a law to regulate the action of medicines
upon the body diseased, as He has to regulate the action of
foods on the body in health.

Homoeopathy thus dispels the stupid dogma of the uncer-
tainty of medicine. In fact it establishes a truth, as Hahne-
mann has remarked, " that though there are not specific medi-
cines for individual diseases, as these are described by ordinary
pathologists, yet for every particular phase of disease there is

a specific remedy."

66 SCIENTIFIC CHARACTER OF HOMOEOPATHY.

CHAP. VI. It realizes successftilly one line of inquiry which Professor
Alison maintains is essential : for he remarks — " Our hopes of
the increasing efficacy and usefulness of our art must depend on
the progress which may yet be expected in two lines of inquiry,
in which our success has as yet been only partial ; first, in the
DISCOYEET OP SPECIFICS, which may counteract the different
diseased actions of which the body is susceptible as effectually as
the cinchona counteracts the intermittent feyer, citric acid the
scurvy, or vaccination the small pox," &c.

It shows that all man has to do is diligently to labour to
discover the powers of medicinal agents, and to collect the
phenomena of disease: and then if he applies the medicine
appointed by the Creator as specific to the individual disease,
he must cure, that is, if the disease has not advanced so fer
that it is not to be acted upon by medicine.

Homoeopathy, in establishing this certainty, has realized for
the medical art what it never realized before: for medicine,
except when the homoeopathic law is recognized, is, as the &cts
recorded in this chapter certify, a mass of uncertainties.

Homoeopathy justifies itself as scientific. As has been well
observed by Carson, — " Nothing can be justly called science
that is not either in itself self-evident, or legitimately drawn
firom principles that are self-evident. So far as any system is
not so founded, so far it has no pretensions to rank among the
sciences. However obvious and unquestionable is this observa-
tion, it was for many an age neglected on almost every subject
but mathematics. Systems were foimded on arbitrary hypo-
theses, and formed by invention. Things were taken for granted
which were neither in evidence, nor self-evident ; and the true
primary facts, that must Ue at the bottom of aU human know-
ledge, were never sought."

Like as it was with the study of mental phenomena till
certain fixed principles were discovered, so it was with medicine
till Homoeopathy was discovered; but Homoeopathy having
based itself on a principle legitimately deduced, its claims to
science cannot be successfully disputed.

How applicable are the following remarks of Dr. Reid, in his
Philosophy of the Human Mnd, to the position of Homoeo-
pathy : — •

CERTAINTY OP SCIENCE. 67

" In natural philosophy there were no less dispute and uncer- CHAP. VI.
tainty than in other sciences, until, about a century and a half
ago, this science began to be built upon the foundation of clear
definitions and self-evident axioms. , Since that time the science,
as if watered with the dew of heaven, hath grown apace, dis-
putes have ceased, truth hath prevailed, and the science re-
ceived greater increase in two centuries than in two thousand
years before."

And what Carson, referring to Reid's work, remarks as the
result of the discovery of certain fixed principles in reference
to the human mind, may be applied to Homoeopathy, and the
results which must occur to practical medicine jfrom its dis-
covery.

" The obligations which the science of mind is under to this
illustrious philosopher, by the application of the same method
of philosophising, are known to all. Previously to his time, it
does not deserve the name of science. Whatever number of
fiEtcts were discovered, for want of self-evident first principles,
there was no certainty, no standard. Ingenuity sported without
control, and with all the forms of science established the most
revolting paradoxes."

May not this statement truly be read thus ?

The obligations which the science of medicine is under to the
illustrious Hahnemann, by the discovery and the application of
the homoeopathic law, are known to many. Previously to his
time, medicine did not deserve the name of science. Whatever
number of msdical facts were discovered, for want of a self-evi-
dent first principle or law, there was no certainty, no standard.
Ingenuity sported without control, and with all the forms of
science established the most revolting paradoxes.

68 UNCERTAIN TT OF OLD SYSTEM MEDICINE.

CHAPTER VII.

Old system medicine cannot he certain, — Medicines given in
combination. — Cases of epilepsy^ tetanus, and neuralgia.
— The character of the old system prescription. — Absurdities
embodied in an old system prescription. — The impossi-
bility to obtain definite results from the old system remedies ;
testimonies of the most talented physicians to this. — The
discarding of the Medical Section by the British Association.
— Dr. Forbes^ statements of the wants of the old system. —
The beautiful simplicity in the mode of administration of
medicines by the Homceopathists.

Ciup. VII. Not only has not the old system of medicine the feature of
science, certainty, but it cannot attain to certainty. It is utterly
impossible to attain to certainty with its mode of procedure.

Its mode of procedure is destitute of simplicity. Its questions
as to the curative powers of medicines are not clearly and defi-
nitely put, and therefore have not been clearly answered. And
the reason why these questions have been thus obscurely and
indefinitely put is, because in exhibiting a medicine the old system
practitioner has had to ascertain the effects, not as exhibited
singly by itself, but as given in combination, and further, be-
cause the virtues of medicines were sought to be ascertained
by trying them on the sick.

To illustrate the first source of uncertainty, a few illustrations
from the old system practice may be given : —

^' Tetanus. — ^Mr, Solly records, in the Medical Gazette^ a
case of this disease which terminated fevourably. The patient
was admitted into St. Thomas's Hospital, having, about seven-
teen days previously, received a lacerated wound of the little

CASES OF OLD SYSTEM UNINSTRUCTIVE. 69

finger of his left hand. The symptoms of a severe attack of chap. vil.
the disease were well marked, and the patient was discharged
cured, in about nine weeks fi'om the date of his admission.
In reference to treatment it is quite impossible to. say anything
definite. The patient was admitted under Mr. Green, and
treated by Messrs. Travers, Solly, and South, .conjointly and
separately. Opium, Indian hemp, tobacco, turpentine, blisters,
brandy, &c., were administered ad infinitum. The spasms
seemed to abate after some doses of the hemp had been given,
but Mr. Solly is not disposed to place much reliance on this,
as a large blister was, at the same time, applied along the
spine." — Lancet, 1844, vol. i, p. 163.

The next case is Epilepsy.

" Cure for Epilepsy. — M. Lemoine has successfiiUy
treated three cases of epilepsy by the administration of the
following mixture : — Liquor ammonise — ^twelve minims, syrup
of orange flowers — one ounce, distilled water of linden flowers
— ^two ounces, and distilled water of cherry laurel — half an
ounce — ^for a mixture."

This is followed by a statement of the three cases.

" The active principles in M. Lemoine's formula, are the
ammonia and the prussic acid in the laurel water. The quan-
tity of the latter, however, is so small, that we cannot attribute
to it much influence over the morbid state of the economy.
Ammonia, as nearly every other medicine, has been tried
repeatedly in the treatment of this dire disease, and has failed.
Still we are so utterly powerless in most cases of epilepsy, that
no remedy, which is brought forward as a successfiil thera-
peutic agent, should be dismissed without having been tried in
the manner in which it is stated to have succeeded. — Rivue
Medicate" — Lancet, vol. i, 1844, p. 8.

A third case may be selected. It is of painfiil nerves (neu-
ralgia). It is recorded by Dr. Edward Binns : —

" — Leslie, a joiner and cabinet maker, has suffered many
years under neuralgia, in its most aggravated form; none of
the usual remedies afforded any relief. He was bled at Christ-
mas to feinting, since which period, his attacks have been less
fi-equent and less severe. After venesection, he was treated
with arsenic (Fowler's solution) and citrate of iron. He is

70 INCONCLUSIVENESS OF THE OLD SYSTEM PRACTICE.

CHAP. VII. now, comparatively speaking, free from neuralgic attacks; but
the disease, I regret to say, is not radically extirpated."

These three cases, are selected from one volume (Lancet, 1844.)
From the volumes of that, and of other medical Journals,
hundreds of cases, presenting nothing but uncertainty, might be
gathered without diflftculty; in fauct, the difficulty would be
not to find them. As to the uncertainty, may it not be boldly
asked. Can any one draw any certain conclusion as to the
remedy, that effected the cure in any of these cases ?

In reference to the case of " tetanus," it is stated " the spasm
seemed to abate after some doses of hemp had been given,"
but it is added, "Mr. Solly is not disposed to place much reliance
on this, as a large blister was at the same time applied along
the spine."

Mr. Solly was right in not deducing — ^and why? Because,
while two means are in use, and a benefit results, who can
tell to which the effect is to be ascribed? Now, had these
leading surgeons, Travers, Solly, and South, recognized the
simplicity of science, they would have used one remedial agent
at a time, and thus have made their observations useful. All
that is known is, that certain remedies were given, and that
a case of tetanus recovered.

So in the case of epilepsy — ^what was the remedy which
cured the patient? Can any one tell ? Can even M. Lemoine
himself, who administered the remedies ?

And, in like manner, in the case of neuralgia — did the
arsenical solution, or the bleeding, or the citrate of iron, effect
the cure ? Can Dr. Binns tell ?

Liebig remarks, " Every question, clearly and definitely put
has been clearly answered. It is only when an inquirer has no
precise idea of what he seeks, that he remains unanswered."
Can any one get a clear, a definite answer to the question put
in reference to the cases of tetanus, epilepsy, and neuralgia —
namely, what was the curative agent? The answer is, No;
and if " no" be the answer, science could not have been the
basis of the questioning of those diseases by remedies ; and he
who does not put his question clearly and definitely has no right
to claim that he is scientific.

As long, then, as the old system questions disease as to what

THE OLD SYSTEM PRESCRIPTION. 71

is its remedy, by numerous remedies, embodied, as it were, in CHAP. vil.
one questioning, it cannot get an useful answer. Leaving sim-
plicity, science is deserted, and science being deserted, certainty
is lost.

But it may be supposed that the combination of medicines is
not a necessary part of the old system medicine. The best
answer to this is to be found in the following description of the
construction of a prescription by Dr. Murray, one of the best
writers on the old system Medicines : —

" A prescription has been usually divided into four parts,
which compose it, the bads^ or principal ingredient; the ad-
juvana, or that which is designed to promote the action of the
former : the corrigens, or that intended to correct its operation,
or obviate any unpleasant symptom which it may be apt to
produce ; and the conatituens, or the substance which gives to
the other ingredients consistence of form."

Murray adds further the circumstances to be attended to in
a prescription.

" 1st. Simplicity is to be attained, so far as is consistent
with the objects of the prescription. In general, the practice
of accumulating a number of articles in one prescription is
to be avoided, as there is always the risk of one counteracting
or modifying the action of another.

" 2nd. Substances ought not to be mixed together which
are capable of entering into chemical combination, or decom-
posing each other.

" 3rd. Those medicines also are to be avoided, in which one
medicine by its peculiar action on the stomach or general
system, modifies and changes the action usually exerted by
another.

"4th. The error of contra-indication is to be guarded against,
or those medicines ought not to be combined, the virtues
of which are not merely different, but are, in some measure,
opposed to each other.

" 6th. The ingredients, which are to be combined, must be
such as will mix properly together, so that the form in which
the remedy is designed to be exhibited may be easily obtained
and preserved."

These very rules prove that the old system recognizes a com-

72 ABSURDITY OF THE OLD SYSTEM PRESCRIPTION.

CHAP. VII. bination of medicines in one prescription ; they farther prove
by the character of the rules themselves, that even the old system
recognizes how many difficulties are associated with the practice
of using a combination ; and farther, these rules demonstrate
that the old system cannot carry out its ends, without this
combination of medicines.

The absurdity of this system of administering more medicines
than one at a time, the object being to ascertain the power of
the medicine administered, has been graphically pointed out by
Hahnemann.

He asks, "Is it wise to mix many substances in one receipt?
Can we by so doing ever raise medicine to certainty ? Can we tell
which of the substances we have employed has effected the cure,
which the aggravation ? Can we know in a similar case what
medicine to select, what to avoid ? Of all the problems in physics
the ascertainment of a resultant of various forces is liie most
difficult to solve, and yet we can measure with accuracy the in-
dividual composing forces. In vital dynamics, we csmnot guage
a single simple force, and yet we dare to guess at the results of
an exceedingly complex combination. Would it not puzzle any
one to predict the position which six billiard balls flung with the
eyes shut upon the table would ultimately assume ? and yet your
practitioner flings into the human system his half dozen ingre-
dients and professes to know their exact result upon the
sensitive frame? The more complicated our receipts the darker
will it be in medicine."

Hahnemann, with that quiet irony for which he was remark-
able, exposes the absurdity and consequently the uncertainty of
the deductions which are put forth in the common Materia
Medica. Referring to the virtues ascribed to some combination,
he remarks : —

" It would not be more absurd than if some one were to try to
persuade us that he had discovered a good nutritive substance in
kitchen salt / that he had ordered it to a man half starved, and
that he no sooner had eaten of it, than he was invigorated, satis-
fied, and strengthened, as if by a miracle ; that half an ounce of
^"^ common salt was the basis and chief ingredient of this nourishing

mixture, which, lege artia in quantum satis, (according to the rule
of art in as much as sufficient of), boiling water, was to be dis-

ABSURDITY OF THE OLD SYSTEM PRESCRIPTION. 73

solved as the vehicle, then, as a corrective, a good lump of chap. vii.
BUTTER should be added, and, as adjuvans, a pound of fine cut
RYE-BREAD. This mixture (soup) after being properly stirred,
was to be taken at once by the tarnished patient, and by it his
hunger would be completely appeased : — all the latter ingre-
dients were merely accidental additions in the formula, the
essential ingredient was the half ounce of salt. This was pre-
scribed by him as the base of the whole receipt ; and observe it
had, when prepared accurately, according to these directions, in
his hands always exhibited the most beneficial results.

" If, in this KITCHEN Materia Medica, to the article sal culinare
(culinary salt), the properties of saturans (saturant), analepticum
(analeptic), r^^^aierayw (restaurant), reficiena (refi'eshing), nutriem
(nutritive), were added, it would not be more childish than the con-
duct of the physician, who arbitrarily ordained one substance to
be the basis of his diuretic, then added two, three, or four other
powerful medicinal substances (as corrective, directing, adjuvant,
excipient), and ordered the patient to walk up and down the
room while taking the medicine, drinking at the same time
largely of sack-whey made of Rhine wine, and then published
triumphantly the extraordinary success of the basis he prescribed,
" The patient has passed more urine than usual." In his eyes,
the added substances and the regimen are mere unimportant
additions, and guiltless of all results ; that to the substance
which he has made the principal in the receipt, and in which
(he knows why) he takes the deepest interest, may be ascribed
all the effects produced. Thus it naturally happens, when, by
such arbitrary and careless praise of a medicine which some one
has taken a fency to, and to which he was determined to attri-
bute some definite medicinal property, the undeserved surrepti-
tious attribute, diuretic, emmenagogue, resolvent, sudorific, ex-
pectorant, antispasmodic, are inscribed in the good-natured
Materia Medica, where they afterwards figure as truths, to the
delusion of posterity.

" Thus, from a calculation based upon the effects of this mix-
ture, must the special operation of a drug be derived ! How
small a part of the uncertain credit of having compelled an in-
creased secretion of urine, sweat, or catamenial discharge, was
ascribable to each individual in the receipt ! Consequently, the

74 HETEROGENEOUSNESS OP A PRESCRIPTION.

CHAP. VII. general therapeutic reputation of drugs, hereditarily celebrated
from Dioscorides downwards, which occupy the greatest share
even in Materia Medicas of our own day, that this or that medi-
cine was diuretic, expectorant, or a purifier of the blood, is quite
unfounded."

The absurdity of the heterogeneous mass of medical materials
in one prescription has been exposed by others.

Helmont remarks : —

" Thereupon the physicians mingle one mixture with another,
and give over and over to the sick a slip-slop, sticking into it a
thousand kind of things, that, if one does not help, another may,
or if they can at least excuse themselves with saying, they have
so directed the cure of this or that patient, as is the customary
and Usual way."

As Hahnemann remarks, it might almost be imagined from
the prescriptions of the old system practitioners, that the articles
ordered in their prescriptions had some peculiar intellectual
discernment, so as to go to the part to which they are destined
by the physician: —

" To direct its energies hither and thither in the body, and give
it the necessary instructions on its passage (the peculiar operation
of the drug being all the time unknown), as if the drugs were
intelligent beings endowed with well-disposed wills and compla-
cent obedience, so that they would produce just that effect in
the body which the doctor ordered them, and not a particle more."

Montaigne ridicules the absurdity of these supposed directions
being taken by the medicines : —

" Of the whole heap, having compounded a potion, is it not an
idle fancy to hope that its various virtues shall proceed to extri-
cate themselves from that mixture and confusion, in order to
execute missions so diversified ? I should fear excessively that
they might lose or change their billets, and excite a riot in their
quarters ?"

Dr. Luther happily observes : —

" In mixing together so many different kinds of drugs, phy-
sicians consider the stomach a general post office, where all the
drugs arrive at once, and are thence dispatched, each to its
proper destination, one to the nerves, another to the circulation,
another to the lungs, another to the brain."

SIH GILBERT BLANE'S TESTIMONY. 75

It is presumed that with these statements and views before the OIIAP. VII.
mind, the conclusion of Hahnemann, that the usual thera-
peutic reputation of drugs is quite unfounded, all unbiassed
tbinkers will agree: and, as almost all the articles of the
Materia Medica have had their principal effects gained in com-
binations with other medicines, it is certain that uncertainty
must prevail in a system of medical practice, which has medical
means only thus obtained.

Many of the most enlightened old-system practitioners have
acknowledged that no definite results have been obtained from
the experiments with medicines.

Girtanner declares, respecting the apparatus of medicines : —

" The apparatus medicaminum is nothing else than a careful
collection of all the fallacies that physicians have ever &,llen
into. Some just opinions, founded on experience, are mingled
with them; but who wUl waste his time in searching out the little
grains of gold from this vast dunghill, which physicians have
been heaping up for two thousand years ?"

Sir Gilbert Blane, whose name still exists in remembrance as
a medical philosopher, remarks : —

" In many cases patients get well, in spite of the means em-
ployed, and sometimes when the practitioner fancies he has made
a great cure, we may fairly assume the patient to have had a
happy escape."

Sir Gilbert Blane further adds, " when it is fiirther considered
what a mass of credulity and error has actually accumulated in
medicine, when we cast our eyes upon our shelves, loaded with
volumes, few of them containing any genuine profitable know-
ledge, the greater part of them composed chiefly of statements
either nugatory, erroneous, inapplicable, or mischievous, in which
the dear bought grain is to be sought in the bushels of chaff,
may it not be questioned, whether such researches have not
tended more to retard and corrupt than to advance and improve
practical medicine ?"

Moliere remarks, — " ces scelerats osent tout tenter sur cette
confiance, que le soleil eclairera leur succes et que la terre
e^ttvrira leurs fautes."

The flagrant violation of all scientific regularity in the exhibi-
tion of remedies is acknowledged by a high authority: —

76 DRS. JOHNSON AND GREGORY'S STATEMENT.

CllAP. VII. Dr. Johnson, in reviewing the indiscriminate prescribers of
kreosote, iodine, &e., says, — " The patrons of the new remedies
would seem in their experiments to proceed on the principle of
that hospital physician who ordered his clerk to bleed the south
ward and to vomit the north. They appear to have heard of the
observation of the late Dr. Pearson. He was testing the effects
of the sulphate of baryta : he gave it to almost every patient under
his care. When surprise was expressed at this method of pro-
cedure, he replied naively enough, ' How can I tell what its effects
are unless I give it in every disease ?' "

Taking these statements as correct, the following assertion of
Professor Gregory will not be regarded extraordinary : —

The late Professor Gregory used often to declare in his class-
room, that " ninety-nine out of a hundred medical facts were so
many medical lies, and that medical doctrines were for the most
part little better than stark nonsense."

He is not solitary in his opinion.

Dr. James Johnson, who was perhaps better acquainted than
almost any physician of the old system with its results, thus
declares his experience : —

" I declare my conscientious opinion, founded upon long
observation and reflection, that if there was not a single physi-
cian, surgeon, apothecary, man-midwife, chemist, druggist^ or
drug on the face of the earth, there would be less sickness and
less mortality than now obtains. When we reflect that physic is
a * conjectural art' — that the best physicians make mistakes —
that medicine is administered by hosts of quacks — that it is
swallowed by multitudes of people without any professional ad-
vice at all — and that the world would be infinitely more careM
of themselves if they were conscious that they had no remedy from
drugs ; these, and many other facts will show that the proposi-
tion I have made is more startling than untrue. Bat, as it is,
drugs will be swallowed by all classes, rich and poor, with the
hope of regaining health and prolonging life, and also with the
expectation of being able to counteract the culpable indulgence
of the appetites and passions."

The subje<?l of medicines and their virtues is one which the
exact thinkers under the old system medicine turn from with
that dislike which always is felt, when one is obliged to employ

THE WANTS OF THE OLD SYSTEM. 77

as usefiil what he does not believe in as such. Dr. Golding chap. vii.
Bird has thus depicted the state of the professional mind : —

" Although no one can be more convinced that a sound
pathology can be the only trustworthy guide to treatment, still
I would urge on every member of our profession the propriety
of not voting therapeutics a bore, as is too often done." *

The study of the means by which the medical man attempts
to remove disease, is attended with so much dissatisfection as to
be voted a bore. It is the same as if the carpenter voted his
chisel, his saw, his gimblet a bore.

Sad indeed must be the state of old .system medicine, when
such an acknowledgment is made.

Such being the condition of uncertainty in which the old sys-
tem of medicine is placed, it is clear that before any certainty
can be obtained therem much must be done, in fact, every thing
is to he done. Dr. Forbes recognizes this.

He, after detailing the defects in the old system of medicine,
proceeds to notice the means necessary for the removal of these
defects. Among other means he points out the following : —

" To reconsider and study afresh the physiological and cura-
tive effects of all our therapeutic agents with a view to obtain
more positive results than we now possess.

" To endeavour to establish, as far as is practicable, what
diseases are curable, and what are not ; wh^t treatment is the
best, the safest^ the most agreeable ; when it is proper to admi-
nister medicine, and when to refrain from administering it,
&c. &c.

" To endeavour to substitute for the mons^ous system of
Polypharmacy now universally prevalent, one that is, at
least, vastly more simple, more intelligible, more agreeable, and,
it may be hoped, one more rational, more scientific, more certain,
and more beneficial.

" To inculcate generally a milder and less energetic mode of
practice, both in acute and chronic diseases ; to encourage the

* Gulstouian Lecture .at the Royal College of Physicians, London, May 5, 1848,
extracted from the Jouinal of Health and Disease, vol. iv., i>age 223.

78 CONFESSION OP DR. FORBES.

gnAP. VII. Expectant preferably to the Heroic system^ — ^at least where the
indications of treatment are not manifest.

'' To discountenance all active and powerfiil medication in
the acute exanthemata and fevers of specific type, as small pox,
measleS; scarlatina, typhus, &c., until we obtain some evidence
that the course of these diseases can be beneficially modified by
remedies.

'' To discountenance, as much as possible, and eschew the
HABITUAL use (without any sufficient reason), of certain powerful
medicines in large doses, in a multitude of different diseases, a
practice now generally prevalent and fraught with the most
baneful consequences,

" This is one of the besetting sins of English practice, and
originates partly in false theory, and partly in the desire to see
manifest and strong effects resulting from the action of medi-
cines. Mercury, iodine, colchicum, antimony, also purgatives in
general and bloodletting, are frightfully misused in this
manner.

" To encourage the administration of simple, feeble, or alto-
gether powerless, nonperturbing medicines, in all cases in which
drugs are prescribed pro forma^ for the satisfaction of the
patient's mind, and not with the view of producing any direct
remedial effect.

" One would hardly think such a caution necessary, were it
not that every-day observation proves it to be so. The system
of giving and also of taking drugs capable of producing some
obvious effect, — on the sensations at least, if not on the fiinc-
tions, — ^has become so inveterate in this country, that even our
placebos have, in the hands of our modem doctors, lost their
original quality of harmlessness, and often please their very
patients more by being made unpleasant!

" To make every effort not merely to destroy the prevalent
system of giving a vast quantity of unnecessary, and useless
drugs, (to say the least of them,) but to encourage extreme
simplicity in the prescription of medicines that seem to be
requisite.

" To endeavour to break through the routine habit univer-
sally prevalent, of prescribing certain determinate remedies for
certain determinate diseases or symptoms of diseases, merely

PROPHYLACTISM. 79

because the preseriber has been taught to do so, and on no CHAP. vii.
better grounds than conventional tradition,"

Such are the wants appertaining to the old system. If all
these are to be realized before the defects of the old system
are removed, they will, by adhering to that system, never be
removed.

In feet. Dr. Forbes has come to the humbling conclusion,
that the duty of the physician is much less the curing of disease
than the preservation of the health. He points out, that si
principal means necessary to raise medicine is —

" To direct redoubled attention to hygiene, public and pri-
vate, with the view of preventing diseases on the large scale,
and individually in our sphere of practice. Here the surest and
most glorious triumphs of medical science are achieving and to
be achieved."

Dr. Forbes is not alone in the acknowledgment that the heal-
ing of disease, which has always been thought the chief object
of the physician, is not ; but that so utterly helpless is the phy-
sician therein, that he must turn his attention principally to the
preservation of health. In fact the occupation of the physician .

is not MEDICINE but PROPHYLACTISM.

Dr. Smiles testifies to the same doctrine as Dr. Forbes. In
his valuable work on Physical Education, he remarks —

" It would prove most usefiil and profitable to the public,
we have no doubt, could they make the important discovery,
that the most effectual way to ensure health is to adopt the
natural means to preserve it, such as by pure air, exercise,
and healthy supply of food, instead of wantonly neglecting
these means, and afterwards resorting to physic, that, instead
of alleviating, often infixes the mischief more deeply on the
constitution. Such a discovery of the public would besides
improve the medical profession itself. It would" (mark this,)
" render physicians, who are at present comparatively useless
in curing disease, of the greatest importance to the public weal
as preservators of the health of the community."

Dr. Cowan testifies similarly; after stating that notwith-
standing all the aid of old system medicines, notwithstanding
all the skill and exertions of the physician, the mortality
among society is still the same as ever it was, and that not-

80 DR. cowan's testimony.

CHAP. VTI. withstanding all the experience of medical practice, people still
die in just the same ratio as before,* he proceeds —

" As science in its widest sense really advances, will the
specific power of drugs be less and less admitted, while the
physician's claims to respect and confidence will be found to
rest fiur more upon his practical acquaintance with, and power
of adjusting, those general conditions which are adverse or
fiivourable to health, than upon his supposed familiarity with
agents directly adapted to the cure of disease."

* " From the extensive comparative investigations of Mr. Watt, it seems that the
deaths by various diseases are nearly identical at the same age, and that whatever
the total amount of deaths by each disease may be, the proportion which the deaths,
falling at certain periods of life, bear to the whole deaths of these respective diseases,
remains the same.

** This interesting law proves the existence of general injluences regulating the life
and health of the community, however variously expressed by the greater or less
prevalence of particular complaints, and also indicates how difficult must be the
correct solution«of a therapeutic problem, where agents other than those we are em-
ploying are so materially influencing the result. In fact, the whole philosophy of
medicine can be very imperfectly apprehended by a being so limited in capacity and
duration as man ; and a juster estimate of the vast extent and difficulty of the in-
quiry would tend both to repress much hasty and presumptuous generalization, and
establish a ^tc^ifer estimate of the true limits of human Instrumentality.'*

ABSENCE OP CERTAINTY IN OLD-SYSTEM PRACTICE. 81

CHAPTER VIII.

The Tieceaaary uwiertamty of the old system medicine^ arising
from the trying to ascertain the effects of medicine on the
sick, — Sdller^s suggestion. — Bahnemann the first to try to
ascertain the effects of medicines by experimenting on him-
self — ITie impossibility of any satisfojCtory results under
the old system testified to by Mill and Jf. Comte. — The
British Association and medicine. — Hahnemann's mode of
administering medicine. — The claim of Homeopathy to be
scientific established.

Another source of a necessary absence of certainty in con- chap.viii.
nexion with the old system practice is to be found in the fact,
that the practitioners of that system have sought to ascertain
the powers of medicine by trying them on the sick; and that,
with a very few exceptions, the effects of medicines have been
ascertained only in connexion with their action on persons in
disease.

Haller, the profound physiologist of a previous century,
pointed out that the only scientific method to ascertain the vir-
tues of medicines, consists in ascertaining their action on the living
healthy body. His words are : — " At first the remedy is to be
tried on a healthy person, without any admixture ; its smell and
taste having been ascertained, a minute dose of it is to be taken,
and attention is to be paid to all the affections which thence
follow, what is the pulse, what the heat, what the breathing,
what the excretions. Then, according to the leading of the

82 HALLER'S 8U0GESTI0N AS TO MEDICINES.

CHAP. VIII. phenomena, obvious in the healthy, you can pass to experiments
on the sick person." *

This correct suggestion of Haller was unattended to by all
medical experimentalists, Stoerck and a few other observers ex-
cepted. To attend to this suggestion required an exercise of
self-denial, which none before Hahnemann had the love of science
sufficiently strong to practise.

It seems strange that, among the many strong-headed men
who have practised medicine, no one should have come forward
to carry out Haller's suggestion ; and this is the more strange,
because it is to be presumed that they must have seen the almost
total impossibility to ascertain the real eflFects of a medicine by
trying it upon a machine out of order. Not more absurd could
it be, in order to judge of the mechanical effects produced by a
mechanical power, to put the power to a machine not in a pro-
per state of action.

To make observations on a living healthy being is difficult,
but to make them on a living diseased being is so great, that the
difficulty ought to have led to the adoption of trying medicines
on healthy persons.

The difficulties of making observations on the effects of reme-
dies in disease have been vividly pourtrayed by one of the most
correct thinkers of the age. Mill, in his Logic, vol. i, p, 529,
remarks : —

" Let the subject of inquiry be the conditions of health and
disease in the human body, or, for greater simplicity, the con-
ditions of recovery from a given disease ; and in order to limit
the question still more, let it be confined, in the first instance,
to this one inquiry, — Is, or is not, a particular drug, mercury,
for example, a remedy for that disease ? • * * When
we devise an experiment to ascertain the effects of a given agent,
there are certain precautions which we never, if we can help it,
omit. In the first place, we introduce the agent into the midst

* << Nempe primum in corpore sano medela tentanda est, sine peregrina ulla
miscela, odore et sapore ejus exploratls, exigua illius dosis ingerenda, et ad omnes,
qu8D inde contingunt, affectiones, quis pulsus, quae respiratio, quaenam excretionea
attendendum. Inde ad ductum phenomenorum, in sano obviorum, tratueas ad ex-
perimenta in corpore (xgroto." — Pharmacopeia Helvetica, Basle 1771, in fol. p. 12.

mill's statement. 83

of a set of circumstances which we have exactly ascertained. It CHAP.VIIL
need hardly he remarked how fer this condition is from being
realized in any case connected with the phenomena of life ; how
far we are from knowing what are all the circumstances which
pre-exist in any instance in which mercury is administered to a
living being. This difficulty, however, though insuperable in
most cases, may not be so in all ; there are sometimes (though
I should think never in physiology) concurrences of many causes
in which we yet know accurately what the causes are. But
when we have got clear of this obstacle we encounter another
still more serious. In other cases, when we intend to try an
experiment, we do not reckon it enough that there be no cir-
cumstances in the case the presence of which is unknown to us ;
we require also that none of the circumstances whifch we do
know of shall have effects susceptible of being confounded with
those of the agent whose properties we wish to study ; we take
the utmost pains to exclude all causes capable of composition
with the given cause ; or if forced to let in any such causes, we
take care to make them such that we can compute and allow for
their influence, so that the effect of the given cause may, after
the subduction of those other effects, be apparent as a residual
phenomenon. These precautions are inapplicable to such cases
as we are now considering. * * * ^ny thing Wee a scien-
tific use of the method of experiment in these complicated cases is
therefore out of the question. We can, in the most favourable
cases, only discover, by a succession of trials, that a certain cause
is very often followed by a certain effects

Ksuch difficulties exist, as they do, in all experiments made to
ascertain the virtues of medicines by using them on diseased
people, it seems wonderful that medical men should have per-
sisted in such a course of investigation. It seems wonderfiil
that they did not recognize practically the suggestion of Haller.

An attempt has been made to confer certainty on the old
system medicine, by introducing what is called the numerical
method, in noting down the effects which have been, or may be
observed to follow the administration of the medicines.

Almost the first of living mathematicians is M. Comte. He
thus designates the application of this method to physiology and
to medicine : —

84 M. comte's testimony.

CHAP.vill. " Indeed, the spirit of calculation tends in our day to intro-
duce itself into this study (physiology), especially into that
part of it relating to medical questions, by a much less direct
method, under a much more specious form, and with infi-
nitely more modest pretensions. I wish to speak of that pre-
tended application of it which is called the statistics of medi-
cine, from which many" (Dr. Forbes and his associates) '^ expect
wonders, and which, from its very nature, can lead only to pro-
found and direct degradation of the medical art," (reduced by it
to a blind eniraieration.) " Such a method, if we may be allowed
to call it by the name of method at all, cannot, in reality, be
anything else than absolute empiricism, disguised under the fri-
volous garb of mathematics. Pushed to its extreme logical
consequences, it will tend to make all rational medication radi-
cally disappear from medicine, by conducting the practitioner to
make chance trials of certain therapeutic measures, for the pur-
pose of noting down with minute precision the numerical results
of their application. It is evident, on principle, that the con-
tinual variations to which all organisms are subjected, are neces-
sarily even more pronounced in a pathological than in a normal
state, as a result of which, the cases must be even less exactly
similar, whence results the manifest impossibility of makings a
judicious comparison between two curative methods derived from
data furnished by statistical tables alone, independent of some
sound medical theory. No doubt some direct experimentation,
restrained under proper limits, might be of great importance to
medicine as well as to physiology, but it is precisely under the
strict condition that it shall never be simply empirical, but that
it shall always attach itself, either in its institution or in its
interpretation, to an entire system of corresponding positive
doctrines (a V&nsernble aystimatique des doctrines positives cor-
respondantes). Notwithstanding the imposing aspect of the
forms of exactness, it would be difficult to conceive of an opi-
nion in therapeutics more superficial and more uncertain than
that which rests solely on the easy computation of fatal and
favourable cases, to say nothing of the pernicious practical con-
sequences of such a manner of proceeding, where one could not
beforehand exclude any kind of attempt.

** It is really deplorable that geometricians have sometimes

BRITISH ASSOCIATION DISCARDED MEDICINE. 85

honoured with some kind of encouragement such a profoundly CHAP.VIII.
irrational aberration, by making yain and puerile efforts to de-
termine, by their illusory theory of chances, the number of cases
sufficient to make these statistical results legitimate."

The untrammelled medical observer, seeing all the facts ex-
hibitive of uncertainty, seeing the methods of experimenting
are so necessarily productiye of uncertainty, seeing that the ap-
plication of the exact method of experimenting applicable to other
branches of science is inapplicable to medicines as practised un-
der the old system, will be constrained to acknowledge the just-
ness of the exhortation in reference to old-system medicine,
" watch the progress of disease, but do not interfere," and to
declare, as Dr. Russell has well remarked, " that all that the
physician can do, is to open his wards and see fair play be-
tween nature and death."

The truth is, old system medicine has not the characteristics
of science. A most unpleasant acknowledgment of this is con-
tained in the following feet : —

At the meeting of the British Association for the Advance-
ment of Science, held in 1844, a proposal was made to the
Committee to extinguish the Medical Section of the Associa-
tion; and what is more, this proposal came from gentlemen, '' to
whose labours, the editor of the Lancet testifies, the profession
owes so much;" — "that they were at the head of the move-
ment which is attempting to banish medicine, as a science, from
the British Association."

These gentlemen are honest ; they see that the Association
meet for science, and finding that medicine is not a science,
(they know not homoeopathy,) deem it has no business there.
" They who are favourable to the change, assert, first, the
present inefficiency of the medical section, and, secondly, the
NON-sciENTiFic character of medicine."

Need it be wondered, in reference to this state of the me-
dical section, and the non-scientific character of medicine,
that when it was proposed at the Association, to cause the
science of embracing the investigation of the physical cha-
ra^ctera of nations, or ethnology, to be a graft on the medical
section, the ethnologists made a spirited remonstrance against
being thus grafted on the medical section, which, to use the

86 HAHNEMANN THE FIRST EXPERIMENTER ON THE HEALTHY.

CHAP.viil. words of a vmter in Chambers's Edinburgh Journal, " has
always been felt as a withered branch of the Association."

The statements of M. Comte and of Mill clearly demonstrate
the impossibility of deriving any satis&ctory, i. e. certain resnlts,
from experiments carried on in accordance with the roles of the
old system.

The query occurs whether the mode of experimenting adopted
by Hahnemann will allow of certain results being obtained ?

Hahnemann, with his powerfiil acumen, at once recognized
the difficulty of performing experiments on persons diseased, and
perceived not only this, but also the necessity of minute atten-
tion to the conditions under which the experiments with medi-
cine must, in order to be scientific and consequently practically
beneficial, be made upon the healthy.

Appropriately has it been inquired, where, among the whole
range of the centuries during which medicine has existed, and
physicians have prevailed, can a man be pointed out, who, for a
period of thirty years, and being in possession of health, took
medicines, observed and recorded their effects, and who, besides,
had the power to persuade his wife, his sons, his daughters, and
many friends to follow his example, all having the same object
in view — namely, the discovery of the pure effects of medicines ?
Homoeopathy can produce such a wonder: his name was
Hahnemann ; a man who has left behind him an imperishable
memento of his genius — mx octavo volumes^ filled with the re-
cords of the effects of medicines, produced upon himself and
his friends, he and they being in health at the time of adminis-
tration; and fi:om these volumes and the truths contained in
them, the cures of thousands have been worked out, while every
day's experience brings an addition to the multitude of those
who are receiving the benefit of his labours. They bless him,
and millions, yet unborn, will bless him.

To Hahnemann it is mankind are indebted for the practical
application of the method by which alone the virtues of medicines
can be ascertained, namely, by ascertaining their effiscts on
healthy persons; and thus having ascertained the pure effects,
applied the medicine, which has the power of producing certain
phenomena, to a disease, which presents similar phenomena.

In carrying out these experiments upon the healthy, he pointed

CARE TO AVOID ALL SOURCES OF ERROR. 87

out that the experimented upon must be in a state of good health ; chap. viii.
that the party must be one who is not hereditarily liable to dis-
eases ; that some time before, and during the experiments, he
must have adopted, and must adopt a strict regimen, avoiding
all exhausting mental and bodily feitigue ; that as to diet, coffee,
tea, and stimulating liquors, spices, and other dietary substances,
which have, besides a nutritive, a medicinal quality, should be
avoided. He pointed out that persons should be selected, who
have not been in the habit of using strong stimuli. He pointed
out that it is necessary to try the experiments on persons of dif-
ferent ages and sex. He pointed out that the nature of the tem-
perament must be taken into consideration ; that the time of the
day should be noted at which the symptoms developed their power
most actively. In &ct, he adopted every precaution by which
he could ensure a successfiil result to his experiment, a satis-
fstctory answer to the queries which he asked of nature ; and
the grand results of experiments conducted according to the
method he had laid down, are to be found in his Seine Arznei-
vnittelhere^ and his other immortal works.

When the chemist has tried an experiment, and gives the
result, how much interest is felt in the detail he gives of the
numerous precautions he adopted to prevent any and every
source of fallacy creeping in, so as to vitiate his chemical expe-
riment ! His ingenuity is held up as an example ; it is admired,
it is applauded. But when the homoeopathic physician, in trying
his curative experiment, labours to remove every cause of non-
success, by freeing his experiment from every circumstance that
may interfere with its success, his care is made a ground for sar-
casm ; it is asserted contemptuously, " a variety of circumstances
are required to be taken into consideration, at a great sacrifice of
time, and much nM>ck-profound application is required from its
disciples; there are a thousand niceties to be considered, as
regards even posture, and still more, functional condition."
Thus, the care which is an honour to the chemist, trying his
experiment on inanimate matter, and consequently, as such,
comparatively viewed, little liable to be modified, is a source
whence insult is obtained for the homoeopathic physician, trying
his experiment upon a human animate machine, and which, as
animate, is more complicated, and very liable to be modified by a

88 USING ONE MEDICINE AT A TIME.

cnAP.VIll. variety of causes. His very care to realize a scientific result, is
made by men, who have not science in their practice, a means
of attack upon his scientific result.

Hahnemann adopted the scientific method not only in disco-
vering the virtues of medicines, but also in the application of the
medicines to the cure of disease ; i. e. in the mode of adminis-
tering medicines to the sick.

Guided in the selection of the medicine by the correspondence
between the effects produced by the medicine in experiments on
persons in health, its pathogenetic effects, and the symptoms of
the disease in which the medicine, in obedience to the homoeo-
pathic law, was administered, he sought to realize simplicity, a
feature of science, by using only one medicine at a time.

In fact, all the essentials necessary, according to Dr. Forbes,
to the improvement of medicine, Hahnemann had practised.*
This philosopher taught that every circumstance which may,
in any way, tend to interfere with the operation of the one
medicine, should be carefiiUy avoided ; so that, in addition to
simplicity, in reference to the medicine itself, he ought to pre-
serve that simplicity, by forbidding all external and internal
interferences with its action.

Homoeopathy thus stands forth as presenting a scientific
character.

This view of the scientific character of Homoeopathy, and
the unscientific character of the old-system medicine, may be
summed up thus : —

Science presents itself as the embodiment of law.

The old system of medicine has no fixed universal law.

Homoeopathy has a fixed universal law — " similia simUibus."

* Dr. Forbes is a shrewd man. He puts forth as his own suggestions the particu-
lars quoted, p. 77 ; whereas all these suggestions he derived from the works of Hahne-
mann, who exposes the unsatisfactoriness of the old-system practice, on account of the
prevalence of the practices to which Dr. Forbes refers. Dr. Forbes has great power
of appropriation ; and the best of his suggestions are repetitions of what he read in
Hahnemann's writings, and he puts them forth as his own. To the question, if put
to Dr. Forbes, whether these suggestions necessary to be attended to in order for
the improvement of medicine, were not derived from the perusal of Hahnemann' »
works, it may be predicted that his answer must be an acknowledgment that they
were so derived. Would it not have been honourable to have acknowledged the
source ?

HOM(EOPATHY SCIENTIFIC.

Science produces certainty. - ClIAP.vili.

The uncertainty of the old system of medicine has been
pointed out.

The certainty of homoeopathy has been clearly demonstrated.

Science, founded upon a law, gives precision in the attempt
to gain the object sought after.

Homoeopathy realizes this. Let a new disease appear. The
old-system practitioners try this and that, these and those,
lyithout any fixed rule. The homoeopathist at once seeks out a
remedy that has the power of producing phenomena similar:
he applies this, and cures. Hence the steady and immediate
success of the homoeopathic treatment of Asiatic cholera. Where
one was cured under the old-system treatment, three to four
were cured under the homoeopathic.

Science presents simplicity in the mode of using means. Ho-
moeopathy presents simplicity, both in the mode of discovering
remedies, and in the mode of using them, when discovered.
Homoeopathy tries medicines singly on the healthy to learn
their power, and having found it, exhibits these medicines
singly to the sick.

Homoeopathy in this particular justifies its claim to be
scientific.

The want of simplicity as exhibited in the old system, both
in the ascertaining the powers of remedies and in the adminis-
tration of these remedies in disease, has been exhibited.

A third characteristic of science is its power to explain the
phenomena having relation to it.

The Newtonian theory of gravitation is received as true, as
scientific, because by it all the facts connected with the influence
and the motion of bodies are most satisfEictorily explained. The
atomic theory is received as true, because it explains most satis-
fisbctorily the phenomena connected with chemical attraction. So
with other theories.

May it not without hesitation be asked. Will not the homoeo-
pathic theory explain the £acts connected with the curative action

90 HOMCEOPATHT SCIENTIFIC.

CUAP.VIII. of medicines on diseases, better than any other theory ? The
want of the old system as affording, by its theories, explanations
of the curative action of medicines, is evidenced in the fact of
the explanation that is resorted to by the advocates of that sys-
tem. In the Lancet, (vol. 1, 1844, p. 165,) is contained the
following statement: —

" One of the apparently strongest arguments, brought forward
by unbelievers in the powers of medicine to prove their asser-
tions, is the great diversity in the practice of medical men. But
this argument is merely specious, and will not bear the slightest
scrutiny. It is more especially in the treatment of inflxmvnuxtor^
and febrile diseases that this diversity exists, and in these diseases,
precisely, the indication is one which may be attained by a variety
of means. Depletion is the indication, and depletion may be
equally produced by the action of local bleeding, of large blisters,
of purgatives, of diuretics, or of diaphoretics : thus we find, that
the physicians who, in the treatment of pneumonia, in England,
rely partly on bleeding and partly on purgatives; in France,
entirely on bleeding, or on the application of large blisters ; in
Grermany, partly on bleeding and partly on critical evacuations,
urinary or cutaneous ; — all arrive at the same end — the depletion
of their patient, though by different methods."

Depletion is depletion, and as all practitioners deplete, aU
agree ! The editor of a scientific medical journal declares that
depletion of hlood is virtually the same, in relation to its effects
on disease, as depletion by an increased flow of urine, by an
increased discharge of perspirable fluid : " Depletion may be
equally produced," are the words. In other words, to remove a
more than usual quantity of urine, secreted fi-om the blood, is
curative, upon the same principle as the removal of a given quan-
tity of the blood itself; and that to draw away half a pint of
serous fluid, by means of a blister, is curatively the same as
drawing away half a pint of the blood itself. Shade of John
Hunter ! " the blood is the life thereof."

If the old system is obliged thus (in a cmtting Gordian knot
style) to get rid of the difficulties, connected with the pheno-
mena produced by the use of medicines in the cure of diseases,
no one need hesitate to declare, that, if the power of saiis-
factorily explaining phenomena is a characteristic of a^ scientific!

DIGNIFIED POSITION OP HOMOEOPATHY. 91

theory, the absence of this pow^r, if the views stated by the OHAP.viit
editor of the Lancet are legitimate, is irresistibly evident.

But how easily applicable, and consequently how easily tested,
is the homoeopathic law, in reference to the explanation of the
curative activity of medicines. The homoeopathic law proclaims
that medicines cure diseased states by the power they have of
exciting in healthy persons symptoms, similar to those presented
in the diseased.

The fact that thousands have been and are being cured by the
appUcation of medicines in accordance with this law, is sufficient
evidence that the law gives a satisfectory explanation of the effects
realized. In fact, so much is this the case, that the homoeopa-
thist can prove that the cases of decided cure, which have been
eflFected by medicines used in the old-system practice, have been
so effected, because the medicines used have happened to be
(without the knowledge of the old-system practitioner) homoe-
opathic to the maladies in which they were successftd.

Taking Homoeopathy into consideration, first, as presenting a
means of curing disease by aiding life in its exertions — ^aiding it
vdthout exhausting it — aiding it in the way in which nature
can be most efficiently aided : further, as presenting a simplicity
in the treatment by giving the rule, that, to cure a natural dis-
ease, a medicinal disease exactly similar must be produced, the
medicinal disease removing by its homoeopathicity the natural
disease : third, as giving the knowledge of the exact diseases
that medicines do produce, ascertained by obtaining the effects
on healthy persons : fourth, as giving the simplicity of using only
one medicine at a time, thus enabling the practitioner to detect
its real effects, and preventing the injuries resulting from admi-
nistering many medicines together, that of complicating the
effect, and that of establishing new diseases in the system, oflben
a burden through life: taking Homoeopathy thus into consi-
deration, it must be allowed that Homoeopathy is a noble system ;
that it is an addition to the healing art; that it establishes
certainty where uncertainty hitherto prevailed ; that it presents
the quickest, the safest, the most agreeable way of curing dis-
ease ; that it explains most easily the facts connected with the
cure of disease ; and that, on all these grounds, the rank of sci-
ence is boldly claimed for Homoeopathy.

02 INJURIES FROM THE OLD-SYSTEM MEDICINE.

CHAPTER IX.

On the injuries inflicted by the old-system medicine. — Statements
from various medical authorities : Boerrhave, StaJd,
Dr, Brown^ Kieser, Bush, Sydenham. — Chethe^s testi-
tnony.

CHAP. IX. What is true, must be beneficial ; what is untrue, most be
injurious.

These axioms exercise a powerful sway in every honest and
well-constituted mind.

Applied to the different methods of treating disease, they must
find illustrations in the injuriousness of the untrue old system,
and in the beneficialness of the true homoeopathic system.

A short detail of some of the injuries inflicted by the old sys-
tem ydll form an additional illustration of the want of science
belonging to that system, and will serve to establish that^ in
leaving it, the person leaving leaves a system pregnant with
destruction.

The testimony of Boerrhave, the leading physician of his
time, is thus embodied : —

" If we compare the good which a half dozen true sons of
^sculapius have accomplished since the origin of their art, with
the evil the innumerable multitude of doctors of this trade have
done, we shall not hesitate to conclude, that it would have been
far better, if there had never been physicians in the world."

" The celebrated Stahl attributed the frequency of consump-
tion to the introduction of the Peruvian bark. The equally cele-
brated Morton considered the bark an effectual cure. Reid
ascribed its frequency to the use of mercury. Brillonet asserted
that it is curable only by this mineral. Bush says that con-

INJURIES FROM THE OLD-SYSTEM MEDICINE. 93

sumption is an inflammatory disease, and should be treated by CHAP. IX.
bleeding, purging, cooling medicines, and starvation. With a
greater show of reason, Salvadori maintained the disease to be
one of debility, and that it should be treated by tonics, sti-
mulating remedies, and a generous diet. Galen, among the
ancients, recommended vinegar as the best preventive of con-
sumption. Dessault, and other modern writers, assert that
consumption is often brought on by a common practice of young
people taking vinegar to prevent their getting tat. Dr. Beddoes
recommended fox-glove as a specific in consumption. !Pr. Parr,
with equal confidence, declared that he found fox-glove more
injurious in his practice than beneficial ! Now, what are we
to infer from all this ? Not, as some of you might be tempted
to believe, that the science is deceptive or incomprehensible
throughout, but that its professors, to this very hour, have neg-
lected to make themselves acquainted with the true principles
upon which remedies' act, and know as little of the true nature
of the diseases whose treatment they so confidently undertake."
Such are the views of a modem critic.

In mania, bleeding used to be most frequently resorted to.
In this disease excessive power is manifested : what better, says
the antipathist, than bleeding, which lessens power? What,
however, is the testimony of Dr. Brown, who has had the most
extensive experience in treating this disease ?

" Depletion in mania has the following disadvantages :
" 1st, It materially retards the recovery ; 2nd, It gives a ten-
dency to dementia ; 3rd, It is sometimes directly fatal ; 4th, It
debilitates at a period of depresssion, and in no degree fitcilitates
the operation of other remedies. That even in such patients as
have been bled, but are ultimately cured, a state of imbecility
approaching to fatuity separates the period of excitement from
that of convalescence ; dementia follows directly, and obviously
great evacuations and copious blood-letting, where no symp-
toms of alienation pre-existed. There is a case under my care,
where incurable dementia succeeded the loss of blood in pneu-
monia. The fatal consequences of bleeding in delirium tremens
have not suggested any warning. Depletion, while the nervous
system is in a state of high excitement, proves fatal in various
ways: I have seen it induce convulsions, during which the

94 INJURIES FROM BLEEDING.

CIIAP. IX. patient died. More firequently the weakness which supervenes
is so great, and so little under the controul of medicine or diet,
that after passing through every stage of prostration and ema-
ciation, the patient sinks from debility or from some acute dis-
ease, or, as it were, actually worn out by the irritation of the
mental disease. While writing these remarks, a copy of the
Annual Report of the Northampton Asylum has been trans-
mitted to me, in which a table, showing the causes of death,
contains the corroborative item: 'Exhaustion from previous
depletion, two deaths.' "

In reference to the celebrated Dr. Armstrong's treatment of
scarlatina maligne, Professor Maunsel remarks : " In such prac-
titionery, we know no better advice than that of the judicious
Huxham, at least to peruse the sixth commandment."

Brera, a most celebrated continental physician, referring to
the treatment of pneumonia, notes : —

100 cases treated without bleeding ... 14 only died
„ with 2 or 3 bleedings .... 19 „

with 3 to 9 bleedings .... 22 „
„ with more than 9 bleedings . . 68 „

Kieser, a high authority on the continent, remarks : —

" A great many diseases are healed only by nature, and in
the greatest part of Sbcute diseases, all that the physician has to
do is to remove and prevent pernicious influences, and set aside
the abnormous over-action of some of the organs. When he
does more, either to satisfy the patient's longing for medicine,
his own dogmatic theories, or his eagerness of gain, mischief
ensues. By this means, frequently, artificial diseases are pro-
duced, and, in many cases of medical treatment, we can truly
assert, that chronic diseases that have followed them have been
caused by the physician. In the present state of the practice of
medicine, then, both in Germany and the neighbouring lands,
the sick man should be warned against medicines as tiie most
dangerous agents."

The same writer adds : —

" The history of medicine especially teaches this, for it shows
that every separate, and thence one-sided theory of medicine,
has required a number of victims greater than the most destruc-
tive plagues or the longest war."

SYDENHAM'S STATEMENT. 95

With Kieser's statement, the experience of Dr. Rush agrees. ^CII^P. IX.
He remarks : —

" We have not only increased the number of diseases, but we
have made them more fatal. Even the principles founded on
just observation are made hurtful by a wrong application of
them. We are obliged to investigate errors, perhaps forty or
fifty years after the time at which they prevailed, to comprehend
their absurdity."

" Sydenham, whose acuteness of observation none can doubt,
records his conviction thus : — ' It often happens that the aspect
of a disease varies according to the varying method of cure, and
many symptoms are due not so much to the disease as to the
physician.' " *

Hahnemann remarks :

" The majority of cases for the treatment of which a phy-
sician is called, are of acute diseases, that is, aberrations fi*om
health which have only a short course to run before they ter-
minate either in recovery or death. If the patient die, the phy-
sician follows him modestly to the grave ; if he recover, then
must his natural strength have been sufficient to overcome both
the force of the disease and the mischief of the drugs he took ;
and the natural strength does often suffice to overcome both.
In epidemic dysentery, just as many recovered of those who
followed the indications affi>rded by nature, without taking any
medicine at all, as of the others who were treated on the best
principles of Brown, of Stoll, of Hoffinann, of Richter, of
Vogler, of any other or by any other system. Many died, too,
botid of those treated by all these methods, and of those who
took no medicine ; on an average, just as many .of the one as of
the other. And yet, all the physicians and quacks who attended
those who recovered, boasted of having effected a cure by their
skill. What is the i^erence ? Certainly not that they were
all right in their mode of treatment; but perhaps that they
were all equally wrong. What presumption for each to claim,
as he did, the credit of curing a disease, which in milder cases

♦ So&pe accidit ut facies morbi vjgriet pro vario medeiidi processu, ac nonnulla
symptomata, non tarn morbo quam medico debeantur.

96 INJURIES TESTIFIED TO BY ALLOPATHIC WRITERS.

CHAP. IX. uniformly recovered of itself^ if gross errors in diet were not
committed."

Even the writers in the periodical antipathic press often ac-
knowledge the injuries inflicted by the treatment of those pur-
suing the old system. The following acknowledgement is taken
from the Lancet^ in a review of a book published by a surgeon
named Brown : —

" When I read the reports of cases in the journals of the day,
the blood freezes within me, so horror-struck am I at what the
patients suffer at the hands of the doctor ; and I am never asto-
nished at finding an account of the poet mortem^ for which, I
confess, I often look down to the bottom, in advance, seeing,
from the first day or two's treatment, that all is up with the
paMent. That the patient, in the present case, had a narrow
escape, is palpable, and it is equally so that her surviving the
treatment is to be attributed entirely to a more than human
constitution. But the lady recovered, and the recovery is called
a cure, and the cure, so called, is ascribed to the treatment,
though it is evident, on the fiice of the report, that the cure, if
such it was, was effected by an accidental occurrence, which the
treatment was calculated to prevent, and which was unlocked
for and unexpected by the author, namely, the suppurative in-
fiammation of the sa^.

"Mr. Brown is evidently an indulgent doctor, for it seems
that he allows his patients, ' at their own requests,' notwith-
standing * hot skin,' * flushed &ce,' ' pulse at 120,' and so on,
whatever they like in the way of beer, brandy, and wine.

" It is true, he throws in, at the same time, out of his own
shop, for reasons best known to himself a mia'tum gatherum of
a draught, every four hours, and a rattling purgative at night
into the bargain, although the bowels be already distended with
flatus, and the abdomen sore from the brisk operation of pur-
gatives and other sorts of doctors' stuff. Oh, this quart& q. q.
hor& system ! What in the world do these doctors think that
human bowels are made of? OThe thickest leather breeches that
ever a huntsman put on, if made into bowels for the patients of
some of these doctors, could not hold out against the batteries of
stuff, as killing as grape-shot, which our blue-bottle doctors dis-
charge at their patients."

■ INJURIES FROM OLD-SYSTEM MEDICINE. 97

I Even poets have seen the folly of the old-system drugs. CHAP. ix.
M Groethe testifies to the injuries resulting from drugs : —

K Thus with our hellish drugs, Death's ceaseless fountains

K In these bright vales, o'er these green mountains,

B Worse than the yery plague we raged :

K I have myself to thousands poison given,

m And hear their murderer praised as blest by Heaven,

' Because with Nature strife he waged.

Goethe's Faust.

A few special illustrations of the injuries, resulting from the
old-system practice, may be given.

A case where the ulceration of the mucous membrane of the
internal passage, and one where the symptoms of phthisis were
produced by the use of iodine, are recorded by Mr. Rawson,
of Keyworth, in the Lancet*

A case is recorded in the same volume,t in which death was
caused from the use of colchicum.

The following statement exhibits blindness and death from
the use of a violent purgative : —

" In the spring prior to his [Professor Davis's] decease, an
attack of total blindness, which lasted about five minutes,
supervened during a violent vomiting, induced unintentionally by
a purgative. This left behind double vision, in certain positions
of objects only, which continued for about six weeks. He showed
symptoms of rapid fitilure of health during the ensuing simimer ;
he nevertheless, until the last month of his summer course, con-
tinued to throw the same interest into his lectures, and to address
his class apparently with the same spirit as heretofore. He
recovered in some degree his strength and energies by a brief
residence at the sea-side, sufficiently to induce him, on the Octo-
ber following, to re-commence his duties, which it was now des-
tined he should enter upon for the last time."

Only a few days since, the writer was sent for into
Essex, to see a patient dangerously ill. The patient had been
confined about a fortnight. She was going on very well in
every respect. The surgeon accoucheur, who had attended her
in her confinement, called to see her, and observed that " she

* Lancet, vol. II. (1842-3), p. 444, published in the Appendix,
j Lancet, vol. II. (1842-3), p. 500; eee Appendix.

98 IKJT7RISB FROM OLD-BTBTEM MEDICINE.

OflAP. IX, was going on too well.*' He sent her some powders of calomel:
the two first acted so violently that he was obliged to be sent
for, the patient being apparently sinking. He asked with
anxiety whether the nurse had given the third dose. She replied
she had not, as she thought the patient would have died from
what she had already taken. This patient, who had a tendency
to ovarian disease, had the disease excited by this action of the
calomel, and from the excessive exhaustion, she passed into a
typhoid fever, complicated with ovarian and abdominal disease,
and died the day after she was seen by the writer.

No doubt exists that this patient, not thirty years old, was
killed by this purging.

What medicine is more extensively used than quinine, and
what medicine produces more diseases.

Dr. Homing relates a case of dumbness produced by its use.*
Dr. Menage relates a caset where the same effect was produced ;
and M. Bertin published a similar case in 1839.

A circumstance transpired about three years since, which ex-
hibits the immense amount of injury that old-system medicine
has inflicted on society.

M. Louis, a continental physician, published a work on phthi-
sis some years since. This work, deemed highly valuable, was
translated by Dr. Cowan, and through his agency presented to
the notice of the profession in this country.

M. Louis published, in 1844-5, a second edition of his work,
which Dr. Walshe translated and published, making in this no
reference to Dr. Cowan's translation. Of this Dr. Cowan com-
plained. Dr. Walshe defended himself thus : —

'* The first and second editions of the original treatise difer
from each other so widely as to constitute almost wholly dia-
tinct works. In truth, not only does M. Louis himself say, in
briefly recapitulating the changes and additions he has intro-
duced in his last edition, 'thus my first researches are more than
doubled in extent^ (Advertisement, p. xiv.,) but the doctrines pro-
fessed in regard of those most important subjects, Curabilily and
Treatment, are almost diametricallt opposed in the two
volumes.' " — ^What injuries must have been infliicted by those
who followed M. Louis's first directions.

• L<meet, toI. U, (1839-40), p. 306. f JLancet, vol. L (1838), p. 281.

DISOOYERT OF THE ACTION OF IKFIKITSSIMALS. 99

CHAPTER X.

InfimUsimal qaanHUea of medicine. — How Hahnemann was
led to discover them. — Propositions demonstrated^ That
bodies a/st in infinitesimal quantities; That medicines €ict
in infinitesimal quantities. — Illustrations of infinitesimai
action in the animal^ the vegetaible^ and the mineral king-
dom. — Actinic chemistry, — Leibiff.

Society is indebted to Hahnemann for the discovery not only CHAP. X.
of the homoeopathic law, but also of the peculiar mode by which
that law is, in the treatment of disease, put into operation. This
mode is that, in which medicines, homceopathically administered,
are exhibited in doses so small, as to have obtained the name of
infinitesimal.

Many are apt to consider this mode of administration as
the result of some peculiar visionary view of Hahnemann. In-
stead of this the adoption of this mode was the result of pure
experience. The following history given by Dr. Hering demon-
strates this : —

'^ Hahnemann had observed that children, who had been
poisoned by the berries of belladonna, (an accident of frequent
occurrence in Germany), were frequently attacked by an erup-
tion of the skin resembling that of scarlet fever. Applying these
£Btcts in accordance with the homoeopathic law, Hahnemann
found that the same belladonna, when given as a remedy in the
scarlet fever cured the fever, and likewise afforded protection to
healthy children against the< attacks of this disease.

100 DISCOVERT OF THE ACTION OP

CHAP. X. «< In the cases in which he used this remedy to core the scarlet
fever, Hahnemann gave it in very minute doses, according to the
prevailing views, viz., in the one-eighth, one-tenth, and one-
twaitieth of a grain of the extract, or a single drop of the juice.
The result was salutary in many cases, but not unfrequently in-
stead of the cure, he observed an aggravation of all the symp-
toms of the complaint. This was what might naturally be ex-
pected: indeed, it seems almost self-evident, that the remedy,
which in the healthy subject was capable of producing
something similar to this disease, must, when administered to
patients who were a£Bected in a manner so entirely analogous,
in whom it operated more especially upon the diseased organs,
and so entirely similar to the disease, necessarily increase the
latter, even if the patient were endowed with but a moderate
degree of sensibility. To this augmentation of symptoms, how-
ever, there commonly succeeded a rapid crisis and perfect re-
covery ; yet sometimes it proved so troublesome, as to call for the
employment of antidotes. This ahnost constant aggravation of
the disease, by the remedies which were chosen according to the
new law, threatened to embarrass very much their trial, if not to
render it wholly impracticable. To avoid these disagreeable re-
sults, Hahnemann adopted the most simple and natural ex:pe-
dient, viz., that of lessening the dose. He united one grain
of the extract of belladonna with a hundred drops of the spirits
of wine. Of this mixture, one drop (which of course contained
one-hundredth part of a grain), he afterwards gave, in the suit-
able cases, for a dose. But to his astonishment he observed
that this drop acted too forcibly. He now made the great stride
which none had done previously to him ; he took a hundred
drops of spirits of wine, added to them one drop, which contained
one-hundredth of a grain of the medicine, shook them together,
and, now had in every drop of the new mixture, therefore, the
one ten-thousandth part of a grain. If the one-one hundredth
of a grain was quite an unusual dose, Hahnemann went tax
beyond the limits of previous experience in his second opera-
tion, viz., that of administering the dose in the one-
ten thousandth part of a grain. When he gave one drop of
this second preparation in a case adapted to the remedy, he ex-
pected a very slight and inconsiderable effect. In the great

IKFINITESIMAL QUANTITIES. 101

majority of cases, indeed, a more rapid cure followed it than in CHAP. x.
the case of the preceding preparation, but to his great astonish-
ment, much more frequently — ^the same impetuous aggravation
of symptoms. In short, it was not to be mistaken : the virtue
of the medicine had by no means been taken away in these high
dilutions. How striking soever this phenomenon was in itself,
and however wonderful and strange it must have appeared to
Hahnemann, it had nevertheless, been indisputably the result of
his manipulations ; and as a quiet observer of nature, he pro-
ceeded, hand in hand with experience, still further. He added
one drop of his second (the ten thousandth) dilution, to another
one hundred drops of spirits of wine, shook them together, and
thus procured a third mixture, in which each drop contained but
the millionth part of the first grain of the extract of belladonna.
On administering this new preparation to his patients, he did not
yet witness the desired and expected decrease of medicinal energy,
the remedy remained as active as before, and in sensible children
it operated frequently in quite as drastic a manner as the ex-
tract had at first ; nay, it appeared as if it operated with even
greater violence than before — ^and therefore rendered necessary
the exhibition of an antidote. Hahnemann, who knew that the
secrets of nature had not yet been fully unveiled to us, and that
any thing new and important, though ever so striking, if its truth
be attested by repeated experiment, ought to be investigated, con-
tinued to prosecute this great discovery. He added one drop of
each successive dilution to a successive portion of one hundred
drops of spirits of wine, and united them by shaking. He per-
ceived in the progress of these manipulations, that every suc-
cessive dilution was still operative, and though attenuated a
hundred fold at every step of the process, yet by no means did it
become in the same proportion a hundred fold less efficient ; in
fiw^, each dilution differed in activity, very little from the dilution
immediately preceding. He continued, therefore, these pro-
cesses with the medicine, until experience taught him, that it
had, at length, become entirely mild in its operation. The
troublesome increase of the morbid symptoms became gradually
less and less considerable by dilution, nevertheless the succeeding
salutary e£Eect remained equally decided, and even the extreme
dilutions themselves, were always sufficient to effect a cure.

102 RATIOKALITT OF INFINITESIMAL ACTION.

CHAP. X. Remarking even from the thirtieih dilution, in very sensible sab-
jeets, an increase of the symptoms, he diminished the dose from
one drop of this dilution, to a small portion of a drop. He dis-
covered a mode by which a drop could be acciu*ately divided into
any desired number of parts, and frx>m the one-hundredth, and
even a smaller fraction, decided effects were witnessed from the
medicine.

The results from medicines, thus exhibited in infinitesimal
doses, have thus become matters of experience ; as such they can,
ought to be, and must be tested.

In fisu^t, though the law, regulating the action of remedies^ is
qaite distinct from the doae^ in which the application of the law
is carried out, yet so extensively has Hahnemann and his discij^es
established the efficacy of ail homoeopathic remedies in infinitesi-
mal doses, that ail skilled homoeopathists are quite willing to
recognize as fiindamental both the law and the infinitesimal
doses. In fact these form a dualized truth.

It is willingly granted that the infinitesimal doses fidrm the
great antagonistic power against the reception of Homoeopathy :
it is willingly granted, that if homoeopathists could administer
their medicines in accordance to the homoeopathic law, in
doses commonly given, homoeopathy would make, it is likely, a
much more rapid progress. But no honourable mind will ever
consent to bow to prejudice in such a matter as this, when
he knows that such bowing may be attended with injury to the
patient, and will be refiising the homage due to truth. The tmc
disciple of Hahnemann adheres to infinitesimal doses; and though
he is not at liberty to bow his mind to the prejudice against these
doses, he feels it a pleasant duty to strive to make others bow to
the truth, by establishing the rationality of the asserted ef&cacy
of these doses.

The best step to establish this will be to demonstrate that the
efficacy of infinitesimal quantities is a scientific truth ; and the
demonstration of this will be received if it can be proved, first,
that bodies act in general in infinitesimal quantities ; and second,
that medicines act in infinitesimal quantities.

The first proposition, that bodies in general act in in-
finitesimal QUANTITIES, cau be demonstrated even in reference
to masses of matter.

ILLUSTRATIONS OP INFINITESIMAL ACTION. 103

A poet, in describing affection, inquires — CHAP. X.

Hast thou not seen two drops of dew

The rose and yelvet leaf adorn ;
How stronger their attraction grew,
As nearer to each other borne ?
And he adds —

The very law that moulds a tear,

And bids it trickle from its source.
That law preserves the earth a sphere.

And guide the planets in their course.

He thus recognizes in the language of poetic beauty that the
law which influences masses is the same law which influences
minute particles.

Indeed, it is a truth that the mass of rock is a mass not be-
cause of any power in the rock as a mass, but on account of the
innumerable attractions between the infinitesimal particles of
which the mass is composed.

It is not wonderfdl that the vulgar should doubt the action
and the power of infinitesimal quantities, but that writers, who
profess to be scientific, should exhibit wonder thereat, is ex-
hibitive of the to-be-lamented &ct, that many profess to be
the votaries of science, who have never paid the requisite dues at
her shrine.

A modem writer has well remarked —

" It is extremely probable, firom certain chemical fects,
that all bodies are composed of elementary parts, which are
indivisible and unalterable; these are called atoms . Nothing
is known of their absolute size, except that it cannot possibly
exceed certain magnitudes which we may calculate, but of whose
extreme minuteness we can form no adequate idea. For example,
we have just seen (referring to an experiment of Newton), that a
film of soapy water will, if carefiilly protected fi-om all disturbance,
hold together until it has been reduced by draining to the thick-
ness of less than a 2,600,000th of an inch. Pure water will not
hold together in this way ; but the admixture of less than the
hundredth of its bulk of soap will confer this property on the
whole of the water. Now, in order to produce this eflFect, it is
evident that there must be a portion of soap (at least one atom),
in every cubic 2,600,000th of an inch of the solution. But the

104 ILLUSTRATIONS OF INFINITESIMAL ACTION.

CHAP. X. soap, when dry, occupies less than a hundredth of the bulk of the
solution. Therefore, a single atom of soap, in the solid state,
cannot possibly occupy so much as the hundredth of a cubic,
2,600,000th of an inch ; that is, not so much as a 1757 trillionth
(1,757,600,000,000,000,000,000th) of a cubic inch.

" Dr. Thomson has shown that a portion of lead may
be rendered visible, the bulk of which cannot exceed the
888,492,000,000,000th of a cubic inch. He dissolved one grain
of dry nitrate of lead in 500,000 grains of water, and after
having agitated the solution, passed through it a current of
sulphuretted hydrogen gas. The whole liquid became sensibly
discoloured. Now we may consider a drop of water to weigh
about a grain, and a drop may be easily spread out so as to
cover a square inch of surface. Under an ordinary microscope
the millionth part of a square inch may be distinguished
by the eye. The water, therefore, could be divided into
500,000,000,000 parts, every one of which contained some
lead united to sulphur. But the lead in a grain of nitrate of
lead weighs only 0.62 of a grain. It is obvious, therefore, that
an atom of lead cannot weigh more than l-510,000,00O,OO0th
of a grain, while the atom of sulphur (for the lead was in com-
bination with sulphur, which rendered it visible) cannot weigh
more than l-2015,000,000,000th of a grain.

" The size of those very minute quantities of matter can also be
computed. Thus the bulk of the portion of lead rendered visible
by the above process is only l-888,492,000,000,000th of a cubic
inch.

" There are maiiy interesting examples in the usefiil arts of the
minute subdivision of matt^. Gold leaf is the 290,636th of an
inch in thickness, and it would require at least 1500 such leaves
placed upon one another to equal the thickness of the paper upon
which this book is printed. It is easy to trace the process by
which this extraordinary tenuity is arrived at. For example : an
ounce of gold is equal in bulk to a cube, each of whose edges
measures 5-12ths of an inch, so that placed upon the table it
would cover littie more than the sixth of a square inch of its
surface, and stand 5-12ths of an inch in height. The gold
beater hammers out this cube of gold until it covers 146 square
feet. Now, it can easily be calculated that to be thus extended

ATOMS, THEIR INPINITESIMALNESS. 105

from a surface of 5-12tlis of an inch square, to one of 146 OHAP. X,
square feet, its thickness must be reduced from d-12ths of an
inch to the 290,636th part of an inch.

" But gold furnishes a still more remarkable instance of the
extension and consequent divisibility of matter. The gilt wire
used in embroidery is formed by extending gold over a surface
of silver. A silver rod, about two feet long and an inch and
a half in diameter, weighing nearly twenty pounds, is coated
writh about 800 grains of pure gold. This rod is then drawn
through a series of holes, gradually diminishing, until it is
stretched to the length of 240 miles, whereby the gold has
become attenuated 800 times, each grain being capable of cover-
ing a surface of 9600 square inches. This wire is now flatted,
the golden film suffering a farther extension, and having its
thickness reduced to the four or five millionth part of an inch.

" One hundred yards of raw silk weigh less than a grain,
and a 3000th of a yard, or a 300,000th of a grain, can be
handled and examined with the naked eye. The thread spun
by the common spider is much finer than that of the silk-
worm, and there are spiders 1000 of which would not make
up the bulk of a common spider. Their threads are invisible
except when reflecting the direct solar light, and yet it is found
by the microscope that every spider has about 4000 spinnerets,
each producing a separate thread, all of which are united into
one bundle, to form what we call a gossamer thread."

Chemists perpetually are using for practical purposes the
phrase atom: a word which means indivisible, a (a) not and
refivofiai. (temnomat) to be cut. The use of the term implies the
recognition of the fiict, that there are particles between which
action takes place so infinitesimally small that they cannot be
further divided. No one has ever seen these atoms ; but no
one, acquainted with the fects on which the atomic theory is
founded, disputes their existence. So well established, indeed,
is the existence of these atoms, and so regular are their actions,
as to admit of being expressed under the form of " laws of chemi-
cal attraction."

Liebig is, therefore, merely asserting a truth recognized for
years, when he declares: — " It is indispensably necessary to
the manifestation of chemical affinity, that the atoms of sub-

106 ACTINIC CHEMISTRY.

CHAP. X. stances should be in immediate contact with each other, or at
IMMEASURABLY small distances."

In &ct, chemical action is fityoured always by separating
the particles of which bodies are composed: hence the old
chemical axiom, " corpora non agont nisi soluta," " bodies do
not act unless dissolved ;" in other words, when a body is dis-
solved, that is, when its particles are separated to the degree of
fineness and minuteness so as to be no longer visible, actions
take place, which do not when the body is in a less degree of
infinitesimalness.

How infinitesimally small is a particle of light, and yet those
particles produce chemical effects : an infinitesimal quantity of
sun light, namely a ray, " we cleave asunder into rays, which,
without any power of illumination, produce the most important
alterations and decompositions in organic nature."

A distinct branch of chemistry, relating to the action of isr^
ponderable bodies, has been founded. Herschel has designated
this branch of chemistry that treats of light, a thing in infinitesi-
mal quantities, by the titie of ** Actino-Chemistry ;" one of the
doctrines of this chemistry is, that a sun-beam cannot faU upon a
body, without producing a molecular or chemical change.

The daguerrotype, in which light is the portrait-maker, pre-
sents an illustration of action in infinitesimal quantities.

But this action between infinitesimal quantities is not con-
fined to the objects of the mineral kingdom : the vegetable king-
dom affords striking illustrations of the truth of the proposition,
That bodies in general act in infinitesimal quantities.

In the vegetable kingdom the preservation of the various
individuals is insured through the medium of seeds. It has
been found by the experiments and the observations of Lin-
nseus, that a seed, in order to produce a plant, like that on which
it was produced, must have imparted to it b, peculiar life power,
or vital principle : it has been established that the agent, which
imparts this peculiar life power, this vital principle, is a particu-
larly fine dust, formed on a part of the flower distinct fix)m that,
in which the seeds are formed. Thus a flower presents in the
centre littie thread-like bodies, at the end of each one of which

POLLEN OP FLOWERS. 107

is a little body, like a chest, called an anther. In this anther is CHAP. x.

a fine dust, named poUen, which dost is the vivifying agent in

reference to the seeds. In the centre of the flower is another body,

called the pistil, at the inferior part of which is a little chest,

called the germ, containing the seeds : above this germ, and, as

it were, growing out of it, is a stalk, called the style, and at the

top of this style is a body, generally divided, or cleft, called the

stifftna. Now, in order that the seeds in the germ may become

capable of producing, when placed in the earth, another plant,

it is essential, that the influence of the pollen should be conveyed

to the seeds ; the phrase "influence" is used, because, though in

some plants the passage from the stigma down the style into the

germ is recognizable, in many plants the passage is not detec-

tible, and therefore the particles of pollen, though exceedingly

small, can hardly be supposed to penetrate to the seeds in the

germ. The influence, however, must : and this influence is such,

that the seeds, which, without this, would not produce perfect

plants, will, if thus influenced, be capable of producing perfect

plants. Here, then, an exceedingly small vegetable substance is

demonstrated to impart even life to the seeds in the germ. To

show the excessive minuteness of some of these life-giving bodies.

Tries counted in a single specimen of the reticuiaria mamma,

ten millions of small seeds, or sporules.

The dust of the lycoperdon, or puff-ball, appears under the
microscope of an orange colour, perfectly rounded, and not ex-
ceeding the fiftieth part of a hair's breadth in diameter ; so that
if a globe of any substance were taken, having the diameter of a
hair, it would be 125,000 times as great as the seed of the
lycoperdon.

The appearance of mushrooms has astonished many. Many
think them spontaneous productions, whereas they are the pro-
ducts of vivified mushroom seeds, thousands of which float about
in the air, and are invisible to the naked eye.

Another well known phenomenon is the mauldiness in cheese.
Mouldiness is nothing but the growth of minute /ww^i, or plants
of the same family as the mushrooms. These are deposited in
the cheese in its fi*esh state : they take root and vegetate.

In connexion with this action of bodies in infinitesimal quan-
tities, the isjct that the presence of infinitesimally small quanti-

108 RUSSIAN LEATHER. — YEAST.

CHAP. X. ties of another substance will often prevent actions taking place,
which otherwise would take place, is worthy of remark. The
presence of a portion of Russian leather in a room will often
prevent mouldiness, either by destroying the ftmgi or by pre-
venting the condition^ necessary to vegetation taking place in the
body in which the ftingi would grow,

Yea^t is a striking illustration of action in infinitesimal quan-
tities. Chambers asserts the following: —

'' Zoologists tell us, when speaking of animalcules, that not a
drop of stagnant water, not a speck of vegetable or animal tissue,
but has its own appropriate inhabitants. The same may be
remarked of plants ; for we cannot point to a speck of sur&ce,
unless chilled by everlasting cold, or parched by continuous
drought, that has not its own peculiar vegetation. The spores
or seeds of these minute parasites are almost infinitesimally
small : they are floating above and around us, unperceived by
the naked eye, ready to fall and germinate wherever fitting con-
ditions are presented. Nay, as certain changes in animal tissue
are ascribed to animalcules, so have certain changes in organized
substances, such as fermentation, been ascribed to vegetable
growth. Yeast, according to this view, is a true vegetable, con-
sisting of minute organized ceUs or spherules, which jMropagate
with amazing rapidity so long as they find their proper nutri-
ment in the fermenting liquid. Nor is there any thing more
incredible in the fact, that the little globular yeast plant should
extract its nutriment from the fluid on which it floats, than that
the water-flannel should extract its starch or lime from the water
which it covers."

Thus does the vegetable kingdom afford its testimonies affirm-
ative of this, that actions can take {dace between the minutest
particles of bodies.

The animal kingdom adds its illustrations to the action <rf
bodies in infinitesimal quantities.

Liebig remarks : — " We are acquainted with animal^ possess-
ing teeth, and organs of motion and digestion, which are wholly
invisible to the naked ei^e. Other animals exist, which, if mea-
surable, would be found many thousands of times smaller, which,
nevertheless, possess the same apparatus. These creatures^ in

INFINITESIMALNESS OF ANIMALCULES. 109

the same maimer as the larger animals, take nourishment, and CHAP. X.
are propagated by means of ova which must, consequently, be
again many hundreds of times smaller than their own bodies.
It is only because our organs of vision are imperfect that we do
not perceive creatures a million times, even, sTnaJler than these.^^

Tomlinson remarks : — " In the organic kingdoms the micro-
scope has proved the existence of animals so minute, that a mil-
lion of them does not exceed the bulk of a grain of sand, and yet
each of these creatures is composed of organs of nutrition and
locomotion, as in the larger animals."

" Spallanzani having collected, on the point of a camel's hair
pencil, a p;article of the fecundating fluid of a frog, succeeded in
vivifying thousands of eggs. Surprised at this result, he dis-
solved three grains of the secretion in a pound of water, and one
drop of the solution he found endowed with the same property of
giving life. In this case the globule of water contained only a
small fraction of a grain. This curious experiment has been
tried with a similar result by Prevost and Dumas.

" In other experiments he found, that fecundation took place if
a fraction, smaller than the two millionth part of the male sperm,
was applied to the ovum by means of a fine needle."*

To these facts, demonstrative of the proposition that bodies
act in infinitesimal quantities, may be added some additional
facts in relation to the action of bodies on the senses.

What, it may be asked, is the size of the particles that consti-
tute the scent of the rose, or the peculiar odour of the sweet-
scented violet ?

It is a fact that a grain of musk will scent all the articles of
clothing placed in a drawer during the period of a year, and,
when weighed at the end of the year, the quantity that remains
will be a grain. How infinitesimally small must these particles
of musk be, since, though diffusing the scent of musk through
an immense quantity of garments, the quantity by weight that
remains is the same ; and yet these infinitesimal quantities must
have occupied a space, otherwise they could not have acted on
the membrane of the nose, by the nerve spreading through which
they are recognized.

* Quoted from Millingen's Curiosities of Medical Literature.

110 THS INFIKITESIMALKESS OF SCENTS.

CUAP. X. It is asserted to be a fiu*t, that the smell of the cinnamon
groves at Ceylon can be detected twelve to fourteen miles sea-
ward, when the wind blows in that direction. These particles,
thus diffiised, must be inconceivably small.

It is asserted by naturalists that the camel can smell water
several miles off.

Can any disbeliever in the influence of infinitesimal particles
of medicine tell the size of the particles by which a dog, blind-
folded, scents his way to his master? Sir Humphrey Davy
asserts, " Every lane, field, or town, has its peculiar smell."

Fancy the swift and hard-footed gazelle, bounding along the
plain, leaving behind her particles of her scent, by which tiie
trained dog can pursue her : will the disbeliever in the effects
of the infinitesimal particles declare the size of the particles left
on the ground from the hardened, elastic hoof of this light-
footed bounder over the plain ?

Again, behold the phenomena of galvanism and magnetism ;
what inconceivable minuteness must the particles, whether gal-
vanic or magnetic, have ? Can any one show a particle ? And
yet their effects, when collected, are almost all-powerful : but
conceive the innumerable particles of galvanic power, arisiog
from the (Escharge of a large galvanic battery : separate one from
the other, and they are separate, for they were separate in their
origin, and when separated, however infinitesimally small, yet
each one is a galvanic or a magnetic particle, and each one has
an action on the human fi^me.

How infinitesimally small are the feice particles, that form
the arrangement of the fiu5e into the smile, and those that form
the opposite arrangement into the sadness of features, and yet
these infinitesimally small particlose arrangements of the visage
produce each their effect on the mind of the beholder.

Taking all these facts into consideration, it is believed that
sufficient evidence has been brought forward to demonstrate that
bodies may act in minutely infinitesimal quantities on each other,
and that these particles, though in their separate states not visi-
ble, are discoverable in the effects produced by their action.

INFINITESIMAL ACTION OF MEDICINES. Ill

CHAPTER XL

Proposition^ That medicines act in infinitesimal quantities, —
Analogies. — Invisible morUfic agents produce disease. —
Conditions necessary to the action of infinitesimal quan-
tities ; the development of virtues hy preparation^ and the
increased susceptibility to impression in disease* — Process
by which medicines are prepared for Somogopathic use. —
The ignorance manifested in the bravery of the allopathic
boasters.

The proposition, That bodies in general act in infinitisemal chap. xi.
quantities forms an appropriate introduction to the demonstra*
tion of the second proposition, That medicines act in infini-
tesimal QUANTITIES.

Analogy gives its support to this proposition, in the hets
which demonstrate the action of infinitesimal quantities (if they
can be so named) of morbific agents in producing disease.

Look at that man : see how his teeth chatter : feel his skin,
how cold it is : how rough it is fi'om its contraction from his
chilliness: see how he craves for warm drink, and how he
draws to the fire : watch him, and in two hours or more, see
him bum with fever : his head bursting with pain : his breathing
hurried: irritable in his temper: parched with thirst : restless,
perhaps delirious : still watch him; in a few hours he is seen co-
vered with sweat. What has caused all this ? He has breathed
an invisible something, a marsh vapour : he has the ague.

112 DISEASES BY INFINITESIMAL AGENTS.

CHAP. XI. Look at that person : he feels pressure at pit of stomach : he
is sick : his head is afflicted with a heavy pressure : his tongue
is coated : he is prostrate with weakness : fever bums him : his
symptoms become more and more grave : his family surround
him with anxiety: little elevations appear on his skin: his
head is relieved somewhat: the elevations become filled with
pus : he has the small pox.

What caused all these symptoms ? An invisible miasmatic
poison.

What again is the size of the portion of vaccine fluid that
permeates the constitution, and protects it fi-om the influence of
small pox : which realizes in fact, what the poet predicted in
fancy, when he represented the invulnerability gained by Achilles
by being dipt in the river Styx, the vaccine coat of mail.
How infinitesimally small must be the web of which it is
composed.

Look at that unfortunate being, see him vomiting and
purging incessantly : hear his plaintive cries from the cramps in
his limbs and bowels : hear his demands for cold water : see
him striving to grasp the drinking vessel to swallow large
draughts : see him rejecting it as soon as swallowed : behold his
countenance, his skin and his nails turn blue : feel his tongue, it
is cold : touch his hands, they are covered with a sweat that
strikes cold.

What causes all this horrid spectacle ? this Asiatic cholera?
What but some infinitesimal modification of atmosphere acting
upon the nervous system, which seeks deliverance through its
action on the mucous membrane of the intestines.

But to leave physical influences and to pass to moral in-
fluences.

What is the size of the particles of vexation that can give a
man an attack of jaundice ?

What was the size of the particles of joy that killed the father
who heard that the son was a victor in the Olympic games ?

What was the size of the particles of Jfright that turned the
hair of the boy, who was taking the nest of the eagle and in
defending himself with his sabre almost cut the rope in two, to
a white colour in a few minutes?

What was the size of the particles of grief, which turned the

CONDITIONS ESSENTIAL TO INFINITESIMAL EFFICACY. 113

hair to a white,* of the parent who heard of the death, by small CHAP. XI.
pox, of his lovely daughter, his only support, who left her home
(in perfect health and beauty) to visit her friends.

The discovery, by Hahnemann, of the fiatct of the action of
medicines in infinitesimal quantities, has been detailed in a pre-
ceding chapter, in connexion with the use of belladonna in scar-
let fever : the statement there made ought to be received by
every one as a matter of experience, (since it is capable of being
tested,) as a feet, and, as such, affording a demonstration of the
action of medicines in infinitesimal quantities.

This, added to the probability of such action, deduced firom
the analogy in relation to the action of morbific agents, in infi-
nitesimal quantities, in inducing disease, might, it is presumed,
be deemed as affording evidence quite sufficient of the proposi-
tion under consideration.

It seems, however, necessary, in the present state of opinion
in reference to homoeopathy, to enter into some additional con-
siderations.

Two conditions exist in connexion with the use of medicines
in accordance with the homoeopathic law, which render the
medicinal action of infinitesimal quantities of medicines cura-
tively powerfiil : the first condition is, that the latent virtues of
the medicines should be, and are developed by the processes
OF PREPARATION, to which they are subjected for homoeopathic
use ; and the second is, that the susceptibility to impression of
the system diseased is intensely augmented in relation to the
medicinal agent in homoeopathic relationship to it.

* The case referred to made an indelible impression on the author in his boyhood.
A beautiful young lady, only eighteen, but of the highest accomplishments, being,
at this age, able, by educajting young ladies, to keep her father, (who had been a
wealthy city merchant,) went, in the holidays, to visit a friend of the writer at Seven
Oaks, in Kent. While on this visit, she was seized with small pox ; she was so
very ill, that she was, for the safety of others, obliged to be removed to the house
for such persona in Seven Oaks, and she there died, and was rendered so loathsome
by the change in her features and the whole state of her body, that her friends were
glad to have her stitched up in the sheet on which she died, and have her conveyed
from sight. Her father was informed of her death, and the night he heard of her
death and the destruction of all his hopes, his hair turned white.

114 MODE OF TRITURATION.

CHAP. XI. In reference to the first condition, The development of medi-
cinal virtues by the process of preparation to which the vae&
cine is subjected, the following &ciB will be sufiBicient to conYey
the necessary information.

The homoeopathist takes a grain of solid bodies, or a drop of
liquids, (when liquids are prepared by trituration), adds to it
thirty-three grains of sugar of milk in an unvarnished porcelain
mortar, and after mixing together for about a minute vdth a
horn or bone spatula, rubs the two for six minutes. During
four minutes he collects the parts from the sides of the mortar
and of the pestle ; and then, for six minutes rubs afresh. Four
minutes are again occupied by collecting together the parts of
the powder, and then thirty-three more grains of sugar of milk
are added ; the same process is pursued as with the first thirty-
three grains ; the third thirty-three grains are then added, and
the saQie processes are repeated. The whole powder is thus
collected, put into a bottle, on which is marked I, indicating
that the substance contained is at the hundredth degree of power.

A grain then of this hundredth part of a grain of powder is
taken, and this is triturated with ninety-nine more grains of
sugar of milk, added at the three distinct triturations as at the
first. The powder, thus formed, is marked II, and is at the
10,000th degrfee of power. A grain of this is taken and rubbed
with ninety-nine more grains of sugar of milk, according to the
method already named. The powder thus prepared has the
medicine of the 1,000,000th attenuation. In thus bringing the
powder to this attenuation, or the liquid, when prepared by firic-
tion with sugar of milk, to this dilution, three hours are occu-
pied. It is marked III.

As the medicines are best given in solution, it is usual to
take one grain of the powder at the millionth attenuation, and
dissolve it in one hundred drops of alcohol and water, fifty drops
of each. This solution is the 100,000,000th part of a grain.
One drop of this is added to ninety-nine drops of alcohol and
water, and the bottle is shaken twice. This is the 10,000 mil-
lionth part of a grain. One drop of this solution is then added
to ninety-nine drops of alcohol and water, and this is the bil-
lionth part of a grain.

In this way the solutions are carried to the decillionth part of

VIRTUES DEVELOPED BY TRITURA'JION. 115

Si. grain or drop. When these solutions are to be brought into CHAP. xi.
in-se, it is the usual custom to moisten with them little globules
oJF sugar; these absorb the liquor, and become impregnated
'tlierewith. These globules, thus impregnated, are those sold in
l3.oni(£opathic medicine chests.*

By these processes the medicines are brought into an infini-
-t^esimal state of division, and their virtues are developed. That
'tliis is the case is evidenced in the facts, demonstrated by expe-
jrience, that bodies, in themselves apparently inert, becomie the
most powerfiil remedial agents, when prepared by the processes
described. Flintstone, charcoal^ oyater-sheU^ afford some of the
most valuable remedial agents possessed by homoeopathists. It
is asserted, as a matter of experience,t that many most severe
Bkisx diseases are curable by flintstone homoeopathically pre-
pared (jsiliced) ; that some kinds of fever are removable by char-
coal homoeopathically prepared (carbo vegetahilis et animalis) ;
and further, that certain kinds of pulmonary consumption are
curable by oyster-sheU homoeopathically prepared (calcared).

Should the ingenuous find any difficulty in the recognition of
tliis doctrine of development, such difficulty will be removed, if
lie call to mind the well-established fact of the disengagement
of heat from coal during combustion. The heat, or rather the
caloric, was latent^ or lying hid in the coal, till developed by its
new condition ; and one who, because a coal feels cold, denies
that it contains heat, would not be more foolish than he who
denies the development of new powers by the new condition,
in which a medicine is placed by preparation, because he does
not see any thing in the medicine, which would lead him to
expect these powers.

It may be difficult to explain how this attenuation, this tritu-
ration develope new powers, but of the fact there is no doubt.
All know, that friction developes powers, previously latent.
Look at caloric developed by friction ; look at electricity deve-
loped by friction ; why should not the medicinal powers, dor-
mant in an agent, be developed by friction ?

• Medicines thus prepared can be obtained of a member of the English Homoe-
opathic Association, Mr. James Eppb, Homoeopathic Chemist, 112, Great Russell
Street, Bloomsbury.

f See Appendix, article ** Of the Extent of TIomGeopathy.'*

116 IN DISEASE SUSCEPTIBILITY AUGMENTED.

CHAP. XI. Every one is aware of the &cts, that if eau de Cologne is rub-
bed on the hand, it gives out a scent much more intense thaa
that given out without such friction. If a leaf of geranium is
squeezed, it gives out a scent excessively strong.

The probability of the action of infinitesimal quantities of
medicine in curing disease, will become more apparent when the
£Ebct is remembered, that, in disease, the stisceptihUity to the m-
pression of specific influencea is augmented.

Of this point, namely, the augmented susceptibility to impres-
sion under disease, some illustrations may be usefiil. It is esta-
blished in nature, that, in certain conditions, individual subjects
are capable of receiving impressions, or being impressed by in-
fluences, which, in other conditioDS, have no influence upon
them.

It is established also, that certain individuals are susceptiUe
to some impressions, and not to others.

The susceptibility to impression state, may be called the recep-
tivity of the individual.

The receptivity may be illustrated by referring to vegetable
existence.

The poUen, already described, is the fecundating, the life-
giving principle, to the seed. Now, suppose some pollen pro-
duced by placing a plant in a hot-house, and making it come to
perfection a week before the natural period of its perfection :
and to another plant of the same kind, growing in the garden,
which has just opened its flower, when the one in the hot-house
has advanced so far as to have perfected its pollen, some of the
perfected pollen is applied to the stigma, no efiect is produced:
no seed is vivified : but if the pollen is preserved for a week or so,
until the flower in the garden is perfected, the stigma, being then
susceptible to impression, would receive the influence, and com-
municate it to the seed, and the seed would be perfected.

In other words, till the flower has attained a certain suscepti-
bility to be impressed, the pollen is not, though properly efiective
in itself, effective on the seed ; but directly the amount of recep-
tivity necessary to render the impression effectual is brought
about in the progress of the plant towards its perfection, then
the pollen becomes effective.

IN DISEASE SUSCEPTIBILITY AUGMENTED. 117

As an illustrative evidence of the development of this recep- CHAP. XI.
tdvity, is the fact, that the stigma undergoes changes in its form
a.t this period.

Now if this peculiar receptivity exists in reference to the
vegetable existence, why should it not exist in reference to the
influence of medicines on diseases ? As it is manifested in the
vegetable in connexion with infinitesimal quantities of pollen,
>vhy should it not be exhibited in the medicine in infinitesimal
quantities, in relation to the disease ?

The same receptivity is exhibited in reference to mental mat-
ters.

Does not analogy favour, even demonstrate, the view, that to
realize any impression vividly, there must be a state adapted ?

Are the truths of religion felt equally strong at all periods ?
Are the charms of music equally powerfiil and captivating at all
times ? Does poetry always please ?

Such receptivity does exist in diseases. Hahnemann teaches
and homoeopathists believe, that, in disease, the receptivity of the
system is so augmented, that it is susceptible to impressions,
which, in conunon conditions, namely, healthy, it is not.

Does not every one know, that when the eye is diseased, the
otherwise welcome light of day is shunned with the greatest
dread? Does not every one know, that when the tongue is
ulcerated, the salt which savours food is excluded with the
utmost care firom the mouth ? When one is afflicted with head-
ache, do not the sounds of one's children — ^sounds most delightfiil
at other times, become a source of strong irritation.

With what pleasure does the strong muscular man delight to
use his muscles, but when rheumatism has affected the muscular
tissue, how every movement is dreaded ; in fact, the approach
of any to the affected limb is viewed with horror.

Behold that sick room : there lies a man groaning with dis-
ease. His brain is affected with intense sensitiveness. Behold
that guardian angel moving about the sick room ; see how softly
she treads ; the god of silence seems to have endowed her steps.
What does she fear ? She knows that even the sound of those
footsteps, which in health he loved to hear, will produce, if made
with the usual pace, the most severe agony.
Even some candid opponents of homoeopathy allow that the

118 SPECIFIC 8USCKPTIBIL1TY.

CIIAP. XI. specific relationship between the medicine and the disease is the
cause of more powerful action. Dr. Jorg remarks : —

" On the other hand, medicines operate most powerfiilly upon
the sick,' when the symptoms correspond with those of the dis-
ease. A very small quantity of medicinal arnica will produce a
violent effect upon persons who have an irritable state of die
(esophagus and stomach. Mercurial preparations have, in very
small doses, given rise to pains and loose stools, when adminis-
tered in an inflammatory state of the intestines. Yet 'why," ex-
claims he, " should I occupy time by adducing more examples
of a similar operation of medicines, since it is in the very nature
of the thing that a medicine must produce a much greater effect,
when it is applied to a body already suffering under an aflfection
similar to that which the medicine itself is capable of pro-
ducing." *

The proposition under demonstration is, that medicines act
curatively in infinitesimal quantities, when exhibited in diseases
to which they are homoeopathic.

In maintaining this proposition, it is not maintained, that a
millionth part of a grain or of a drop (to take a given, though a
large quantity in homcBopathic administration,) will produce any
visible action on the man in health ; nor is it maintained, that a
millionth part of a grain or of a drop will act on the man in dis-
ease : but it is maintained that the millionth part of a grain or
of a drop will act on the man in disease, if between the diseased
state of the man and the medicine, infinitesimally administered,
there is a homoeopathic relationship. In other words, the ho-
moeopathists do not vaguely say, that medicines in infinitesimal
doses cure diseases, but they do say that medicines given for the
cure of diseases to which they are homoeopathic, do cure these
diseases when administered in infinitesimal quantities ; to repeat,
the homoeopathist, in maintaining the efficacy of medicines in infi-
nitesimal quantities, regards three requirements as necessary: —
First, the development of virtues in medicines by the process of
preparation ; second, the increased receptivity to impression pro-
duced by disease ; and third, the selection of the right remedy.

* Materiellen zu einer kiiiiftigen heilmittelehre durcli Versuche der Arzncien an
gcsunden Mcnschen gewonneii und gesammelt von Dr Johan C. G. Jorg. p. 16.

THE IGNORANT BOASTING OF ALLOPATHISTS. 119

Those oppon,ents, then, who argue, that medicines in infini- CHAP. XI.
tesimal quantities do not act upon persons in health, waste much
time and expend uselessly much trouble. No homoeopathist
maintains that they do. These opponents, too, who make a
boast that they will swallow the entire quantity of globules in a
bottle, show only, in what they think to be a most potent and
most courageous argument, their ignorance of what homoeopathy
teaches; and demonstrate, by the very argument which they
deem so potent, their total powerlessness, because of their total
ignorance, to argue rightly on the subject.

Any apparent force in their argument is in the idea sought to
be conveyed, that if a medicine in an infinitesimal dose does not
produce any eflfect on the healthy man, it cannot produce any
effect on the diseased man. But this inference is not justified.

The millionth part of a grain or of a drop is A power; but in
order that the power should be medicinal, a condition of appli-
cation is necessary ; and that is, that it be applied in accordance
with the homoeopathic law.

Pit is a truth, in reference to the development of vegetable
life, that each stigma is receptive only to its specific pollen, so
that the pollen of one plant has no effect on the stigma or the
seeds of another of a different family. It is true, thiat the pollen
of a rose modifies the seed of another rose ; it is true, that the
pollen of one tulip affects the seed of another tulip, so much so,
as often to produce an entirely different colour and form ; but if
the pollen of the rose be carried to the lily, or that of the lily to
the rose, no effect is produced by either, on either. So that —
while the pollen of the rose is to the seeds of the rose a specific
stimulant, and the pollen of the lily to the seeds of the lily; and
the stigma of the rose and the stigma of the lily have their re-
ceptivities to the impression of each one's pollen developed in
each at the appropriate time — ^the pollen of the rose has not a
specificity to the seeds of the lily, or the pollen of the lily to the
seeds of the rose.

Equally correctly might the objector maintain, that because
the pollen of the rose has no effect on the lily, that it has no
action at all, as the objector against infinitesimal medicines,
that because an infinitesimal dose of medicine does not act on a
healthy man, or even on a diseased man to whose disease it is

120

MODIFICATION BY INFINITESIMAL QUANTITIES.

CUAP. XI. not homoeopathic, it does not act on a diseased man to whc
disease it is homoeopathic.

One who had lost the sense of smell, maintained that
action of infinitesimal portions of musk, so as to produce
impression on the nose, is a delusion. Others smile at his i
plicity ; they perceive that he, being without the power of smell^l
has not the condition of receptivity to the impressions produced ]
by the musk. They would pity him, but they feel his con-
ceit destroy their pity, when he dogmatically maintains that for ]
others to maintain these infinitesimal particles of musk act upon
them, is all nonsense, is, as the editor of the Lancet maintains,
" a fraud."

The increased susceptibility of impression existing under dis-
ease is evidenced in the well-known feet, that if a person having
burned one of his fingers, holds his hand to the fire, the pain
produced in the burned finger is intense, whereas no pain is felt
in the other fingers of the same hand. The action of the fire on
the burned finger is felt by the sufierer.

To assert that the disease does not render the system more
susceptible to the action of the medicine homoeopathic to it,
would not be more absurd, than to tell the man with the burned
finger, that it was all delusion to assert that the burned finger
felt the fire more than the fingers not burned. And firrther, for
a man who had not burned his finger, and having held his hand
to the fire and not feeling any eflect on any finger, to maintain
that no pain is felt by a person who has burned his finger on so
holding his hand to the fire, would not be more absurd than is
the assertion of the allopathic boaster, that a medicine in infi-
nitesimal doses to a case of disease homoeopathic to it could have
no eflect, because he had tried the same medicine in a case which
was not homoeopathic to it, and it produced no eflFect.

Of late years some experiments by persons not influenced by
homoeopathy established, that quantity is not the chief point
to be considered in the production of actions and of results,
in fact, the peculiar character which modem philosophy has
assumed is that connected with the recognition of the spiritual-
ism in forces.

The following remarks are very apposite.

DIRECTION AND NOT AMOUNT OF POWER. 121

" The very direction in which a power is applied, or (to CHAP. XI.
state it after the manner of the men of measm*able quantities,)
St, weight allowed to operate, is so immensely mbre significant
than the weight itself that Archimedes, who shot quite impon-
derable arrows of sun-fire at the enemies of Syracuse, and burned
up their vessels of war, wanted but a point to |dant his lever,
in order with his puny arm to move the world. What is the
weight of water with which Watt clips thick iron like paper
into shreads, and sends his huge leviathans, throbbing in their
irresistible struggle, over the Atlantic ? Are not a few pounds
of terrestrial weight transformed into tons by the mere dispo-
sition of them by Bramah, . on the principle of the old hy-
drostatic paradox? Paradox! One had thought the day of
paradoxes was over for ever now, every thing great is a paradox
at first; for our ignorance and vulgar mistake of knowledge
for truth make it strange."

Davy fearlessly following the principle of electrical induction
by contact, discovered that half a dozen square feet of the copper
sheathing of the British fleet, are rendered electro-negative,
(that is, the polarities of all the innumerable particles which
make up that extent of surface, are reversed), by a zinc nail
driven through the centre of the space, and are thereby protected
from the. corrosive action of the sea with its stores of oxygen,
chlorine and iodine, everywhere ready to be let loose upon
metallic substances.

Nay, Sir John Herschel finds that the relation to electricity,
of a mass of mercury, for instance, is such that it may be re-
versed by the admixture of an almost infinitesimal proportion of
a body, as potassium, in an opposite electrical condition: and
with such electrical conditions are all chemical actions what-
soever inseparably connected; while every one is aware that
physiological are complicated, as well as chemical, with mecha-
nical phenomena. So impressed is Herschel with this class
of observations, as to observe, " That such minute proportions
of extraneous matter should be found capable of communicating
sensible mechanical motions and properties, of a definite
character, to the body that they are mixed with, is perhaps one
of the most extraordinary facts that has appeared in che-
mistry."

122 IODINE ACTIKG IK INPINITESIMAL QUANTITIES.

CHAP. XI. Dr. Daubeny having, in a memoir read before the Boyal
Society in 1830, on the saline and purgatiye springs of Britain,
expressed his doubt of the possibility of any medical action
being exercided by so insignificant a quantity as one grain of
iodine spread through ten gallons of water (the largest proportion
he had ever found), felt himself constrained to annooQce in
1831, that the considerations above stated, the influence of the
potassium on the mercury, now induce him to attach more
importance to the circmnstance of its presence ; for it is just
as possible a priori^ that this quantity of iodine should iniuse
new properties ipto the salts which accompany it, and cause
them to act in a different manner upon the system, as that l^s
than a millionth part of potassium should create so entire a
change in the relations of a mass of mercury to electricity.*

It is not the power — ^it is the mode of applying the power.
Let the infinitesimal quantity of medicine be applied rightly,
that is, in accordance with the homoeopathic law, and the sought
for eflGect, the cure of disease, will be gained.

Notwithstanding all these facts, some are bold enough to
maintain that it is impossible that infinitesimal quantities of
medicinal substances, prescribed homoeopathically, can act.

To what does this assertion of the impossibility of the action
of infinitesimal quantities amount ? To this — ^that the utterer
of the impossibility puts his judgment of what auffht to be against
what is.

1£ not in medicine, at least in other departments of science,
too much information has been accumulated to permit the
searcher after truth to allow any man to shelve a proposition by
placing his what ought to be against what is. So many previ-
ously declared impossibilities have become, notwithstanding the
declaration that such was their character, possibilities, that all
such talk is now deemed nugatory. Navigation by steam
across the Atlantic is now to be seen, despite of Lardner, who
said that it was an impossibility. Travelling by steam on rail-
ways has made Stephenson immortal, and those who called him

* British Journal of Homoeopathy, vol. I., article "Theory of Small Doses."

" impossibility" the language op conceit. 123

«i fool, fools. The^ priests' of Galileo's days impossibility of the CHAP. XI.
earth going round the sun, has been a possibility in nature from
^he ^beginning, and is now become a possibility even to a child's
-understanding.

The " ought to be " argument will be legitimate, when the
X)ropounder can assert with truth, " I know all the laws of the
oreation, and the thing proposed is in opposition to those laws ;"
iDut with all the uncertainty attached to the old system of medi-
eine, no one whose opinion is regarded will venture to assert
that he has this knowledge, even in reference to medicine. All
enlightened men respond to the observations of Laplace, " Nous
sommes si loin de connaitre tous les agens de la nature et leurs
clivers modes d'action, qu'il serait peu philosophique de nier les
ph^nomenes, uniquement parcequ'ils sont inexplicables dans
I'^tat actuel de nos connaissances."

This " ought-to-be" state of mind, and the reasoning founded
thereon, are the companions of bigots only. It shows a self-
esteem which no man of science will, though fools may, tolerate.
The man of science asks, in reference to any fact brought before
his view. Is it ? and seeks the proof; and science guides him
in the selection of the means probative. K then it is asked of
the homoeopathist, in the philosophic spirit and a kindly manner,
J?o you mean to assert that you cure diseases with medicines in
these MINUTE doses, prescribed in obedience to the homosopathic
law ? he answers, He does : and even in this country, evidences
derived from thousands* of patients, who have been treated and
cured by homoeopathic means, are tangible.

These patients to whom reference is made, get well. What
is the inference ? What is the inference by the allopathist when
his patients get well ?

The allopathist is called to a patient with typhus fever ; he
prescribes certain medicines for that patient ; the patient gets
well ; what is his conclusion — ^his sequitur ? The medicines
cured him.

The homoeopathist is called to a case of typhus fever; he
gives homoeopathic remedies, and in minute doses, to his patient ;

* See Appendix, ** On the Extent of Homoeopathic Practice."

124 MEDICINES GIVEN, CURES FOLLOW.

CHAP. XL the patient gets well ; what is his conclusion — ^his sequitur ?
What the allopathist's was — the medidnea cured him.

No, say the allopathists, this is a nonr-sequitur. But why is
the cure a sequitur in the allopathist's case, and a nonsequitur
in the homoeopathisfs ? The former prescribes medicines with
some fixed object in view ; he gains that object, and he believes
that the object is gained by means of the medicines he prescribed:
this he infers, because there was in his mind, in prescribing such
medicines, a fixed relationship between the object to be gained,
and the means to gain it. Well, the homeopathist prescribes a
medicine, with a certain object in view ; he gains that object,
and believes the object is gained by means of the medicine he
prescribed ; and this he infers, because there ^as, in his mind,
in prescribing such medicine, a relationship between the object
to be gained and the means to gain it.

And mark, how much more ground of certainty the homoe-
opathist has that the medicines given by him do gaua the object,
than the allopathist has in reference to his medicines, and the
object he has in view. The homoeopathist prescribes the medi-
cine, on the ground that it has the power of producing symp-
toms similar to those exhibited in his patient. The allopathist
has no such rule* The homoeopathist has a fixed rule to guide
him in the choice of means, and thus he is enabled to ascertain
exactly how far those have corresponded to a given expectation ;
he has, to requote Leibig's words, " a question clearly and defi-
nitely put," and the reward gained is, that it is " clearly an-
swered."

But if the allopathist judges from his results that the means
brought them about because there was a pre-existii>g relation-
ship in his mind between such results and the means to attain
them, how much more certain can the homoeopathist be that his
conclusion as to the results obtained by him are really such.
The allopathist gives many medicines, and uses many means at
the same time. The homoeopathist uses only one medicine at a
time. If one source of fallacy exist in reference to his experi-
ment, many exist in reference to the allopathist's.

But the homoeopathist is not at all in a hurry to get at a con-
clusion. He knows, perhaps better than those who affect to
despise him, that though causation must coftie out of coincidence,

CAUSATION AND COINCIDENCE. 125

coincidence is not always causation. He knows that coincidence, CHAP. XI.
to indicate causation, must be universal ; in fact, he has learned
-WttSLt has been so well expressed by the most talented of phy-
Biologists, " the discernment of universal connexion and
CON^TINUITY amounts to the discovery of truth." *

*' The natural philosopher," Liebig informs us, " endeavours
to ascertain the conditions of a given phenomenon." The homoe-
opathist recognizes this as a truth ; he gives a remedy to gain a
given effect ; he realizes that effect, which is health ; and he
seeks the conditions. Thus, he gives, in true scarlatina,
(not in all fevers with scarlet eruption,) belladonna : he cures.
He repeats this over and over again, and similar is the result.
He had phenomena — namely, feverish heat, scarlet redness of
skin, enlarged tonsillar and other glands. &c. ; he gives beUor-
donna — ^the feverish heat ceases, the scarlet redness disappears,
the tonsils return to their natural shape and size. These con-
stitute another series of phenomena. He asks the condition
linking these phenomena ; and he finds it to be this — ^the admi-
nistration of a body that has the power of producing in a healthy
person phenomena presented in the first series of phenomena.

Take another case. The homoeopathic physician has a case
of dysentery. He finds the phenomena to be similar to those
which corrosive sublimate produces, when a person is poisoned
by it ; he gives the quadrillionth part of a grain of this medicine,
and he cures. Here, again, are two sets of phenomena. He
seeks the condition connecting them, and finds it to be corrosive
sublimate. Every homoeopathist has cured numerous cases of
the worst forms of dysentery by corrosive sublimate in these
minute doses.

Again, the homoeopathic physician is called to a case of
strangury. The patient passes bloody urine, half a spoonj&il to
a spoonfiil, every two to three minutes, with agonizing pain,
sometimes making ineffectual, but dreadfiilly painfiil efforts.
The physician gives the millionth part of a drop of the cantharis
solution, prepared according to the homoeopathic formula, and
the water passes fi-eely without pain in the course of a few
hours. Numerous cases of this nature occur — ^the writer has

• Regnum Animale De Intestinis.

126 EXTENSION OF SURFACE.

CUAP. XI. known such results, when the agony has been so great, that a
strong-minded man has told his attendants to remove his razors,
and has begged, on his arrival in the chamber, to give him some
narcotic to kill him. The writer gave him cantharis, and cured
him.

It would be presenting an incomplete view of the action of
infinitesimal quantities, if reference was not made to a physical
fact, in connexion ^ith the action of these quantities.

Murray, in his Materia Medica^ referring to some experi-
ments in connexion with narcotic poisons, remarks (page 60,
6th edition) : —

" The medicines belonging to this class act primarily upon
the stomach, whence their action is propagated by nervous
communication to the rest of the system. That they do not
act by being received into the blood is evident from the fact,
that their effects are apparent in general in a short time after
they have been swallowed ; and it has been found on dissection
immediately after these eflTects have appeared, that the whole of
the quantity/ administered has remained in the stomach undis-
solved.^^

K the whole quantity remained in the stomach undissolved,
it is certain that in the experiment, supposing only a grain of
opium was used, the part acting on the nerves of the stomach
was only the superficies of the mass, and not the whole grain ;
and yet the pomts of this small surfoce produce the most dele-
terious effects.

If, then, a grain of opium is extended, and so infinitesimally
divided, that its superficies is enlarged, say a million times, is it
not probable that a millionth part of a grain, presenting as large
an action superficies as that presented in the grain, will act
quite as efficiently ?

Some experiments of Sir Benjamin Brodie and of others show
that the introduction of a narcotic into a wound produces an
instantaneous effect. The wounded surface is an absorbing sur-
face, and hence the rapidity of the effect. Is it not likely, that
by bringing medicines into a state of infinitesimal division, in
which state they are in a condition most favourable for acting,
by being taken up by the minute absorbing vessels, they will then

AN INFINITESIMAL QUANTITY IS A QUANTITY. 127

produce an infinitely greater effect on the system, than if tiot so CHAP. XI.
ixifiiiitesimally divided ?

An infinitesimal quantity w a quantity.
The unphilosophicness of doubting the efficacy of an infini-
tesimal quantity of medicine, viewed as nothing, is thus cogently
exliibited by Hahnemann : —

** Methinks I hear vulgar stolidity croak fi:om out the quag-
xrdre of its thousand-year-old prejudices : * Ha ! ha ! ha ! A
quadrillionth ! Why, that's nothing at all ! '

** How so ? The smallest possible portion of a substance, is
it not an integral part of the whole ? Were it to be divided and
redivided even to the limits of infinity, would not there still
remain something, — something substantial, — a. part of the whole.
Jet it be ever so minute ? What man in his senses would deny it ?

" And if this (a quadrillionth, quintiUionth, octillionth, decil-
lionth) be in reality an integral part of the divided substance,
which no man in his senses can doubt, why should this minute
portion, as it is certainly something, be inactive, while the whole
acted with such violence ? "

As the conclusion of the views developed in this and the pre-
ceding chapter, it may be stated, if disease can be produced by
infinitesimal quantities, it is not beyond the bounds of sound
reasoning to infer that it is probable, that diseased states may
be cured by medicines in infinitesimal quantities.

128

OBJECTIONS TO nOMCBOPATHT.

CHAPTER XII.

Objections to /lonuBopathy. — T%« diference of character of thm !
objections. — The objection thai diet cures. — The dishonesty \
in this objection. — The power of diet. — Beneficial effects^ ^
arising from abstinence from physic^ ascribed to diet— "
Objection second^ ImaginaHon cures: — Interesting facts :
showing the power of imagination. — The faJHojcy of ii^x
objection.

CUAP. XII. To homoeopathy, like to every thing new, objections have
been urged.

To this urging of well-founded objections there can exist no
objection. The only point of objection to objections is, when
the objections urged are those, which, if the objector had taken
the least trouble to inquire, he would have found either not to
be objections, or to be only such as the parties objecting have
manufactured to stay the progress of a truth, that may interfere
with their error.

Unfortunately objections of the former kind are the most fre-
quently made, and for this simple reason, that the objectors, who
make such objections, find it a great trouble and a great sacri-
fice to make a right use of their &culties in investigating, fairly
and sufficiently, the subject objected to ; and thus tax others with
the objections referred to, the products, it may be, of their lazi-
nes ; or, may be, of their conceit, that they, without the proper
consideration, are qualified to put forth dicta on a subject which
they have not investigated.

DIET CURES THE PATIENT. 129

To the objections of the latter kind, the one remark to be chap. xil.
3ifiade is, they are the products of dishonesty, and, as such, pre-
sent a humiliating exhibition of intellect debased.

It seems quite proper and necessary, that every new system
should be objected to : and the very fact, that the system pre-
■viously in existence has, during its existence, collected around
itself numerous interests, is quite sufficient to explain why any
xiew comer must be met by attacks from the parties, whose
interests will be interfered with. It is said by naturalists, that
certain animals are always obliged to fight their way into any
company into which they wish to enter, and a successful contest
is the evidence of their election. So it is with any newly disco-
vered truth, or newly invented system : it is attacked, and if
strong in truth, the attack will bring out its strength, and will
thus establish it on a basis, firmer than it would otherwise, it is
likely, for some time, have attained. Knowing too, as Milton
says, " That truth, in her contest with error, in a fidr and open
field, can never be put to the worse," these very attacks may be
regarded, by the advocates of man's progress, as even usefrd in
bringing truth prominently before the public mind, which is
induced to interest itself in the matter by the excitement con*
nected with the contemplation of the contest.

Holding these views, the homoeopathlst does not at all despise
the objections urged against his system: he is not angry at the
objectors ; but has always called to his mind, on hearing the
objections of the disease-concealing antipathist, and the disease-
producing allopathist, the old adage, " They, who live in glass
houses, should not throw stones :" or, if they do throw, they
should, as Isaac Walton says, referring to using small fish as
bait to catch other fish, and giving directions how to put the
hook through the jaws of the bait, " Do it kindly."

It may be well therefore to consider the objections against
homoeopathy, whether urged kindly or unkindly, honestly or
dishonestly : they are objections, and that is, on the present oc-
casion, their recommendation to notice.

The objection most frequently urged is. The diet cures the
patient.

The opponents of Homoeopathy allow that patients, whose dis-

130 HOMCEOPATHIC DIE*.

CHAP. XII. eases have resisted all other treatment, whether antipathic, allo-
pathic, or both, do get well under homoeopathic treatment. This
is something to grant : they even grant, that, in chronic diseases,
some most wonderftd cures have been effected ; Kut, say they, it
is not the medicinal treatment ; it is the dietetic treatment, to
which the cure is to be ascribed.

What then is the dietetic treatment? To detail the diet
recommended may be usefiil, as showing how far the statement,
that the diet is the curative agent, is justified.

First of all stands beef: next comes mutton : then come fishes
that are not oily : following these are fowls : game : potatoes,
peas, French beans, brocoli : ripe and sound firuit : bread, but-
ter, cheese not rotten, &c.

Wine is allowed if the person has been habituated to it. The
articles to be avoided are bacon, pork, veal, that is, meat spoiled
by the method of killing^ and by being killed too soon, young
meat; beer, being drugged ; pickles; *coffee altogether ; *tea, if
possible, (using cocoa, the most nutritious article for drink,)
spices, strong-flavoured foods.

This is not the starvation diet of modem times, and is that
many would not much regret to have each day.

But the allopathist and the antipathist objectors place them-
selves in rather a disgraceful position by this argument they use,
in referring to the diet as sole cause of cure : because, if diet will
cure, why then do they not, as honest men, give up physic, and,
instead of inundating people therewith for the cure of chronic
diseases, order them the homoeopathic diet, and give no medi-
dne. That would not pay : but surely these people must write
, y themselves down as rogues, if, after declaring, that cases of chro-
V nic disease, which have resisted all other modes of treatment,
have got well under the homoeopathic mode, and after declaring,
in addition, that the cures, when thus made, have been eflFected
by diet, they still persist in giving patients physic, and, at the
same time, put forth, according to their argument, the felsehood,
that physic used by them effects the cure.

* For the reasons why tea and coffee are forbidden to patients under homoeopathic
treatment, see vol. iii. and vol. iv. of ** The Journal of Health and Disease and
Monthly Journal of Homoeopathy,**

DIET HAS RELATION TO THE BODY IN HEALTH. 131

If they believe that diet is the cause of cure, they are pillagers CHAP. Xll.
of their patients, if continuing to give PHYSio : if they believe
that it is not diet that cures, but feel that there is virtue in ho-
moeopathic medicines, to prevent the acknowledgment of which
they use the diet argument, their character is of a still baser de-
scription, inasmuch as they want the daring boldness of those
who believe that diet cures, and yet give physic.

These men place themselves in a dilemma, on the one or the
other of the horns of which they must ride, and on either horn
is written " rogue."

But it must be clear that it is not diet that cures diseases.
Patients can take the diet named, and yet do not get cured.
How many persons have dieted themselves, (liking diet better
than physic,) with the greatest care, and have not been cured : ,
their diseases, indeed, have progressed. Diet is to nourish the xj
body in health, not cure the body in disease.

The homoeo|fathist knows, that, though diet will not cure dis-
ease, improper diet will interfere with the cure of disease : the ^
homcBopathist therefore strives to gain, in reference to diet, that
no impediment shall be presented by the diet used to the efficacy
of the means, which he uses.

Thus far he trusts to diet, no farther : he knows that all
articles of diet, except those which are purely nutritious, have a
medicinal character. These articles having properties in addi-
tion to their nutritive, he knows tend to keep up disease ; and
if not keeping up disease, prevent the fiiU effect of the homoe-
opathic remedy or remedies. On these grounds, and not on any
curative power possessed by diet, do homoeopathists enforce the
adoption in chronic diseases, not of water-gruel diet, not of a
starvation diet, but of a good, wholesom£, nutritious diet.

Diet is a subject much misunderstood, and concerning which
the greatest discrepancy of opinion, even among medical men,
prevails. Even among homoeopathists much ignorance exists.*

The enlightened homoeopathist does pay, as he is bound to
pay, rigid attention to diet ; and because he does pay this proper
attention, this his attention is made the ground of an attempt to
rob him of his credit as a curer of disease.

* See Appendix, *' The Diet Question."

132 DIET, IS IT OE IS IT NOT IMPORTANT ?

OHAP. XII. In fiict, the question ought to be plainly put, Is diet impor-
tant, or is it not ? All acknowledge that diet must be attended
to. Does the^homoeopathist pay more attention to diet than it
deserves ? The opponents cannot say .that he does, because, if
by this attention cures of disease are effected (as they assert), to
assert that he pays too much attention, is to assert that it is an
injurious thing to cure disease. The attention to diet by homce-
opathists is not with tbe view of curing disease, but with the
view of preventing any interference with the medicines which
they use for the cure of disease. Surely, if it indicate skill in a
man running a race, to throw aside all incumbrances, it ought
not to be charged, as it is, as a crime to the bomoeopathist that
he, in the race for health, should avoid all matters that may
interfere with him in running that race.

The only excuse that can with any reason be urged as miti-
gating the opprobrium, connected with the unjustness and the
virulence of the attack upon homoeopathy, through the diet
argument, is the fact, that so injurious are the effects^ produced
by the antipathist's and the allopathist's medicines upon their
patients, that the patients so rapidly improve Vhen desisting
therefrom, and using only diet, that the power of diet seems
almost all-potent: whereas the benefit eitperienced results not
from the power of diet, but from the cessation of the infUc-
\j tion of injury, by ceasing from the destructive medicinal agents.
The patient, now not injured, gets well rapidly: the medical
attendants lift up their hands, and exclaim, " See what diet
will do." They should say what the patients think, " See what
desisting from physic will do."

Hahnemann, who notes every thing well, thus remarks : —
" Often (the thought is saddening !) patients recover as by a
miracle, when the multitude of anxiously changed and often
repeated nauseous drugs prescribed by the physician is either
openly or clandestinely discontinued. For fear of giving offence
the patient frequently conceals what he has done, and appears
before the public as if he had been cured by his physician. In
numerous insttoces maiq^ a prostrate patient has eflfected a mi-
raculous cure upon himself by not only reftising the physician's
medicine, but by transgressing his artificial and mischievous
system of diet in obedience to his own caprice, which is in this

HOM(EOPATHY OPPOSED TO POPULAR LIKINGS. 133

instance an imperious instinct impelling him to commit all sorts CHAP. XII.
of dietic paradoxes. Pork, sauerkraut, potato-salad, herring,
oysters, eggs, pastry, brandy, wine, punch, coAe, and other
tMngs, most strongly prohibited by the physician, have eflfected
tlie most rapid cure of disease in patients, who, to all appearance,
iTv^ould have hastened to their grave had they submitted to the
system of diet prescribed by the schools."

It may be supposed, charitably supposed, that they do not
see it in this light, and beholding such wonders arise under diet
in reference to their awn patients, they think that diet cures
chronic diseases, placed under the homoeopathic physician's care,
though, under their care, with all their dietings, these very
diseases were so intractable.

But diet cannot explain the efficacy of homoeopathic treat-
ment. Many, when they begin the homoeopathic treatment,
cannot take the homoeopathic diet. They have no appetite to
take even those articles of food that homoeopathy allows. In other
cases it happens, that though they have the appetite, yet such
are the inconvenience and the pain resulting frOm the use of
those articles of diet allowed in homoeopathic treatment, that
they dare not take even these articles. Yet, a short time after
they have been under homoeopathic treatment, the appetite
recurs, so that they are able to adopt the homoeopathic diet ;
and further, these articles of diet, which produced pain and un- ^
easiness in the stomach, cease to produce pain and uneasiness.

How often do patients, when first coming under homoeopathic
treatment, say they cannot take cocoa ; it always disagrees with
them. In a few days, after taking the appropriate homoeopathic
medicine, they find that they can take and digest and enjoy
cocoa.

How could these results happen if diet was the cause of cure ?
In connexion with the subject of diet, which has been so
harped upon as being the basis of the successfiilness of the
" quackery" of homoeopathy, it is interesting to remark, that in
connexion with this diet, the strongest antipodal point to homoe-
opathy being a quackery stands forth.

Quackery sides with popular prejudice and likings. What, it
may be asked, are the mass of the British public fonder of than
tea ? and yet the homoeopathist condemns tea and forbids its V

}

134 IMAGINATION THE CAUSE OF CURE.

CIIAP. XII. use by those under homoeopathic treatment. Surely, if hom^ ^
pathy were a quackery, and homoeopathists were quacks, thej
would not injure their progress by running their directions into
\y the very teeth of a popular liking. In feet, numerous persons
have been a long time kept firom adopting homoeopathy, and de-
riving the benefits thence resulting, by a dislike to the absti-
nences enjoined by the homoepalhic rules, more especially by the
abstinence from tea.

How easy would it be for homoeopathists, if they were not
men who have bowed before the majesty of science, to allow
their patients, as the old-system practitioners do to their pa-
tients, to have tea, and other articles of diet which the patients
Uke?

Driven from diet, the objectors fly to some other cause of
cure, the homoeopathic treatment being out of the question.
They next assert, when diet cannot reach the point, it is the
IMAGINATION that cures.

It is allowed that imagination is indeed a powerful agent:
it will explain many cures.

Most have .heard of the wonderfiil cure effected, a few years
since, upon a nun at Chelmsford, by Ifrince Hohenlohe. She
had a disease of the arm, which had bafiled the skill of her
medical attendants. It was agreed, that, at a particular day, on
a particular hour, Prince Hohenlohe should pray for her, his
prayers being accompanied, at the same hour, by prayers in
every convent in the European world ; and also at the nunnery
where the young lady resided, near Chelmsford.

Conceive the effect of all this upon the mind of one, who, to
become a nun, must be an enthusiast, (the term is not used in a
condemnatory sense.) The excitement produced would have a
most powerful effect upon the body, and the result was, that a
new action of the life-power was induced, and the patient was
cured at or about the time, when the Prince had promised to be
engaged in prayer for her.

A case related by Dr. Beddoes is a good illustration of the
power of imagination : —

"A singular but instructive instance fell under the observation

INSTANCES OF CURE BY IMAGINATION. 135

of Sir Humphrey Davy, when, early in life, he was assisting CHAP. XII.
I>r. Beddoes in his experiments on the inhalation of nitrous
oxyde. Dr. Beddoes having inferred that the oxyde must be a
specific for palsy, a patient was selected for trial, and placed
under the care of Davy. Previously to administering the gas,
Davy inserted a small thermometer under the tongue of the
patient to ascertain the temperature. The paralytic man,
■wholly ignorant of the process to which he was to submit, but
deeply impressed by Dr. Beddoes, with the certainty of its suc-
cess, no sooner felt the thermometer between his teeth than he
concluded the talisman was in operation, and, in a burst of en-
thusiasm, declared that he had already experienced the effects
of its benign influence throughout his whole body. The oppor-
tunity was too tempting to be lost. Davy did nothing more,
hut desired his patient to return on the following day. The
same ceremony was repeated, the same result followed; and
at the end of a fortnight he was dismissed cured, no remedy
of any kind, except the thermometer, having ever been used." —
Paries Life of Davy, p. 51.

Dr. James Gregory, in his Lectures on the Practice of Medi-
cine, used to relate the following anecdote : —

One of the students of the University, labouring under fever,
and being sleepless, Dr. Gregory said to him, that he would
order him an opiate to be taken at bed time. The patient, not
hearing well, thought Dr. Gregory said, a " purgative." Next
morning Dr. Gregory visited him, and asked him what the ano-
dyne had done for him ? " Anodyne ! " replied the astonished
patient, " I understood it was a purgative, and a very active one
it has proved, I have had foiu* copious stools, and feel myself
much relieved."

The following experiment, in reference to the contagiousness
of Asiatic cholera, exhibits the power of imagination : —

The Emperor of Russia ordered some criminals to be placed
in beds in which some persons had died of the cholera ; they
slept in these beds, but did not experience any effects ; they
were then told, that as their lives were forfeited, they should be
allowed the following chance of deliverance : they should sleep
in beds where persons having had the cholera had died. If they
were not affected, they should be set at liberty. They were then

136 CURB BY IMAGINATIOir.

CHAP. XII. put into beds where no one bad died with the cholera ; tiicy
slept in the beds, and became victims to the disease.*

The following interesting fact is strikingly illustrative of the
power of imagination both in producing and in curing diseasec^
A little girl, while engaged in needlework, dropped her neefl^:
search was made, but the needle could nowhere be found. A
younger sister, aged seven years, assisted in the search. Tbe
elder sister suddenly exclaimed, laughing and pointing to the
little one, " I think my needle is in Fanny's leg." The child so
simply believed the statement of her sister, that it took complete
possession of her, and while her mother and sister had nearly
forgotten the circumstance, she was continually thinking about
it, as of some dreadful calamity having be&Uen her. In a short
time a change became evident in her; her appetite gradually
fiEuled ; she was silent, and dull, and seemed to be wasting away.
After much anxiety experienced on her behalf, and much consi-
deration of the subject, her parents resolved to consult a phy-
sician. To this gentleman a faithful picture of the child's state
was presented, not omitting the coincidence of her illness having
originated immediately after the little incident connected with
the needle. The physician, after having heard every particular
and considered for some time, gave it as his opinion that the
terror which the child had experienced when told by her sister
that the missing needle was in her 1^, acting on a too timid
and delicate nature, had been the cause of those painful results
which they witnessed: and added, that he knew of but one
remedy to meet the case, viz., to convince the child that the
needle had been found. Acting on the philosophic advice of
this gentleman, the mother shortly after came into the room
where her child was, and with much gravity and expressing
considerable satisfastion, annoimced to her that the needle which
her sister had lost had at length been discovered. To give

• This, though showing the power of the imagination, is not altogether conclusive.
The well-trained reasoner at once recognizes a source of &Uao7 in the experiment ;
namely, that as the men had at first slept in heds where cholera patients had died,
they might have heen influenced thereby, and the fright caused the development of
the morbific influence already received. So difficult is it to make unobjectionable
medical experiments.

INFLUENCE OF THE MIND^ 137

more seml)lance of reality to her statement, she produced the CHAP. XIL
laeedle. The child again simply believed. The effect was in-
stantaneously beneficial, and from that time she gradually made
-the same steady progress on the road to health, as before she
lia.d gradually pined away.

These facts prove that imagination has a great power ; but
it does not prove that imagination is the curer of diseases ; it
proves that the mind is the lord over the body; sufficient
power, in some cases, either to give such a direction to, and auch
a, 'unburdening of, the vital power, that it gains, as it were, an
opportunity of restoring the organ or organs diseased to its or
tlieir natural state, or it removes the state, which gave origin
to the diseased condition.

These facts convince, that, in curing diseases, the mind must .(
be taken into consideration. A physician is bound to endeavour
to gain the sympathies of his patients. He should be a kind, a
feeling, a philosophic man ; for of this there cannot be a doubt,
that, take two physicians of equal talent, the one kind and sym-
pathizing, the other harsh and repulsive, the former will the more
quickly and beneficially, even with the same medicines, effect
cures than the latter.

To the imagination, then, the dUopathiat does not ascribe Tm
cures : oh no ! to his skill they are to be ascribed ; but the cures
which the homoeopathist makes of patients, who to the aJlopa-
thist were incurable, are all the effects of imagination. "Indeed,
thou'rt kind."

Another form-which this argument takes is, it is faith that
CURES. Well, if it is faith, the counter statement may be made,
why do not the antipathist and the allopathist trust to faith with
their patients ? Faith will surely cure their patients as well as
the patients of the homoeopathists. But perhaps they feel their
system is so uncertain, that they cannot have faith ; and it is a
truth in mental emotions, that, to make others feel, we ourselves
must feel ; and therefore their faith in their own system being
uncertain, the faith they can excite in their patients is propor-
tionably weak.

However, imagination and faith are both valuable auxiliaries ;
they are to be hailed ; their assistance is to be sought ; the ho-
moeopathist knows that man as a man is a mind being, and

138 CURES WHERB FAITH CANNOT ACT.

CUAP. XII. imagination and faith being both powerftilly operative mental
states, he feels that, to use these properly, is a most importast
means in the cure of disease.

But, while all these effects are allowed to mind, it is to be
remembered, that homoeopathic medicines will cure, if not pei^
haps in spite of imagination and of fedth, at least without ima-
gination and fiedth.

Croup is a disease where imagination and faith have very littk
time for action ; and this disease often occurs in children*
too young to have imagination and fidth curatively active, but
croup can be cured, in most cases, by less than the millionth
part of a grain of aconite and of sponge, or hepar sulphuris.

Inflammation of the lungs is a disease common to infants, and
this disease is cured by aconite and tartar emetic, or bryonia, or
phosphorus, (according to the symptoms,) in less than a mil-
lionth part of a grain doses : where then is imagination in this
case ? As Dr. Okie well remarks, " infsints can have no know-
ledge of the rival systems of allopathy and homoeopathy/'

But imagination and fsuth do not cure even in adults : not when
aided by the most perfect confidence in the medical attendant.

Look at pulmonary consumption. What is the strongest
mental feature in the disease ? Is it not this ? That the
patient always hopes, expects to get well; but does this stay
the progress of the disease ? Does this arrest the night sweat,
the hectic flush, the irritating and exhausting cough, the rapidly
progressing emaciation ?

In fact, people have often fidth in homoeopathy, that they will
be cured by homoeopathic treatment, when the homoeopathic
practitioner knows that no cure can be effected. But fidth
does not alter the condition.

* The writer treats his horses, when they are ill, by medicines prescribed homoe-
opathically in infinitesimal doses, and he has never lost a horse ; and considering
that his horses have to go out in all weathers and have to wait in the streets, this is
no slight recommendatory evidence of the power of homoeopathic treatment. Indeed,
ever iiince the writer has been a homoeopathist, he has never had to obtain the advice
of a veterinary practitioner. See Appendix, " Treatment of Animals."

A member of the English Homoeopathic Association, Peter Stuart, Esq., has had
such success in the treatment of the pulmonary disease in cows, that he has been
harassed by the applications, from all parts of the country, for medicines which are
homoeopathic and Administered in infinitesimal quantities. — See Appendix, ditto.

NATURE DOES IT ALL. 139

CHAPTER XIII.

The objectional argument, " Nature does it all,'' refuted. The

suggestion, ^'Imitate nature'' considered.' — Injuries by nature,

— Consumption, — Asiatic Cholera,— The absurdity of the
allopathist's pretence to imitate nature. — Quotation from
Hahnemann, — Fable of Gellert, the blind and the lam^ man.

— The difference between the usefulness of the symptoms of

disease and the salutariness, — Healing of wounds. 2>2>-

tinction between an iiyured part and a diseased part.

The inefficiency of the faith and the imagination argument, CHAP.xin.
sts explanatory of the cures effected under homoeopathic treat-
ment, having been demonstrated by the facts, that infants and
animals are cured by homoeopathic remedies in infinitesimal
q^uantities, the opponents of homoeopathy are driven to seek
some other argument to enable them to avoid the force of the
answer, derived from the action of these medicines in infinitesi-
nial doses on beings, in whom the imagination not existing,
could not have exercised any curative activity.

The argument, under this difficulty, devised with the view of
explaining the cures, is, NATURE DOES IT all ; medicines are
only placeboes ; all that is effected, nature effects. They put
their views thus : We will allow, say the objectors, that diet
does not do all ; mind does not do all ; but physic helps by
cheating the patient into a belief that we are doing something for
him, and, in the mean time, nature, that mysterious power, effects
ber glorious purposes, and restores to health.

But this, like all arguments that are not founded on truth,
proves too much, for at once it suggests the fact, that bleedings,
leechings, blisterings, purgings, vomitings, mustard poulticings,

140 IMITATION OP NATtJRU.

CHAP.XIII. are not very innocent placeboes ; and yet all these the allopa-
thists, who put forward this argument, (that nature does it all,)
to nullify the cures effected by homoeopathy, continually iisc
Surely, if these arguers, that nature does it all, were sincere in
their belief, they, as conscientious men, could not use such de-
structive means ; but they do not, it is to be feared, believe wliat
they assert.

They are fond of using another phrase : they say, '' Imitate
Nature." To all well constituted minds this phrase has great
captivations ; but, in using this phrase in reference to the steps
the allopathists pursue in the treatment of disease, they beg the
whole question, namely, in what consists the imitation of nature.

K they are asked what is the imitation of nature, there is no
agreement between them. Li fact, the best and the only imita-
tion of nature is to follow the law which the Author of nature
has appointed to regulate the action of medicines in the cure of
disease, namely, the law " similia similibus curantur."

Truly each allopathist professes he is imitating nature, and
yet, as has been shown, each one condemns his neighbour's pro-
ceedings.

Indeed the imitation of nature is not always good ; nature i3
in fact very destructive in her efforts.

What then is this nature ? All that is known about this
nature is, that it is life, acting through certain parts of the bodij,
called organs, and, as was explained, producing, when the organs
are in a natural state, harmonizing manifestations, or health,
when not in their natural state, disturbed manifestations, or

DISEASE.

The disease itself, though it is life struggling for health, is a
destructive attempt of nature : that is, nature, in the attempt to
restore health, often destroys the constitution, hideed, the life
often destroys the life in the eiforts made to restore health.

Take consumption, ti consimiption, the free action of the
lungs is prevented. With the respiratory system of the lungs,
the perspiratory system of the skin is intimately connected.
Hence in consumption, the life-power often tries to relieve, by
producing copious sweating, the oppression of the respiratory
process. The patient is relieved by the copious sweating ; but^
this very relief is attended with a rapid weakening and emacia-

INJURIES INFLICTED BY NATURE. 141

tion. Relief ceases to be afforded by this, and, at last, the life- CIIAF.XIII.
power directs action to the bowels, and constitutes a violent
diarrhsea. The patient feels the breathing better during the
continuance of the purging, but this, at last, so exhausts the
powers of the system, that means are obliged to be used to stop
tlie violent diarrhaea. Having stayed the discharge from the
bowels, the skin again acts : copious sweating again takes place :
and thus, interchanges of life's action take place, until life ex-
liausts itself in the struggle.

The people of this country have had, during the last few
months, some sad illustrations of the fatal effects of the so^alled
Asiatic cholera.

Dr. Foote, in his valuable inaugural dissertation, "De Cholera
Indica," published in 1825, stated that in the most severe cases
the cholera produces death without purging, vomiting, or
cramps, the patient collapses at once and dies soporose.

The usual progress of the disease is to produce violent purging
and vomiting, cramps, exhaustion, and death; and there can
exist but little doubt that these phenomena are the efforts of
nature to obviate the noxious effect of the noxious miasni exer-
cising its destructive power on the constitution. But wul any
one maintain that these destructive purgings and vomitings and
cramps, these efforts of nature, are objects worthy of imitation ?
In fact, disease is a struggle of nature to recover health, and
sometimes the struggle goes through successfully ; but, in nine
cases out of ten, nature, unaided, sinks: and yet, professedly wise
persons argue, that, because, in the one case in the ten she
struggles successfully, she must be left alone in the nine : because
of ten men that cannot swim, who fall into the water, one escapes,
leave the other nine unaided to struggle for deliverance.

WeU has Hahnemann remarked : — " The Father of mankind
willed not that we should simply ape the operations of nature ;
he willed that we should do more than she, but in another me-
thod, and with other means. To man it was not given to create
a horse, but he can make a machine more powerful than a hun-
dred horses, and more manageable too. He has allowed us to
construct vessels in which, sheltered from the monsters of the
deep, the fiiry of hurricanes, and surrounded by all the comforts
of land, we can circumnavigate the globe, which fish cannot do ;

142 AGENCY OP NATURE DESTRUCTIVE.

CIIAP.XIII. hence his refusal to us of fins, gills, and swimming bladders,
such as fishbs possess. He has denied us the plumage of the
condor, but he has permitted us to discover the art of confining
a buoyant gas, which carries us silently through atmospheric
regions, all unknown to its winged inhabitants.

'' So he does not allow us to employ mortification for the sepa-
ration of a crushed and mangled limb, as the unaided animal
organism would do ; but he puts the sharply swift dividing knife
in our hands, moistened with oil by the hand of man, that we
might do the work with less pain, less fever, and far less danger
of life. He allows us not to employ the so-called crisis for the
cure of fevers as nature does ; we are not to imitate the critical
sweats, critical urine, critical abscesses, and critical bleedings of
the nose ; but, after patient search, we find the means of curing
more rapidly, more surely, more easily, with much less pain,
much less danger of life, and much less consequent sufiering."

Nature, in reference to the cure of disease, is blind ; man, by
himself, in reference to the cure of disease, is lame. A &ble book
of Gellert gives the history of two men, who wanted to reach the
same place: the one was blind; the other, lame. They discussed
how they should reach the place. ITie blind man lamented
that he could not see the way ; the lame man, that he could not
walk the way. They consulted together, and the lame man sug-
gested to the blind man to let him mount the blind man's back,
and then he could guide the blind man to their mutual destina-
tion. The blind man consented, and they both arrived in safety.

A similar relationship, in reference to curing disease, exists
between nature and the physician ; he, powerless in himself* is
powerful as the guide of nature. But it should ever be remem-
bered, that it is not because the physician professes to guide
nature, that he does do so : in fact, till Hahnemann discovered
the law, no one knew what was the law by which nature is guid-
able. The old-system practitioners have prattled long about
guiding nature, but the majority of them justify, by their con-
duct, the charge of Dr. Forbes, who states, " The old system of
impertinent interference with nature in all her ways being that
still adhered to by many practitioners."

The worst driver pulls most at the horse's mouth ; the well-
trained horseman touches gently, but effectually the rein. The

, ENGLISH HOMOEOPATHIC ASSOCIATION. 143

' allopathist works poor nature's mouth most diligently, and he CHAP.XIII.
calls it " active treatment," but dreadful indeed to nature is his
guidance ; it realizes the old adage " of setting a beggar a horse-
back."

This exposition of what nature does is the more necessary,

because in a work, issued by the English Homoeopathie Associa- *

tion, a great error ^has been given authority to in a paper,

entitled " Action of Nature in Disease." In this paper, which

oixght to have been published with the author's name, as thus

tlie views would have been represented as his, and not as

tliose of the Association, is the following: — " The theory of

tliis (homoeopathic) practice is, that all the actions which we

term " symptoms," and which are manifested during disease, are

Bfierely so many salutary processes set up hy nature to remove

some morbific cause, which is present in the system, and that,

consequently, the great effort of the practitioner should be to

aid these processes by administering such medicines as are

found to stimulate to the performance of them." — Appendix.

The scientific homceopathist does not hold the view that the
symptoms are salutary processes set up by nature : he allows
tliat the symptoms are indicative of processes, which are
set up by nature, but so far fi:om being salutary, they are
destructive.

If the symptoms or the indications of disease, or, to use a
more common form of expression, if the effects of the disease
are salutary processes, then the indications of health cannot be
salutary processes : disease is life struggling in the wrong way ;
and surely the processes in which this struggling takes place
cannot be salutary. It would not be more unwise to call the
inharmonious sounds of a broken wind instrument, its salutary
effects ; or the dreadful manifestations of insanity, as the salu-
tary effects of a deranged brain.

It is true, that the symptoms are usefiil, as indicating the ex-
istence of the diseased state, but a great difference exists between
the being usefiil and the being salutary. If such a distinction
did not exist, it might be argued that the flames of a house
burning form a salutary process to get rid of the fire in the
house : they do get rid of the fire, by exhausting the burning
materials of the house. The flames are usefiil, as leading the

144 DISEASES NOT SALUTARY EFFORTS.

CIIAP.XIII. inmates to escape, and as directing the firemen where to direct
their fire-engines.

A hurricane sweeps over the earth : it uproots trees, destroys
corn-fields, overturns houses, and founders ships. These are, to
use language in relation to the subject under examination, the
* symptoms of its existence ; but surely, no one will declare that

the uprooting of trees, the destruction of corn-fields, the over-
turning of houses, the foundering of ships, are salutary processes.
It is true, that the ultimate result of the hurricane may be bene-
ficial, in purifying the atmosphere ; but it would be difficult to
believe that the hurricane, in its destructive agencies, is salutary.

There is a thunderstorm in the sky ; lying buried in it is an
immense mass of electricity; behold it moving towards yon
house ; it strikes it, and there, in a moment, is a corpse. This
process, set up by nature in order to get rid of the excess of elec-
tricity in the sky, is surely, in passing it to the earth through the
body of the man struck, not salutary ; though the result, namely,
the equalization of the distribution of the electric fluid, is useful.

It might as well be argued, that man in a violent passion is a
salutary process, because passion is overruled for good : it may be
usefiil, because the divine arrangements have ordained, " That
the wrath of man shall praise Him, and the remainder of his
wrath he shall restrain."

The only way in which disease can be viewed properly, is to
look at it as a deviation, as a manifestation of life working
^Tongly : and a working wrongly can never be estimated as a
working salutarily.

Still the symptoms, indicating the deviation, are usefiil. So,
as already stated, are the phenomena of the hurricane ; so is the
discharge of the thunder-cloud ; so is the gigantic water-spout.
Man, by discovering the laws which regulate the phenomena of
each, can, by applying these laws, prevent the injuries - that
would otherwise result ; by the marine barometer, man can^ if at
sea, furl up all his sails and put his ship in readiness for the
indicated storm. By the electric rod of Franklin, he can convey
down the electricity of the thunder-cloud silently into the earth,
and prevent the destruction of property and of life. Equally
well can he, by applying the despised homoeopathic law, cause
the phenomena of disease to disappear silently ; but not by

nature's mode of repairing injuries. 145

stimulating nature to the performance of her destructive ohap.xiii.
eflForts.

The thinking homoeopathist has nothing to do with these said-
to-be salutary efforts of blind nature. He finds a storm in the
human body, and he has (to keep up the previous comparison)
to find out a remedy with a medical electricity, having the power
of producing similar phenomena to those exhibited by the elec-
tricity of the disease, and by bringing the two into contact, to
cause a mutual silent annihilation. He has to make life, work-
ing wrongly, work rightly, and this he is enabled to effect by the
application of the homoeopathic law.

It is urged by many, in justification of this statement of
nature's process, " See how nature heals a wounded surfiuje."

Dr. Macartney, after describing the modes which nature adopts
to repair injuries done to the living animal machine, remarks :- —
" In the treatment of wounds, therefore, the great object of
the surgeon must be to prevent inflammation, and thereby secure
reparation by any of the three first modes ; if he is successfiil
in this object, granulation and suppuration, which go together,
will be obviated. The following simple rules seem to embrace
all that is necessary to facilitate nature^s operations ; — ^approxi-
mate the edges of the wound gently, and without much traction
(after having cleansed it and removed foreign bodies) : use as
few stitches as possible ; apply a pledget of cloth soaked in cold
w^ater, and bandage loosely ; inculcate absolute rest ; preserve
the part cool and moist, by the assiduous changing of cloths
wrung out of cold water, and applied over the bandage ; the part
must not be allowed to become heated, so that for the first few
days the cloths must be changed every two or three minutes, or
a minute continuous stream must be directed on the part, by any
of the simple processes recommended for the purpose. By the
use of the cold water dressings, incised wounds heal immediately^
and lacerated wounds detach sloughs, and are repaired by the
modelling process without suppuration, at the same time pre*
senting the most excellent cicatrix." *

The results thus obtained seem to demonstrate that the
processes by which such results are obtained, are salutary, and

* On the Natural History and Simple Treatment of Wounds.
T

146 DIFFERENCE BETWEEN INJURED AND DISEASED FART.

onAP.XIIL that the symptoms, manifested during the reparation, are so
many salutary processes set up by nature. It is hence inferred
that the symptoms presented in a disease are nothing' but sala-
tary efforts set up in a similar way by the living, but diseased
machine. Those who argue in this way confound two things
that are distinct, namely, a part injured and a part diseased. A
part injured is not of necessity a part diseased : in fact, injuries
generally affect persons in health. But when an injury affects a
person who is diseased, and more especially when the part injured
is diseased, this restorative operation of the parts does not take
place, but, instead of healing, suppuration and often gangrene
set in.

It is not wonderful that the author of the paper already quoted,
being unacquainted with medicine, should have made the mis-
take ; but it is wonderful that, so far as the writer's knowledge
extends, no medical writer had ever put forth this distinction,
connected with the action of nature as a restorative power,
between an injured healthy part and a diseased part ; for the
whole force of the argument of the salutariness is founded upon
the non-existence of any difference between these two states;
whereas the argument has its whole force completely removed
by the essential difference between a diseased and a merely
injured part.

This distinction between an injured part and a diseased part
affords an opportunity to meet an argument often urged id &vonr
of allopathy; this argument is founded upon the facts, that,
when cold, man is led instinctively to warm himself; when warm,
to cool himself; when thirsty, to drink. These fects have been
urged to justify the treatment of disease by contraries. But
these facts have relation to modifications of the bodily state of a
healthy man — ^they are not diseased states at all ; whereas, when
a man has a frozen nose, that is, when the cold has produced
such a series of changes that the healthy condition is altered, if
he were to treat it allopathically, by applying warmth, he would
lose his nose by mortification.

It may be difficult sometimes to decide where the limit of
change is reached ; but of this no doubt can be entertained, that,
in the cases referred to as justificatory of allopathy, the condi-
tions are those not of a diseased part.

ALLOPATfllSTS DO NOT TRUST TO NATURE. 147

In feict, these opponents of homoeopathy deny, by their prae- CHAP. XIII.
tice, that nature does it all. Do they leave diseases to nature ?
^Would they feel justified, either in their own consciences or at
the bar of public opinion, to leave an attack of brain fever, of
croup, of inflammation of the lungs, of inflammation of the
bowels, to pursue its course without medical means ? But if
they would not, why would they not, if nature does it all ?
Dr. Forbes has made the following statement : —
" It is well known that a large proportion of the more scien-
tific physicians of all ages have, in their old age, abandoned
much of the energetic and perturbing medication of. their early
practice, and trusted greatly to the remedial powers of nature.
The saying of a highly respected and very learned physician of
Edinburgh, still living at a very advanced age, very happily
illustrates this point. On some one boasting before him, of the
marvellous cures wrought by the small doses of the homoeopa-
thists, he said, ' This was no peculiar cause for boasting, as he
himself had, for the last two years, been curing his patients with
even less — ^viz., with nothing at all !' "

But it is to be doubted whether Dr. Forbes, or any one else,
follows the practice of doing nothing — adopts this penance of
giving no medicine — a penance forced upon this aged medical
sinner, by the remorse connected with having so over-drugged,
so over-medicined his patients, in the greater part of his medical
career.

If, then, these objectors do not recognize in practice the force
of their own objections against homoeopathic cures, namely, that
nature does it all, what right have they to urge this as an
explanation of the cures effected under the homoeopathic system
of treatment ?

T 2

148 TESTIMONY OF DR. FORBES.

CHAPTER XIV.

Objection, Homceopaihy wiU not do in acute ccises. — Testimony
of Dr. Forbes, of Mr. Wilde. — Results of tlie treatment
of cholera.-^ Absurdity of the objection. — Abuse of homa-
opathy. — Objection, No science in homoeopathy. — Objection,
Failing in the old system practice homoeopathy is embraced.

CHAP,XIV. Another objection against homoeopathy is, That it may da
well in CHRONIC cases, but in acute cases it is solemn trifling.

This objection is founded only on conceit. It grows out of an
unenlightened self-esteem. It rests entirely upcm the compla-
cently assumed syllogism —

Acute diseases reqtiire medicines to be given in large doses:
In homoeopathic treatment, medicines are given in infinitesimal
doses : Therefore homoeopathic treatment cannot cure acute dis-
eases. In this syllogism the main proposition is assumed, and
yet how numerous are the parties, who think themselves shrewd
philosophers when they put forth this assumption as a reality.

These utterers are men of no mental training; they are men
who have not recognized the majesty of &cts. The select men
of the profession are less conceited. Dr. Forbes writes thus ^—

" The tables of Dr. Fleischmann, physician to the homceopatiiic
hospital at Vienna, substantiate this momentous fact, that all
our ordinary curable diseases are cured in a fedr proportion un-
der the homoeopathic treatment. Not merety do we see Uius
cured all the lighter diseases, whether acute or chronic, which
most men know to be readily susceptible of cure under eveiy
variety of treatment, and under no treatment at all ; but even all
the severer and more dangerous diseases, which most physicians^

MR. Wilde's testimont. 149

of whatever school, have been aecnstomed to consider as not only CHAP.XIV.
xieeding the interposition of art to assist nature in bringing them
't;o a fiivourable and speedy termination, but demanding the em-
ployment of prompt and strong measures, to prevent a feital issue
in a considerable proportion of cases. No candid physician, look-
ing at Dr. Fleischmann's report, will hesitate to acknowledge
that the results there set forth would have been considered by
him as satisfactory, if they had occurred in his own practice.
The amount of deaths in the fevers and eruptive diseases is cer-
tainly below the ordina/ry proportion, * * * In all such
cases, however, experienced physicians have been long aware
that the results as to mortality are nearly the same under all
varieties of allopathic treatment. It would not surprise them,
therefore, that a treatment like that of homoBopathy, which they
regard as perfectly negative, should be fully as successful as
THEIR OWN. But the results presented to us in the severer inter-
nal inflammations are certainly not such as most practical phy-
sicians would have expected to be obtained, under the exclusive
administration of medicine, in a thousandth, a millionth, or a
billionth part of a grain."

In addition to this testimony of Dr. Forbes is the testimony
of another, who had seen the homoeopathic hospital at Vienna.

Mr. Wilde thus writes, in his work entitled, " Austria, its
Literary, Scientific, and Medical Institutions, and Guide to the
Hospitals and Sanatory Establishments of Vienna :" —

"And although I neither advocate that doctrine [homoBopathy],
nor slander its supporters, I deem it but the part of truth and jus-
tice to lay the following statement before my readers. One of the
cleanest and best regulated hospitals in the town is managed on
the homoeopathic plan. The following circumstances led to its
erection : — The rapid spread of this mode of treatment in Aus-
tria, and the patronage it received from many noble and influ-
ential individuals in that country, attracted the attention of the
government in that country several years ago, who, with their
characteristic jealousy of innovation, then issued an order forbid-
ding it to be practised. As, however, this had not the effect of
suppressing it, but as it seemed rather to gain strength from
the legal disabilities under which it thus laboured, it was deter-
mined in 1828, to test its efficacy in the miUtary hospital of the

150 REPORT OF THE AU8TRIAK COMMISSIONERS.

CUAP.XIV. Josephinum. With this view, a commission "wsls nonuDated,
consisting of twelve professors, all of whom, it is but fair to ob-
serve, were strenuously opposed to the homoeopathic doctrine.
Dr. Marrenzeller, a veteran homceopathist, and a contemporaiy
of Hahnemann, was appointed as the physician, and two mem-
bers of the commission always attended him duriDg' his yisit,
and at the expiration of every ten days, reported the progress of
the cases under his charge. The only part of the report pub-
lished is that of Drs. Jager and Zang. It contains a very brief
outline of the cases and their treatment, and expresses the sur-
prise of these eminent professors at the happy issue of some of
them. The commission, however, as a body, came to the con-
clusion, that from results obtained from their investigations, it
was impossible to declare either for or against homoeopathy.
One of the twelve, however, subsequently stated his conviction
of the efficacy of the system from these trials, and has since
remained an open adherent of it." — P. 271. Mr. Wilde adds—

" Whatever the opponents of this system may put forward
against it, I am bound to say, and I am far from being a homoe-
opathic practitioner, that the cases I saw treated by it in the
Vienna hospital were ftiUy as acute and virulent as those which
have come under my observation elsewhere ; and the statistics
show that the mortality is much less than in the other hospitals
of' that city. Knoly, the Austrian protomedicus^ has published
those for 1838, which exhibit a mortality of but five or six per
cent. ; while three similar institutions on the allopathic plan,
enumerated before it in the same tables, show a mortality as
high as from eight to ten per cent." — P. 277.

The best means of testing a system of medical treatment is
that afforded by the existence of an epidemic disease of marked
character and highly destructive in its effects. Such a disease
has been presented twice to the European world in the course
of the last fifteen years ; it is Asiatic cholera.

Dr. Quin has published, in a treatise on Asiatic cholera, the
results of the allopathic and homoeopathic treatment of a given
nimiber of patients. In reference to the homoeopathic treatment
of 1073 patients attacked, 998 were cured, and 95 died. This
large number shows the efficacy of homoeopathic treatment in
an acure disease like cholera.

EFFICACY TN CHOLERA. 151

~ From the magistrates of Tichnowitz, where Dr. Quin treated CHAP. xiv.
lie cholera, the following return has been obtained : —

Patients. Cured. Died.

Inhabitants 6671 680 540 140

Treated allopathieally 331 229 102

Treated homoeopathically 278 251 27

Treated with camphor 71 60 11

680 540 140

The facts in connexion with this subject are exhibited more
fiiUy in the following tabular statement :* —

Cholera patients treated at Wishney Wolotschook in Russia : —

No. of Proportion of

Patients. Cured. Died. Deaths.

Treated in the ordinary manner 93 24 69 1 in Ij

Treated homoBopathically 109 86 23 1 in 4J

Left to nature or to their own caprices 49 16 33 1 in IJ

Cholera patients treated at Raab in Hungary : —

Treated in the ordinary manner 1501 861 640 1 in 2^

Treated homoeopathically 154 148 6 1 in 25

Cholera patients in Vienna : —

Treated in the ordinary manner 4500 3140 1360 30 per cent.

Treated homceopathically 581 532 49 8| per cent.

Cholera patients in the hospital of Bordeaux : —

Treated in the ordinary manner 104 32 72 69 per cent.

Treated homooopathically 31 25 6 19 percent.

The fruits of an experience on a far more extended scale than
that presented by Dr. Quin, has been afforded during the present
prevalence of the epidemic. In Great Britain the success of the
homoeopathic treatment has been marked. In Cincinnati and
New York the homoeopathic physicians have established the
power of homoeopathic treatment in this disease.t And no
doubt exists that when the facts in connexion with the treat-
ment of cholera are collected, the evidence in favour of homoe-
opathy will indeed be strong.

* Extracted from the Jowmal of Health and Disease and Monthly Jowmal of
Ebmoeopathy, vol. III., p. 145.

f For further particulars, see the Journal of JBealth and Disease and Monthly
Journal of Homoeopathy, vol. V., p. 111.

152 CURABILITY OP ACUTE DISEASES.

CHAP.XIV. This doctrine of incorabflity of acute diseases is daily orer-
tumed by the results of experience. Indeed, the existence of
homoeopathic practitioners sufficiently establishes this. A ho-
moeopathic practitioner could not, as such, exist any length of
time, unless his means were powerfiil for the cure of acute dis-
eases : at least, to suppose otherwise, would be to suppose an
improbability. It would be to suppose that homoeopathists have
such a peculiar power, inherent in them, that none of the &nu-
lies they attend are ever subject to acute disease ; it would be
to suppose, that the very fistct of having a homoeopathic practi-
tioner as the medical guide of a family, is quite sufficient to
drive acute diseases from the doors. If this were the case, it
would be well worth attention, whether it would not be a matter
of good policy to have a homoeopathic practitioner, merely for
the purpose of warding off acute attacks. This magical powiH"
must be possessed, or else, the practice of families must be to
have two practitioners, a homoeopathic for chronic diseases, and
an allopathic for acute diseases. Is it so? The allopathist
knows too well that this is not the case.

In fact, if homoeopathists had the vindictiveness of their op-
ponents, they could bring numberless cases of acute diseases,
where the allopathic practitioner's services have been dispensed
with as being destructive, and the homoeopathic practitioner
having been called in, lives have been saved which had been
deemed lost.

They could bring forward cases, where, from fear of offending
an old friend, an allopathic practitioner, the patients have had
his visit, have received his medicines, have thrown them away,
and seeking the advice of a homoeopathic practitioner, took
the homoeopathic medicine ; have been benefitted ; the benefits
have been noted by the allopathist as gratifying results of his
treatment, whereas the treatment has not been his at all, and
the patients have had the paiofrd, but humiliating conviction,
that the benefit resulted from that which he would, if asked his
opinion, denounce as a fraud, as an absurdity, as a delusion.*

* The writer has collected an immense mass of such cases. There is hardly an
allopathic practitioner of any standing in London, but cases can, if need be, be
brought forward, which either were deemed incurable, or were getting so much

ABUSE OF HOMCEOPATHY. 153

Driven from all these points of attack, the enemies to homoe- qilAP.xiv.
opathy begin, as people generally do, when reason refiises to ac-
knowledge them, to abuse, to call names, to misstate &cts.

They cry out, " OA, there is no science in homoeopathy,^^ " It
is,^^ says Dr. M'Naughten, " a system of physic made easy to^the
meanest capacity J^ Well, if it were, surely that would be no
great evil to society. It is no objection to the dignity of^mathe-
matical and astronomical sciences, that the common sailor is
able, by the aid of the tables, which these sciences have pre-
sented to him, to find out the geographical position of his vessel,
and steer it accordingly.

Homoeopathy, however, is not the easy practice represented.
It is a certain, a sure practice ; but, to obtain its certainty,
requires great skill, most extensive and minute knowledge.

To cure a disease, two things are required ; the first is, a
perfect picture of the disease : nothing ought to be left out : con-
siderable mental power is required to take in all the facts, to
classify them in their several relationships, and according to
their individual importance. The second is to obtain a remedy
that, in its pathogenetic * effects, presents a similar picture.
Here a vast extent of knowledge is required. Indeed, any one
who practises homoeopathy knows that each complicated disease
is a complex problem to be solved, and is so difficult, that only
the great satisfaction connected with the high exercise of mind
in grappling with a difficulty, and the reward, the result of such
grappling — namely, certainty — could afford sufficient inducement
to persevere in mastering its details.

But is not allopathy physic made easy to the meanest capa-
city ? Do not chemists prescribe every day ? Any man, who
has capital enough to dissolve some blue vitriol in a glass bottle,

worse as to call for other assistance, which have been treated homoeopathically with
success. The writer attends the sisters of a surgeon who is deemed eminent, and he
attends the family of a married sister of a physician, who is physician to one of the
metropolitan hospitals ; and yet such is the yindictiveness of these two parties against
homoeopathists, that the patients are forced to seek homoeopathic aid without the
knowledge of these professional relatives. He has prescribed lately for a servant, as
a gratuitous patient, of the most scientific physician in London.

* Pathogenetic is used as indicative of the effects, produced by a medicine, taken
by a healthy person, upon that person.

154 ABUSK OF HOM(E0PATHISTS.

CHAP. XIV. which he puts in his window, and to obtain some blue pill, salts,
tincture of rhubarb, and a few other articles, begins to prescribe
for the diseased. Are not quacks found who practise allopathy;
and do not uneducated quacks succeed where the educated fail?
Is not the public press filled with the professed remedies of every
disease, to which the human body is subject ? Did not this
occur before homoeopathy was heard of? How could these rai-
educated men get a footing, unless there were so much fiunlily
and uncertainty in allopathy, thus affording such abundant
ground for daring attempts, that rr is physic made easy to these
ignorant fools, to these audacious scoundrels ?

Finding this objection fail, the enemies of homceopathy say,
Oh, the hom<eopathists are cheats. They take patients
when we have cured them : though the stupid people think tfaey
are worse than when they came under our care, and leave ns
because they think so : then they go to the homoeopathist, and
he gives them medicine, and, because they get well, they say
that the homoeopathic medicines cured them : whereas we were
they who effected the cure : but the people are so ignorant :
they are blind, they cannot see.

Such manifestation of un&dmess is not unusual. Men gene-
rally do not like to find a man putting a machine in order, in
the attempt to do which they had failed. I cannot do it, there-
fore none can^ is the natural dictum of selfish conceit : and such
things will be uttered as long as selfish conceit exists : at least,
until people are so enlightened that the ignorance of such talk-
ers is seen to be self-conceit ; and then they will have to live on
their self-conceit, until the loss of their occupation hiunbles them
to become the disciples of truth. This condition, as likely to
occur with such objectors, reminds of an objection urged by
some, that persons who have failed of success in connexion with
the allopathic system, have recourse to homoeopathy »

Even allowing this, for the sake of meeting the objection, were
the case, it does not imply that the homoeopathic truth is any
less a truth. It does not follow, because Watt did not succeed
in his first experiments in the application of steam, that his after
applications were not effectual. It does not follow, because
Newton's first calculations were not correct, that his. after calcn-

ABUSE OP HOMCEOPATHISTS. 155

lations, which demonstrated the law of gravitation, were ineor- CHAP. XIV.
rect. Indeed, the unsuccessfiihiess may be regarded as the source
of tbe successfulness. The unsuccessfulness is peculiarly the
source of this success in connexion with men of strong minds ;
weak minds, in despair, would have given up the further exa-
mination and forther efforts. The strong-minded are urged by
tlie very unsuccessfiilness to more strenuous efforts ; they inves-
tigate the cause of their unsuccessfulness, and thus, guided by
tlie detection of the source of fallacy, they are led, in the subse-
qixent investigation, into the right channel.

The users of this argument are generally persons, whose skill
would never give them a place in the profession, but whose want
of skill is made up by family and pecuniary influence, and they
look with envy on any one, who, practising another system, suc-
ceeds better even than they do, although unaided by the appli-
ances which the objectors possess.

156 HOM(£OPATHY AND THE ACADEMY OF MEDICINE.

CHAPTER XV.

Objection^ Homoeopathy has been tried and found wanting,—-
Dr. Bally' 8 statements. — Drs. Smwn and Curie^s state-
ments. — Dr. AndraVs refusal to examine a cure. — Tht
proceedings of the Parisian Academy of Medicine. — Ob-
jection that homceopathy came from Germany.

CHAP. XV. But, say they, Homceopathy has been tried akd found

WANTING.

It was tried, say they, in Paris, in Russia, and it &iled.

Yes, it has been tried and found wanting by those who wanted
to find it wanting^ and who themselves wanted the necessary
knowledge to be able to ascertain whether its wanting was real
or not.

In 1834, the Homoeopathic Society of Paris memorialized the
Minister of Public Instruction to legalize their constitution, to
give them authority to found dispensaries, and to give gratuitous
medicines and advice to the poor, and also to found an hospital
as soon as they had fonds sufficient.

The minister referred the matter to the Academy of Medicine,
which appointed a commission to inquire into the claims of
homoeopathy.

The Academy condemned the doctrine of Hahnemann, re-
porting that they did not think it proper to recommend the
minister to allow homoeopathic dispensaries to be established.

The decision of the committee was founded on the reports of
Dr. Bally and of Dr. Andral (junior). Dr. Bally maintained that
no success attended the homoeopathic treatment.

DR. bally's disingenuousness. 157

Dr. Bally, at the Hotel Dieu, had assigned some patients to CHAP. xv.
Dr. Simon and Dr. Curie, of whom the latter (a member of the
English Homoeopathic Association) is now practising homceopa-
thy with great success in this metropolis.

In regard to these patients, it is to be remembered, that they
were assigned by an opponent. Drs. Simon and Curie were not
allowed to select their own patients ; and the patients assigned
were so diseased, that Drs. Simon and Curie sent a letter to
Dr. Bally, stating that they were almost all incurable, and that,
unless they had a more fair selection, they must decline to con-
tinue the treatment.

Why take such cases ? it may be asked. The zeal of these
gentlemen misled them. They considered it also a great step
gained to have an opportunity of practising in the largest hos-
pital in Paris : they hoped that their communication might ob-
tain for them pupils of a different class : and they felt, that even
with the worst, something might be done.

Dr. Bally did not, however, present them with better cases :
he was busy at the time, experimenting on the virtues ^of kreo-
sote, and kept all the favourable patients to himself.

Dr. Bally made his report to the Academy, that Drs. Simon
and Curie cured only two patients. — (Appendix, " Homoeopathy
and its Progress." #

This was not a fair report : for, though two patients only were
cured, others, deemed incurable^ had their cases so much relieved^
that the patients left the hospital at their own request.

The record of all the cases was kept in Dr, Bally' 8 note
hook : Dr. Bally was requested to give a copy of the cases from
his note book, so that the whole of the facts might be published ;
but, strange to say, " the note book has been mislaidJ'*

In addition to this, it is asserted that Dr. Andral tried several
experiments with homoeopathic medicines and did not find any
results. Dr. Andral did try his experiments, and read a paper
regarding the same to the Academy of Medicine ; the paper it-
self demonstrates that Andral was so far ignorant of the effects of
the medicine, and of the method by which the application of
these medicines in disease is regulated, that it is perfectly cer-
tain that no effects could have resulted. Dr. Andral did not wish

158 DR. AKBRAL's refusal to EXAMIITE.

CUAP. XV. to be convinced, as the following &cts demonstrate : they are
recorded by Dr. Hoffman.*

" During the month of Febraary 1835, I was called out
to No. 22, Contrescarpe-Saint-Marcel, to attend professionally
a young man named Ferrand, private secretary of M« Dela-
marre-Martin-Didier, the banker. This patient, attacked m
weeks before with typhus fever, was now in the last stage of
the malady, and M. Andral, who had treated him, in conjunc-
tion with M. Rocquet, had declared the very morning of that
day when I was called upon, that M. Ferrand could not last the
day out. At the door I met the abbot Hanicle, vicar of the
Abbaye St-Germain-des-Pr6s : he came to give the extreme
unction, and told me I was too late, and nothing more was to
be done ! Notwithstanding these melancholy prognostics, I un-
dertook the case, and in a few days the patient was upon his
feet. M. Rocquet, who had asked permission to watch my
mode of treatment of the case, took care to inform M. Andral
immediately of all that took place. The patient took absolutely
nothing but homoeopathic globules, and the cure was unlooked
for.

" While I was treating this case of typhoid fever which had
been given up, M. Andral was preparing his observations con-
cerning the sama for the members of the Academy : it was ne-
cessary some one should testify that he had experimented suffi-
ciently, and he himself imdertook to do so. Eight days before
the first meeting of the Academy, which was to report against
us, my restored patient paid a visit to M. Andral, to thank
him for his kind attentions ; for if he had not succeeded bet-
ter, it was not for want of zeal. The sight of this appariticm,
saved from the other world by homoBopathy, was not very agree-
able to the complaisant practitioner, who, instead of examining
and interrogating him, with a view of convincing himself by
occular demonstration of the truth of statements which had
been made to him daily by M. Rocquet, hurried off the gratefiil
patient as he would banish a fit of remorse of conscience, jus-

* L' Ilomoeopathie Exposee aux gens du Monde, d^fendue et vengee, f>ar le Docteur
Achille Hoffman. Quatri^me Edition, Paris 1812.

PROCEEDINGS OP ACADEMY OF MEDICINE. 159

tifying his strange conduct on the ground of numberless occu- chap. xv.
pations: he would not even bestow upon him the look of
curiosity.

** Scarcely had a week elapsed when M. Andral* delivered his
lecture to the Academy: his task was performed; he had pro-
mised it, it was looked forward to with impatience : he could
not think of leaving his brethren in a state of embarrassment."
In reference to another objection that the French Academy
decided against homoeopathy, Dr. Hoffinan adds —

** Those who have not read the account given of the three sit-
tings of the Academy, the date of which I have furnished, will
perhaps imagine that the assembly en masse formally decided
against homoeopathy, and that it took part in the discussion
ivhich formed the foundation of the celebrated report. Such
ivas not the feet. Some inferior spirits alone compromised
tbemselves in this miserable afiair, in which the heads of the
Academy took care not to mix themselves. In fact, Racomier,
Dupuytren, Fonquier, Roux, Chomel, Velpeau, Lisfranc, Brous-
sais, Maij6Iin, Auvity, Amussat, Rostan, Blandin, Baudelocque,
Segalas, &c. &c. &c. were mute during all the time of the de?
bates. These distinguished practitioners seemed to have fore-
seen the brilliant fiiture career of homoeopathy: they knew
not enough of it to undertake its defence openly, but at least
they wished to have the liberty of counselling the employment
of the new system in certain very serious cases, which gene-
rally resist the resources of the old method ; and this several
of them do not hesitate to do when occasion offers. Is not
this honorable conduct in reality a means to bring about the dis-
grace of that ignoble report, which the major part of the aca-
demicians have tacitly blamed, and against which three of the
most respectable members of the assembly raised their voices,
MM. Husson, Itard, and Pariset, who most energetically repro-
bated the vicious conduct which was being pursued in the dis-
cussion ?"

In regard to its having failed in Russia, the fact stands now

* It is to be remembered that this M. Andral is Andral the son, and not the
fiither.

160 ITS ORIGIN OBJECTED TO.

CHAP. XV. established, that, in Russia, homoeopathy is in the ascendant
among the educated.*

But objections have no end. So have the objections agaiost
homoeopathy.

What is the last argument used in a bad cause ? What is
the last appeal that selfishness, combined with cunning, makes
to prejudice, when she finds that truth is making yvay against
her ? What is the great argument, which has been used to jus-
tify war and all its iniquities ? What but this ? " jR conies from
abroad. They are foreigner s,^^

The argument, if argument such monstrous dust-throwing can
be called, has been used against homoeopathy. It has been said
against homoeopathy, " It comes from Germany ^ It comes
from that land of mysticism, the land of the indefinite, of the
transcendental, the abstract.

It came firom Germany, did it ? So did that art by which
man has advanced in fi*eedom, in truth, in science, in moral
excellence; that art by which we can sit and hold converse with
the mighty dead :

** Sages of ancient times, as gods revered,
As gods beneficent that blessed mankind,
With arts, and arms, and humanized the world.**

The art of printing first became a practical utility in Ger-
many.

And that other, almost aerial form, in which thought is clothed,
a form, in which the harmony of thought, angelic in its nature,
clothes itself in the vestiture of sounds' sweet harmony, music,
has had some of the most exquisite of her folded vestments firom
Germany. Handel, Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Weber, and
many others, whose works, entwined, form that lustrous and
universally admired web, enclosing thousands in one band of
extatic delight, were of Germany.

Divine poesy, the music of the mind and of language com-
bined, has honoured Germany with her attentions. Britain may

* Additional facts in connexion will be found in the Appendix. See " Homoe-
opathy and its Progress.**

GERMANY THE PRODUCER OF GENIUSES. 161

rejoice in her Shakspeare and Milton, but Germany can equally cHAP. xv.
rejoice in her Schiller and her Goethe.

Turn to SCIENCE, where are men, who have thrown light upon
the dead languages, and upon the Hebrew, the language of the
Bible, to be met with superior to the Germans ? Who have
been the best annotators on the ancient classics ? The Germans.
Who is the best Hebrew grammarian at the present day ? Who
but Gessenius ? Even to him John Bellamy, the translator of
the Bible, whom Gessenius felt it his duty, when in this country,
to visit, gives the palm for Hebrew scholarship.

Turn to physiology, whose works stand highest, as school-
books in our universities ? Blumenbach, Muller, Soemmering,
Wagner : all Germans.

Turn to almost any part of science, and German genius is
found to have poured a flood of light and of truth upon the
same.

And to. those, not a few, who glory in the reformation, the
question occurs. Where did Luther come from ?

In fine, Germany has, of late years, given the world the true
science of mind by her Gall and Spurzheim ; the investigators
of mind, who first followed out the correct mode of investiga-
tion in reference thereto, and who by the discoveries, consequent
upon the adoption of this right mode, have been indirectly the
founders of the principal improvements, which have been ef-
fected in education, criminal legislation, and prison discipline.

Talk not then of disparaging homoeopathy, because a German
cradle received, and a German maternal breast suckled, and a
German academy protected, and a German university gave title
to, the immortal Hahnemann.

Science knows no country: she, like Christianity, considers
all men brethren ; and, in the republic of letters, every citizen,
who has the badge of the love of science, is admitted by all true
lovers of science, as a brother and as a friend.

Though the objections against homoeopathy can thus be
demonstrated as not valid, though her enemies can thus be met
and conquered, nevertheless, opposition must be expected.

162 VIRITLKNT OPPOSITION TO HOMCEOPATHY.

CHAPTER XVI.

The virulence of the opposition to homoeopathy, — Coroners^ w-
quests. — Tfie opposition by the editor of the Lancet: its
vulgarity, its immorality. — The Dublin medieaZ press.—
The Medical Quzette. — The Medico Chirurgical Heview.—
The Manchester Medico-Ethical Association,

CHAP.XVI. The most virulent manifestations of professional hatml to
holnoeopathy have been made.

Mr. Baron Piatt, in summing up in a trial of Mr. Dickenson,
a surgeon, for manslaughter, a trial instigated by a Mr. Best!
another surgeon, (such is the effect of rivalry between allopa-
thists themselves,) after denouncing the charge of gross igno-
rance against the gentleman on trial, and after having added
that it is very likely that it was the conduct of Mr. Best to the
patient that caused her death, remarked, that " the promulgation
of the doctrine that medical men are criminally responsible for
-following the dictates of their matured judgment, might have
the effect of preventing surgeons and others from acting with
that confidence and boldness under peculiar circumstances, to
which the preservation of life and limb is often due.*

Such was the clear-headed view of a judge. But medical
men and medical coroners do not feel in this way. They think
it to be an excellent method to endeavour to make homoeopa-
thists criminally responsible ; the vidgar and the proud among
the allopathists would like, in every case of death under homoB-

♦ Jownuil of Health and Disease and Monthly JowmaX of Homceopatky, p. 407,
vol. I.

coroners' inquests and homceopathy. 163

>pat1xic treatment, (though at the very same time patients are OHAP.XVI.
lying of the same disease under their allopathic treatment,) to
tiave a coroner's inquest.

They have tried to get up coroner's inquests, and in some
sases they have succeeded in gratifying their malevolence of dis-
position.

The first coroner's inquest which took place in this country
in connexion with homceopathy had relation to a^gratuitous pa-
tient of Dr. Epps, of London ; a second took place in connexion
with a patient of Dr. Curie, of London ; a third, in connexion
-with a patient of Mr, Norton, of Birkenhead ; a fourth, in con-
nexion with a patient of Mr. Blake, of Taunton ; and a fifth, in
connexion with 9, patient of Mr. Pearce, of London.

Every reason exists that all these inquests were induced and
given tone to by the suggestion of medical men, members of an
honourable profession ! * - '

** A man is known by his Mends," is an axiom all recognize.
The medical periodicals that are said to have the largest circu-
lation, must owe this largeness of circulation to the fact that the
medical profession give them support. From these periodicals,
therefore, may be fairly drawn the state of mind of the* medical
profession in reference to homceopathy and homoeopathists«

The Lancet stands pre-eminent. It asserts itself to be the
most extensively circulated medical journal. From its pages
the nature of the opposition against homoeopathy may be drawn.
To begin with the year 1843.

In an examination of the different systems of practice, then
forcing themselves on the public attention, the following remarks
occur : —

" Next, glance at homoeopathy. This is at present the most
widely spread of medical delusions ; and that because it envelops
in its mystifications two very important general truths in medi-
cine, and one emphatic precept, chiefly applicable to British prac-
tice. First, it is perfectly clear to common sense, that to give a
man the six-millionth of a grain of any substance, however ac-
tive, is practically equivalent to giving him nothing. Homoeo-

* For particulars see Appendix, ** Coroners' Inquests and Homoeopathy.*'

164 OPPOBITIOH OF THE LANCBT.

CHAP. XVI. pathy, then, justly interpreted, becomes synonymous wiHi eacf^ '
tant medicine." — Lancet^ Feb. 4, 1843.

This compliment paid to homoeopathy as being a medical de-
lusion, and this characteristic of it as being '* synonymous with
expectant medicine," are not true ; but still the compliment and
the characterization are not stained with vulgarity.

The next notice of homoeopathy has reference to Mr. New-
man, a surgeou to a poor law union at Glastonbury. He treated
all his patients homoeopathically and with great success. Oppo-
sition was roused against him : the poor law commissioners were
applied to ; the opinion of the College of Physicians was ob-
tained. The guardians of the poor of the union in question
supported Mr. Newman ; the poor petitioned to be allowed to
remain under Mr. Newman's care ; Mr. Newman, like a noble-
minded man, would not resign, but the poor law commission's
dismissed him ; and Mr. Newman appealed to the British public.
In reference to Mr. Newman's conduct, th^ editor of the lAmed
thus remarks : —

"Mr. Newman declined to retire, voluntarily, from his office
of surgeon to the union ; the conmiissioners, therefore, executed
their threat to remove him according to law. Mr. Nevnnan
seems to be a very enthusiastic and conscientious disciple of the
little-pill school, and makes great remonstrance against the pro-
ceeding of the commissioners, as though they had acted unfidrly
towards him. He wholly forgets that surgeons are appointed in
unions, under the law, expressly to practise medicine on behalf
of the sick poor, and that Hahnemannism is not " medicine."
If the contract tailor persisted in making cloth shoes for the men,
or the union Crispin refused to employ his awl in manufacturing
any other than leather breeches for the women, the anomaly
could not be greater, or supported with better reason." — Lancet,
Nov. 25, 1843.

The puerility exhibited in designating the homoeopathic system
of treatment as the " little pill school," and the assertion that
" Hahnemannism is not medicine," though expressing untruths,
and though vulgar, are not marked with gross vulgarity : as yet
the editor of the Lancet walked tenderly.

But homoeopathy continued, in spite of all these sneers, to
spread. The Lancet editor, quite a Don Quixote, puts forth

OPPOSITION OP THE LANCET. 165

his determination to be the knight-errant to put down quackery ; OHAP.XVI
and something strong was required to effect this — ^not strong
sense, not strong language, but abusive. The Lancet begins to
show its peculiar character.

In reference to the rational appeal of homoeopathists, that
Iiomoeopathy must be tried by its practical results, the editor of
±lie Lancet writes : —

'* The statement that homoBopathy must be tried on its practi-
cal results, has been repeated again and again, ad nauseam.
The experience of every day life, however, contradicts so mani-
festly the importance attached to the^ infinitesimal doses, as to
render ftirther researches on the subject unnecessary. We have
long been satisfied, fi-om the published cases which have come
under our notice, that homoeopathic medicines exert no influence
on the economy. True, these observations were not commenced
ivith a lively &ith in such medicines, but our experience has,
nevertheless, been extensive.* The result is, that while, on the
one hand, we have never witnessed an instance of so-called cure
tliat could not be explained on rational grounds, on the other,
we have seen irretrievable mischief occasioned by a course of
liomoeopathic medicines, firom the imchecked advance of organic
disease. This more especially in uterine diseases." — Lancet^
Sept. 27, 1845.

In fact, it is of no use, according to this editor, to test the
homoeopathic system by experience ; he goes even farther, and^
maintains that the tenets of homoeopathy are not even to be
discussed : —

" The tenets of homoeopathy are so wildly extravagant, so
preposterously incongruous, that it is impossible to believe that
any really sane professional man could adopt them. Never, cer-
tainly, have ideas flitted through the brain of an inhabitant of
Bedlam or Hanwell, more egregiously absurd or contradictory
than those which Hahnemann has given to his followers and ad-
mirers. It is really an insult to reason even to discuss them." —
Lancet, March 28, 1846.

♦ Surely the editor might have favoured his readers with the results of his expe-
rience. It is well known that the editor of the Laticet has uo medical experience.
Ue has not had an opportunity to practise medicine for years.

166 OPPOBITIOK OF THE LANCET.

CUAP.XVI. The next step in the LancepB mind, wherein the conviction
exists, that homoeopathy is not to be tested by experiment and
not to be examined by reason, was of necessity to denounce its
advocates : —

In the Lancet of March 7, 1846, the editor introduces thns
to notice the homoeopath : — " The mysterious importance with
which the more than quackish, or half-cracked followers of
Hahnemann invest this disease — ^following, in this respect, the
erratic footsteps of their visionary master."

" Quackish," " half-cracked," are modest charges.

The next step, as these homoeopathists persevered contrajry to
the commands of the editor of the Lancet^ was to create an in-
tense emotion of wrath in the editorial mind.

It appears that Mr. P. Stuart, of Liverpool, having a ship
going to Africa, wished to have a homoeopathic surgeon. The
following advertisement was inserted in the papers, the editor d
the Lancet quoting and appending to it the subjoined note : —

" HOMGSOPATHIC SURGEONS.
To the Editor of The Lancet,
" Sir, — The enclosed I have sent you, being an adrertisemeDt
published in a Liverpool newspaper. I could hardly believe my
sight. What ! are poor sailors to be entrusted, when labouring
under African dysentery and African fever, to homoeopathic
treatment ? — Your obedient servant, A Constant Reader.

Jan. 3, 1846.

" Wanted, a Surgeon, for Africa ; one having a knowledge of
homoeopathy would be preferred.

" •^* We purposely omit the name of the referee of the ad-
vertiser, as we could not in any way encourage such quackery
and brutality. — ^Ed. L." — Lancet, Jan. 10, 1846.

In this homoeopathy gains an additional attribute, "brutality."
But the allopathic indignation of the Lancefa editor still rises ;
he proceeds : —

" The following impudent advertisement is going ' the round.'
The homoeopathists may advertise for resident attendants in
their receptacles ; but it is an imposition for these people to talk
of ' hospital ' and * medical officer,' and to require that the man
who may be able gravely to superintend the administration of
their globules shall possess ' testimonials of qualification,' and

OPPOSITION OP THE LANCET. 167

produce a ' diploma or certificate as a member or licentiate of a CHAP. XV I.
Sx-itish medical college or corporation.'

** * London Hom(eopathic Hospital, (founded by the Eng-
HsIl Homoeopathic Association,) No. 17, Hanover Square. —
I*resident, The Rt. Hon. Lord Robert Grosvenor, M.P. Wanted,
St Resident Medical Officer for the above Institution. The salary
•to "be £75 per annum, with apartments. Testimonials of quali-
fica^tion (together with the Candidate's diploma or Certificate as
a. IMember or Licentiate of a British Medical College or Corpo-
ration) to be forwarded to the Hon. Secretary of the Association,
IT, Hanover Square. By order of the Committee,

" ' R. W. H., Hon. Sec,'

" We should like to know the real use of a testimonial, or of a

regular diploma, in the candidate for this domestic post. Is the

possession of a 'diploma' any guarantee that the possessor

Imows anything of the homceopathic £[irce, or that he had spent

years in the prosecution of infinitesimal divisions ; would it be,

in fBMjt, a proof of anything excepting that the party applying for

the situation was a renegade from his true and lawful profession.

Why did not its concoctors act boldly in their dishonesty, and

say at once, *We offer seventy-five pounds per annum, with

apartments, to any young man who will become a renegade for

that amount and privilege, and we insist upon a qualification,

that the advertisement may give us some semblance of scientific

conduct in the eyes of the public' " — Lancet, Nov. 7, 1846.

Here a homceopathic hospital gains the lugubrious appellation
of a "receptacle;" the practice is a "farce;" the medical officer,
a " renegade from his true and lawfiil profession ;" and the gen-
tlemen, who seek to benefit the public by obtaining a medical ^
officer's aid, are men who dwell in " dishonesty."

Homoeopathy, like Galileo said the earth did, still moves on.
The Lancet cannot let out its life. The Lancefs editor's ire
still further strengthens. Referring to a proposal, on the part
of Dr. Forbes and others, to let diseases alone, and see what
nature will do in the cure, the following remarks were poured
forth:—

" The medioal profession has been asked recently to make a
few millions of experiments on the sick entrusted to their care,

168 OPPOSITION OF THE LANCET.

CIIAP.XVI. for the purpose of obtaining a * natural history of diseases:' ?fe
have been asked to look for a while upon our hospitals as mu-
seums, upon the sick beds as cabinets, and upon our patients as
specimens, to be studied and analyzed instead of treated aod
relieved ; and the profession has felt indignant at their proposal
If it depend upon medical men, there never can and there ne^
will be a natural history of diseases, for there never will be founi
amongst us men dishonest enough to allow disease to run on its
* natural ' and destructive course, so as to trace its ' natural his-
tory.' Nor will mankind ever derive from us, as a body, — ^how-
ever treacherous individual members may be, — ^the opposite
benefit of learning how much, and on what statistical numbers,
the human frame can endure violence and rash experiment. Our
profession, as a body, is equally incapable of a base and decep-
tive inactivity, or of a system of reckless experiment. As well
might our anatomists be asked to return to the ancient barbarity
of dissecting criminals alive, to learn the structure and functions
of the animal body ; or our toxicologists, to perform the experi-
ments of poisoning upon those entrusted to their care as patients.
No : these things, or their analogous crimes, are left to Hahne-
mann, Preissnitz, and Mesmer, and their followers, duping and
iu^i:'— Lancet, Nov. 28, 1846.

So that Hahnemann and his followers are designated as crimi-
nals, as men duping others. How regular the ascent in the sc^
of abuse: "quackish," "half-cracked," "brutal," "renegade,"
" dishonest," " criminals," " dupers."

At length the ire of the writer extends itself into the limits of
libel. After referring to hydropathy, the editor of the Lancet
adds : —

" But it has a fellow-fravd, and that imposture comes as a
proper pendant to the other: we allude to homoeopathy."—
Lancet, 1843, vol. H., p. 314.

To prevent any mistakes as to his meaning, the editor repeat*:

" Homoeopathicity, as they aflFectedly term it, is surely but
another name for duplicity in all its^partisanSj whether of high
or low degree." — Lancet, Nov. 28, 1846.

Can the abuser ascend to a higher degree of vilifying ? Ee
can. After referring to a high testimony given by Dr. Forbes
to Hahnemann, this writer adds : —

OPPOSITION OF THE DUBLIN MEDICAL PRESS. 169

** So far from echoing this, we should have given Hahnemann CHAP.XVI.
Hie choice of being knave, fool, or madman, and would say the
mavne to Ma foUowersr — Lancet^ March 28, 1846.

Such, then, is the literature that the medical profession
pa.tronize !

It may be added here, that this writer is not alone in his esti-
xostte of the character of Hahnemann and of homoeopathists.

The Dublin Medical Presa^ a work of some circulation, and
in some fiivour with the profession, asserts, that " any man who
turns homoeopathist takes his place at once as a liar, a cheat,
aj3.d a swindler."

Holding such views, and petted by the writer in the Dublin
JIdedical Press, (who, it is charitable to infer, was under the sti-
mulating influence of intoxicating liquors when he wrote the
above,) it can be understood that the editor of the Lancet would
be glad to establish a medical Coventry, to create a medical iif-
qnisition for homceopathists, though these are members of the
same profession as himself. He has attempted to realize both.

Professor Henderson, a professor in the University of Edin-
burgh, embraced homoeopathy. In reference to him, the follow-
ing is the suggestion of this great boaster of the rights of man, of
the perfect freedom of thought : —

" How men like Drs. Alison, Christison, Simpson, Syme, &c.,
get on with such a colleague, we cannot conceive. One thing
at least is certain, that unless speedy means be tdken to expel
the homoeopath, the University of Edinburgh may bid farewell
to its medical school. Surely students will no longer be forced
to attend the lectures of a professor who practises the grossest
empiricism. They should exhibit a determined opposition to
such a regulation, and petition the authorities, whoever they may
be, to cancel the appointment." — Lancet, Sept. 27, 1845.

" Expel the homoeopathist :" that is, expel the man who uses
the means he deems best to cure the diseases of his patients.

This recommendation does not stand alone. Dr. Irvine, a
physician practising homoeopathy, went to Leeds to settle.
Being a physician, he, as a matter of etiquette, called on the
physicians of Leeds. He exhibited courtesy: he was denied
courtesy in return. Such denial the friend of freedom approves: —
^' HOMCEOPATHY IN Leeds. — The town of Leeds has recently,

170 OPPOSITION OF THE LAKCET.

CHAP.XVL it appears, been fiekvoured with the appearance of a homoBopaAk
doctor, called Irvine. That individual, we are sorry to say, eova«
his pretensions with the Edinburgh M.D. degree, and on iti
strength has most imprudently endeavoured to thrust himself oa
the intimacy of the Leeds physicians. Dr. Chadwick, physiciia
to the Leeds Infirmary, has forwarded to us a correspondmee
which has taken place between the Hahnemannist and hims^
Wishing, no doubt, to shield his ovm ignorance by the sandioa
of an acquaintance with Dr. Chadwick, who stands deserved^
high in the opinion of his fellow-townsmen, this Dr. Irving, after
making several calls, which were, very correctly, not noticed If
Dr. Chadwick, was at last received by the latter, when an ex-
planation ensued. Dr.Chadwick stated tQ him, in the most gen-
tlemanly, but the most positive manner, that he could not possi-
bly associate with a person professing homoeopathy, even were
that person in possession of the same medical degree as h]msel£
The homoeopathic charlatan, not satisfied with this mild private
rebuke, subsequently insisted on receiving in writing from Dr.
Chadwick the castigation which he so richly deserved, in ordar
that he might show it to his Mends — ^a rather singular step <m
his part. We very much approve of the conduct of Dr. Chad-
wick, who has acted in this instance vnth judgment and firmness,
and we recommend it to the imitation of his professional bre-
thren." — Lancet, Dec. 14, 1844,

Is this recommendation of rudeness a mere temporary ebulli-
tion of the Lancet^ 8 editor ? This charitable conclusion is for-
bidden, for he recommends similar conduct to be pursued to
another individual :

" Homoeopathy and the Medical Profession. — ^We have
been favoured by a correspondent vnth the prospectus of a ho-
moeopathic dispensary, recently established at Newcastle-on-
Tyne, by a person who calls himself ' Dr. Hayles,' and are re-
quested to give our opinion as to the course to be pursued by Ae
Newcastle medical practitioners with reference to this individual
We should advise these gentlemen to imitate the spirited con-
duct of Dr. Chadwick of Leeds, and to repudiate all intercourse,
professional or otherwise, with such a speculator. That a non-
professional person may be deluded by the ludicrous absurdity of
the homoeopathic doctrines is perfectly intelligible, but we can-

OPPOSITION OF THE LANCET, 171

liot admit the possibility of a regularly educated medical man o/CHAP.xvi.
mtntfid mind adopting them, except as a means of imposing on the
csrednlity of the public. The medical homoeopathic quacks of the
present day are very anxious to be considered part of the medical
body, and we remark that this (so-called) Dr. Hayles uses re-
peatedly the term, 'professional brethren,' in his manifesto.
Sueli a claim should not be admitted for a moment ; and in the
absence of a council of discipline empowered to call medical
qucLcks to account, and to expel them fipom the profession, we
stxenuously recommend all practitioners morally to exclude them
by refusing to associate with or recognize them. Let such cha-
racters not have the sanction of the profession, at least, to coun-
tenance their fraudulent or insane manoeuvres." — Lancet^ Jan. 4,
1845.

What does this writer write himself? What but a despot ?
What but an infallible ? And as such not content with the attri-
bute, but desiring to crush all those who do not bow to his
infistllibility. He would make a medical Bonner. He would do
to preside at some Smithfield medical burnings. In fact, he
pants for the opportunity to exercise his judicial powers on
these objects of his medical vituperation. He dares to charge
homoeopathists with murder, and longs to be at their trial.
Referring to the death of the Countess of Denbigh, truculent
are his remarks :

" The death of Lady Derihigh occurred in the district of the
coroner for Westminster''' Ominous, this ! had it occurred in
the district of the coroner for Middlesex, may be he would have
judicially found out that homoeopathists take men's lives : and
which finding would have been his, since if attorneys are not able
to decide medical questions, twelve jurymen surely are not able,
and then the decision as to life-taking would have fallen into
the hands of the medical man, the coroner for Middlesex, the
mild, the meek, the non-abusive editor of the Lancet. Well
might a writer in the Spectator^ referring to a late inquest
verdict, exclaim, " Unhappy Middlesex." *

A Mr. Edwin Lee, who, as a book- writer, catches at any idea

♦ See Appendix ** Coroners* Inquests and Ilomoeopathy.**
Y '2

172 OPPOSITION OP THE MEBICO-CHIRURGICAL REVIEW.

CHAP.XYL which 19 preyalent, puts forth the following statement in one
of his works : —

" At the time of my former visit I was anxious to see the
homoeopathic hospital, Leipzig being the head-quarters of this
doctrine. I expected to have found at least forty or fifty beds
with patients, but was rather surprized to find that the building
contained only eight, and even of these all but two or three were
unoccupied. A few months before my second visit, the house-
physician* having become convinced of the nullity and danger of
homoeopathy, gave up his appointment, and published an exposi-
tion of the system pursued. It must not be supposed that the
homoeopathists always adhere to th^ principles of the doctrine.
One practitioner in Leipzig candidly acknowledged that he pur-
sued both plans of treatment.

The editor of the Medico- Ghirurgical Review quotes the
above, heading the quotation, "Death of Homoeopathy in its
Native Land," and appends to the quotation : —

" We suspect that all homoeopathists are not equally candid.
The clever rogues prescribe allopathy, while they talk homoeo-
pathy. But the reign of any particular humbug (there is reaDy
no name so appropriate, albeit coarse) is short-lived — ^though the

• The character of this man is thus detailed by Dr. Calmann : — ** May it su£Sce for
the English to know that this man, Dr. Carl Wilhelm Fickel (nomen est amenj, was
really for a sj^ort time head-physician to the homoeopathic hospital ; that he had pub-
lished a few works mider the false names of Ludwig Heyne, Julias Theodor Hof-
bauer, dsc, in which he introduced false cases of diseases, and pretended to haye
discovered new medicines ; that the real author and his fidsehood were at last disco-
Tered, and that he was turned out with disgrace from the hospital ; that he after-
wards was obliged to quit Leipzig without leave-taking ; and that he at last, in a
remote place, wrote against homoeopathy. An alloeopathic journal thus testifies
respecting this friend of Lee : — ' The general indignation on Fickel' s treason towards
homoeopathy, which is felt not only here, but in every place where Grerman physi-
cians have to give their opinion, does certainly high honour to the German spirit.
It goes even beyond the Jesuitic principle — "the mQg,ifs are sanctioned by the end"
— ^that a medical man may dream of an excuse for himself, who, under a false name^
steals into the homoeopathic hospital of Leipzig in order that he afterwards may pil-
lory homoeopathy. Thanks to God ! — this is the only example of its kind known to
us, and therefore it cannot be censured in too severe terms.* " •

* Allae3pathic Medical Journal, by Drs. Fricke and Oppenheim of Hamburg (Voi xnr.
Nos. 3 and 4. and Horn. Zeitung, Vol.ixix p. 125).

MANCHESTER MEDICO-ETHICAL ASSOCIATION. 173

\,ocik is so extensive that it is never worn out, and the market CHAP. X VI.
>od. enough to make it worth while to keep some article always
>xi sale."

I>r. Johnson has thus added his name to the list of vilifiers.
XJrged on by the vituperation of this writer, biassed by the
Li^ements of other medical writers, it is not to be wondered at
isbt, the mass, the little minds of the profession, should join in
le cry. Few have courage to demand justice for an abused man.
Of all the opposition to which homoeopathy has been exposed,
xxone presents so many peculiar features as that exhibited by an
.Ajssociation existing in Manchester, dignified by the title of the
" Manchester Medico-Ethical Association."

This Association has, as its name impUes, its ethics ; and these
ethics also, as its name implies, are medical.

rrhe Association, among its ftindamental rules, have published
tlie following, '• No member shall practise, professedly and
EXCLUSIVELY, homoeopathy^ hydropathy^ or mesmerism"

And the Association, to make this law effective, have another
rule, which requires that " No member shall meet in consulta-
tion any person excluded from membership in this Association."
The ethics of this Association are indeed peculiar. They in-
vite knavery; they foster deceit. The Association do not exclude
as a member an individual, who practises homoeopathy profess-
edly^ nor do they exclude an individual who practises homoeo-
pathy eocclasively^ but they exclude an individual who practises
homoeopathy professedly and exclusively.

That is, the Association say. You may practise homoeopathy,
but do not practise it exclusively — ^pray give a little castor oil,
use a lancet now and then, apply a few leeches occasionally, so
that when any cures are effected by you, we can say that they
were not effected by homoeopathy, because who can assert that
you did not use allopathic means, and thus, though you cure by
homoeopathic means, the credit wiU not redound to homoeopathy,
and allopathy will not be injured.

Such are the ethics of this Manchester Medico-Ethical Society.
The peculiar honourabl^ness of their ethicism is further exhi-
bited in the fact, that their law does not forbid the practitioner
from practising homoeopathy exclusively, if so be he does not prac-
tise it professedly. That is, the Association say you may practise
homoeopathy exclusively, but do not profess that you do. Restore

174 MANCHESTER MEDICO-ETHICAL ASSOCIATION.

OHAP.XVI. yonr patients to health, but do not let them know how yon do it
That would injure the allopathic credit. Follow out the ancknt
cunning of the priests of pagan times, virtually have two sets of
doctrines, one for the public and one for yourself. These JUaiir
Chester Medico-Ethical Associationists would be yaluable allies
to the Haynaus and the Mettemichs of Austrian despotism, who
allow the people to think what they like, but dare them to ex^
press or to act what they think.

DreadAil is the tyranny of a craft ; and lamentable is it to
find among the most active of this peculiar ethical school, the
name of Mr. Noble, a gentleman who wrote a treatise some y^^s
since, claiming for phrenology its position as a science. Suppose
some philosophical ethical association had passed a law, that any
one who professedly and exclusively bases his mental procedure
on phrenology, shall be excluded from all association with the
mental philosophers of Manchester ; and fiirther, that the Man-
chester mental philosophers shall bind themselves never to meet
the phrenologist in philosophical consultation : What would Mr.
Noble have felt ? What would Mr. Noble have said ?

These Manchester medico-ethical associationists may have
ethics, but they show a lamentable ignorance of the require-
ments of science ; for how is homoeopathy to be tested as to its
truth or untmth, except by its being tried professedly and ex-
clusively ? I£ allopathy is tried with homoeopathy, and success
attend the trial, kow can it be decided to what the success is to
be charged ? If allopathy and homoeopathy are to be tried toge-
ther, and success does not attend the trial, how can it be decided
to which the want of success is to be ascribed ? So used are
these allopathic associationists of Manchester to the uncertainties
of their own system, that they have lost the power of perceiving
the absurdities in which they, by their ethics, lodge themselres.

These Manchester medico-ethical associationists are persecu-
tionists of the worst order ; they are the medical inquisitionists
of modem times. Like their predecessors, who excluded Galileo
from liberty, because he maintained, professedly and exclusively,
that the motion of the earth round the sun afforded the only
satisfactory practical method to explain the phenomena connected
with the earth in its relation to the sun, they have the cool har-
dihood to define what shall be a medical man's creed in Man-
chester. Indeed, it is a question whether the members of this

EBIITBUBGH BEYUIW. 175

.Aissociation are not actionable at law for this their resolve. CHAP. XV J.
Wlia-t right have they thus to make a medical diocese in Man-
chester, and excommimicate those who do not believe in their
cireed ?

Strange to say, the most polished of the hebdomedal medical
press, the Medical Gazette* highly applauds the Manchester
M!edieo-Ethical Association for their rules : Such is the influence
of professional spirit. What a blessing that the legislature re-
fuses to let medical men legislate.

It is pleasing to turn from these miserable exhibitions of
xiaxrow-mindedness, to a review of the highest standing.

The leading review of the day, the Edinburgh^ acted with
liberality. Many years since, when homoeopathy was first intro-
duced to notice in this country, this review thus introduced it to
the notice of its readers : —

** Be the doctrines of Hahnemann," says the reviewer, " true,
as they are pleasing, or false, as they are startling by their no-
velty, it is time that they should be made known to the British
public, and submitted to the keen and sagacious criticism of our
medical school. True or false, homceopathy is at least not to
be confounded with empiricism. It has some of the outward
signs, but it has none of the inward and essential characteristics
of quackery. It is not a mystery concocted and retained for the
sake of money getting, but it is feirly and openly given to the
world. It is not a resource and refiige for ignorance, but requires
extensive knowledge of the parts and fiinctions of the human
frame, of pathology, too, as well as of physiology, of botany and
chemistry, and the practical use of both. It is not an insidious
delusion, converting the hopes of the valetudinarian into instru-
ments of death ; a chalice sparkling on the brim, but fittal on the
draught, seducing by the first feelings of transient amendment,
in order to destroy by the slow and sure result of repeated appli-
cation ; on the contrary, it enforces abstinence and self-denial ;
it tampers not with the fine springs of life ; and by the confession
even of its enemies, if in some cases it should do no good, in
scarcely any case can it do positive harm.'*

♦ ** These grounds of disqualification for membership appear to us to be wnoii'
j«otionabl«."— ilf<j(iicaZ Gazette, Vol. XI., p. 890.

176 OPPOSITION BENEFICIAL.

CHAPTER XVII.

The benefit resulting from the opposition, — The friends of
homoeopathy, — No aid to be expected from, corporate bodies.
— Tlie people must form the court of appeal, — Children
its friends. — Tlie English Homxjeopathic Association. —
The proposed establishment of an Hospital in connexion
with this Association. — Appeal to the public.

CEIAP.XVII. The record, already made, of the opposition to homoeopathy
is painfiil. Its record is necessary, because it will add its testi-
mony to those already stored in the realms of thought to the
treatment which truth has always had to experience. It wiU
confer the deserved immortality of disgrace on these loud-mouthed
praters about liberty, who have never understood what liberty is,
namely, the enjoyment by each man of that amount of freedom
consistent with the enjoyment of the same amount by every other
man. It vnll encourage the advocate of homoeopathy, because
he will find that this tempest of abuoive terms has tended to
establish, instead of undermining the truth ; that it has acted in
preventing any but men of strong will, of staunch courage, of
unflinching determination^ and of untiring industry, from en-
listing under a banner so much blown upon, and thus has ob-
tained for the cause soldiers that are sure to gain a victory. If
homoeopathy had not been opposed thus violently, many would
have professed themselves its advocates, who are quite incompe-
tent to master and to apply its truths, and thus, by their want
of success, a far greater impediment would have been thrown in
the way of its progress than that caused by the virulent oppo-
sition it has had to encounter.

CORPORATE BODIES, OPPONENTS OP HOM(EOPATHY. 177

Where, then, has the homoeopathist to look for assistance ? CHAP.XVII.
Where has homoeopathy to look for friends ?

It is certain that the public corporate medical bodies can never
aid in the progress of homoeopathy. All such corporate bodies
liave ever opposed the progress of any new truth, the use of any
ne^w" remedial means. In fact, corporate bodies seem to be influ-
enced by the belief of a baronet, who proclaimed from his seat
in the House of Commons, that "quiet error is preferable to
boisterous truth."

The French Academy of Medicine denounced the use of anti-
mony. The people would use it : its use became established,
and then the Academy patronized the use.

The Faculty of Medicine, embracing among it§ members
Candidatus Simon BouUot, Prseses Hugo Chasles, and many
others of the highest fame, declared against the circulation of
the blood as made known by Harvey, but the blood was rebel-
lious, and would, did, and does circulate in the way that Harvey
described.

The Academy of Medicine procured an " arr^t du- Parlement,"
prohibiting the use of emetic tartar. The people would use
emetic tartar, and, a few years after, when the use of emetic
tartar was established in spite of the Academy, the Academy
procured the revocation of the arret.

The Academy of Medicine proclaimed that the heavy wigs
w^om in those days were more healthy than natural hair. The
people determined to wear their natural hair, and the wigs dis-
appeared.

The people have always been the parties that have fought the
battle for the truth. To the public the appeal must then be-
nuide : and the public will do its duty in disregarding all the
absurdities put forth to impede the progress of a truth, and will
urge on that progress, being satisfied that benefit must result.
A terse German writer has expressed clearly the position which
the mass has to take in these matters : —

" Hahnemann has brought about an astonishing revolution in
medicine. We stand in the same position towards the physi-
cians, as did Luther and his associates, in the time of the refor-
mation, towards the priests. Then, innovators in religion were
opposed to the priestly hierarchy, and had to appeal to sound

178 APPEAL TO THE PEOPLE.

CHAP.XVII. common sense, as well as to the interest of the laity, in order to-
gain the support of the laity, and to conquer with them. Lino*
vators in medicine are now opposed to the hierarchy of doctofs^
and they, too, appeal to the understanding and to the interest <f
the laity for support and protection to the good cause. Is osr
understanding less qualified to try the medical controrersy, tiitfi
formerly the theological ? We shall see. Are we less int^estoi.
in it ? Surely not. Every Wow which the medical parties strfte
each other &lls back at last upon us, the patients ; and eveiy
thing good which they discover turns finally to our advantage.
Methinks this gives us a very good right to inform ourselves
upon the principles according to which the physicians treat us;
and it might sometimes be usefiil to remind them that they are
TMxde for the sick, not the sick for them ; for it has really often
seemed as if physicians imagined the latter. If the nations have
maintained their interests against secular despotism, by instita-
tions and the fi*eedom of the press, why, in the name of common
sense, should physicians enjoy the privilege of slaughtering ns
without being called to account for it? The homoeopatbists
take their stand as reformers, and declare to us that the physi-
cians, with their hitherto prevailing allopathic method, haTC
levied contributions upon us, without having helped us, just as
the priests did with the sale of indulgences : they propose to ns
an extremely simple and universally intelligible medical theoiy,
are angry at, and complain of the blind rage of the predominiuit
medical caste, which proclaims them heretics, and turn to ns,
the people, for protection against them. At the same time, a
multitude of laymen come forward, who set up for champions
for homoeopathy, as formerly Hutten and Sickengen set up for
champions of Lutheranism, because they consider themselves
happy in having men speedily ireed, by homoeopathic cures, rf
inveterate diseases, and hold it to be their most sacred duty to
make all their suffering contemporaries participators of the like
bliss. These are the facts. Should we, the laity, not give a
hearing to such urgent demands ? What would have become of
the reformation had not the laity taken part in it — if they had
been fi^ghtened into thinking that theological controversies ex-
tended beyond their horizon, and must be left to the theologians
alone? In that case Luther would have been burnt at the stake.

THE FRIENDS OF HOMCEOPATHY. 179

Homoeopathy has found many friends. CHAP.XVII.

Children will help. Conceive the trouble parents have to
give children physic. What torture has many a mother ex-
perienced, when she has been obliged to force the medicine
doi?im the throat of her dying child : how great has been her
agony when she has had to apply blister after blister to the
little creature, moaning with agony. Homoeopathy frees from
all tliese miseries : the no taste in homoeopathic medicines re-
moves the great obstacle to the administration of medicines.

The public will aid. They will soon discover the difference
in the two systems of treatment. . They will find that homoeop-
athy is safer, easier, less injurious, and, what affords a no
mean motive for its support, cheaper.*

Hundreds of families, wlio always' had the medical attendant
in their houses, now, being in possession of a homoeopathic
medicine chest, and a domestic homoeopathy, have been enabled
for years to relieve their maladies, and to escape the medical
visitations.

Medical men do aid, not by adopting Homoeopathy openly, but
by simplifying their prescriptions, by giving less physic : This is
rapidly diflfusing itself. And here Homoeopathy has effected much,
and it is recognised, even by allopathists, to have effected this.

In fact, medical men are beginning to use homoeopathic
medicines : amicat and aconite are used, though not scientifi-
cally, in one of the London hospitals.

Belladonna, which Hahnemann first pointed out, as with

• A gentleman informed the writer that he heard one of the principal manu-
factnreni of Manchester state, that homoeopathy had saved him in money, besides
the saving in suffering and anxiety, for the last six years, upwards of one hun-
dred pounds a year. His physician's aud surgeon' s bill (in Manchester physicians
send in a yearly bill, ) always exceeded a hundred pounds. His wife and family, he
stated, were never well.

This gentleman's wife had miscarried several times, and the best medical skill in
Manchester could not prevent it. The lady came under homoeopathic treatment :
she was enabled to go the full time : she has had two children since, and has gained
comparative good health. Her children take only homoeopathic medicines, and tho
physician in London, who was the means of effecting the cure of this lady, and
. who still prescribes when occasion requires, has his professional aid not called fbr
on an average more than six to eight times a year*

t Dr. Epps published in the Lancet, vol. I., 1842-3, an essay on arnica and its
virtues ; and since that the remedy has been extensively employed.

180 THE WEEKLY PRESS IN FAVOUR OP HOMiEOPATHY.

CIIAP.XVII. aconite, the specific for pure scarlet fever, is now used most
extensively, as a remedy for that disease, and those, who use
it, have not the honesty to acknowledge the source whence they
derived the use.

Patients cured are the friends of homoeopathy. They who have
been suffering for years under maladies, which their physicians,
treating them under the old system, could not cure, and are
cured by homoeopathic means, become living testimonies to
the value of Homoeopathy, become preachers of the good truth
" similia similibus curantur."

The press will aid. Already the three most talented of the
hebdomadal press are advocates of homoeopathy; namely, the
Spectator^ the Economist^ and the Nonconformist Newspapers.
One of the profoundest thinkers, the first logician of the age,
is a homoeopathist. Dr. Whately, the archbishop of Dublin. And
yet, the Deputy Coroner of Middlesex asserts, " no inellectoal
men advocate homoeopathy."

But in the matter of the progress of homoeopathy, the axiom
" Union is strength," must ever be remembered. The friends of
homoeopathy should unite, and the objects for which they should
unite are expressed with excellent force in the address issued by
the English Homoeopathic Association.

" From the time when homoeopathy was first promulgated the
struggle on its behalf has been carried on solely by the indi-
vidual efforts of a few physicians who have had the candour
and courage to investigate its principles, and to acknowledge
its claims. But within the comparatively short space which
has intervened since the period when it was recognised only
by a single mind, it has been diffused by those efforts through-
out almost every civilized country ; and the time is now come
when its disciples are sufficiently numerous to take, by a judicious
organization, a definite part in promoting its reception.

** The English Homoeopathic Association is therefore consti-
tuted with the view of uniting, as completely as possible, the
I'riends of homoeopathy, (professional and non- professional,)
throughout the country, and of enabling them to give effect,
by active co-operation, to the interest they feel in its advance-
ment. All who are acquainted with the system, or who desire
to promote its fair investigation, are invited to join the ranks

ADDRESS OP ENGLISH HOMCEOPATHIC ASSOCIATION. 181

tlixis formed ; and, as the advantages to be derived' not only CIIAP.XVII.
from a well-planned organization, but from numerous^ rather
tlia.li from individually large contributions, have been strikingly
exemplified in connection with many of the most important
questions of the present day, it has been resolved that the funds
of the Association shall be raised entirely by voluntary donations,
coupled with the payment of half-a-crown from each of its
Members as an annual fee for registration.

** Among the chief objects of the Association are, —

1 . To bring together the most active friends of homoeopathy by means of General

Meetings, at which the progress and the prospects of the science may be
detailed.

2. To publish treatises and issue periodicals explanatory of the principles of the

system, for distribution (gratuitously as far as practicable) amongst the
Members and the public.

3. To fiirnish the Members with statistical I'eports of cases in the various homoeo-

pathic institutions, and with notices on all important points bearing on the
progress of the cause.

4. To promote the publication of a correct translation of the works of Hahne-

mann and others.

5. To establish an Hospital.

" That these measures effectually carried out would greatly
accelerate the progress of the science, will at once be seen. The
statements furnished at the General Meetings would present to
the public the facU of homoeopathy as the best antidote to the
libels of angry and uninformed opponents; the general circu-
lation of explanatory treatises and periodicals would carry know-
ledge into quarters where the system may never have been
heard of, except through misrepresentations; and the publication
of cases, and also of the works of the founder of this system,
would be calculated to stimulate members of the medical pro-
fession to abandon their present mode of oppositioUj and to
resort to scientific experiments as the only test of the truth or
falsehood of scientific statements.

" And apart from these consequences of its active efforts, the
mere existence of the Association will work much good. The
majority of the world dread ridicule more than they love truth ;
and while individuals feel that in venturing to give even a trial
to homoeopathy, they are exposing themselves singly to the jests
of its opponents, — the prejudiced, and consequently uninquiring
multitude, — they will timidly draw back. If, however, they are

182 NECESSITY OF A PUBLIC HOSPITAL.

IIIAP.XVII. fortified by being able to point to a body large in number,
comprising many respected contributors to science, o;
avowing their recognition of the doctrine as the result of
sonal trial and investigation, this difficulty will disappear,
advocate of the old school, while he denounces the system
unworthy of inquiry, and boasts of never having descended
its statistics, will no longer be regarded as an absolute authority,
and his phrases *^ impostor" and " dupe," levelled at the practi
tioners and the disciples of a science of which he is ignorant^j
will lose their force when he is reminded that terms of this
sort can scarcely apply to a large and influential body, using
their best efforts, by the diffusion of information, to enable him,
if it be possible, to prove them in the wrong."

But the primary object to which all exertions should tend, is
the formation of a public hospital. The address on the subject
issued by the English Homceopathic Association presents most
forcibly the grounds of its necessity : —

" In soliciting the aid of the friends of homoeopathy and of the
public generally towards raising a fimd for the establishment
of a homoeopathic Hospital, the committee feel that they are
only discharging the duty incumbent on all who believe in the
virtue of the homoeopathic law, of doing their utmost to forward
any measure calculated to afford to the poor the benefits of
homoeopathic treatment, and, at the same time, to promote the
public and scientific investigation of the truths of homoeopathy.

*' The benefits of homoeopathic treatment, so well known and
so deservedly appreciated by thousands of the middle classes
of society, are still comparatively uneirjoyed by the poor in this
country ; and, it is mainly with the view of extending to them
the benefits of the new medical science, that the contributions
and the subscriptions of the members of the English Homoeo-
pathic Association, of their fiiends, and of the public, are
solicited for the establishment of a public homoeopathic Hospi-
tal, by which alone so wide an extension of the blessings of
homoeopathy can be effected.

" It is also to be borne in mind that an Hospital affords the
best and only satisfistctory opportunity of treating and studying
acute cases, and of testing the efficacy of homoeopathy in the
treatment of acute diseases, which are generally asserted with

ESTABLISHMENT OF AN HOSPITAL. 183

peculiar confidence to be beyond its influence. It is true that ohap.xvii.
acute diseases come frequently under treatment, and peculiarly
successM treatment, in private families and at homoeopathic
dispensaries ; but the medical man has not the time, if he had
the will or the power, to visit the dispensary patient at his
home, and there witness the efiects of a new system of cure ;
BJdd. there are other objections which are obvious in connection
^vidth such a course. But to patients treated in apublic Hospi-
tal these objections do not apply. In entering such an insti-
tution the patient knows that his case may be subjected to a
public or general examination,^ and he prepares himself to
allow and undergo it.

'' The advantages of a public hospital present also this impor-
tant feature,, that an opportunity would thus be afforded to
every student of homoeopathy, before settling in medical practice,
of becoming fully acquainted with all the symptoms which
develop themselves in acute diseases ; with all the means best
suited to meet these symptoms ; and with the mode of treat-
ment generally which so enlarged a system embraces. To
create an efficient corps of medical practitioners, it is necessary
that a medical school, where all the branches of homoeopathic
science can be taught to students, should be established ; and
as a part of such school, an hospital affords the means of illus-
trating the powers of the medicines, and of presenting examples
of the different diseases to which those powers are applicable.
In &ct, this part of the medical school is essential to the
scientific study of homoeopathy. Other branches of medical
science, which are common to the allopathic and homoeopathic
systems, may be learned elsewhere, but the virtues of homoeo-
pathic medicines and the homoeopathic treatment of diseases
are matters which can be efficiently only taught in connexion
with a homoeopathic hospital.

"It is important to bear in mind that an hospital would help to
diffuse more widely amongst all classes the truths of homoeopa-
thy ; that it would give the means of comparing the results of
public homoeopathic treatment with other treatment ; and the
relative superiority of homoeopathy once established in this
country, (as it has been by the homoeopathic hospitals in many

184 ESTABLISHMENT OF AN HOSPITAL.

CHAP.XVII. places abroad), the success of the institution and its consequent
advantage would be secured.

It 18 hoped, therefore, that the friends of homoeopathy in the
metropolis will concur in this endeavour to supply to others, and
to the poor especially, the benefits which they themselves may have
experienced from homceopathic treatment. And the committee
would also venture to appeal to the advocates of homoeopathy
throughout the country, to contribute to an undertaking calca-
lated to afford the completest test and to secure the widest difih-
sion of the results of homoeopathic treatment, and to train up a
body of scientifically educated and efficient homoeopathic medi-
cal practitioners, for the service of the public*

* At a Meeting of the Committee of the Aesociation, the following Rules were
proposed to be adopted in reference to the Homa»opathic Hospital : —

RuLB I. — ^That a Donor to the amount of Fifty Pounds and upwards, be tenncd
a Benefactor and Life Governor.

RuLB II. — A Donation of Ten Pounds shall constitute the Donor a Life Gover-
nor.

Rule III. — An Annual Subscriber to the amount of One Pound, shall be con-
sidered a Governor so long as he continues his Subscription.

Rule IV. — The Governors shall possess the privilege of electing the Medical
Officers, and of determining rules for the admission of Patients.

Rule V. — The Votes of the Electors may be given by proxy.

Rule VI. — The Governors, at a General Meeting, shall form Rules for regulatin*
the affikirs of the Institution, and for electing the Hospital Committee.

Trustees for the Fund, Thomas H. Johnston, Esq., 16, Cecil Street, Straftd,
James Stansfeld, Esq., Inner Temple; and John Epps, Esq., M.D., 89, Great
Russell Street, Bloomsbury.

Subscriptions received by the Trustees; and at Messrs. Hanket & Co.'s, Bankers,
Fenchurch Street ; at the London and Westminster Bank ; and at the Union Bank
of London.

N. B. The Committee further have the pleasure of adding, that a Ladies* Com-
mittee has been formed to aid in collecting the funds for the Hospital, and any
communications for the Ladies' Conmiittee can be addressed to the Honorary
Secretary, Mrs. "Wilkinson, 31, St. George's Road, Southwark.

Note. — The Committee of the English Homoeopathic Association, propose that
the Hospital shall be commenced as soon as the sum of £1000. by Annual Sub-
scriptions, has been obtained.

APPENDIX.

Section I.— TREATMENT OF CATTLE.

When it is asserted that homoeopathic practitioners cure their sect. i.
patients by means of the imagination, the answer at once pre-
sents itself, How then can cattle be cured ?

Few have the slightest conception how extensively and how
beneficially homoeopathy has been applied to the treatment of
tlie diseases of the lower animals.

Some idea may be- gained fi'om the following communications,
tlie first by Dr. Luther,* the second and third by Peter Stuart,
!Esq.,t and the fourth by Dr. Epps.t

58, Stephen's Green, August 12th, 1845.

My Dear Newton — I most willingly comply with your
request, to give you some information on the homoeopathic
treatment of the present distemper among cattle. However,
I shall shortly prepare a paper for the Lish Homoeopathic
Society on the subject, in which you will find fiiU information
on the several points connected with it. This disorder has been
treated with very marked succesdy in and near Dublin^ by my-
self and several friends.

As you have had an opportunity of seeing a great number
of cases, I need not describe the symptoms of the disorder,
which, in the actual beginning of it, are exceedingly obscure,
but cannot be mistaken in the latter stages. They vary in

* The Jcwmal of Health and Disease, toI. I., 99—101.

i Ibid., vol. Ill, 179—184, and vol. IV., 311, 812. J Ibid., vol. III. 366, 367.

A A

186 APPENDIX.

SECT. I. almost every case, and it is only by collecting the symptoms of
a great number, that a complete knowledge of the disease can
be obtained. The disorder itself is evidently pleuropneumonia
of a malignant character. The result of my observations, as
far as they go at present, is, by proper homoeopathic treatment,
six out of ten head of cattle, attacked by the disorder, can be
saved and radically cured. Strictly speaking, each case requires
an individual treatment, according to its peculiar manifestation
in the diseased animal. This makes the correct homoeopathic
treatment very difficult, and supposes an intimate acquaintance
with our materia medica. However, in a case like this, where
everything has decidedly failed, I think I may be justified in
giving you at least some general advice, which, imperfect as it
must necessarily be, when put to the test of strict homoeopathic
rul^s, will lead you to much better success than anything that
has hitherto been recommended. The principal remedies firom
which I have seen good effects in the different cases, when
properly applied, according to the symptoms of each, are:—
hryonia^ arsenic^ senega, squills, tartar emetic, bark, rhus
toxicodendron^ sulphuric acid, vegetable charcoal, la^hesis, and
sulphur.

I would advise you to confine yourself for the present to the
use of bryonia and arsenic, as most likely to prove beneficial.
[Use the third trituration of arsenic, and third dilution of
the tincture of bryonia, which can be obtained at any homoeo-
pathic chemist's.]

[Now to the treatment.] 1. It is of very great importance
in this distemper to recognize it and treat it in its first stage,
which, however, is very obscure and insidious, and scarcely
shows itself in any other way than by a slight cough ; in all
other respects the animal appears as usual. Whenever dis-
temper is in the neighbourhood, a slight cough ought to be at
once attended to. The best medicine to check the progress
of the disease is bryonia. Take from 10 to 20 drops of your
tincture, mix them with a pint of cold water in a new bottle
with a glass stopper, shake it well, and keep it in a cool place.
Give four tim^s a day, at equal intervals, about a table-spoon-
ful, after shaking the bottle well each time. The animal may
be allowed to feed as usual.

TREATMENT OF CATTLE. 187

2. When the disease enters the second stage, (frequently SECT. I.
tstlcen by the dairyman for the beginning of the' disorder), which
generally shows itself by difficult breathing, accompanied by a
grunt, and short painful cough, loss of appetite, running from

t:]:i.e mouth and nostrils, cessation or considerable diminution of
tlie secretion of milk, the cow standing gathered up, not
cliewing the cud, &c., arsenic is the best medicine to be given.
You may then give [one] grain of the powder three or four
times a day. I have frequently seen excellent efiFects from
giving arsenic and hryonia alternately, changing the medicine
every four days. The animal should be kept under a dry airy
shed, its bed be very clean, and frequently renewed.

3. In this stage the animal has little or no appetite, and all
food should be rigorously kept from her ; she does not digest
it, and it lies in the stomach like a foreign body, and only
increases and protracts the disorder. I look upon the obser-
vance of this rule as a material point for final success. It is
a radical, and frequently fatal mistake, to force nourishment
down the animal's throat. A pail of fresh water should be kept
within its reach ; [and if not drank, changed twice a day.]

4. Once the disorder has reached the second stage, it is
seldom perfectly cured under three or four weeks : the surest
signs of returning health are, return of the secretion of milk,
of appetite, and rumination.

5. Bleeding and purging ought to be looked upon as highly
injurious in this disorder, as they weaken the animal dreadfully,
and favour the exudation of lymph and water, the consolidation
and mortification of the lungs.

6. It is of great importance to be exceedingly cautious in
giving food, particularly solid food, when the appetite returns :
the stomach not having performed its habitual functions for
weeks, the appetite exceeds the digestive powers; and if the
animal be allowed to feed as it lists, it is very apt to have a
relapse, which is difficult to master.

These are the few general rules I can give you for the
present. It is a rough homoeopathic treatment, but will, even
as such, be comparatively very successfiil.

Yours, &c.

Charles W. Luther.

AA 2

188 APPENDIX.

SECT. I« Bitton Lodg<e, near Warrington, Lancashire, Nov. 6, 1847.

Sib, — I send you a few eases of animals successfully treated
by medieines homoeopathically employed. The first case is a
black cow given up by the farrier, after bleeding, blistering, and
purging for ten days. He then told the farmer he could do no
more, and it was not possible that the cow could live twentjr-fwff
hours longer, therefore he had better sell the cow. Having
been told of the case, I sent the &rmer word, if he had no objec-
tion to allow me " to try my hand," I had not much doubt bat
that I could save his cow. He said he had no objection, bat
he thought it was of no avail, as he himself thought she was
past cure. When I went to see her, he was bargaining with a
butcher to sell her ; the butcher offered ten shillings ; the fiir-
mer wanted fifteen shillings. I said, let me try to cure your
cow, and if she dies I will give you the fifteen shillings for her.
With this understanding I was allowed to proceed.

SYMPTOMS.

1. Horns cold. 2. Ears cold. 3. Feet cold. 4. Pulse very
high. 5. Breath short and very hot. 6. Nostrils dilated and
quite dry. 7. Tongue dry. 8. Grunted like a pig, could hear
her a himdred yards off. 9. Her milk nearly gone, only giving
a few drops. 10. No appetite.

I gave two drops of aconite, third dilution, in a quart of water,
a wine glass full every half hour for two hours, and then eveiy
hour. Saw the cow in twenty-four hours after.

Pulse much lower, horns warmer, feet warmer, breath not j
so hot, nostrils not dilated and moister ; tongue moist.

Continue aconite twenty-four hours longer. j

The above symptoms all decidedly better : grunting very little '
better, milk no better, with a rolling noise in her belly. j

Ordered hryonia two drops, third dilution, in a quart of water,
a wine glass fiill every two hours. !

Saw her in twenty-four hours after, the whole of the symptoms
better ; no rumbling noise, the grunting gone, and she gave |
two quarts of milk; was chewing the cud very comfortably,
and, as the farmer said, was quite a new cow : she was now |
ravenously hungry.

Ordered them to be cautious in feeding her. In seven dap I
she was quite well, giving her accustomed quantity of milk.

TREATMENT OF CATTLE. 189

SECT. I.
CASE 11.

-A brown cow. — The farmer called upon me this time, and
begged that I would come and see a most valuable cow, that
\^SL& seized with the murrain three days ago: my fame had
began to spread. I said, Have you had the veterinary surgeon?
He replied, " No, no, they could do nothing but run up long
bills, and then tell them to sell the cow." (All these
DISEASED CATTLE ARE SOLD FOR HUMAN POOD.) I then
said, suppose your valuable cow dies, you will no doubt blame
me and wish you had sent for the surgeon. I would much
rather undertake it after it had been given up. He said. No,
no : after the cure I had made there was nothing to fear.
I went to see it.

SYMPTOMS.

1. The extremities all cold. 2. Pulse high. 3. Nostrils
moist and running. 4. Moving her head from side to side,
moaning most piteously. 5. Opening her mouth as if her jaws
were sore and in great pain, saliva coming from it. 6. Shaking,
violent cough, appears to draw up her intestines as if by a cord
in her throat. 7. A great falling oflf in her milk. 8. Hair
standing and rough.

Ordered aconite, two drops of third dilution, and pTiosphorus,
two drops of sixth dilution, in a quart of water, a wine glass
fiill every hour alternately.

Saw her twenty-four hours after. Pulse lower, extremities
much warmer, cough still bad, all the other symptoms much
the same.

Continue phosphorus without the aconite.
Saw her twenty-four hours after. The symptoms decidedly
better — Continue phosphorus.

Saw her in forty-eight hours. Cough much better; head
better ; did not moan ; no running from the nostrils ; no
saliva from the mouth ; hair still rough ; skin still tight and
hot. Gave six globules of arsenicum on a piece of bread;
wait twelve hours ; and then continue phosphorus.

Saw her two days after. All the symptoms better ; chewing
her cud very comfortably ; milk rapidly coming back ; skin
smooth.

190 APPENDIX.

SECT. T. Saw her in four days ; she had got out of her shed and got
amongst some wet grass, of which she had eaten rery hear%:
bad a slight cough.

Ordered six globules of hryonia in a pint of water, a wine
glass full night and morning : if not better to let me know.

I saw the owner in a fortnight after: he said she was &
better cow now than ever she had been, as she always appeared
*' to have had something to do with her ;" now she was better,
and giving him twenty quarts of milk a-day.

CASE ra.

A black horse, which had been under the veterinary surgeon
for three months ; had large lumps on its shoulders and neck,
some of them had burst and others had been lanced by the sur-
geon. As fast as one got better another would break out. When
I saw the horse, he had one large ulcer of about six inches dia-
meter with a large core in the middle, besides numerous small
ones forming all over the horse's shoulders : the surgeon said
the large ulcer would not get better until the core came out, and
he ordered the man, when he dressed the horse's wound, to try
to poke it out with a stick.

SYMPTOMS.

1. Skin hot. 2. When touched, the horse would shudder as
if he was in great pain, and shrunk from th^ touch. 3. Ulcers
running yellow matter. 4. Horse very thin. 5. Lame on the
fore foot, on the side that the ulcers were, as if the tendons had
been drawn up by the running ; the horse appearing in great
pain on putting this foot to the ground.

Ordered araenicum, third dilution, three drops in a quart of
water, a wine glass full night and morning ; dressed the ulcers
with tincture, diluted with water.

Four days after, the core was nearly gone without the use of
any stick, the small ulcers all healed up, the horse much better,
skin still hot. — Continue arsenicum.

In a week after, the core was entirely gone, the ulcer nearly
healed up, the horse much fatter, skin much colder.

Continue arsenicum.

The week after ulcer quite well, the horse as fat and as sleek
as a well fed mouse. They had commenced to work him ; he

TREATMENT OP CATTLE. 191

iras still a little lame. Gave him a few globules of sulphur^ SECT. L
dxth dilution.

He now works regularly and is quite well — rthree weeks from
blie commencement of treatment.

I think a feet worth mentioning is, that the whole of the tinc-
tures that I used in the above cases, were those tinctures taken
by Captain Johnson to Africa, in 1844 ; these having been pre-
pared under the direction of Dr. Epps, who, when I had col-
lected the symptoms of African fever and dysentery, wrote out
-with great willingness fiill and ample instructions for those par-
ties proceeding thither, for their guidance in the treatment of
the above diseases, for which I beg thus publickly to return him
my sincere thanks.

These medicines, after being in Africa some time, and there
used with success, were brought back, and now, having been
used show that their virtues have been preserved unimpaired.
Sincerely yours, P. Stuart.

To these cases may be added the following case, communi-
cated by Dr. Epps.

On Tuesday evening, November 9, 1847, the gardener of a
patient residing about five miles from London, came up with a
message wishing me to prescribe for a cow dangerously ill.

The cow presented the following

SYMPTOMS.

1. Great pain in joints. 2. Stif&iess in the limbs. 3. Can
get up only partially, for while able to get upon her fore legs,
she cannot get upon her hind legs. 4. Her pain apparentiy
makes her try continually to move, but directly she does rise
she &lls from the want of power in her hind legs. 5. Her milk
is very thick.

She is lying out in the field, and cannot be brought into the
cow-house.

The poor creature moans most piteously.

The '* cow-doctor," who has seen her, thinks that she has the
gargets in the udder, or a severe cold in the udder and through
the bones.

The cow is within six weeks of calving.

192 APPENDIX. 1

SECT. I. Ordered one drop of the third dilution of hrymia tinctsn^ i
(millionth part of a drop of the mother tincture,) in five oudhi
of water, also a drop of mu? tincture of the same strengtli, ami-
larly mixed with water.

To take a fourth of the one, and then four hours after a foortk
part of the other, and so alternately.

The same night she walked into the cow-hoose, and the Al-
lowing day seemed quite well.

The cow had taken s<Miie globules oirhus tosneodendron, sal
of puleatiUa before I was sent to.

TREATMENT OF THE LUNG DISEASE IN CX>WS.

Mr. Stuart has, during the course of the last two years, treated
as a connoisseur upwards of 180 cows, labouring under the pre-
valent malady ; of these 130 were saved. The medicines in
general use were aconite, the third dilution ; Bryonia, the third
dilution ; ARSENICUM, the third dilution ; RHUS, the third dilu-
tion ; KALI CARBONICUM, fourth dilution ; SQXHLLA, sixth dilution;
and PULSATILLA, third dilution. Of the medicines the dose ge-
nerally given was twenty drops to a quart of water, of which a
wine glass was taken every four hours.

The aconite was given when the following symptoms were
present : breatii hot, breathing heavy, cough dry, general fever.

Bryonia was given in alternation with aconite, when the
cough became more loose.

Arsenicum was given when there was running from the nose,
the hairs of the hide standing at an end : intense heat, breathing
very hurried; and looseness of the bowels : and also wh^i there
was much swelling.

Rhus was used to follow the action of arsenicum : this was
more especially indicated when the animals appeared uneasy in
their limbs, and shifted about a great deal.

Kali carbonicum was used when the animals appeared to have
great pain in their sides : this was used oft;en in alternation with
arsenicum.

SquiUa was used when the cough was shaking, as if the parts
of the body would shake to pieces.

Pulsatilla was used when the cows lost their calves, which

TREATMENT OF CATTLE. 193

they invariably did when seized with .the malady. The pulsa- SECT. I.
tilla was immediately efficacious to cleanse the animal, i. e. to
effect the removal of the after-birth.

The intervals at which the medicines were given were three
or four hours: the animals were kept from all food until
symptoms of returning health showed themselves ; then a little
food was given two or three times a day. Their appetite at
this time is very great, and care must be taken, as an over-
laden stomach invariably brought on a^relapse. Aconite, bryo-
nia, and arsenicum, given alternately on each day generally
effect a cure, if the disease is taken in time, in a few days,
especially if the symptoms appear to a casual observer most
violent and dangerous. The medicines must be mixed in new
bottles ; each medicine in a separate bottle.

The following symptoms generally were present in these
cases : —

The animals generally, instead of standing straight, gathered
their limbs up, i. e. drew their fore and hind legs nearer to
each other.

They were generally chilly, horns cold, hoofs cold.

No appetite at all. K milk cows, the milk left them.
. The urine was sometimes scanty, hot, and thick.

Great running from the nostrils.

Grunting : short hurried breathing.

They generally stood; and, when lying down, it seemed to
hurt them.

The cows invariably lost their calves, when attacked with
* the disease, and the calves were generally bom dead.

The cattle sometimes swelled in the body, sometimes at
one side, sometimes the other.

The signs of improvement were returning appetite, feet get-
ting warm, horns getting warm. K milk cows, the milk
gradually came back again.

It is worthy of remark that those that died under homoeo-
pathic treatment, died apparently without much suffering:
the parties, who had cows die imder both modes of treatment,
expressed their astonishment at the ease, with which those
died that had homoeopathic treatment, compared with the state
of those that died under the other system treatment.

B B

1^4 APPENDIX.

SECT. I. Nux vomica, Mr. Stuart adds, I have found of vrondtrfiJ
efficacy to all animals that have no appetite, and no other
symptoms present. Mr. Stuart fiirther adds, that the metli-
cines employed were obtained from Mr. James Epps, homoe-
opathic chemist, 112, Great Russell-street, Bloomsbury, London.
He feels this statement a duty, because he tried some
homoeopathic medicines obtained from another quarter witiioui
success.

CASE OF INFLAMMATION OF THE BOWELS AND OF THE
TEATS IN A COW.

The cow calved the day before I was consulted : she became
very ill the day after calving: the legs and the sinews are
drawn so tightly that the skin cracks. She has no fever, yet
seems in pain, and stands with her head and her ears hanging
down. She swells in her stomach, and in her hocks. What
milk she has is very thick, like curds mixed with the whey.

The cow doctor, who has visited the cow, says she ought to
lose two quarts of blood, and have some Very strong drink, that
is, purging: he states that her complaint is the turget^ that it is
in her bowels, and it is generally fatal when it gets there.

The lady to whom the cow belonged, being a homoeopa-
thist, refused to allow the cow to have either the bleeding or
the strong drink.

Ordered Pulsatilla, one drop of 3rd dilution every four hours.

Wednesday, March 7. — The dairyman said the cow was
neither better nor worse. The milk is rather thinner though
the quantity is very smalP, indeed she has scarcely any. She
has no fever, is rather inclined to be cold. She neither eats nor
drinks, she has great difficulty in rising, and is very weak.

Ordered 1 drop of the 3rd dilution of bryonia, and four hours
after, 1 drop of the 3rd dilution of puleatiUa, and so in alter-
nation, and each time of taking the hryonia to apply a poultice
upon which 20 drops of the tincture of the 1st dilution of
hryonia were dropped.

She has taken the hryonia and the pulsatilla in alternation,
and has had the poultice of hryonia applied to the teats.

March 10. — The cow is better : her milk is thick : one quarter of
her bag gives good milk, the other quarters give impure milk.

. - TREATMENT OF CATTLE. 195

Sle can now eat her food : she holds up her head : she SECT. I.
ixsixally drinks fourteen gallons of water a-day, but now she
Ix-inks not more than three.

Ordered hryonia and Pulsatilla at longer intervals.

JMarch 12. — The cow eats well and seems well: her milk
Ls still not natural and in small quantity, not more than three
q^iaarters of a pint from the three quarters. In the bag, the
pa.i*t aflFected, there is a hard loose substance.

Ordered sulphur, a grain of the third trituration, in four
doses. The cow was cured.

The fact, recorded at page 193, in reference to the necessity
of abstinence from food, illustrates a law which applies to the
Ixnman being as well as to the lower animals. Abstinence in
SLCTite disease is an essential to cure. Mr. Stuart remarks: —
** Their appetite is very great, and care must be taken, as an
overloaded stomach always strengthens a relapse." 1 his truth
cannot be too deeply impressed on the mind ; the prejudice in
favour of feeding patients, under the mistaken idea that feeding
is NOURISHING, is SO Strong. How many diseases are not cured,
"because practitioners introduce a new condition, undigested food,
forgetting that food is not of necessity nourishment ; but is, in
disease, in many cases, poison.

BB 2

198 APPEKDIX.

Section II.— HAHNEMANN AND HIS LITERABY
CHARACTER.

SECT. II. Men may occasionally hAve fallen upon a great discovery, bat
this is not the usual course. A long course of well-directed
mental training is the pioneer that is found to be generall;
essential to the discovery of any great truth. What toils (men-
tal) Galileo went through before he established what is the
motion of the earth in its relation to the sun of our solar system.
What numerous experiments Harvey tried before he established
the circulation of the blood. Jenner was years cautiously plod-
ding on before he considered himself justified in promulgatiDg
the protective power of the vaccine virus. Lavoisier was ten
years engaged in experiments and observations, before he pat
forth oxygen as the chief supporter of combustion : and how
lengthened were the investigations of Sir Humphrey Davy, be-
fore he made and put forth his discovery of the composition of
potash and soda.

Hahnemann stands not inferior to any one of these illustrious
heroes of science. His mental training was one of the highest
order, of the most comprehensive character. He studied tiie
best works in the English, in the French, in the Italian, and in
the Latin languages. He thus trained his mind by a width of
range which few men have attained to.

As proofe of these assertions, what can be given more satisfiw-
tory than a list of the works which he has published.*

TRANSLATIONS FROM THE ENGLISH.

1. John Stedtmann's Physiologysche versuche und beobacht-
uDgen. Leipzig, 1777. — Original, Physiological essays andob-
servations^ by John Stedtmann. London, 1769. 8vo.

* These titles are copied from the Eoinoeopatkic Examiner, published at New
York, 1841.

HAHNEMANN AND HIS LITERARY CHARACTER. 199

2. Nugent's Versuch iiber die wasserscheu. Leipzig, 1777. — SECT. II.
yriginal. An essay on hydrophobia. London, 1753. 8vo.

3. William Falconer's Versuch iiber die mineralischen wasser
md Bader. Leipzig, 1777. — Original. On mineral baths and
?vaters, by W. Falconer. Bath, 1775. 8vo.

4. Ball's Neure heilkunst. Leipzig, 1777. — Original, Ball's
modem practice of physic. 2 vols. 8vo.

5. Dr. M. Ryan's Natur und kur dor lungenschwindsucht.
liCipzig, 1790. — Original. An inquiry into the nature, causes,
and cure of consumption. London, 1787. 8vo.

6. A. Young's Annalen des ackerbaues. Leipzig, 1790. — Ori-
ginal. Young's Annals of agriculture. London, 1786. 2 vols. 8 vo.

7. CuUen's materia medica. Leipzig, 1790. — Original. A
treatise on the materia medica, by W. Cullen, M.D. Edinburgh,
1"89. 2 vols. 8vo.

8. I. Grigg's Vorsichtsregeln fiir das weibliche geschlecht,
besonders in der schwangerschaft und dem kindbette. Leipzig,
Vl%\ .-^Original, Grigg's advice to the female sex, London,
1789. 8vo.

9. D. Monro's Arzneimittellehre. Leipzig, 1791. — Original.
Monro's materia medica. London, 1788. 2 vols. 8vo.

10. F. Ringby's Chemische bemerkungen iiber 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. — Ori-
ginal. Brown's elements of medicine.

FROM THE FRENCH.

1. Demachy's Laborant im grossen oder kunst die chymischen
produkte fabrikmassig zu verfertigen. Leipzig, 1784. — Original.
Precedes chymiques ranges methodiquement et definis. Neuf-
chatel, 1780. 2 vols. 8vo.

2. Der liquerfabrikant. Leipzig, 1785. — Original. L'art du
distillateur-liqueuriste, par Demachy et Dubisson. Paris, 1775.
2 vols. 8v().

3. Demachy's Kunst des epissfabrikanten. Leipzig, 1787. —
Original. Demachy's L'art du vinaigrier. Neufchatel, 1780.
Svo.

4. Die kennzeichen der giite und verfalschung der Arzneimit-

200 APPENDIX.

SECT. II. tel, Ton I. B. Sande. Dresden, n%7 .—Original. La falsification
des medicaments devoilee. Bruxelles, 1784. 8vo.

5. De la Metherie uber die reine luft und verwandte luflaur-
ten. Leipzig, 1790. — Original. Essaie sur Fair pur et les difli-
rentes esp^ces d'air. Paris, 1785. 2 vols. Svo.

FROM THE ITALIAN.

A. Fabroni's Kunst, wein zu verfertigen. Leipzig, 1790.—
Original. Dell arte di febre il vino.

FROM THE LATIN.

Albrecht von Haller's materia medica. Leipzig, 1806. 1 v. 8vo.

HAONEMANN'S ORIGINAL WORKS AND ESSAYS IN LATIN.

1. Dissertatio inauguralis medica. Conspectas afiectanm
spasmodicorum aetiologicus et therapeuticus. Erlangae^ 1779.
4 vols.

2. Dissertatio bistorico- medica de helleborismo v^terum.
Leipzig, 1812. 4 vols.

3. Fragmenta de viribus medicamentorum positivis S. in sano
corpore, humanis observatis. Leipzig, 1805. 2 vols.

IN GERMAN.

1. A treatise on tbe detection and cure of poisoning with
arsenic. Leipzig, 1 786. 1 vol. 8vo.

2. An essay upon the bad effects arising from the use of an-
thracite coal fires. Dresden, 1787. 1 vol. 8vo.

3. An essay upon the influence of various kinds of air. 1788.
4to.

4. Directions for detecting iron and lead in wine. 1788. 4to.

5. An essay upon bile and gall stones. 1788. 4to.

6. An essay upon a new and verj' efiicient agent in the pre-
vention of putrefaction. 1 789 .

7. An essay on baryta.

8. Upon the detection of a new constituent in graphites. 1789.^

9. An essayupon the principium adstringens of vegetables.1789.

10. Remarks upon the mercurius solubilis Hahnemann!, with
exact directions for its preparation. 1789. A second edition
was called for in 1790.

HAHNEMANN AND HIS LITERARY CHARACTER. 201

11. A treatise on syphilis, and its treatment with mercurius^ECT. II.
solubilis. Leipzig, 1789. 1 vol. 8vb.

12. An essay on the best means of avoiding salivation, and
the destructive effects of mercury. 1791.

13. A treatise on the best method of preserving health. Frank-
fort, 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 published in 1795.

15. Remarks upon the Wiirtemberg and Hahnemannean wine
test. 1793.

16.. Remarks upon the Cassel yellow. Erfurt, 1793. 1 vol. 4to.

17. Remarks upon the Hahnemannian 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.

21. A manual for mothers. 1796.

22. An article in defence of Klockenbring. 1796.

23. An essay upon the new method of discovering the curative
powers of medicines, and a criticism upon the methods pre-
viously employed. 1796.

24. Are the obstacles to the attainment of certainty and sim-
plicity in the practice of medicine insurmountable ? 1797.

25. An essay on cholic. 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 remitting fevers. 1801.

29. An essay on periodical disease. 1801,

30. Remarks upon the candour and humanity that distinguish
physicians of the 19th century. 1801.

31. A treatise on the cure and prevention of scarlet fever.
Gotha, 1801. 1 vol.

32. An essay on the efficacy of small doses of medicine, and
of belladonna in particular. 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 Brun-

202 APPENDIX.

SECT. IT. now in 1824, under the title of TraiU sur les effets du cafi;
into Danish in 1827, by Dr. H. L. Lund, of Kopenhagen, under
the title of Kaffeen i sine Virkinger; into the Hungarian dia-
lect in 1829, by Dr. A. Budann, under the title of A Kafe
Munkalatjau It has also been translated into Russian by Dr.
Alexander Peterson, of .St. Petersburgh; into the Italian and
Spanish languages ; and finally into English, and published in
the American Journal of Homoeopathia in 1834 ; from whence
it was republished in the Homoeopathic Examiner in 1840, and
copied in the Health Journal during the same year.

35. Esculapius upon the balance. Leipzig, 1805. 1 vol.

36. A new system of medicine, based upon pure experience.
Berlin, 1805. 1vol. 8vo.

37. Remarks upon the proposed substitutes for Peruvian
bark, and upon substitutes in general. 1 805.

38. An essay on scarlet fever. 1808.

39. An essay on the value of the speculative systems of medi-
cine. 1808.

40. Remarks on thjB 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 medi-
cine. 1808.

43. A treatise upon syphilis. 1809.

44. An essay on nervous fevers. 1809.

45. On the signs of the times, as regards the practice of
medicine. 1809.

46. A monograph on the only three possible methods of
curing disease.

47. The Organon. Dresden, 1810. 1 vol. 8vo. A second
edition was published in Leipzig in 1819 ; a third, in 1824 ; a
fourth, in 1828 ; and a fifth, in 1833. It was translated into
French by Baron Brunnow 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
translated and published in the Hungarian dialect, at Pest, in
1830, under the title of Organon (Eletmiise) a Gyogym^veszse-
guck vagy Hahnemann Samuel. Into Italian, by Dr. Guranta;

HAHNEMANN AND HIS LITERARY CHARACTER. 203

into Swedish, in 1836, by Dr. P. L Lindbeck, of Stockholm, un- sectTii.
der the title of S. Hahnemann Organon for Lage-Kunst. Into
EngUsh, at Dublin, by Dr. C. H. Devrient, in 1833; and in
America, by Dr. Constantine Hering, of Philadelphia.

48. The pure materia medica. Dresden, 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
Drs. Stapf, Gross, and Brunnow; into French, by Dr. Bigel, in
1827, under the title of Mati^re mMicale pure de Dr. Hahne-
mann ; into Italian, by Dr. Fr. Romaine, in 1825, under the title
of Pura dottrina delle medicine del Dr. Hahnemann. This is
the great work of Hahnemann.

49. A dissertation upon the use of homoeopathic medicines 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 bums. 1816. A second edition was pub-
lished 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 homoDopathia. 1825.

56. Chronic diseases. Dresden, 1828. 4 vols. 8vo. A second
edition was called for in 1830, and a third in 1835. It was
translated 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. 1 vol, 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 Stiller ; and a fifth, at Nuremberg, in 1832.

Who can read this statement of labours without perceiving
that the mind of Hahnemann must have gone through, in trans-
lating or in writing these works, one of the best mental train-
ings ? The direction of his mind to that department of the
medical art, his success in which will confer immortality on him,
is strikingly apparent from the perusal of this list. Thus he
translated Cullen's Materia Medica, which was the standard

c c

204 APPENDIX.

SECT. II. work of the time : a work indeed, considering the period at
which it was published, of great merit : he translated also the
Materia Medica of Monro. He translated another standard
work on Materia Medica^ that by Haller. He thus must have
attidned a perfect knowledge of all that was known on the vir-
tues of medicines previous to his time : this knowledge helped
him, by showing what was known, and how little that was, to
feel the miserable imperfection of the knowledge of the virtaes
of medicines.

The still more intimate investigation by him of these subjects
is exhibited in the fiict, that he published a treatise on the
Falsification of Medicines,

In fact, the more the matter is examined the more clear does
it appear, that Hahnemann had all the mental conditions of a
great discoverer : and is it wonderful that he should have dis-
covered ? Truth is ever ready to be embraced ; only he, who
attempts to embralce her, must prepare himself. '* The kingdom
of heaven is taken by violence" is a dogma taught elsewhere;
and the kingdom of natural truth is to be taken in the same way.
Truth requires mighty eflEbrt to persuade her to give up one of
her virgin purities to human embrace : she requires any one,
who attempts to gain such a glorious object in mental marriage,
to go through a course of mental purification and mental drilliDg,
which few have the courage to adhere to.

Hahnemann had all the will to submit to the terms imposed;
and he gained the immortality, resulting from marrying his
name to a truth.

'^ Go and do thou likewise," may be with propriety said to the
contemners of Hahnemann. Contemners indeed: men, who
would think themselves quite fit to be niched in Fame's temple,
if they had produced any two works equal to the most inconsi-
derable of those produced by the man whom they contemn.

IGNORANCE ON THE SUBJECT OF DIET. 205

Section in. — IGNORANCE OF MEDICAL PRACTI-
TIONERS, BOTH ALLOPATHIC AND HOMCEOPA-
THIC, ON THE SUBJECT OF DIET.

In health and when tree from food, the stomach is usually SECT. III.
entirely empty, and contracted upon itself.

The inner coat of the stomachy in its natural and healthy
state, is of a light or pale pink colour, varying in its hues ac-
cording to its full or empty state. It is of a velvet-like appear-
ance, and is constantly covered with a very thin, transparent,
viscid mucus, lining the whole interior of the organ. This
coat (membrane) presenting the first appearance, is called the
villous^ or velvety membrane ; also, from being covered with mu-
cus, the mucoua coat.

On the application of aliment, the action of the vessels is
increased, the colour brightened, and the vermicular motions
excited.

On viewing the interior o*f the stomach, the peculiar forma-
tion of the inner coats is distinctly exhibited. When the sto-
mach is empty, the folds or rugoe appear irregularly folded upon
each other, almost in a quiescent state, of, as already stated, a
pale pink colour, with the surface merely lubricated with mucus.
" The gastric juice does not begin to accumulate in the cavity
of the stomach, until alimentary matters are received, and excite
its vessels to discharge their contents, for the immediate purpose
of digestion. It is then seen to exude from its proper vessels,
and increases in proportion to the quantity of aliment naturally
required, and received. A definite proportion of aliment, only,
can be perfectly digested in a given quantity of the fluid. From
experiments on artificial digestion, it appears that the proportion
of juice to the ingestsB, is greater than is generally supposed.
Its action on food is indicative of its chemical character. Like
other chemical agents, it decomposes or dissolves^ and after com-
bining with a fixed and definite quantity of matter, its action

cc 2

206 APPENDIX.

SECT. III. ceases. When the juice becomes saturated^ it refuses to di^fki
more ; and^ if an eoccese of food have been taken^ the rembi
remains in the stomachy or passes into the bowels in a crude dak,
and frequently becomes a source of nervous irritation^ pain, aai
disease^ for a long time ; or until the vis mediccUrix naturt
restores the vessels of this viscus to their natural and heat&j
actions — either with or without the aid of medicine J'*

Such are the conditions of the stomach in the state of hesdiL

Its conditions in a state of disease are now to be noticed.

*' In febrile diathesis, or predisposition, from whatever cause
— obstructed perspiration, undue excitement by stimulatifig
liquors, overloading the stomach with food — ^fear, ai^r, or
whatever depresses or disturbs the necFOus system — the yillons
coat becomes sometimes red and dry, at other times pale and
moist, and loses its smooth and healthy appearance ; the secre-
tions become vitiated, greatly diminished, or entirely suppressed ;
the mucous coat scarcely perceptible ; the follicles flat and flac-
cid, with secretions insufficient to protect the vascular and ner-
vous papillae from irritation.

" There are sometimes found, on the internal coat of the
stomach, eruptions, or deep red pimples, not numerous, but dis-
tributed here and there upon the villous membrane, rising abo?e
the surface of the mucous coat. These are at first sharp-pointed
and red, but frequently become filled with white purulent matter.
At other times, irregular, circumscribed red patches, varying in
size or extent from half an inch to an inch and a half in circum-
ference, are found on the internal coat. These appear to be the
effect of congestion in the minute blood-vessels of the stomach.
There are, also, seen at times small aphthous crusts in connec-
tion with these red patches. Abrasion of the lining membrane,
like the rolling up of the mucous coat into small shreds or
strings, leaving the papillae bare for: an indefinite sjpace, is not
an uncommon appearance.

" These diseased appearances, when very slight, do not alwajfs
affect essentially the gastric apparatus. When considerable,
and particularly when there are corresponding symptoms of dis-
ease, as dryness of the mouth, thirst, accelerated pulse, &c.,
no gastric juice can he extracted^ not even on the application of
alimentary stimulus. Drinks received are immediately absorbed,

IGNORANCE ON THE SUBJECT OP DIET. 207

r Otherwise disposed of, none remaining in the stomach ten SECT. III.
dinutes after being swallowed. Food taken in this condition of
he stomach remains undigested for twenty-four or forty-eight
laurs or more, increasing the derangement of the whole alimen-
axy canal, and aggravating the general symptoms of disease."
Dr. Combe remarks on these statements of Dr. Beaumont :

** These appearances of the villous coat and the non-secretion of the gastric juice
in feverish states of the system, are very important in a practical point of view, and
ihow how injurious and contrary to nature it is to insist on giving food in such cir-
Dumstajices by way of supporting the strength. Drinks are useful, because they are
not digested, but absorbed, and thus refresh the body ; but solid food taken into the
stomach, can act only as an irritant where there is no gastric juice to digest it."

For this valuable, this exact information, the world is indebted
to the talent and the tact of Dr. Beaumont, surgeon in the
United States army.

This gentleman happening to have under his care a patient,
named Alexis St. Martin, who had been wounded by the dis-
charge of a loaded gun ; which, besides inflicting many injuries
upon his lungs and ribs, made a wound into his stomach, by
which every thing he swallowed escaped.

That wonderful restorative power, which exists in the healthy
living frame, at length by causing a portion of the inner lining
of the stomach to project at the aperture, produced such an
arrangement of the parts as to form a valve, which completely
closed the aperture, but which admitted of being pushed aside, '
so as to allow the interior of the stomach and the changes going
on within to be observed.

Dr. Beaumont took the man into his service, and realized op-
portunities of making observations on digestion, the like to
which perhaps never occurred before, and it is likely will never
occur again.

Dr. Beaimiont published a treatise, entitled "Experiments
and Observations on the Gastric Juice and the Physiology of
Digestion," which is foil of the most valuable information, and
from this work the previous statement of the state of the stomach
in health and disease has been gathered.

The first part of the statement presents the reason that, the
WHY, over-loading the stomach produces indigestion. This part
of the matter is passed for the present. The principal objects

208 APPENDIX.

SECT. III. in this essay being to draw attention to the &ets, that, in disease,
diet is of the highest importance : and that many medical men,
both of the allopathic and the homoeopathic schools, are not cor-
rectly or scientifically informed on this subject.

The want of information on the part of the allopathic prac-
titioners is great. The eiddences of this want are continually
presented in their practice, they administering wine and other
stimulants during the progress of disease. Add to this the &ct,
that they assert that homoeopathists cure their patients by the
diet ordered ; and then taking the whole together, the proofe of
the want of knowledge on the subject of diet, have a strength,
which requires no additional remark.

It is to the want of information in connexion with homoeo*
pathic practitioners, that the chief importance is to be attached,
because as in their proceedings every step is tracked by the
enemy, it is essential that no false delicacy should cause the
truth to be concealed, ever remembering the observation of old,
" Better are the reproofs of a Mend than the kisses of an enemy."

The evidence of this want will come out in the narration of
the following occurrence: —

A Mr. Cordwell consulted Dr. Curie on the 19th of October,
1844. After passing through various diseased states, this
patient died at the beginning of March, towards the conclusion
of his disease hoemorrhage from the bowels having taken
place.

This gentleman had an acquaintance, named Miss Sharpe.
She visited him, found that Dr. Curie had ordered him to
take dietetically only toast and water, while the hcemorrhage
lasted, and further when the hoemorrhage should stop a tea-
spoonful of beef-tea every two hours.

This, not according with the notions of Miss Sharpe, she
YiTote to Mr. Cordwell's friends, who called in Dr. Roots on
a Sunday, when, be it remarked, Mr. Cordwell was somewhat
better than he had been on the preceding day, and Dr. Roots
and Mr. Headland coinciding in opinion with Miss Sharpe, he
was ordered half a teacup-fiill of beef-tea: in fact, he had arrow-
root and beef-tea, alternately every four hours: and by the
combined wisdom of Miss Sharpe, Dr. Roots and Mr. Headland,
he had besides brandy, wine, and champagne ; indeed, as Miss

IGNORANCE ON THE SUBJECT OF DIET. 209

Sharpe stated, '^ every thing that could be supposed to stixnu- SECT. III.
late his stomach."

The patient's stomach however did not respond to the kind
sympathy of Miss Sharpe, or to the dietetic wisdom of Dr. Roots
and Mr. Headland: for he vomited everything that he took
under their direction.

Mr. Cordwell died on the Wednesday following the Sunday
on which this treatment was commenced.

It appeared that this was too good a case in the eyes of the
advocates of what is called " generous diet ;" it was too ex-
cellent an opportunity to make an attack on homoeopathy; it
was too favourable a chance for exhibiting the benefits of having
a medical coroner, to be allowed to pass by. What happened ?
Mr. Wakley, the coroner, had certain anonymaua communica-
tions made to him ; and he, influenced by these anonymous
communications, determined to hold an inquest; and at this
inquest, after hearing the exparte statements of the nurses, of
Miss Sharpe, Dr. Roots and Mr. Headland, and after the cor-
oner had been requested to hear Dr. Curie, but, when so i^equest-
ed, had recommended Dr. Curie to be silent, as no charge
was made against him, Mr. Wakley, the coroner, summed up,
and the jury found —

" The jury are of opinion that Henry Cordwell died firom
exhaustion, caused by loss of blood from the intestinal canal,
produced by natural disease : and in complying with what the
jury believe to be their bounden duty, in returning their
verdict in strict accordance with the sworn evidence of the
medical gentlemen who have been called as witnesses, the
jury cannot refrain from expressing the strongest feelings of
disgust and indignation, at hearing it proved by the testimony
of the nurses, that the afflicted gentleman had been cruelly
exposed to a system of starvation, while in a state of the most
extreme debility, during at least ten days previous to his death;
he having, during that long time, been allowed nothing but
cold water, by the advice of his medical attendant."

With the finding of the jury Mr. Wakley, a judge, having
heard only exparte evidence on a difficult medical question,
expressed his cordial concurrence.

Dr. Curie, not having an opportunity afforded to him of

210 APPENDIX.

SECT. m. stating what he had done, and why he did as he did do, imH
a letter to the Morning Poet^ (the report of the inquest wi
published in the newspaper,) in which he endeavoured to estir
blish, by the results of a widely extended experience, that a &^
similar to that used in Mr. CordwelFs case, was, in aeak
diseases, the proper rule.

The fact, that Mr. Cordwell vomited the beef tea and tk
other " good things, " given him by Miss Sharpe, Dr. Roob>
and Mr. Headland, would tend to establish, that, at least in
the case of Mr. Cordwell, Dr. Curie was correct in his judg-
ment regarding the diet, best suited to his patient.

It appears, however, that, on this occasion, £>r. Curie was
to be subjected not only to the injury sought to be inflicted
on him by the enemies of homoeopathy, but also to the addi-
tional injury, resulting from a sensitiveness of certain hom(BO-
pathists, arising from a morbid sensibility to the honour d
homoeopathy, not checked by a knowledge of the physiological
&cts demonstrated by Dr. Beaumont, and recorded at the c(»n-
mencement of this record. This additional injnry consisted
in a letter to the editor of the Morning Post, in which these
homoeopathists condemned the dietetic rules, laid down by Dr.
Curie in his letter to the same editor, maintaining that sach
rules were not in accordance with the views of their conunoD
master, Hahnemann ; but unfortunately quoting in evidence of
such assertion statements by Hahnemann, where he condemitf
an officious practitioner for almost starving a healihy young
woman after a favourable first confinement, and also wbext
in treating upon chronic diseases he remarks —

" The physician must not, by misplaced pedantry (in diet)
trifle with the advantages which the homoeopathic treatment
has over other symptoms, in all diseases, and particularly ib
chronic complaints, that of preserving the forces of the patient,
so that his strength may be supported whilst the disease is
diminishing under the treatment."

The gentlemen referred to fiirther justified their decision
against Dr. Curie's dietetic rules, by quoting from a work by
Dr. Simpson, a gentleman who, though a writer on homoeopathy)
believed in allopathy as well.

Thus backed, and totally forgetting that the case of Mr.

IGNORANCE ON THE SUBJECT OP DIET. 211

Cordwell presented an acute didease, these gentleman signed SECT. III.
their names to the declaration of their want of acquaintance
with the facts demonstrated by Dr. Beaumont.

These gentlemen namely, " Frederick Foster Quin, M. D. ;
Joseph Gilioli, M. D. ; William H. Mayne, M. D. ; Hugh
Cameron, M.R.C.S.; Harris Dunsford, M.D.; William Hering,
L. A. C. ; S. T. Partridge, M. D. ; John D. Charles, M. R. C. S.;
Victor Massol, M. D. ; Thomas Engall, M. R. C. S. ; Alfred
Day, M.D.; William Wardroper, M.R.C.S.; William Hamil-
ton Eittoe, M. D. ; J. Chapman^ M. A. Cantab., M. D. ; J.
Drysdale, M. D. ; Robert Walker, M. D. ; Edwards Phillips,
M. R. C. S. E. ; Berry King, M. A. Oxon., M. D. ; Henry R.
Madden, M.D.; Claudius B. Ker, M.D.; John Norton, M.D.;
James Goodshaw, M. D. ; George Newman, M. R. C. S. : " *
would have done much better had they acquainted themselves,
before deciding to exhibit this sensitiveness, with the interest-
ing discoveries of Dr. Beaumont : especially with the facts,
" These diseased appearances, when considerable, and particu-
larly when there are corresponding symptoms of disease, as
dryness of the mouth, thirst, accelerated pulse, &c.) no gastric
jttiee can be extracted^ not even on the application of alimentary
stimulus. Food taken in this condition of the stomach, remains
UNDIGESTED for twenty-four or forty-eight hours or more^ in-
dreasing the derangement of the whole alimentary canal, and
aggravating the general symptoms of disease."

Some have not charity enough to consider the motive for this
declaration to consist in a regard for homoeopathy : indeed^ so
strong was the impression on the mind of a homceopathist,
(Mr. Sampson,) formerly a member of the English Homceopathic
Association, that some inferior motive actuated the attach-
ment of their signatures by these gentleman to this declaration
against Dr. Curie, that, when the English Homoeopathic Asso-
ciation was founded, Mr. Sampson moved a resolution to exclude
these gentlemen from membership of the Association, until
they made the amende honorable to their confrere Dr. Curie, t

* These names are reoco^ed, although amongst them are some whose title to
homcMpathists is much to be questioned.

f At a special meeting of the English Homoeopathic Association, held Nov. 28,

D D

212 APPENDIX.

SECT. III. It is certain, that, if Dr. Beaumont is to be believed. Dr. Gmi
was right.

As this subject is rather, important, such mistakes beii^
continually made respiting diet in the treatment of the sick
a few additional remarks may be useful.

In disease, the life power is directed to get rid of the injurioot
effects of the cause, which has induced the disease. The lift
power*makes violent efforts, and these efforts are often destruc-
tive ; but the physician steps in, and, by the appropriate medical
Yneans, he directs the life power into the channel for its rigbt
exercise.

He does not seek, (scientific homoBopathic practice is here
referred to), to divert the life power from the part or parts
diseased, (the allopathist foolishly does), but he seeks to direct
its exertions in that part or those parts aright. He kno\fS
that he must suspend all other appeals to the life power, while
this struggle is going on. This is particularly the case with
regard to diet, as Nature teaches by giving a loathing of £)od
in almost all acute diseases.

He says, what will satisfy the thirst will refresh without
causing any necessity to the life power to be directed to the
stomach to digest He finds that water is such a diet — ^water
simple : water and nothing else : not even toast and water.

Why not toast and water ? Because toast imparts some glu-
tinous, some fecular portions to the water, which will require
the stomach to be engaged in digestion/ but simple wate^ is
alsorhed: it needs no life power to be directed to the stonlach
to digest it.

Hence the rule is sound, " give nothing but water to drink as
a drink." Barley water, gruel, arrow-root, sugared water, in
fact all additions to water are bad : for all these additions re-
quire a digestion : and all these digestions interfere with the
life power in its action in restoring health.

1848, the following resolution, moved by Dr. Curie, and seconded by Mr. Templeton,
was carried unanimously : — That this Committee, though disapproving of the act
committed by the individuals referred to in the resolution of July 10, 1848, regard
that the Association is not sufficiently identified with the matter in question, as to
justify the continuance of such resolution on the minutes, and therefore declare it
nulL

IGNORANCE ON THE SUBJECT OP DIET. 213

This is supposing the stomach can digest them, which, accord- SECT. III.
ag to Dr. Beaumont's statement is doubtful: if not able to
ligest them, then the evil irom taking such additions to water
5 augmented tenfold.

But even supposing that they are digested: the temporary
??ithdrawal of the life power from the part or parts diseased
[nay perhaps suspend, just at the time when it is of the highest
importance that no suspension should take place, some just
being made link in the chain of cure, which being arrested in
its completion the life chain is never perfected, breaks and
death or imperfect cure comes.

. Many times has the treatment of cerebral disease, when going
on favourably, been arrested by some kind but unwise mother
giving her child some beef-tea to strengthen it.

When the diseased action is begining to cease, then appe-
tite comes : and then barley water, beef-tea, arrow-root, may
be taken at the usual times when the meal times were taken
in health ; but in the intervals, even then, let water, simple
water, be the drink ; otherwise the stomach will never have
rest ; it will always be engaged in digesting ; and thus the cure
will be arrested or made imperfect.

Note.— This subject is further examined in the section of the Appendix,
entitled " Coroners* Inquests and Homoeopathy."

D D J

214 APPEKDIX.

Skotioh IV.— the progress OF HOMCEOPATHT.

SECT. IT. Homoeopatby has made rapid progress Such a result was
likely^ notwithstandiBg the exposition to it: this result bebg
founded upon the great fiict, that all men can perceive the tratk
of a change from health to disease, and the perception is so
strong, that no sophistry ean set aside the facts of the change,
and of the medium through which the change was efiected. Tiie
conviction embodied in '* I was blind, and now I see," was suffi-
cient to enable a poor, and perhaps an unlettered man, to OTer-
turn all the arguments of the ^lite of the Jewish rulers. So
with cures. HomoDopathists can and do effect cures where allo-
patbists cannot. The cured recognize this, and the conseqnenee
is the diffusion of homo&opathy.

It may be interesting briefly to glance at the spread of homoe-
opathy. The facts collected are arranged in connexion with
other countries and with this country.

It has been said that homceopathy has been tried in Russii,
and failed .• The feet is, that, in Petersburgh, Moscow, and

• In the Medico-Ckirvfrgiccd Review for July, 1834, there is an article Imded^
<* Fatal Blow to Homoiopathism in Russia/'

*' To give a specimen of the practical excellencies of homoiopathism, we cannot do
better than allude to the courae which has been pursued by the Russian GoTemmeot
towards it. A Saxon physician, M. Hermann, the great apostle of the siystem In
Russia, was invested by the grand Duke Michael, with full powers to display in
a course of clinical experiments, its superiority over the common practice 9sA
theory of the day.

** One of the wards of the Hospital de Tuttschin, which contained a number of
soldiers affected with fever and dysentery, was allotted to his special management
during a space of two months.

** The following table exhibits the results : —

Patients. Cured. Died. Remaining.

Common method, 467 364 93

Homoeopathic do., 128 65 5 58

'< It seems that the Grand Duke could use his eyes ; he was satisfied, and with-
drew his commission.

THE PROGRESS OF HOMOEOPATHY. 215

S^iga, homceopathic practitioners abound. In Petersburgh, the SECT. IV.
lalf of a goyemment hospital for women, containing 100 beds,

" However, some time after this the Ministers of the Russian Government
imnmoned Mr. H. to Petersburg, gave him authority to select his own hospital,
smd to make any arrangements he thought fit. The wards were fresh painted, and
wery hygienic precaution fiutiifnlly executed. Even the kitchen was placed entirely
under his control and superintendence ; and in order to prevent the possibility of
any interference a sentinel was placed before the door, and none permitted to enter
during the occasional absence of M. Hermann. His first request respecting the
patients was a very moderate and modest one, viz., that none should be sent to
his hospital who< laboured under ulcers, syphilis, dropsy, phthisis, Ac, and that
he should have the selection of all his cases. !! Even under these most fortunate
circumstances, the results were most un&vourable to the new system; the pro-
portion of deaths to recoveries was much higher than in ordinary practice, and the
duration of the treatment was always protracted and tedious."
[Such is the stiitement. What are the £M:.ts ?]

The above story was indited by a person of the name of Seidlitz, and had its
origin in an hospital trial which took place about seven years previously. The Em-
peror himself, and not the Grand Duke, ordered Dr. Hermann, in 1827, to take
charge of a military hospital at Tulzyn, in Podolia, not Tuttschin, for the space of
three, not two months. During the first two months of the trial, five of the patients
died, and the last month, which the Med. Ghir. has entirely omitted, but one died.
No. Received. Cured. Remnining. Died.

True Report, 164 140 18 6

False Eeport, 128 65 68 5

Sum of misstatement, 36 75 40 1

Four of these persons who died were examined after death by allopathic physici-
ans, when the following results were elicited : — the first had ossification of the bron-
chise ; the second was in the last stage of pulmonary consumption, brought in at
his urgent entreaty, and died in four days ; the third was brought from the lazaretto
of a regiment, where he had long been treated for ague, complicated with scurvy
and diarrhcBa ; he died soon after his admission of gangrene of the scorbutic ulcers ;
the fourth had enlargement of the liver, induration of the spleen, and atrophy
of the heart.

One very singular fact must strike the reader, that in the report given by the
Med. Chir. Review, 467 patients labouring under fever and dysentery were treated
allopathically for two months, and not a single death occurred. Most novel occur-
rence ! What a happy scheme to &11 upon, to curtail the duration of the trials to
two months, and thus pass over the third month ; for even taking Seidlitz' s state-
ment, numbers of the patievUs died on the sixty-first day, that is, the very fiarst
day after he closes his report, in consequence, as he says, *' of an altered balance
between the circulation and excitability !*'

In regard to the trial at St. Petersburg, which was conducted under the super-
vision of ft commission appointed by the Government, of allopathic physicians, that
commission reported that the trial was *' not unfcwourable to the new system."
This trial took place in 1829. The general res'dts of this trial are as follows: —

216 APPENDIX.

SECT. IV. has been devoted to homoeopathic treatment. Homoeopathy is
legalized, the licensed homoeopathic laboratories are numerous,
and the scale of charges of homoeopathic medicines is fixed.
Homoeopathists are allowed to prepare and dispense their own
medicines. So far from being found wanting in Russia, a ho-
moeopathist holds his position as one of the medical councillors
of the state. Many of the nobility practise (practitioners are
very scarce in Russia) homoeopathy on their own estates. A
patient of the writer, the Baron de Bode, one of the emperor's
councillors of state, took over to Russia a large supply of homoe-
opathic medicines for the persons on his estates.

In Prussia, very stringent laws are enacted to prevent impro-
per medical practitioners tampering with the health of the people.
The oflBces of physician and of apothecary are quite distinct, and
it was equally illegal for a physician to sell medicine, as for an
apothecary to vend it without a written order from a physician,
and none but a person who had passed through a series of trials,
first before the central board, and afterwards before the local
one of the part of the country in which he purposes to practise,
was allowed to exercise the calling of physician.

These regulations were found to be very oppressive to homoe-
opathic physicians, principally from the incapacity of apothe-
caries to prepare their medicines. In 1843, the Prussian

whole number received 396 ; cured, 341 ; recovered, 10 ; died, 23 ; convalescent,
8 ; remaining curable, 1 1 ; remaining incurable, 2.

Of the twenty-three deaths, five occurred of patients labouring under pulmonary
consumption ; four of twenty-seven cases of malignant fever ; one of forty-four cases
of bilious fever ; and three of four cases of organic lesions of long standing. The
remaining ten deaths occurred of seven various diseases, without, even in the eyes
of the commission, attaching censure to the system.

The above account is condensed from the official report of the commission of allo-
pathic physicians appointed by the Russian Government.

For the information of the Med. Chir. Review, we would mention that six years
after this " fatal blow," it seems that the Emperor, like the Grand Duke, ** could
use his eyes,*' and, therefore, issued an ukase or order for the establishment of
homoeopathic apothecaries in the various governments of that vast Empire. The
ukase was published in November 1833. Homoeopathy is steadily extending
through Russia. — Quoted froin Dr. Black's Principles and Practice of HonioeopailiVj
j>p. 179—183.

THE PROGRESS OF HOMCEOPATHY. 217

government took into special consideration the hardship, and SECT. iv.
from the length of time homoeopathy had existed in that
country, and the number of physicians who had adopted it,
deemed it expedient to enact, by a cabinet order signed by
the king and three of the ministers, an edict to this effect,
that any physician properly qualified for practice, (that is,
with the various licenses,) may himself dispense homoe-
opathic medicines : that he may not do so without a special
license from a board of examiners, who are to ascertain his
knowledge of botany, chemistry, pharmacy, and the homoeopa-
thic method of practice, the board itself to be appointed by the
minister of public instruction and medical. affairs : that this
license shall be granted only to graduated physicians, not to
doctors of surgery, or ordinary siirgeohs: that all homoeopathic
physicians shall be required to keep a supply of the strong tinc-
tures of the medicines they employ, and also, that they ^all
keep a register of all the patients they treat, and the medicines
they give to each patient : that any person practising homoeo-
pathically without this license shall be punished in accordance
with the laws for preventing the sale of medicines by improper
persons. (Allgemeine, Horn. Zeitung^ 9th October, 1843.)

The King of Prussia, at the recommendation of his allopathic
physicians, has, with the happiest results, tried the system on
himself and members of his family.

The ambassador of the King of Prussia now resident in this
country is, it is believed, a homoeopathist.

In August, 1845, a homoeopathic association, similar in con-
struction and objects to the English Homoeopathic Association,
was founded in Konigsberg. An account of the meeting was
published in the Konigsherg&r Zeitung of August 11th, 1845.
Among the names of those interested is that of the now cele-
brated Von Amim.

To pass to Austria.

It is a fact, that, not long since the practice of homoeopathy
was strictly forbidden in Vienna. The medicine chests of the
homoeopathic physicians were seized by the domiciliary police.

In Prague, the homoeopathic physicians practising in that
town were cited by the Austrian authorities, who, on finding it

218 APPENDIX.

SECT. iV. impossible to reconcile the existing laws with the prevailing ho-
moeopathic practice, dropped the matter.

What added mach to the recognition of homoeopathy in Aus-
tria, was the fiust of the cmre of a malignant tumour of the eye,
which afiected the Field-Marshal the Count Radetsky in die
year.1841.

At present, besides the homoeopathic hospital at ^enna, a
homoeopathic hospital connected with the order of the Sisters of
Charity, under the medical direction of Dr. Reiss, opened in
1842, is now in active operation at Linz : at Gyongyds, in Hun-
gary, is another hospital, under the care of Dr. Herner. At
Raab, in Hungary, a public expression of thanks was given to
the homoeopathic physicians.

A society of homoeopathic physicians exist at Vienna. The
principal object of this society is to prove again the medicines
proved by Hahnemann. In connexion with the proceedings of
this society, the following interesting &ct is recorded : —

Dr. Ameth, one of the provers, after taking one or two doses
of aconite, without knowing what it was he took, experienced all
the symptoms of inflammatory fever, and, thinking he had caught
cold in some way, took some globules of aconite — ^for he found
the very symptoms experienced by him are described under
aconite in Hahnemann. This drug he was taking, but without
his knowledge.

The task this society has laid upon itself requires a greater
amount of self4enial and resolution than that imposed upon
any body of scientific men, and whatever be the result of their
labours, medical science must ever be indebted to them for their
severe self-imposed sufferings in its cause.

The government has commissioned twelve homoeopathic
Viennese physicians to compile a homoeopathic pharmaoopseia
for the use of the Austrian states.

The government has, however, suspended the meetings of all
societies, (for the meeting of men of science and Austrian des-
potism do not tally,) and consequentiy the Homoeopathic Society
does not meet, and as yet the Austian Homoscpathic Journal has
not reappeared.

The King of Bavaria sent Dr. Roth to Austria to collect the

THE PROGRESS OF HOMOEOPATHY. 219

documents relative to the homCBopathic treatment of cholera ; SECT. iv.
and on the publication of these documents, which proved how
successfully this treatment had been used in that disease, the
Bavarian government decided that homoeopathists should be
allowed to practise, although the practice of homoeopathy was
prohibited in prisons, hospitals, and almshouses. In 1848 a
decree was issued, by which homoeopathists were allowed to
treat homoeopathically in all the prisons, public hospitals, and
almshouses, those who expressly wished to be so treated.*

The former Duke of Anhalt-Coethen issued a proclamation,
recommending homoeopathy to the attention of his people.

The Duke of Lucoa established a large hospital, where patients
are treated exclusively homoeopathically.

The Saxon parliament voted money for the homoeopathic
hospital in Leipzig.

In Copenhagen, a special department is allotted in the hospi-
tal for patients who are for homoeopathic treatment ; and a laza-
retto has been allotted for homoeopathically treated patients.

In 1832, homoeopathy was making great progress in Darm-
stadt, in Geissen, in Lich, and in Gurnberg and other towns.
The apothecaries, whose trade was in danger, appealed to the
law, which prevents the physician dispensing his medicines, and
they obtained from the government the following order, which
was published June, 1832, in Mayence, Geissen, and Darmstadt.

" There is no permission granted to the homoeopathic physi-
cians which allows them to dispense their own medicine, and by
this are meant the dilution and the preparation of medicines ob-
tained at the apothecaries' shops. The law can make no differ-
ence between homoeopathic and other physicians; both alike must
prescribe medicines for patients out of the apothecaries' shops
alone. But it is in the power of homoeopathic physicians to
be present when the apothecaries prepare medicines, to see that
the requisite attention is bestowed on them."

* A proceeding very different from that adopted to the poor of Glastonbury, who
petitioned to be allowed to be treated homoeopathically by Mr. Newman, but were
refused by the poor law commissioners.

£ E

220 APPENDIX.

SECT. iv. Dr. Weber, who, to meet this difficulty, gate his medicines to
his patients, was fined 30 dollars ; the consequence was that 1300
families in Oberhesse and the neighbouring provinces petitioned
the ministry to withdraw the prohibition. The ministry refused
to interfere. The petitioning parties then addressed the grand
duke, but in vain. The advocate Sundheim wrote on the legal
bearings of the question, and presented a petition to the Second
Chamber of Deputies, begging them to examine the laws refer-
ring to the dispensing of medicines.

A committee was appointed to inquire, and upon their report
a discussion upon the whole matter took place in the chamber.
The arguments urged are interesting. Deputy Hopner observed:

" The grievance complained of is undoubtedly one of the
most important subjects for the consideration of this parliament
( Landtag )y for it affects the question, whether a new medical
system, which threatens wholly to overturn the old ones, be
allowed to afford the evidence of experience as to whether it
deserve the preference or not ? That homoeopathy is only a
negative system, inasmuch as the medicines cannot operate,
and that the homceopathists are mere spectators of a disease
until nature affords relief, is a manifest petttio prindpii^ since
the homoeopathists do give medicine, although in small doses.
The decision of the matter before us must rest upon the answer
to two questions. Firsts . Has homoeopathy a claim to be a real
scientific system ? And, second^ Does it suffer firom a law which
stands in the way of homoeopathic physicians dispensing their
own medicines ? Both these questions must be answered in the
affirmative. The first admits of no difference of opinion : even
the allopathic physicians admit the affirmation; and if it be
admitted, then must the homoeopathic physician have the right
to practise. Homoeopathy is daily gaining ground, and threat-
ens all the other systems with overthrow — and also the phar-
macy. Here chiefly does the keen strife between allopathy and
homoeopathy seem to take place. It is indeed very natural that
the allopathic physicians and the apothecaries should employ
every means in their power to arrest the threatening storm;
but that can be no reason why the question of grievance should
not be fairly discussed by the parliament.

'^ In reference to the second question, there seems to be no

^ THE PROGRESS OF HOM(EOPATHT. 221

fer^wr to prevent homceopathists dispensing their own medicines. SECT, iv
tmsjf the homceopathists were forbidden to dispense their medi-
«r#nes, it would be equivalent to forbidding them to practise,
a Jthe apothecaries are not instructed in the preparation of the
f2-ji|M3moeopathic medicines ; and, besides, they have an interest
i^ln. frustrating the ejBTorts of the homceopathists. From these,
imJiaid other reasons, I am for the passing of the motion (i. e. to
2^remove all legal obstructions). It were indeed much to be re-
gretted for the interests of humanity, if homceopathists were,
,^,l>y the dispensing of medicines by physicians being forbidden,
^nanable to afford proof of the superiority of their system to all
^:^ormer ones ; for altogether irrespective of its scientiiSc claims,
l^-it oflfers many other advantages in the cheapness of its means,
J,, the strictly abstemious diet it requires, and in various other
. ' respects which former speakers hav6 enlarged on."
, The chief objector against adopting the resolutions of the
Second Chamber, was the Chancellor Armsand: his chief
"* objection was the interference with the privileges of the apo-
thecaries.

To an objection urged, thai medical colleges alone could decide
this matter^ the Prince of Solms-Lich replied —

" It would be perfectly true if the said cdleges were equally
composed of homceopathic and allopathic physicians. - As long,
however, as this was not the case, so long would these colleges
decide in their own favour; and one might expect that their
prejudices, more than their reason, would influence their
judgment."

The subject was subsequently discussed in the Second Chamber
of Deputies of Baden, and in the discussion the Councillor Herr,
ailer showing the necessity of having proper persons to teach
' and examine graduates wishing to practise homceopathy, made
the following rational objection to the examination being con-
ducted by the practitioners of the old system :

" To take an example from the Church here in this State, —
a system of education is provided both for Protestant and Ro-
man Catholic clergy; but there is a separate examination for
the different candidates ; it would be ridiculous at the least to
make Protestants examine Catholics, and Catholics Protestants."
The chamber at length addressed the duke.

£ E 2

222 APPEKDIX.

SECT. IV. '*1. That the number of physicians who practise homoeopft-
thically is considerable, and increases more and more.

'* 2. That the homoeopathic system has won so unusual an in-
terest among the people, that the Legislature can no longer re-
main indifferent, but is bound to establish laws which the
public weal demands.

'*3. That no obstacles, unless it be absolutely necessary,
should be laid in the way of the progress of science ; on the
contrary, much more should it receive all encouragemeDts,
which really is to the advantage of the citizen. And that also,

" 4. On the other hand the citizen is entitled to be protected
against the abuses to which this system may be turned. It was
Unanimously agreed most humbly to petition your Bojai
Highness,

" 1. Until the next meeting of Parliament [or the Estates] to
appoint a committee of physicians equally efficient and expe-
rienced in the allopathic and homoeopathic medical systems,
to determine the best way of ensuring instruction in the new
method.

*' 2. That physicians be allowed to give homceopathic medi-
cines gratuitously.

" 3. Moreover, let it be permitted that only licensed physi-
cians practise the homoeopathic method ; and to meet this re-
quirement, that candidates in medicine be examined on homoeo-
pathy at the examinations authorized by the State.

" This petition we lay with deepest reverence at the foot of
your Royal Highness' throne. Carlsruhej 2nd October, 1S33.

" In the name of the most humble and obedient Second
Chamber of State Deputies,

"President Mittermaier.
Secretary Rutohmakn.
Dr. Nordes v. Durbheimb."

^- In the duchy of Brunswick, about 1833, the Brunswick Col-
lege of Medicine issued a decree, " That no student could receive
his doctorate, if he entertained the intention of prtwtising homceo-
pathy y" and even at a later date the college required pledges of
the graduates not to pursue the homoeopathic system. In 1842,
such was the hold that homoeopathy had taken of the public

THE PROGRESS OF HOMCEOPATHY. 223

mind, that the ministry appointed Dr. Trelitz to examine all SECT. IV.
students who intended to practise homoeopathically. (^Algemeine
Zeitung of Leipzig, April, 1842.)

Subsequently Brunswick, through the magistracy, expressed
its gratitude for homoeopathy, in presenting a handsome present
to the two chief homoeopathic physicians.

The progress of homoeopathy in Geneva is exhibited in the
feict that it roused the selfishness of the allopathic practitioners,
who attempted to stop the progress of this noble art of healing,
by inducing the Grand Council to pass, in the year 1845, a law,
to the effect " that no one is to prepare, dispense, sell, or give
any medicine, or any thing used as medicine, except apotheca-
ries." This was to prevent the homoeopathic physicians, of
whom there were four at the time in Geneva, from giving their
own medicines ; the allopathists knowing that the apothecaries
could not be trusted to make up the homoeopathic remedies.

In reference to Spain, homoeopathy is rapidly progressing.
The most enlightened men in Spain are the members of the
medical profession. An attempt was made, about the year 1838,
not to allow a homoeopathic physician to practise, by the mu-
nicipal council of one of the chief cities of Spain applying to the
" Superior Council of Medicine." The superior council decreed :

"Each physician, authorized by the title of Doctor, is
expected to heal the sick, who entrust themselves to

his care, by SUCH MEANS AS SCIENCE AND HIS CONSCIENCE
INDICATE TO HIM AS THE MOST PROMPT, MILD, AND CERTAIN."

A homoeopathic society exists in Madrid, and in its bulletin
for October, 1847, it is recorded: —

" We are happy to be able to announce that Her Majesty
Queen Isabella II., being extremely satisfied with homoeopathy,
and with the services rendered by our worthy president. Dr.
Nunez, has been graciously pleased to testify her satisfaction,
by decorating him with the Grand Cross of the Royal Order of
Charles III., and has at the same time appointed him her phy-
sician in ordinary."

Among those noble-minded men who in Spain have helped
forward the cause of homoeopathy. Dr. Joseph Sebastian Coll

224 APPENDIX.

SECT. IV. is worthy of mentioD. He commenced the study of homoB^
thy late in life. He practised it in the Civil Hospital at Toi%
(Old Castile,) receiving none into his hospital except those ib-
dared incurable by the other professors of the hospital, ani
when cored, not allowing them to be dismissed till their em
was certified by the self same professors ; thus collecting iodb-
putable evidences to the efficacy of the homoeopathic treaUne&L

In the Lancet of Sept. 19, 1843, a correspondent resident in
Italy thus writes : — " In Milan, homoeopathy is all in vogue.
Every malady is there treated on the homoeopathic system."

At Palermo, a journal is published, entitled Annali di 3!edi-
cina Omiopatica.

The state of homoeopathy in Fbakoe has been already refer-
red to. The day is dawning there. All the best physicians
have no faith in the old system medicine. At a Scientific Con-
gress, held at Strasburg in 1842, one of the subjects discussed
in the Medical Section, was the principle of a new classificatioQ
of medicines. After discussing the subject, the Congress re-
cognised the Aindamental principle of Hahnemann, in reference
to the virtue of medicines, that they must be tried on tk
healthy :

The following resolution was passed : — " The Medical Sectm
is unanimously of opinion^ that experiments with medicines on
healthy individuals are^ in the present state of medical science^
of urgent necessity for physiology and therapeutics, and that it
is desirable that all known facts should be methodically and scru-
pulously collected^ and vnth prudence, caution^ and scientific
exactness arranged^ written out, and published.*^

The discussion which followed on the use of arsenic is also
interesting, as the conclusion arrived at was, that it was neces-
sary to have a particular description of the cases of intermittent
fever which required arsenic, and those which required cin-
chona. And Dr. Boudin's work on the use of arsenic in ague
was quoted to show that excellent results were obtained from
the 100th of a grain of arsenic.

The tide of general opinion among scientific physicians in
France is setting strongly in fitvour of experiments such as

H THE PROGRESS OF HOM(E0PATHT. 225

■ homceopathists are making. Professor Devergie and Professor SECT. I v.

■ Amador openly recommend the practice of homoeopathy. Its
f practitioners are increasing daily, in Paris alone the practition-
ers amount to nearly ninety.

A homoeopathic society exists in Paris, which, to its credit,
adjudged a pri^e for an essay on homoeopathy to Dr. Scott, of
Glasgow. In Bordeaux the physician of the largest practice
and highest repute is a homoeopathist.

America is fer in advance in reference to homoeopathy. It
has a homoeopathic journal. It has its Hempel, its Okie, its
Pulte, its Bering, (the researches of the last in reference to
Zjdchesis will immortalize him,) its Wood, and nearly six hun-
dred others, who adhere to the grand law, " similia similibus
curantur."

It has an " Institute of Homoeopathy," which recognizes as
members only those who have passed through the regular course
of medical study, and who have gone through an examination
before a board consisting of twenty-seven physicians.

It has a journal which is rapidly progressing in excellence.

Pennsylvania has gained the highest rank in the history of
homoeopathy, by having, through its legislature, chartered this
year (1849) a homoeopathic college, which has its appointed
professors, and has the power of conferring a degree of M.D. on
those who pass the appointed examinations.

Professors are appointed on all the different branches of me-
dical science ; in fiujt, the college is as complete as any college
in this kingdoni.

This, is the most important step in relation to homoeopathy
hitherto recorded.

Africa has derived benefit fipom homoeopathic medicine. Mr.
Peter Stuart sent out a chest of homoeopathic medicine with his
ships, and the efiects have been most satisfewtory. The follow-
ing letters, one firom Gapt. Johnson, at the river Bonny, and the
other firom supercargo Macdonald, fipom the river Benin, have
interest :— " Bonny, May 28, 1844.

" The homoeopathic medicines have not jEedled in one instance.
It is a good thing I have them, for my surgeon is a poor fellow

226 APPENDIX.

SECT. IV. and a heavy tax upon the ship. I think the medicine chest litfj
been fitted up for his use ; he is never out of it or the braadf J
decanter. God help him.

"JOHX JOHNSOK."

" Benin River, JTuly 18, 1845.
" My dear Mr. Stuart, — Since my last, I regret to have to in-
form you that I was laid upon a bed of sickness, from the 2d({
up till the 14th, by a severe bilious fever. I took neither calo-
mel, strong emetics, or purgatives, which, with the medical men
here, is the usual practice. I took merely the homoeopathic me-
dicines, as indicated by the symptoms. Consequently when tie
fever was subdued, I rose from my bed of sickness, nearly <a
strong as when I was taken ill.

"Charles McDonald."

Captain Logie found at Sierra Leone the homoDopathic treats
ment of diarrhoea, of African fever,* and of dysentery, to be veiy
efficacious.t

Homoeopathy has taken root in India. A most interesting ex-
hibition of this is contained in the following statements : —

• The symptoms of, and directions for treating African fever, are given in full in
the Journal of Health wnd Disease and Monthly Journal of HomoeopcUhy, vol. IV.,
pp. 219—223.

f After voyaging three weeks on his way to Sierra Leone^ he remarks, " Icanght
cold, which produced diarrhoea. For the first three days I took no medicine. I
thought if I took your medicine directly, and became well, I should think that nature
and not your medicine had cured me ; and being determined to test the effect of the
small doses, I let the diarrhoea alone for three days. I then felt very ill ; and took
two globules of china., and repeated the dose three times, and was cured. The next
time I tried your medicine was for African fbver, on a yoimg man belonging to the
ship, and I assure you I was astonished at the immediate effect the medicine had.
He was quite delirious, T gave him belladonna, two globules ; and repeated the dose
three times, and the delirium left him. He had some of the worst symptoms of fever
that you describe, especially that for which you recommend rhus ;* rhus I gave him,
and it immediately removed his symptoms. The next trial I had was for dtsentkbt
in a black man, belonging to the shore, which also I cured. I also cured ague and
fever in myself and several others, and used nothing but homoeopathic medicmes."
These interesting facts are recorded in a letter dated May 7, 1847.

* Mr. Epps, in preparing homoeopathie medicine chests for Africa, encloses a statement of
the symptoms of the diseases prevalent on the coast of Africa and the treatment It is to
such statement that Captain Logie refers.

THE PROGRESS OF HOM(EOPATHY. 227

Mr. Samuel Brooking, residency surgeon at Tanjore, wrote to SECT. IV.
dr. Epps, homoeopathic chemist, June 6, 1848, for a chest of
aedicines, stating that the same was wanted for an hospital,
srected by the Rajah of Tanjore.

In a subsequent letter, May 6, 1846, Mr. Brooking thus writes
:o Dr. Epps : " My position at Tanjore enables me to give myself
ap entirely to the practice of homoeopathy, as I hold the appoint-
Daent of Durbar Surgeon to the Rajah, and have a very large
hospital under my entire charge."

He adSs,"! am practising homoeopathy with great success here."
In reference to his embracing homoeopathy, the following is
Mr. B.'s interesting statement : — '• My own case, as regards ho-
moeopathy, is similar to that of many others, who now practise it.
I first ridiculed and doubted, then made a trial, was satisfied that
the infinitesimal doses had power, (my great stumbling block,)
read deeply, and was convinced."

In reference to this hospital, in a subsequent letter, dated '
August 8, 1846, Mr. Brooking writes :— " I have monthly three
hundred to three hundred and fifty admissions, all of which are
treated homoeopathically. The practice is received with the
greatest satisfaction by the natives of all classes, particularly the
Brahmins."

Homoeopathy has gained a hold in the Bay of Honduras. The
following is an extract fi'om a letter received fi:'om a magistrate
at Ruatan, an island in the bay : —

" I am greatly obliged' to you for the homoeopathic medicines.
The arnica in particular has been very useful, and the aconite
and belladonna in the removal of a lingering fever, to which
the inhabitants of this island are subject. I have in several
instances found one or two doses remove fever, that, under the
allopathic treatment, has defied the power of mQdicine for eight
or nine months. Sulphur and nux vomica alternately, at inter-
vals of eight days, has been remarkably serviceable in chronic
diseases of the liver." — :

The progress which homoeopathy has made in the British
Isles is very considerable, and is illustrated by the two following
tables, the first gathered from a paper published by Dr. Di-ys-
dale ; the second exhibiting the labours of the members of the
English Homoeopathic Association.

F F

>28

APPENDIX.

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THE PROGRESS OF HOM(EOPATHY.

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230 APPENDIX.

SECT. IV. So that it appears that the six medical members of the Eng-
lish Homoeopathic Association have had an experience nearly
equivalent to that of all the homoeopathists in Great Britain, ff
the number of poor prescribed for by these gentlemen be added
to the number prescribed for by the gentlemen referred to in Dr.
Drysdale's list, the sum total of poor patients prescribed for will
be one hundred and seven thousand and eighty-five.

The English Homoeopathic Association just referred to was
formed early in 1845. Its objects have been already detailed.
It is encouraging to relate how beneficial is opposition to the
progress of a truth. The origin of the association may be dated
to the disgracefiil attack made on Dr. Curie by Mr. Wakley, he
giving his approbation to a most unjust verdict of a coroner's
jury, (see Appendix, " Coroners' Juries and Homoeopathy.")

The Association proceeded with energy, and much information
was difiused in relation to homoeopathy. The association pub ■
lished a treatise on homoeopathy ; all the copies are either dis-
tributed to the members or sold to the public.

In 1847 the famine fever and dysentery broke out in Ireland.

The English Homoeopathic Association, strong in the convic-
tion of the universal and effectual applicability of the homoeo-
pathic law, determined on appointing the Resident Medical
Officer of the Homoeopathic Hospital to go to Ireland, there to
investigate, to note accurately and minutely, and then, after
direction, to treat the famine fever and dysentery.

Communications were made with the Archbishop of Dublin,
who kindly assisted to carry out the objects of the Association,
and the Medical Officer of the Association became engaged, hav-
ing at least one hundred patients under his care, in demonstrating
the benefits of homoeopathy. Much credit is due to this officer
for the willingness with which he consented to expose himself to
the dangers connected with the fever and dysentery, and it will
be remembered, that an Association, composed of non-medical
as well as of medical members, has shown an example, which,
it is feared, no pure medical body had the courage or the phi-
lanthropy to take.

The results were highly beneficial: and greater benefit
would have resulted in reference to the demonstration of the
superiority of the homoeopathic treatment, had not the officer,

THE PROGRESS OF HOM(EOPATIIY. 231

^tlien only an incipient homoeopathic practitioner,) been pre- SECT. iv.
Vented by the unwise zeal of others receiving ftill directions as
to the course he should adopt by his seniors, the medical officers
of the hospital.

The Association has been working diligently, and has lately
demonstrated its efficiency by taking up actively and successfully
the case of Mr. Pearce. The association made an appeal to its
members and friends, and upwards of £170 have been subscribed
-with the greatest willingness to meet the attack on homoeopathy
through Mr. Pearce.

The Association had as one of its members, Mr. Blake, of
Taunton, a gentleman who was subjected to a persecution as
virulent as his persecutors could make it, but fortunately quite
ineffective in staying Mr. Blake's success in the town of Taun-
ton, where he resided and resides. The case of this gentleman
the Association was prevented from effectively carrying forward
by the officious conceit of an individual, to whom Mr. Blake had
confided his case, which individual required that the Association
should supply him with authority and the means to act, purely
from a personal confidence in him. Being refused this, all in-
formation as to the merits of Mr. Blake's case, or as to the
means of bringing these merits before the public, was denied by
him; and the consequence was that the College of Surgeons
decided to erase Mr. Blake's name from the list of its members,
which erasure there is every reason to believe would never have
been attempted, had the action of the Association been called
forth as effectively as it was in the case of their honorary secre-*^
tary, Mr. Pearce.

According to the most accurate data obtainable by the writer,
it appears that the first practitioner who introduced homoeopathy
into Britain, was Dr. Belluomini, Malibran's physician. Subse-
quent to him was Dr. Quin. Dr. Curie (a valued member of
the Association) and Dr. Simpson were the next. Dr. Edward
Cronin (another member of the Association) was the next, he
having commenced homoeopathic practice in 1836. Dr. Harris
Dunsfbrd, (since dead,) a physician who had the honour of at-
tending the Queen-dowager, began about this time. Dr. Scott,
of Glasgow, commenced homoeopathic practice early.

232 APPENDIX.

SECT. IV. Of the recognized teachers of Materia Medica in Great Bri-
tain, Dr. Epps was the first who embraced homoeopathy, and
having embraced it, of necessity gave up lecturing on the old
system Materia Medica. Dr. Henderson was the next public
teacher, (he being Professor* of Pathology in the University
of Edinburgh,) who adhered to homoeopathy. Dr. Epps gave
the first popular lectures in this country on the subject. He
lectured in London, in Liverpool, and in Manchester. At Man-
chester, he, with his fiiends, opened a homoeopathic dispen-
sary, which, modified, is still in existence. To the exertions
of Mr. William Perkins, in Manchester, and of Mr. Peter Stuart,
in Liverpool, Manchester and Liverpool are highly indebted for
the immense benefits these towns have derived fi*om homoe-
opathy.

The number of homoeopathic practitioners in Great Britain
a^at least sixty.*

A society exists called the British Homceopathic So-
ciety. Its character is so peculiar, that had it not published
its rules, the existence of such a society could hardly be be-

• The subjoined list are the medical members of the English Homoeopathic Asso-
ciation ; their places of residence are given, in order that members of the Association
needing homoBopathic aid may know where they can obtain it. It has been insinu-
ated by some that such notification is unprofessional. The simple answer to such a
proceeding is, Is it a convenience, or is it not, that the members of an Association
should know where medical aid can be obtained ? or is it advantageous that they should
^ave to spend a day or two days in finding out a homoeopatliic practitioner, when per-
haps one is residing close to them?

P. P. Curie, Esq. M.D., 17, Hanover Square.

Edward Cronin, Esq. M.D., Loughborough Road, Brixton.

John Epps, Esq. M.D., 89, Great Russell Street, Bloomsbury.

George N. Epps, Esq. M.R.C.S., 79, South Audley Street, Grosvenor Square.

Robert Frith, Esq. M.R.C.S., 10, Chalcott Villas, Adelaide Road, Haverstock

Hill.
T. D. Hunter, Esq., 34, Royal Crescent, Netting Hill.
H. Kelsall, Esq. MD. F.R.C.S., 3, Surrey Place, Old Kent Road.
W. M'OuBRET, Esq. M.D.
James Thomson, Esq. M.D.
Stephen Yeldham, Esq. M.R.C.S., Stamford Street, Blackfriars.

Homceopathic Chemists^ Members of the Association.
Mr. Cunningham, Sunderland.
Mr. James Epps, 112, Great Russell Street, London.

THE PROGRESS OF HOMOEOPATHY. 233

lieved. A few rules may be given of this society, composed, SECT. IV.
one would suppose, of school-boys : — When the public business
of tliis society commences, the members are called. The pe-
culiar rule is, " The order shall be as follows, ' The roll-call,
society constituted.' " If the member does not answer to his
name at this roll-call, he is fined one shilling. The rules fur-
tlier decide that the society shall not continue its meeting be-
yond half-past twelve, but if any member wants to go home at
lialf-past eleven o'clock, the society not having concluded its
sitting, he is not allowed to go, because the members are called
over again, (Rule 6, " Roll called and meeting dissolved,") and
if he does not answer, he is again fined one shilling. It is true,
tbe member is allowed to leave at half-past eleven, if he will
go up to the president's desk and sign a paper. But what is
more, these members seem to be of such sad materials, that they
are prone to keep away from the British Homoeopathic School,
and hence, to keep such disorderlies in order, every member who
stays away the whole evening has to pay half a crown.

Really, these members write themselves degraded, for there is
a fine for preferring an accusation against the president^ with-
out being able to prove it : this amounts to one guinea. But if
the accusation is preferred against the lower grades, such as
the treasurer or the secretary* then the fine is only fifteen
shillings ; against a inemher^ only ten shillings.

How nien can be members of such a society is wonderfiil.
One would think that it was a society composed of a pedagogue

* In order to remove all ground for the supposition tliat thege statements are, as
many will suppose, matters of badinage, the subjoined is copied from the published
rules of the society : —

3. Members not answering to the several roll calls of ordinary and ad-

journed meetings, except in cases of certified illness, each roll call 10

4. Fine for absence during the whole evening 2 6

6. Fine for not answering to the roll call at extraordinary meetings,

each roll call 1 (>

11. Fine for preferring an accusation against the president without being

able to prove it 10

12. Fine for preferring an accusation against the treasurer or secretary

without being able to prove it 15

13. Fine for prefemng an accusation against any other member without

being able to prove it 10 o

234 APPENDIX.

SECT. IV. and of his pupils ; and yet, strange to say, this society pi ides
itself on its character, and it has been recommended by those
who lay claim to a peculiar sense of what is professionally
honourable.

Its fate is written in its constitution ; and the &ct of its exist-
ence has been noticed, to prevent the public being deceived into
the belief that the dicta of such a society are to be regarded as
the expression of the homoeopathic medical mind.

Two homoeopathic journals have existed some years in this
country. The fir>t is entitled the British Journal of Homoeop-
athy , published quarterly ; the second, the Journal of Health
and Disease and the Monthly Journal of Homoeopathy^ published
MONTHLY. Both these have attained to several volumes.

The following facts will explain the high estimation in which
homoeopathy is held in Austria and Prussia. The writer is in-
debted to a pamphlet of the late Dr. Calmann for the same.

His Royal Highness the Duke of Brunswick, Ac, was pleased to present the
Knight-Cross of the order of the Lion to the Homoeopathic physician, Dr. Paul
Wolf, Court Counsellor to his Majesty the King of Saxony at Dresden. — Homoeopa-
thische Zeitun</f vol. xx. p. 256.

In a letter of his Prussian Majesty's Ministers to the homoeopathic physicians,
Drs. Vehsemeyer, Reisig, Melicher, Kallenhach, Montagh, and Bamherg, at Berlin,
it is stated that his Majesty has commanded that a homoeopathic hospital is to be
established in Berlin, and that the expenses will be defrayed from the States-funds.
— HomoMpaihische Zeitun^y vol. xx. p. 335.

His Grace the Duke of Schleiz was pleased to choose for his medical counsellor.
Dr. Friedrich Schwarze, homceopathic physician at Dresden, and Court Counsellor
to his Majesty the King of Saxony. — HomoeopcUhisch^ Zeitung, vol. xxi. p. 336.

His Majesty the King of Prussia was pleased to grant the order of the Red Eagle
to Dr. Vehsemeyer, homoeopathic physician to her Royal Highness Princess Albrecht,
sister to the King. — Homoeopathische Zeitungf vol. xxn. p. 208.

His Imperial Highness Archduke John of Austria has appointed as his physician,
Dr. Marenzeller, homoeopathic physician to the Staff of his Majesty the Emperor of
Austria. — HoinoeopalMsche Zeitung, vol. xxii. p. 208.

Letter of his Majesty the King of Prussia to Dr. Marenzeller, Physician to his
Imperial Highness the Archduke John of Austria.
** I am thankfully obliged to you for the confidence with which you have recom-
mended to my protection the homoeopathic healing method in your letter of the 14th
instant, and I set no small value upon the recommendation of this important matter

THE PROGRESS OF HOMCEOPATHT. 235

hj a gentleman who, like yourself, has sucoessfully practised homoeopathy a full age. SECT. IV.
Host willingly I shall continue, as I have hegun, to render to this healing art every
assistance which may contrihute to its freer development. I have given my consent
to the establishment of a homoeopathic hospital, and that the necessary means might
be taken from the States-funds ; besides, I have the intention to grant to the homoe-
opathic physicians, under some modification, the license of dispensing their own
medicmea." ^Allgemeine Leipzig Zeitung, No. 21, 1842 ; p. 229.

Count Radetsky, at the time of his illness, living at Milan, sent to the alloeopathic
physician. Dr. Flarer, Professor and Oculist at the University of Pavia. This gen-
tleman arrived on the 6th of January, 1841, and after he had seen the case he pro-
noimced it incurable, in the presence of Dr. Hartung (homoeopathic physician to Jiis
Excellency) and many other gentlemen, saying that " there is no possibility of a cure,
either by alloeopathic, homoeopathic, hydropathic, or other remedies {Homceopa-
thische Zeitung, vol. xx. p. 149). This account was officially dispatched to all the
Princes and Archdukes of the Imperial House, as well as to the Emperor himself.
His Majesty, alarmed at these sad tidings, sent Dr. Jaeger, the celebrated Professor
of Ophthalmology at the University of Vienna, to Milan, in order to have a consult-
ation with Dr. Hartung and Dr. Flarer. Dr. Jaeger, having examined the state of
the disease, likewise pronounced the case a hopeless one, to which effect he himself
made a statement to his Majesty the Emperor, after he had returned to Vienna.
No sooner, however, had these celebrated alloeopathic physicians left his Excellency
Count Radetsky, when he embraced Dr. Hartung, saying, *' My friend, now they are
all gone, I am in your hands ; do with me what you like ; I have full confidence in
you, and will have no other physician." (ffomoeopathische Zeitung, vol. xx. p. 161.)
And^ Count Radetsky* s confidence was not disappointed — in the course of three
months afterwards his Excellency was perfectly cured.

But, as there are spite and envy against homoeopathy in Grerman alloeopathists as
well as in English, several alloeopathists tried to dispute the truth of the case, which
circumstance induced Dr. Hartung to have the following certificate and letters : —

Certificate directed to his Majesty the Emperor of Austria.

'* I Certify by this that the Imperial and Royal Counsellor and Physician to the
Staff, Dr. Hartung, during his services of almost ten years as head-physician to the
staff in the Lombardo- Venetian General department, has fulfilled the duties of his
charge with the greatest success, and has displayed great merits in the sanatory ser-
vice of the army, by the careful administration of the hospitals placed under his
direction.

"Msaiy almost hopeless patients are indebted for their recovery to his zeal and
knowledge.

** I myself, in particular, have greatly to be thankful to him. He saved my life in
a disease which was pronounced incurable by the most experienced physicians.

** To him alone, therefore, I am indebted for my recovery, and him alone have I
to thank that I am still in the situation to perform those services with which my most
gracious sovereign has been pleased to entrust me.

** Count Radetskt, Field Marshal.

" Mian, April 4«^, 1842." •

* HomoeoiH^thische Zeitung, voL xxii. p. 163.
G G

236 APPENDIX.

SECT. IV. Letter of hu ExceUencjf to the EdUort of the Vienna Gazette.

** I, the undersigned, having some time since been afflicted with a disease of tk
eye, which, in the last autnmn, in consequence of great bodilj exertion, increuei
suddenly so much that I was not merely threatened with the loss of my right eje,
but my life, according to the character which the disease seemed to assume, l«3s§
highly endangered, (this at least was the opinion of experienced and skilful oeuhsti),
and being, under these circumstances, threatened with immediate danger, I jSaixi
myself with (uU confidence under the sole treatment of my usual homoeopathic pbj*
sician, the Imperial and Royal Counsellor, and Head Staff Physician, Dr. Hartnn;;
and by his experience and skill, he succeeded in rescuing me from my compUint,
which had reached a frightful height.

** The proper estimation of the scientific proceeding evinced in this case, I moit
leave to the Faculty to decide ; however, it is impossible for me to confine myself t«
silent thanks — it is my wish that the world should know the high feeling of gratitide
with which I am bound to that man, to whom I am indebted for my sight and life.

" Therefore, I request the Editors of the Vienna Gazette to grant some space ts
these lines in their paper. May science be enriched through the means of this un-
doubtedly rare case, by another precious experience, then I shall look upon my put
complaint with gratitude and satisfaction, as an ordinance of divine providence.

'* Count Radstskt.
'* Mian, May I2th, 1842."

Letter of Countess Wenckheim (his Excellency's daughter) to Dr. Hdsrtmg.
** I cannot leave Milan without thanking you, dear Hartung, for the cure whiek
you s6 fortunately have performed on my dear father. I beseech you to be convineed
that I shall never forget the care which you evinced at that time. I express to yoa
the high feelings of a daughter who, in peace of mind, leaves Milan knowing that
the endangered life of her &ther has been saved by you. Tour grateful

** Countess WrorcKHMM." •
* Homaopaihisehe Zeitung, vol. zxii. p. 163.

coroners" inquests and hom(eopathy. 237

Section V.— CORONERS' INQUESTS AND HOMCE-
OPATHY.

Chapter I. — Short History of the Facts,

Homoeopathy has been subjected to the most un&ir, and eon- SECT. v.
sequently most unjustifiable attacks. Attempts have been made
to render its practice a criminal offence.

The editor of the Lancet, Mr. Thomas Wakley, is the coroner
for one division of Middlesex, and his son, Mr. H. Membury
>V akley, is the deputy-coroner.

The editor of the Lancet has made himself remarkable by the

virulence of his attacks on homoeopathy, (see p. 169, 170, 171.)

He has offered to the believers in and the practitioners of

liomoeopathy the most bitter insults : designating the former as

dupes ; the latter, as liars, fraudulent men, knaves, madmen.

To suppose that the editor of a medical periodical can affix in
print such appellations to persons, who, by rank, by education,
by public estimation, are, if not above, at least on a level with
himself, and be at the same time able, when called upon to act
as a coroner, to obliviate the state of mind, giving rise to such
insults, is to deem an improbability a possibility.

Facts have, unfortunately for the judicial reputation of the
coroner for Middlesex, given decided evidence that the editor of
the Lancet has not been able to put off his character as such
when he has become invested with the character of coroner.

Two facts, most strongly exhibiting this, appear in connexion
with two inquests, one in connexion with a patient of Dr. Curie's,
^ held by Mr. Wakley ; and the other in connexion with a patient
of Mr. C. T. Pearce, held by Mr, H. M. Wakley, the deputy-
coroner.

That both these inquests were urged on and held with the
view of damaging homoeopathy, cannot be doubted. Dr. Curie
published the history of the case, in relation to himself, in a
pamphlet, entitled '' Verdicts of Coroners' Juries." *

* Verdicts of Coroners' Juries, tlie case of the late Mr. Cordwell, by P. F.
Curie, M.D. S. Ilighley, 32, Fleet Street.

G G 2

238 APPENDIX.

SECT. V. It is to the latter case which is the more recent^ anJ
in which a verdict of " Manslaughter " was recorded against
Mr. C. T. Pearce, that the following &cts and comments applj.

This case is given in fnll, because this will form, centnriei
hence, a &ct in connexion unth the progress of science. It will
cause the name of Wakley to be identified with th6se who have,
by their virulent, vulgar, and unfair opposition to truths nevHj
discovered, made themselves objects for the finger of the liberal-
minded to point at as warnings to future dogmatists, to take caie
how they try to discredit the character and to injure the pro-
gress of those who have taken the up-hill task of striving to
obtain for truth a hearing.

The case runs thus :

Mr. C. T. Pearce is the honorary secretary of the English
Homoeopathic Association ; he is also a student of the Univer-
sity College, London. He has experienced in his own person
the advantages of homoeopathy ; he having been an intense snf-
ferer from a hip-joint afiection, which was considered by the late
Mr. Anthony White as incurable. Sir Benjamin Brodie, whom
Mr. Pearce consulted' at the request of Sir Richard Vyvyan, (to
whom Mr. Pearce was private secretary,) considered that the
disease was not to be cured till he had passed through the misery,
the suffering, and the likelihood of destruction to his constita-
tion, of the process deemed necessary by Sir Benjamin, namely,
the formation of a psoas abscess. Mr. Pearce, afler having been
treated in vain by the most violent of the old-system means, w»s
cured by homoeopathic treatment. Mr. Pearce, further, had lost
one of his children by cerebral disease. It was treated accord-
ing to the old-system practice — ^leeching, blistering, purging, Ac.
He afterwards had another child seized in the same way. The
child presented symptoms quite as severe as those exhibited by
the child that died. This child was treated homoeopathically *
and, though in imminent danger, was cured, and is now alive
and strong. Other evidences of the efficacy and of the superiority
of homoeopathic treatment were presented to Mr. Pearce in his
own family, and thus he was led, step by step, to believe in, and

* The case is published in the Journal of Healtk <md Disease and Monthly Jotund
of Ebmosopaihy, pages 184-189, vol. I. Sherwood & Co., Patemoster-row.

coroners' inquests and hom(eopathy. 239

inally, after having attended the homoeopathic practice of others, SECT. V.
so "treat the sick homoeopathically, as far as opportunities pre-
i^Gcited, he having become a student of medicine at the Univer-
ai-fcy College.

In September, 1849, the cholera attacked a brother of Mr. C.

T. Pearce. This brother sent for Mr. Pearce in order to see

hixn. Mr. Pearce did not go to see his brother in the capacity

of medical attendant, but simply as a brother. When Mr. Pearce

axrived, the sufferer from cholera prayed Mr. Pearce to relieve

liis cramps and pains. Mr. Pearce said he could not interfere,

a^ he was already in the hands of a medical gentleman (Mr.

Harris). The sufferer replied, " Nonsense, I am not in his

liands ; he has done me no good."

Mr. Pearce declined to interfere, but intimated that he would
see his brother again in the evening.

In the meantime, Mr. Harris, finding that the disease was
progressing to a fatal termination, suggested to have a physician
called in ; but on its being intimated that the patient had a bro-
tlier in the medical profession, he desired to see Mr. Pearce.
Mr. Pearce called on Sunday evening, (that is, the evening of
the day on which his brother sent for him,) on Mr. Harris, and
Mr. Harris, having acknowledged that he saw no hope of reco-
very, expressed his willingness to transfer the case to Mr. Pearce,
and to look in upon the patient as a friend,

Mr. Pearce, therefore, undertook the case ; and, applying the
homoeopathic law, succeeded in relieving his brother from the
stage of collapse, and obtaining from Mr. Harris a congratulation
at the improvement of the patient, which caused Mr. Harris to
say to one of the persons about the sick man, that he should
read some homoeopathic treatise that Mr. Pearce had lent him.

Mr. Pearce had, as a part of the dietetic treatment, necessary
to be attended to in order that the medical treatment should
not be interfered with, ordered abstinence from food ; Mr. Pearce^
believing, as do all practitioners who have had the most ex-

* It is lamentable to hear medical men and coroners using the term siarvationf (a
term which implies an immorality, ) in reference to the recommendation of a medical
man to his patient to abstain from food ; just as if abstinence for medical purposes
was starvation. It might just as well be said that the allopathist, in giving his
medicines, is a poisoner, because in health medicines are poisonous.

240 APPENDIX.

SECT. V. tensive and the most successfol experience in the treatment
cholera, that to give food to a stomach that rejects, and to intes*
testines that discharge whatever is introduced, is to take away
all chance of success from the treatment.

Mr. Pearce conducted the case with success till he himsdi
was seized with an attack of Asiatic cholera, for which he ^
obliged to seek homoeopathic aid. The success was so great,
that his brother was enabled to dress himself, sit ap and write
letters.

Unable to visit his brother from his own prostration, Mr
Pearce prescribed as well as he could from the hlstoiy of thei
symptoms, which were daily forwarded to him.

Mr. Pearce's dietetic rules were set at nought. The patient;
was fed with beef-tea, tea, and other articles of food, and thet:
peculiar TYPHOID fever, which so frequently follows recoveiyy
from the stage of collapse in cholera, was developed in his bro-
ther, and he having, in a fit of self-will, while stiU debilitated by
his disease, gone down into his garden, one bleak day in Sep-
tember, was seized with a fresh attack of diarrhoea, which caused
excessive prostration.

The sufterer wished to see Mr. Pearce, but Mr. Pearce being
unable, from his own illness, to attend, he recommended that his
brother should seek the advice of one of two homoeopathic phy-
sicians whom he named.

The sufferer did not attend to Mr. Pearce's advice to obtain
further homoeopathic aid, but his wife called in Mr. Davis, a
practitioner in the neighbourhood^ who prescribed for him and
ordered as well brandy, brandy and water, l)eef tea, &c. This was
on the Monday evening, and on the morning of Tuesday he died.

Mr. Davis refased to certify the cause of death, and a coroner's
inquest was held. Mr. Davis opened the deceased's body without
letting Mr. Pearce know any thing of his intention. The widow
was told to declare at the inquest that her husband liad been
starved to death.

An inquest was held under the presidency of Mr. H. Membuiy
Wakley.

All the witnesses except one* received the bias resulting from

* Sarah Payne, the deceased's mother-in-law, deposed, (after having stilted that

coroners' inquests and homceopathy. 241

BAr. Davis's declared opinion, and they answered the coroner's SECT. v.
aiinestions, which tended to establish the crime of starvation,
wdth a willingness rather remarkable.

Mr. Davis swore that the deceased died of exhaustion from
'w^ant of food. He unhesitatingly declared that this was esta-
blished by the appearance of the patient, by the observations
made to him by the patient, and by the appearances presented
SLt the post mortem examination of the deceased.

Mr. Davis's evidence was deemed by the coroner as para-
xnount: for although Mr. Harris, who first attended the de-
ceased, declared his belief that the patient died of cholera, al-
-tliough the evidence of the witnesses, who seemed to wish to
prove that the deceased died from starvation, proved that he
Iiad food almost daily, and although Dr. Kelsall gave evidence
to prove, that Mr. Pearce's dietetic directions were the only
ones, that, followed out, could ensure success in the treatment
of the case, the coroner, in his summing up, instead of recog-
nizing the opinion of Mr. Harris, the statement of Dr. Kelsall,
and the statements of the witnesses in reference to the food
given, clearly directed the attention of the jury to one main
idea, namely, that the patient died from starvation, and that, if
the death did so happen, Mr. C. T. Pearce, who advised absti-
nence, being the instigator thereto, was guilty of manslaughter.
The jury, notwithstanding this summing up, seem to have
had much difficulty in coming to a conclusion, the coroner
- having, after the court was cleared, been sent for by the jury,
and having remained closetted with the jury half an hour before
the verdict of manslaughter was arrived at.

Mr. Pearce, who waited to hear the verdict^ not having the
slightest expectation that any such verdict could by any possi-
bility be given, (" How any man can be found to say this defendant is guilty of
manslaugliter I cannot imagine"— Justice Maule.) was conveyed as JEt felon

she gaye the deceased some tea,) in reply to a question from a juror, ''Did he make
any remarks about food to you ? " Witness : ** None, but what I have said ; woidd
not tell a story; I will speak the trttth." This last sentence, which the witness
emphatically uttered, embodies the idea that some influence had been used similar
to that which urged the widow to declare that her husband had been starved to
death.

242 APPENDIX.

SECT. V. to Newgate late in the evening, haying no opportunity to stt
his wife or his falnily. He, still debilitated by the attack of
cholera, and by the excitement from the inquest, was conM
in a dungeon in which he had nothing to sleep on but a door
mat, placed on a board, and nothing to cover him but \m
horse cloths, in which insects abounded.

Mr. Pearce was kept confined in prison for a period of seven
days, tiU a judge at chambers could be obtained to admit Im
to bail : the only changes, while in jail, being, that he was
allowed a blanket, and subsequently the removal from his ceB
to admit Manning to take possession.

The coroner's inquisition was brought before the grand jmy,
and no true bill was returned, the grand jury thus recogniziBg
that the deposed evidence did not justify the verdict.

The English Homoeopathic Association determined to defend
their Honorary Secretary. Messrs. Ashurst and Son, the soli-
citors employed, prepared the defence, which would hare gone
fiilly into the MERITS of the case : they had persons in court in
good health, ready to depose that they had been treated homcB-
opathically for Asiatic cholera and had been cured, and had
fasted 10, 12, 14 to 21 days, taking nothing but water : they had
evidence ready to prove that all the conclusions of Mr. Davis^
derived from the appearance of the patient and from the post
mortem appearances, asserted by Mr. Davis to have been present
in the deceased, were in direct opposition to the opinion of the
most eminent writers on the subject of starvation.

The case, for the prosecution broke down even with the first
witness. When the second had concluded his evidence, Mr-
Justice Maule expressed his opinion —

<< This man seems to have been doctored as well as he could : how anj mu
can be found to saj this defendant is guilty of manslaughter, I cannot posiblj
imagine : it appears he was called in in a desperate case, and did erery thing it was
possible to do under the circumstances."

Mr. Pearce, who had been placed in the felon's dock, was a^
once liberated, and on receiving the congratulations of his friends,
found that great difficulties exist in the way of making the par-
ties, who brought upon him aU these undeserved inflictions,
receive the punishment which their conduct requires.

INQUEST ON RICHARD DAVID PEARCE. 243

CHAPTER II.

JReport of an adjourned Inquest on the body of
Richard David Pearce, held at the Perseverance
Tavern^ Mary Street, Hampstead Road, Sept. 26th,
1849.

^The parts that are in italics constitute points of reference in the remarks which follow.]

Mr T. H. Johnston, solicitor, who attended on behalf of Mr C. T. SECT. V.
X^earce, brother to the deceased, said that, before the inquiry was resumed,
he hoped the jury would divest their minds of any impression that might
liave been made, by the report being circulated that the deceased died
from starvation whilst under the hands of his client. Such was not the
case, adding, that the jury would shortly be convinced that deceased had
received the best of treatment.

The evidence of Eliza Higgins, residing at 86, Mary Street, was then
recapitulated. She said she was present at the death of the deceased,
which happened about half-psist ten on the morning of Tuesday^ 18th of
September. He was taken ill with a violent bowel complaint. Went for
a Dr Harris on Sunday morning, the 9th. After that aay, had supposed
that Mr C. T. Pearce had taken the case out of Mr Harris's hands. Mr
Pearce saw deceased as a doctor. Mr Harris came three times after that,
He, Mr G. Pearce, attended him apparently as medical adviser up to Wed-
nesday, the 12th. The deceased was to send to his brother, Mr C. T.
Pearce, to let him know every day how he was getting on. This was
done. Believed a Mr M*Oubrey, a medical man, came to see him on
Thursday, the 13th. This Mr M*Oubrey called several times. Deceased
said he was to have very little to drink and allowed nothing to eat, but a
little gruel. — COE. Nothing else ? WiT. No food, nothing but a little
-weak thin gruel. Mr Pearce saw the deceased for the last time on this
day fortnight. He died on the 18th. Mr Davis was first sent for oiv
Monday night, 17th. Deceased had repeatedly asked for food, but we
had orders from Mr Pearce to give him no food. His wife was fearful to
give him any thing to eat. By so doing was attending to her brother's
orders. Nothing was given to him but gruel and weak tea : and that was
latterly. Complained every hour in the day for food. The beef tea was
not given him till after the Thursday, 13th. — CoE. What did he say when
lie wanted food ? Wit. He said he wanted food, was hungry, and that
he was being starved to death. Those were his words. — CoE. When did
he say this ? WiT. Several times; he said it in the night previous to his
death. — ^CoB. Did he know that he was dying? Wit. That I am not
aware of. — ^CoB. Did you consider he was dying ? Wit. I do not know. —
Gob. Did you hear him say that he felt his end approaching ? I did not. —
Cob. to Mr. Johnston. Do you wish to ask this witness any questions ?
Mr. Johnston. Witness says, " deceased was taken out of Mr Harris's
hands *^ I should wish to know what she means by this statement. Wit.
Mr Pearce went to see deceased as a brother, she believed. Deceased

H n

244 APPENDIX.

SECT. V. particularly wished to see his brother. Heard Mr Pearce say, "I hate
taken you into hand." Said she had no directions from Mr Pearce; bat
Mrs P., deceased's wife, had. — Mr Johnston. How do you know that?
Wit. Bj being constantly with her; she did not he€u: the order giren,
but saw Its workings. Mrs Pearce received the order. KecoUectinghenell
she said she heard Mr Pearce tell deceased's wife that he was to have no-
thing but a little gruel. Said so to Mrs Pearce. — Mr Pearce. I believe
I told you both so ; notwithstanding that, food was repeatedly given, vas
it not P Wit. Yes j but the food teas rejected by the deceased.^Oi.
What did you see given to him ? Did he have any beef-tea or arrowroot?
Wit. Yes, but that was Thursday or Friday, after Mr Pearce had given
him over. — Cob. Who was it ordered this beef-tea ? Wit. Could not say.
— Cor. Do you not know who ordered it ? Wit. No. — A Juror. Do yon
consider Mrs Pearce was satisfied with the treatment ? No, she was not;
she said that on Sunday night she thought her heart would have broken.

Mr Davis, medical man, sworn. Resides at Ampthill Square, Camdeo
Town. Was called to see deceased on Monday night, 17th ; a little after 9.
He found him extremely emaciated and in a state of exhaustion. Ordered
a glass of brandy and nourishment * He saw him Tuesday morning. De-
ceased was dying then. On the same evening stated he had been mur-
dered, or starved to death, or something to that efiect.— tOor. Did he say
by what or by whom he had been starved to death f WiT. He said by the
homoeopathic eystem. Was not aware that Mr Pearce's name was men-
tioned at that time. I sent him some medicine. — ^Did you think that he
had cholera P Wit. I could not hardly determine that in one visit. Saw
one of the dejections ; was of a white frothy character. Such a one as we
might have with diarrhoea. Mr Davis made a post mortem examination.
Lungs congested, as also liver and kidneys.

Cor. Did you find any thing in the stomach ? Mr Davis. A smaQ
quantity of brownish matter, of a liquid consistency. — Cor. How much?
Wit. About an ounce. — Cor. No more than that ? Wit. Believed not
Mr Davis's son here produced 2 or 3 small phials containing the matter.
He had made an analysis $ there were about three or four drachms, not half
an ounce, in the stomach. Said he discovered a slight trace of arsenic;
but accounted for this, as he had heard there was arsenic given in the
treatment — CoR. Not sufficient to cause death? Wit. Oh dear no!—
Cor. What should you, Mr Davis, consider the cause of the man's death?
Wit. Considered he died from exhatistion caused by the want of food.
Deceased took brandy and water and beef-tea during the night. He kept
the whole on his stomach. He had not thrown any thing off his stomadi,
Jie believed, for full a week. — Cob. You ordered him beef-tea and brandy
and water? — Wit. I did, and I believe he had a little milk. — Mjr. JoHX-
STON. Was deceased attended by Mr Harris for cholera ? Yes, be was so;
was not certain, only from what he was told. — ^Mr. Johnston. Were yoa
satisfied that he had had a previous attack of cholera ? Yes. — Mr. John-
ston. Did Mr Harris give over the case ? WiT. Could not say. Had
not seen Mr Harris : understood from the parties in the house that the case
was one of cholera. — Mr Johnston said ne could prove that this was the
second attack of cholera.

The widow of the deceased was then called : she resided at 86, Mary-
street. Was the wife of the deceased. Was with him when he was
taken Dl, which was on Saturday, the 8th September. Had Tiolent cramp
and pains in the bowels. Mr Harris was called in on Sunday morning:
he said it was cholera. Mr Harris attended him three times on Sundav.
Sent for Mr C. T. Pearce on Sunday morning. He came directly. Hia
brother (the deceased) had a great wish to see him. Was not present
when any remarks took place between Mr Pearce and Mr Hams. Mr

INQUEST ON RICHARD DAVID PEARCE. 245

Bfarris saw him, deceased, in the morning. Mr Pearce went to aee Mr. SECT. V.
fciarris. Said nothing respecting Mr. Hams to her. Mr Pearce attended
after that. — Cob. What did he do for him ? Wit. Told us to give him
nothing to eat nor drink but a little gruel and the medicine. — CoE. Was
this done ? Wit. It was.— Cob. For how long did this treatment last ?
Wit. This went on from Monday, the 10th, till the death. — ^Mr Feabce.
For three days only. Mr Pearce attended twice on the Monday, as also
on the Sunday as stated. Mr Pearce was not able to attend personally
Gind sent the medicine. — A Jubob. How long between times did he at-
tend ? Wit. He sent another medical man on the Thursday. The de-
ceased did not see him, Mr P., after Wednesday, the 12th. Mr Pearce
wished her to send over for the medicine, and to let him know how de-
ceased was. — Cob. Then he sent the medicine without seeing him ? Wit.
Yes. — Cob. Did Mr Pearce say any thing else ? Wit. Yes : she asked
him if deceased might not have any thing else to eat : he said ** Jane if
you give him food you will kill him." Witness obeyed the orders. — Cob.
Vou mean to say that deceased had nothing to eat between the 8th or 9th,
and the ISth of September ? WiT. said she save him a little gruel and
tea, but no 9olid food. Gave him some gruel on the Wednesday evening
as Mr Pearce had seen him in the morning. Her husband was always
wanting victuals; and repeatedly said he would have it. I told Mr
M*Oubrey so. — CoB. When did he make this remark ? WiT. On the Wed-
nesday night ; as also the day before his death. — Cob. IM he not niake
9ome remarks respecting the treatment he was receiving from his brother,
"Wit. No, he made no remarks about that. Sent for Mr Davis, because
he was taken worse. Sent for Mr Pearce on the Monday. — Cob. In what
way was he taken ill ? WiT. Purging and sickness. Mr Davis came on
Monday evening. — CoB. What did Mr Davis say? Wit. He said he
was sinking from want. — CoB. Did you give him what Mr Davis ordered ?
Wit. Yes, sir. — Cob. Were you present when he died ? Wit. Yes, sir,
and another woman edso. — Mr Johnston. How long did Mr Harris
attend him ? Wit. On the Sunday ; one day. — Mr Johnston. Did he do
him any good ? WiT. He got somewhat better after taking Mr Harris's
medicine. Mr Harris called about eight on Sunday evening. — A Jubob.
Did Mr Harris see your husband after that Sunday evening P Wit. He
called in on the Monday. Could not say how Mr Ilarris*s treatment acted.
In answer to Mr Pearce, Witness said, her husband appeared somewhat
better. Deceased did go into the garden, but she thinks he was insane
or light headed. Deceased was very obstinate. — A JuBOB. Did he vomit
after taking the medicine Mr Davis gave him ? Wit. He did not vomit at
all. In answer to Mr Pearce : Witness said her husband did dress him-
selft and sat up the day before he died, and that diarrhoea came on after
tcalking in tJie garden ; a rash also came out upon him then. — ^A JuBOB.
I )id Mr Harris think it a case of cholera ? WiT. Yes, — A Jubob to the
Cob. Do you not think it very strange conduct of Mr Harris, sir, to give
up a patient in that state ? — CoB. No, sir : It is but a piece of established
etiquette between medical men in such cases, to quickly retire when
another medical man is called in. — Mr Johnston. Bear in mind,ffentlemen,
that Mr Pearce undertook the case reluctantly, at the particular wish of
his brother, and the full assent of Mr Hams : he considering nothing
more could be done for him. — A Jubob. Where is Mr Harris ? Officeb.
Out of town. — A Voice. Where ? " The officer believed towards Brigh-
ton, somewhere." — Officer to the Coroneb. Would you like to have the
messenger brought in, sir, the telegraph, sir, who took the messages
to and from the houses of Mr Peeirce, and the deceased ? Cob. You may
call him in. ^ •

John Hasted, tailor, sworn. ---Resides at 12, Clarence Gardens: knew

H ]1 2

240 APPENDIX.

SKCT. V. ^® deceased for three years. The deceased's health was genemllf
good. 8aw him last Monday fortnight, 10th Sept. Was from home
on Sunday. Deceased was very feehle, weak and ilL — Ck>B. Did he say
anything about his complaint to you then ? Wit. Nothing particular.
The following day, he went to deceased's brother and told him deoeiaed
had been very sick. — Cor. What did his brother give him ? Wit. Could
not say. — Cor. Did you see Richard Pearee (deceased) after this ? Wit.
Saw him on Thursday.— CoR. What state .was he then in ? Wit. Fancied
he was better at that time. Was sent to know how Mr C. T. Pearee was :
he was yenr ill. Went backwards and forwards to fetch the medidiw.
Twice on Thursday the 13th, and once every day besides, from the Tues-
day. Did not fetch any medicine on the two days previous to the death
of the deceased. On the Sunday nisht 15th, Mr Pearee mixed up a dose
to be taken all at once. Observed tnat he put a great deal more in that
than he had done before. — Cor. What did you generally bring backwards
and forwards P Wit. Powders. They were moistened by liquids fron
three or four small bottles ; dropping two or three drops from each bottle.
— Mr Pearce denied this statement Wit. continued : He said the pills
were so small you could not see them without glasses. — Cor. (smiling)
Should like to see them. They must certainly be curiosities. — ^A Jubob.
Did you ever hear deceased complain of wanting something to eat ? Wit.
I did. — Cor. (jestingly to Mr Pearce) Do you take these all at once?*
Mr Pearce answered, it would be very unscientifie to do so.— Cob.
Witness savs you emptied more of these tinctures on ^e powders on
Sunday night. — Mr Pearce then explained, showed the incorrectness of
witness's statement about the medicine ; and gave the formula for mix-
ing the powders, which in themselves were non-medicinal, being sugar of
muk ; merely a convenient substance on which the medicinal tincture was
poured and embodied in. — CoR. to the Witness : Did you ever have any
conversation with the deceased ? Wit. He often told me he was vciy
hungry, and wished me to ask his brother if he might have something to
eat. — Cor. Did he ever say he was starved f WiT. Se did. — ^He said
this on the Friday night Mr C. Pearce was down stairs when witness
called, but had been very ill. Mr M*Oubrey had ordered deceased beef-
tea; but Mr Pearce said he must not take it This was on the Fridaj,
previous to the death. — Cor. Who is Mr M*Oubrey ? Mr Pearcb. A
qualified physician. Mr M*Oubrey had been to see deceased on the
Thursday morning : said he might have a little beef-tea. Mr M*Ouhrey
repeated this advice to Mr C. Pearce in my (witness's) presence. — Cob.
Did you ever see Mr Harris at deceased's? Wit. No. Mr Pearce thought
deceased could not retain food on his stomach. He kept a little beef-tea
on his stomach. Mr Pearce said he must not have beef-tea : he migbt
have arrowroot or gruel, and that if they gave him food, it would kill him.
Believes he heard that deceased had vomited the beef-tea. It was not for
him to tell if he could keep it down. — A JuROtt. When you saw deceased,
did he say he wanted something to eat ? Wit. He said he was starvine.—
Mr Pearce said the beef-tea caused him to be called for. The last tune
Witness went to Mr Pearce's, was Monday 17th, between 1 and 2 o'clock.
Mr Pearce then told him that he had done all he could do : had prescribed
for his brother as he had been prescribed for ; and if he was not satisfied,
he had better call in a physician. Deceased said he would have none of
those physicians Mr Pearce advised. He made this remark previooa to
his death. — A Juror. Did he say he was satisfied f Wit. He won-
dered his brother did not come to see him. Witness told his brother that

* He held in bis h^nd a case of globules.

INQUEST ON RICHARD DAVID PEARCE. 247

lie (deceased) thought he wanted nouriBhment. Dr M'Ouhrey said a maD SECT. V.
might live a fortnight on that medicine without anything else.

Deceased's mother-in-law was then sworn: her -name is Sarah Payne,
Blie resides at 5, John-street, Pentonville-hill. Saw deceased last alive on
Tuesday, (momine of the death), he was very bad and he thought he
^was dying. Saw him when he was first taken ill. Was sent for on
Sunday, 9th : he said the cramp had left him. Was backwards and for-
^wards once a-day. Was present when Mr Harris was there ; but did not
liear anything. Always went out of the room. Saw deceased's brother
there on Sunday. Heard nothing about food that day. Heard Mr Pearce
say on the Tuesday, 11th, that deceased would be better without food.
Never saw Mr Pearce after that. Had seen deceased up to his death.
Always said he wanted food. He said his brother Charles did not wish
liim to take it. — Con. Did you ever hear him say anything about being
starved? WiT. He requested me to give him a cup of tea. Had
nothing to do with the medicine. Did not see Mr Davis. He kept the tea
on his stomach. He said he should be so thankful if I would give him the
tea. He said for Qod's sake dO; else I shall die before the morning; this
^as on the Wednesday, 12th. Gave him half a slice of toast with it : he
kept it on his stomach, — A JuKOK. Had he any beef-tea previous ? Wit. -
Do not know. He was quite sensible up to the time of his death. — A
JuBOB. Did he make any remarks about the treatment. Wi p. None.
I gave him nothing whatever to eat but what I have stated. — A Jukob.
Did your daughter say he suffered any inconvenience the following day from
what you gave him ? Wit. No. — A Jubob. Did your daughter repeat the
tea and toast ? Wit. I do not know. Did not tell his brother I had given
it to him : was afraid of offending him. — A JuBOB. Did he make any re-
marks about FOOD to yoii f Wit. (emphatically.) None, but what I have
said. Would not tell a story, I will speak tJie truth. Mrs Pearce recalled,
by the Coroner. — Cob. Did you give your husband anything against the
order of Mr C. T. Pearce ? Wit. When he cried out for it. I did.— Cob
When was this ? WiT. On Thursday, 13th, after he was taken in hand
by his brother : gave him some beef-tea and a little toast. Kept it on his
stomach. — ^CoB. Is there anything else you wish to say. — A Jdbob. Did
deceased wish to see Mr Harris again ? Wit. Yes, Mr Pearce recom-
mended Drs Epps and Curie : deceased would not have them. All he
wished for was to see his brother.

Mr C, T. Pearce, of No. 3, Taunton Place, Regent's Park, was then
sworn. Was a medical student at the University College. — Cob. Not a
member of the College of Surgeons. Wit. No, but he hoped to be one
soon ; was registered there.

Mr Pearce then, after a wish from the coroner to be as brief as possible,
read the original notes as taken out of his case book, (p. 121, 1849), as
follows :

Mr. R. D. Pearce, 47, mamed.

Sept. 9, 11 A, M. — I was sent for in haste to see him, as he was very ill
with cramp in his stomach and purging. Visited him immediately I had
returned from a patient. Found him suffering from decided Asiatic cho-
lera. .Violent spasms, cramp in legs, toes, feet, thighs, and hands. Tossing
about, and hallooing with the pains. The ends of fingers were blue.
Pulse not perceptible. Constant watery stools. Lips livid ; eyes sur-
rounded with blue circle ; dulness of eyes ; deeply sunk. The circulation
was very limited. He was attended by an allopathist, Mr Harris, of
Gower Street, who had been called in early in the morning before sending
for me. It was the wish of the patient's wife that he should be treated by
him; the patient rather wished me to treat him. Under the circumstances
I did not like to interfere. It was a serious case, and had he died, I should

248 APPENDIX.

SECT. V. have perhaps been blamed for superseding the sui^geon in attendance.
27ie cramps were ao violent, I ruMed his Tegs for about an hour ani a
haJf, He had taken pills and hcsmatoxylon mixture. I left him in this
condition at one o'clock.

Cor. to Mr Pearce. Was deceased under your treatment then ? Wrr.
No, sir, I refused to treat him. — Cob. DonH you caU it treaiing a mm
medically when you rubbed his legs for an hour and a halff Wrr. No,
sir, it was treating him humanely. I rubbed him for humani^s sake.
Should have rubbed you, sir, as long and as well, had you been in that
condition.

3 P. M. — ^I was sent for, he being worse. I yisited him again with Ik
M*Oubrey ; it appeared the disease was progressing unchecked. I left
him, promising to see him again.

9 p. M. — ^I was sent for again. He was much worse. The medical man
had been at four o'clock, and told the friends there was no hope of his
recovering; he had vieited him again at eight, and found there were
rice-water evacuations. He desired to see me ; I went to his house in
Oower Street, and we there conversed about the case. He knowing I was
in the profession, talked freely; he remarked I must be aware that there
was not the slightest hope of recovery. He had tried the means he
usually adopts ; gave calomel f grain every half hour, and opium every
hour; ht followed this with ammonia as a stimulant: he had in fact done
all that could be done, but asked me if there was any thinff I could
suggest worthy of trial ? Although he did not believe any thmg could
avail him now : indeed, I must to aware that in the treatment of cholera
there was nothing to be relied on. I replied I was aware that such was the
case in regard to allopathic medicine. The only thing I could suggest
was a trial of homoeopathy ; he said candidly he knew nothing at all of
the subject, but he should be happy to see it tried if I would do so. 1
told him what I proposed to give, and showed him my case of tinctures ;
he was very courteous, and willingly gave the case up to my care, consent-
ing to make a call or two on the patient to see the result.

10 p. M. — This done, I returned to the patient at a quarter past ten;
found him still worse, the evacuations were still like rice-water : he had
vomited : he had been allowed food (arrow-root), the medical man believ-
ing he must die, food would make no difference. He had clucking noise
in windpipe : could not swallow : his voice very feeble : spasm of the
glottis : breathing heavy : oppression at chest : burning at efHgast. and at
anus : closed his jaw with difficulty.

Gave Ars. Tinct. gt. 2-3, and Cuprum, gt. 2-4, every hour or half-
hour, according to the character of symptoms. Placed Carbo-Vegetabilis,
3 globules, on his tongue before I left. Thirst excessive. Iced water in
teaspoonfuls alone to be given.

Sept. 10th, 9 A.M. — ^Visited him : to my surprise he was better. There
were still rice water evacuations ; but not so frequent : the burning at
anus is less : no vomiting after first dose of medicins : the pulse improved :
has great oppression at chest : craving for food, which I denied : circula-
tion restored: eyes congested: symptoms of congestion of brain. Mr Harris
came in and expressed his surprise at the improvement : pulse evidently
better, and now he feared congestion of the brain : still great danger.
Bell. 3-12, Verat. 2 drops, Arsenic 2 drops, alternately every two hours.

10th, 6 P.M. — ^Visited him again, he is still improving: his eyes sre
better : has slept much : tongue thickly coated, brown : stools now bili-
ous : rice water evacuations stopped : no cramps : he had none after the
second dose of medicine. Rhus 4-12, on tongue :. continue Arsenic and
Veratrum, every tliree hours.

11th, Noon.— Saw him very much improved. Mr Harris had seen him

INQUEST ON RICHARD DAVID PEARCE. 249

t.lii8 morning before I reached there ; one of the friends present, told me SECT. V.
that Mr Harris had congratulated me on the successful treatment, and
told her, he should read of homoeopathy from a book I would lend him,
or had lent him. The circulation is restored : feet and legs warm and
natural : hands and face natural colour : blueness around the eyes gone :
they are not sunken so deeply : tongue furred brown. Has taken a little
arrowroot against my will : complains of nausea and acid taste in mouth,
^irith slight eructations : has had a natural stool : * he is very sleepy — sleeps
continually. Bryonia 3-12, on tongue, wait two hours: take Mere,
solubilis 2-12, wait two hours: give Rhus I drop, wait two hours : give
Ars. gt. 1-3, and continue the two latter every 3 to 4 hours.

9 P.M. — Sent for me, he was vomiting: nothing would remain on his
stomach : he had taken about two tabh-spoonshu of arroioroot, this tvas
refected .* they gave him a table-spoonful of bee^tea, which remained ; but
there was a feeling of nausea : he makes efforts to vomit. Gave Puis.
^t, 1-3. He is in a sleepy state: pulse still improved. Opium 2-12,
alternately with Ars. and Ilhus.

12th, 8 A.M. — Visited him again : the bowels have acted once since last
visit : the foeces much improved : there is now solidity : he has been
very restless during the night : wandering in his mind : suddenly starting
up and crying out for nre : dreamt a good deal of being on the water :
the tongue is cleaner : the eyes more nealthy : little nausea : No pain.
Bell. 1-12, alternately with Rhus and Ars.

9 P.M., Last visit. — About the same : still sleeps a great deal ; cannot
keep his eyes open a minute : bowels acted once to-£iy, naturally : his
mouth is now verv sore (apparently from Calomel). Continue Medicine.

13th. — Dr M'Oubrey visited him, gave Stramonium 2-12, and con-
tinued Rhus.

14th. — He sent this morning : he was in about the same condition : the
head much affected : some fevec Aconite and BelL alternately, ^ of a
drop every 4 hours.

8 p.M — A messenger came : continues about the same : He has been
up and dressed to-day, on the sofa : he is very weak : the chief symptom
remaining is the affection of the head: sent Ant Tart 4-12, 1-4, between
each dose of medicine.

15th. — ^A messenger came to-day : he was feverish and light headed :
he seemed to have dianged for the worse since last night Aeon, gt 2-3,
BeU. gt 2-3. He went into the garden, had to be assisted back again.
Ant Tart 3-12, 1-3, alternately with 1-6 of each of the tinctures.

16th. — ^Visited by Dr M^Oubrey : he went into the garden yesterday
through obstinacy : he took coffee and toast this morning^ which he deter-
mined to have : he is to-day much better : wandering at times. Bell, and
Aeon. Stramon. 3-12. At night he sent a note, written by himself: he was
complaining of a rash over body, and sore mouth. Sent Sulph. 2-30,
after medicines. He has a return of diarrhoea since he went into the
garden.

17th. — A messenger came to say he was worse : wished me to go. It was
impossible (ill as I was) to visit him. An unpleasant remark was made,
" That it was a shame I had not visited him, and that the people in the
house said they would send for a doctor."

Mr Peabcb here ffave his belief, that his brother was not made
acquainted with the dangerous state he had been in, and which was
the cause of absenting himself from deceased. Had been attacked with

* This Mr. Pearce did not see : it was explained by the attendants as being more
natural in CQUmr^ still loose.

250 APPENDIX.

SECT. V. cholera bimselfy and on Friday evening his own life was in danger.—
COA. Did you submit yourseff to the same treatment f Mr Peabce.
Certainly, sir, I would not subject a dog to any other. Mr Peabce con-
tinues : I said, in reply, they had better do so ; but if they wanted my
advice, I would send for Dr Epps, or Dr Curie. But, he was in his
wife's hands, who is unfavourable to homoBopathy.

Tuesday, 18th. — A messenger was sent to say, if 1 did not come di-
rectly, I should not see him alive. I sent Dr M'Oubrey: he returned
saying, he must have been dead before the last messenger came.

Died. I heard nothing from the widow or any other person until the
2l8t, at a quarter before 2, p. M., I received intimation mat an inquest
was to be held at the Perseverance public-house, Mary-street, Hampstead-
road, on the same afternoon, in consequence of a Mr Davis, who was
called in to see him before he died, having refused to give a certificate of
death. A post-mortem examination has been made, he said« and no
evidence appeared of cholera having been the cause of death.

Remarks (by Mr Pearce, in his case book) : That the case was originally
true Asiatic cholera, there can be no doubt Mr Harris, surgeon, of Gower
Street, treated for this without success. He gave up all hope of recovery
on the night of Sunday, the 9th of September. His full belief expressed
to me was, " he could not recover by any treatment.** He visited on the
following moming-with me, and expressed his surprise at the improvement.
Mr Harris saw him again on the following day, Tuesday, and told one of
the attendants, he conffratulated me on the manifest improvement. On
the night of the 12th, I saw deceased for the last time, I being seized my-
self, and unable to attend him since ; he was then going on favourably.
On the 14th, he was up and dressed ; on the 15th, he was allowed to go
into the garden; and little attention seems to have been paid to his diet,
for coffee was given, and diarrhcea returned.

Mr Peabce then wished to make some remarks. It had been said bv
one of the witnesses, who had known him three years, that deceased^
health was generally good. This was incorrect ; he had for years been
suffering from rheumatism, and a short time ago he had pleurisy. He,
the witness, said also that he was very feverish on the 10th, and very sick.
Now this tallies with my evidence and the true history of the case, that
vomiting, or efforts to vomit, came on when food was' given. Food, in
such a case, was inapplicable : every medical man knows it. He was get-
ting over the coUapsea condition. Mr Harris witnessed the reaction : had
deceased not have left the house such a cold day, thus subjecting himself
to a second attack, and withal, taking coffee, and toast, thereby exciting,
if not bringing on what followed, diarrhoea, he would no doubt have reco-
vered : he was getting better from day to day.

Mr Pearce, again : In the post mortem examination, Mr Davis states,
** the intestines were found empty ; " * and yet we hear that brandy and
nourishment were ordered and given to him the day bef(»:e his death !
Again, some of the witnesses have endeavoured to prove that the food
that was administered, in spite of my desire, kept on tne patient's stomach,
and yet the intestines are empty. Again, brandy and wat^ was ordered
and given : did it revive, or save the ufe of the deceased P He was better
on lliursday ; so much better again, that he went into the garden. It has
also been asserted that the deceased said he was starved to death ; yet
every witness has proved that food was given him. Mr Pearce said he
had attended some inveterate cholera cases ; he had been treated himself

* Mr Davis did not open the intestines, yet he said they were empty.

INQUEST ON RICHARD DAVID PEARCE. 251

as he had treated deceased, and out of fourteen cases he attended, he had SECT. V.
not lost a case.

Mr Pearce then remarked on the incapability of a jury of tradesmen
-to judge in such a case. How could twelve non-medical men come to a
iair, a satisfactory conclusion on a purely medical case ? They mi^ht
decide legally, but they could not decide medically ; they might decide
unanimously, but they could not satisfactorily either to themselyes or to
the public.

Mr Johnston said he considered Mr Harris should have been here.

A Juror. The man continually wanted nourishment. — ^Mr Pearce.

"Well — ^Mr Davis stepped forward, said there were no signs of disease. —

Cor. Did you think deceased had cholera ? Mr Davis. Could not swear.

JVb evidence in post mortem examination to prove the man died of cholera.

Coroner questions : thought it wits from exhaustion caused by the want of

food: several organs congested, and sufficiently so to cause death: the

lungs and heart much congested. — Mr Pearce wished to ask Mr Davis,

-whether congestion of the internal organs is not an invariable sign after

cholera f Mr Davis. Most certainly ; most certainly. Mr Pearce.

llad not the patient fifteen stools before you were called in ? M^. Davis.

"Yes. Mr Pearce. These were produced by want of food. Mr Davis traces it

from the man's continual craving. Mr Pearce. Witnesses have borne tes*

timony that he rejected food. — ^Mr Johnston urged the necessity of Mr

Harris being present Several of the jury also considered it requisite

that his evi&nce should be taken. — ^The Coroner did not see the neces-

eity of Mr Harris being present, still if the jury-thought that the ends of

justice would be arrived at more readily, or Mr Johnston considers that

the reputation of his client would suffer from a hasty conclusion, would

most readily agree with the jury in adjourning the inquirv. It was then

decided, bv vote, that the inquest should be adjourned till Tuesday, the

9th day of* October, 1849, at five o'clock, p. M.

Report of Second adjourned Inquest on the body of
Richard David Pearce.

Mr Johnston, (Thomas Henry, 16, Cecil Street, Strand, solicitor, in
attendance on behalf of Mr Pearce,) said, that, with the permission of the
Coroner, he would ask Mr Davis a question or two. — ^Is there not such a
thing as exhaustion from disease ? Also, since the witnesses have proved
that the deceased had taken gruel, beef-tea, arrowroot, &c., it then be-
cftme a question as to the impossibility of the man's dying from starvation.
He considered the jury should be made acquainted, in some measure, with
the principles of homoeopathy, and so understand that the treatment pur-
fued by Mr C. T. Pearce was the recognized medical treatment ; as the
jury are evidently not aware of the treatment administered in such cases.

The Coroner said, he thought few persons were aware of it except homoe-
opathistB themselves.

Mr Johnston, to Mr Davis. Is there not such a thing as exhaustion from
disease, as well as from want of food ? Mr Davis. Yes, sir. — Mr Johnston.
Do you think it probable that the deceased died of exhaustion from dis-
^ease? I think not. — ^Mr Johnston. Will vou describe the post mortem
examination P Mr Davis. The lunes and right side of the heart were
much engorged ; the liver also and intestines. — ^Mr Johnston. Did you
open the stomach and carefully examine the coats P Yes. — Mr Johnston.
Did you find any thing P Mr Davis. Some inflammator;^ spots. — Mr John-
ston. Did you open Uie intestinal tube, sir P Mr Davis. No. — Mr John-
ston. Tell the jury what are the phenomena when a man dies from starvation.

252 APPENDIX.

SKCT. V. Mr Davla. Ths 9am$ as existed in this case; no material difierencc— .
Mr Johiuton. Will you describe to the junri what were the indicatiani
that brought you to your conclusions ? Mr Davis. The expressions cf
the deceased, and the post mortem examination. — Mr Johnston. Do pa-
tiento in such cases, suffering fW>m fever, always crave for food? m
Davis. The deceased had not that sort of fever when they generally oave
for food. I think he was in a state for food ; he took it without lefusins
it, and retained it on his stomach. — Mr Johnston. Is it proper to give food
in cases of fever P Mr Davis. Patients never asked for food with a coated
tongue*

Coroner. You have, I believe, heard the eyidenoe adduced here beforeisir.
Mr Davis. Yes, sir. — Coroner. From tliat evidence, the illneas, treatment,
and post mortem examination, both internal and external, are you of the
same opinion as before P Mr Davis. Decidedly, sir. And my opinion is
more strongly confirmed, as he took beef-tea, arrowroot, toast, &c., and
retained them. I will make one more observation, and that is, that two
tea* spoonfuls onlv were ordered at a time, and no more; and I would ask
any medical gentleman whether that was improper P

Jurors. Certainly not*

Mr Richard Harris sworn. I reside at 43, Oower Street Am a mem-
ber of the Royal CoUege of Surgeons.

Coroner. When were you first called to see the deceased ? Mr H. On
Sunday, 9th September.-— Coroner. Did you go immediately? Mr H.
Yes, sir. — Coroner. What state did you find him in P Mr H. Found him
suffering from imequivocal symptoms of cholera ; there was vomiting, puig-
ing, cramp, anxious cadaverous countenance, and low and feeble condi-
tion. — Coroner. Any coldness of the skin ? Mr H. No, sir. — Cyanosis of
the skin ? Mr H. No. — Coroner. Tongue ? Mr H. Furred. — ^Coroner.
Urine P Mr H. In the after nart of the day, much suppressed. — Coroner.
Did you see him after this P Mr H. Yes, sir ; three or four times. I went
for a short time about nine in the evening ; he was then in much the same
state, but the cramps were relieved ; sickness in some degree relieved ; the
purging slightly abated. — Coroner. Do you consider this slight change for
the better was in consequence of the medicines you had administered ?
Mr H. I hoped so. I did not see him after that hour, and did not consider
him any better. Still sinking. When I left hixn, considered he was still
suffering from cholera. Did not see him professionally after nine o'clock
on that evening. When I left I requested one of the attendants to inquire
whether Mr Pearce would like to see a physician ; was then told about
Mr C. T. Pearce, and X requested to see him ; considered the case then
one of great danger. The attendants said that his brother, Mr C. T. Pearce,
was in the profession, and would be there in the course of the evening,
about half-past nine. — Coroner. Did Mr C. T. Pearce call to see you?
Mr H. Yes ; I left word that I wished to see him.-*^Coroner. After meet-
ing and consultipg, did he wish to take the case out of your hands ? Mr H.
It was so agree4ihetwe6n us. He started that he was a homoeopathist, and
that he should like that system adopted in the case. — Coroner, ^d m
consequence of that remark, you gave the case over to. him ? Mr H. I
transmitted the case to him, and hs then requested me to look in the next
day as a friend, to see how matters were goinff on. — Coroner. Did you
do so ? Mr H. I did so, giving him to understand that I could not act in con-
currence with him, being totally ignorant of that doctrine. When X first
saw Mr Pearce, I concluded that he was m the medical profession. — Coroner.
When did you see the deceased last? Mr H. On the 11 th ufos caUed m
to see Mrs Pearce^ and sam him then. — Coroner^ Did he make any remark

* Drs. Epps and Kelsall here came into tlie room.

INQUEST ON RICHARD DAVID PBARCE. . 253

to you ? Mr H. He simply said that he was very unwell still. Coroner SECT. V.
Did you still think he was suffering from cholera ? Mr H. Did not take
particular notice ; was called in to see Mrs Pearce ; but should suppose,
from appearances, that the Symptoms then were the result of cholera.—
Coroner. Was he relieved on the Monday previous when you called to
see him ? Mr H. He was very much relieved. — ^Did you -suppose that it
was in consequence of the medicines you had administered r Mr H. I.
was vain enough to think so.

Mr Johnston. Is it yotir decided opinion that he died of Asiatic
cholera ? Mr H. Could not give an (pinion as to whether he died of
Asiatic cholera : he considered it one of extreme danger. Told the friends
that the hopes of recovery were very slight Did not say it was a ho])ele8S
case. Did relinquish the case the nrst day.

Coroner. Did Mr Pearce take him out of your hands P Mr H. No, no,
sir. — Coroner. Did you know of anything else that could be done for the
patient ? Mr H. Should have continued the treatment I was pursuing. I
told Mr P. 1^ plan I had adopted, and he said, " according to the old
ischool your remedies are quite proper; but I should like the remedies of
the new school." I called twice after Mr Pearce treated him. Found him
much better, but said I should cup this patient : suppose that is contrary
to your doctrine, and for this one reason I could not act in unison with him.
Considered that he was then suffeiing from congestion of the brain. I did
ask for his (Mr Pearce's) suggestions, considering that I was talking with
one of my own profession. It is ususd for medical men to put their heads
together. Did not give up the case as a hopeless one entirely. Said it was
a desperate case ; and that I feared, that whatever treatment would be em-
ployed he would sink.

Mr Johnston said, he had with him two medical gentlemen, Drs Epps
and Kelsall, he wished to have their opinion brought before the jury;
that is, their opinion of the case as treated by Mr Pearce, in order that
the jury may be convinced that the patient has been properly treated.

Coroner. The question is rather as to the deceased's dying in con-
sequence of not having sufficient food ; so that homcBopathp Jms nothing
to do with the present case. The system may be well and good enough :
this is another thing : but the patient seemed to have died in consequence
of want of food.

Coroner. I am bound by law to hear all evidence brought before me.

A Juror. Would like to know of Mr Pearce, what nourishment patients
require after the symptoms were leaving, and convalescence was indicated.
Mr Pearce. Why, a little arrow-root, beef-tea, milk, &c., according to the
state of convalescence.

Mr Harris here stated, that his private opinion was that he died from
the results of diseases.

Coroner. How can you form that opinion, that he certainly died from
disease ? In law, that opinion would go for nothing. You must be a
most wonderful medical man to come to such a conclusion, when you did
not see him for eight days,

Dr Henry Relsall was then sworn. — ^Is a homoeopathic physician. Is a
fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons. Has had much experience in
Asiatic cholera, and has formed the conclusibn, that the very key-stone of
safety to the patient, is the abstaining from food from the moment he is
attacked to the moment that he is convalescent.

Coroner. Suppose it lasts for twelve months then ? Dr. Kelsall. It is
impossible to happen. — Coroner. It has happened ten days. — Coroner. Is
it possible that the patient could exist ? Dr Kelsall. Would not have
given him two teaspoonfuls. Have kept some patients without food
for twelve days, and that has been the only means of their salvation.-

II 2

264 APPKinDix.

SKCT. Y. Hunger is a sjnptom in some cases i the stomach heing in a morbid
state which the patient mistakes for hunger. There are always a winking at
the pit of the stomach and craYing after food. After the spasms and con*
tractions it leaTes the patient in a state of typhus, and it is death to the
patient to give him any food whatever in that state of fever after cholera.

Mr Johnston. Have you read Mr Pearce's case book? Dr KelsaU.
Yes. — Mr Johnston. What is your opinion of Mr Pearce's treatment?
Dr KelsaU. I saw nothing wrong in it. — ^Mr Johnston. Is it scientific ?
Dr Kelsall. It is what 1 should have done myself. I cannot say an3rthing
as to the skill of Mr Pearce or his qualifications : can only speak as to the
case in question, which I consider to be proper. — ^Mr Johnston. What do
you consider was the cause of death ? Dr KelsalL It would be difficult
for me to say, but it appears that the coffee, toast, and tea, that were given
to him did great harm, as it appears he got worse after that I have no
doubt it would have terminated favourably, if the proper treatment had
been adhered to.

Coroner. I believe that the homceopathic principle is, that if the pa>
tient is purged, that you go on purging ; if sick, you make him sicker?
Dr Kelsall. The patient here was not purged till coffee and toast wrere
given him. — Coroner. The first symptom was bowel complaint ? Dr Kel-
salL That had ceased, firom what I have heard of the case, and the proper
course would then have been to leave the stomach perfectlv at rest for a
time, and then only food in small quantities, and of the ligntest descrip-
tion, should be given. — Coroner. If there is purging, would you allow that
nur^ng to go on without stopping it? Dr A-elsall. No. Should be glad
ibr It to stop, but food is the last thiog that would do it in such cases;
and the chalk mixtures, &c. &c. that are generally given, I know would
have been stiU ten times worse ; I have treated numerous patients for cho-
lera of late, and out of full a himdred cases have lost but ten.

A Juror. Any labouring under the same symptoms as in this case ?
Dr Kelsall. Yes. Had one patient to whom I forbade food for twelve
days ; I asked the mother some time after if she had strictly adhered to
my orders ; she had, she said, save once, ^ I gave him some milk and
arrow root, and then I found I had done wrong." I had seen the result
of this, but did not know the cause though I suspected.

Coroner here considered it better to read over all the evidence, in the
course of which he asked Mr Davis if he found any fat during the post
mortem ? Mr Davies replied no, and that the ffoll-hladder %oa» empty,

Mr Pearce wished to draw the attention of the jury to that part of the
evidence, in which one witness endeavoured to prove that he had taken hu
brother out of the hands of Mr Harris, which was not the case.

Coroner resumes the inquiry.

Mr Harris considers the patient had not sufficient food. In fact, he
ordered him strong beef tea, arrow-root, &c. Should have gone on with
the same treatment if he had conducted the case.

A Juror. Do you generally restore the patient when you give food ?
Mr Harris. Very many, Sir.

Mr Johnston to Mr Davis. Do you consider brandy and water a
proper thing to give a man in that state ? Mr Davis. Certainly, Sir. The
patient wants stimuli in that state ; but should not order it " ad libitum,''
or food in great quantities, but rather in small quantities, watching the
case, say a small cup full -at a time, according as the patient could
bear it

The Coroner here remarked to the jury, that they must not allow their
minds to be prejudiced by any thing they might have heard out of doors
or elsewhere. On looking at the evidence, I find tiiat of Mr Davis and
Mrs Pearce most important. Davis states that he was called in on the

K INQUE8T ON RICHARD DAVID PEARCK. 255

I »#tli. day of September, and found the deceased was suffering from ex- SECT. V.
^^liustion, and also states that he died from that cause; that Mrs Pearce

r^0» ordered not to give him food, and whether that was given

f^ 'JSILt Davis here wished to qualify the statement, *' That it was from
t^jput of food." Of course it was coupled with the disease and debility, as
^^^11 as the absence of food.

g.i Oofoner. Heard nothing of this on a former occasion. (Reads.) '* The
^^«ise of death was exhaustion from the want of food.**
tf IMDr Davis. And the disease : of coiirse the absence of food helped.
* Ooroner. — ^You must repeat your evidence again, sir.

!M!r Davis said he found him labouring under cholera together with
^JfHsrU of food.

> Ooroner. Will haye a direct answer ; did he die from disease or from
'^a.nt of food ? Mr Davis. Could not come to a certain conclusion ; the
' jpatient said he wanted food.

* The Foreman, (very sharply.) I think, Sir, that Mr Davis is varying
jfirom his former evidence : he said he had put the question distinctly to

'^SdCr Dayis, who said he had died from exhaustion and want of proper

y'Jb>G^9 and that evidence is written down.

't. Mr Johnston. Can Mr Davis distinsuish between exhaustion from

' cUsease and exhaustion from want of food P Mr Davis. Should conceive

^ that he had exhaustion from want of food.

'* Coroner, (sharply). Did he die from exhaustion, Mr Davis ? Mr Davis.

'' I believe he did.

'- Mr Pearce wished Mr Davis to qualify that statement with his former

••evidence, namely, as to the patient's having fifteen motions before he was

> ' qalled in. Mr Davis said, he had found the patient in a state of exhaus'

* tionfrom disease , certainly, as well as want of food.

^ Coroner. Then, you mean to say, that the man died from exhaustion

' from disease, as well as from want of food? Mr Davis. Yes, sir. —
Coroner. Was the disease caused by want of food P — Mr Davis. That I
cannot say. — Coroner. Would want of food produce congestion? Mr
l>avis. It would. — Coroner. You found congestion, Mr Davis? Mr
Davis. I did.

Mr Johnston. If food be given to the patient in a state of fever will
it digest? Mr Davis. Certamly not : he had not fever at that time : he
had exhaustion.

Coroner. Mr Davis modifies his evidence now : he says the want of
food would cause the congestion. Mr Davis (rather angrily) said, that
disease and hwiger together. — Coroner. Considers it amounts to the same
thing. The jury has to consider who it was withheld the food, at the same
time it appears, that he has been treated hamtBopathically, Now, this is
a treatment looked upon by the profession as a species of humbug, or
quackery, I cannot say whether tills is the case. We know that food is
. the aliment necessary for the support of Ufe. In the absence of food de-
bility must follow and terminate m fatal exhaustion. I believe I can say
with truth, homoeopathy is looked upon by all the prof essional and intel-
lectual men of this country as quackery. ^ They do not think anything of
the system as founded on scientific principles, and if you look at it m a
common sense way, it is wholly futile or absurd.^ Now, to support the

?owers of animated life food must be given, or life cannot be carried on.
feel strongly on the case myself; but should not like to say anything on
the case to hurt Mr Pearce, still he is considered in the sight of the law
as totally unfit, and unqualified. The law is, that, if such a person,
whether qualified or not, treats a disease and causes death by treatment
being unskilful ; such a person, I say, would be considered guilty of man-

256 APPEHDIX.

8KCT. V. slaughter. He may conAder he ia doing right, but he is liable for Ik
consequences.

The Coroner here read some precedents, in order that the jury m^
be guided in drawing their conclusions, and not be persuaded by Im opi-
nions, where persons both qualified and unqualified were commitfced,ud
found guilty of manslaughter, through ^;ro8s and unskilful treatSMs^
trough gross ne^flect, through administenng <)uack medicines, &c, vfaen
proper medical aid was at hand* One case which he, the Coroner, tfaoi^t
applicable to the case in question was, where a person undertaking the
care of a disease, he being licensed or not, and is guilty of grossly witng
treatment or of neglecting his patient, is liable to manslaughter. Not that
be, the Coroner, thought there has been a great or gross neglect; but the
vase has been treated nomcsopathicaUy. The Question for your oonstden-
tion is, whether he died from want of food, and whether it wm refused by
his brother ; and if so, I have no hesitation in saying that such a person
would be guilty of manslaughter. On the other hand, should you consider
that he died from natural causes, yon should certainly free Mr C. T. Peaioe.

Mr Johnston, to the Coroner. You omitted, in recapitulating the evi-
dence, that the widow had given the deceased food. Coroner again resd
that evidence.

Mr Davis recollected that it was during Mr C. T. Pearee's illness that
he had ordered some light food. Mr Pearce said that the Coroner had
omitted that.

The Coroner then ordered the room to be cleared, and the jury (sfter
deliberating more than two hours and a half, during which time the Coro-
ner was called in, and remained with the jury together w^h the headk,
for ihirty-six minutes) brought in the following verdict: —

"That the said Richard Pearce, on the 18th of September, 1849, then
and there died ; and the jury further say, that the death of the said Richard
Pearce was caused by a want of proper food and nourishment; and that he
was prevented from taking any food or nourishment by the directions of
and instructions of Charles Thomas Pearce; and that the said Charles
I'homas Pearce did improperlv and unskilfully treat and manage the said
Richard Pearce for the cure oi a natural disease ; and that the said Charles
Thomas Pearce is guilty of manslaughter."

MaDy circumstances have occurred in connexion with this
inquest of great interest, and as such worthy of record.

The first is a notice of the coroner's inquest in the Non-
conformist It follows : —

"CROWNER'S QUEST LAW."

Mr. Thomas Wakley, coroner for Middlesex, and editor
of the Lancet^ is distinguished by two circumstances — ^his
denunciation of favouritism shown in the appointment of
relations by relations, to offices of responsibility, and his
frequent iteration of the necessity of selecting for the office
of coroner, a person belonging to the medical profession.
Even non-professional people can remember the intensity of
his attacks on Mr. Bransby Cooper, the nephew of Sir Astley
Cooper, when the former, being Sir Astley's nephew, was

FACTS RELATING TO MR. PEARCE'S TRIAL. 257

appointed surgeon to Guy's hospital. In £|ct, Mr. Wakley SECT. Y.
was the unsparing denouncer of nepotism. Equally zealous
bas he been in decrying the occupation of the coroner's judi-
cial seat by any but a medical man.

These two characteristics have formed ft principal part
of the medico-political capital which Mr. Wajdey has been
for years so industriously working. Yet what has Mr.
'Wakley done ? He has violated the teachings of his whole
life. He has appointed his own son, Mr» Membury Wakley,
to the coronership of Middlesex^ and that son is a youth of
two years standing at the bar. Such inconsistency is scarcely
to be credited. Perhaps Mr; Wakley had a Cato-like firm-
ness in the matter ; he determined to sacrifice his parental
love in demonstrating through his son the truth of his long-
cherished opinions ; it may be, he knew that the judicial
conduct of his boy would be so beneath the dignity of the
office to which he was appointed, as both to bring favourit-*
ism, as exhibited in the appointment of relations by relations,,
into disgrace, and to demonstrate the unfitness of inexpe^
rience for the coroner's office^

It is true, we did not expect such high-toned morality
firom Mr. Wakley ; but still no other conclusion can be ar-
rived at ; for we cannot suppose that Mr. Wakley is false to
those professed principles by which he has forced himself
into notoriety.

These remarks have originated upon reading the report
of a coroner's inquest, held on the body of Richard David
Pearce, which terminated in the following extraordinary
verdict: —

"That the said Richard Pearce, on the 18th of Septem-
ber, 1849, then and there died; and the jury further say,
that the death of the said Richard Pearce was caused by a
want of proper food and nourishment ; and that he was pro-
vented from taking any food or nourishment by the directions
of and instructions of Charles Thomas Pearce ; and that
the said Charles Thomas Pearce did improperly and unskil-
fally treat and manage the said Richard Pearce for the cure
of a natural disease; and that the said Charles Thomas^
Pearce is guilty of manslaughter."

258 APPENDIX.

SECT. V. The verdict is clearly not justified by the evidence in the
report we have read, and there is sufficient ground in the
short-hand writer's report for inferriog that the presiding
officer was himself the partisan of a medical theory, instead
of manifesting the sobriety and protecting care of the judi-
cial character.

Evidence was given to prove that the patient had taken
food contrary to the medical attendant's orders: medical
evidence was given by Dr. Kelsali to prove that abstineDce
from food is essential to carry out the treatment of Asiatic
cholera to its successfol termination; and yet to tlie^
evidences the coroner in his summing up, according to the
report, makes no reference whatever.

Mr. Davis, who gave evidence on the first occasion — for
the inquest was adjourned twice — ^asserted that the patient
had died from exhaustion for want of food. On the last
meeting of the inquest Mr. Davis wished to modify his state-
ment; and the following colloquy appears to have taken
place : —

** Mr. Davis here wished to qualify his statement, ' That
it was from want of food.' Of course it was coupled with
the disease and debility, as well as the absence of food.

" Coroner : Heard nothing of this on a former occasion.
[Reach.] * The cause of death was exhaustion fit>m the
want of food.'

" Mr. Davis : And the disease : of course the absence of
food helped.

** Coroner : You must repeat your evidence again, Sir.

''Mr. Davis said he found him labouring under cholera
together with want of food.

** Coroner: Will have a direct answer; did he die from
disease or from want of food ? Mr. Davis : Could not come
to a certain conclusion ; the patient said he wanted food.

*' The Foreman [very sAarply]: I think, Sir, that Mr.
Davis is varying from his former evidence : he sidd he had
put the question distinctly to Mr. Davis, who said he had
died from exhaustion and want of proper food, and that
♦evidence is written down.

'' Mr. Johnston : Can Mr. Davis distinguish between exr

PACTS RELATING TO MR. PEARCE'S TRIAL. 259

haiistion from disease and exhaustion from want of food ? SECT. v.
Mr. Davis : Should conceive that he had exhaustion from
want of food.

" Coroner [sharply]: Did he die from exhaustion, Mr.
Davis ? Mr. Davis : I believe he did." v

A total absence of reference to Dr. KelsalFs evidence,
marks, as already stated, the summing-up of the coroner.

When Mr. Johnston, the solicitor of the medical attendant,
expressed his wish to call medical evidence to prove the pro-
priety of Mr. Pearce's treatment by his brother, the report
says Mr. Membury Wakley declared it to be unnecessary, for
" homoeopathy has nothing to do with the present case." He
added, " The system may be well and good enough ; this is
another thing:" yet, in the summing up, Mr. Wakley remarks,
— " The jury has to consider who it was withheld the food ;
at the same time, it appears he had been treated homceo-
pnthically. Now this is a treatment looked upon by the
profession as a species of humbug or quackery. I believe I
can say with truth, homoeopathy is looked upon by all the
professional and intellectual men of this country as quacker}^
They do not think anything of this system as founded on
scientific principles ; and if you look at it in a common>sense
way, it is wholly fiitile and absurd." Common-sense people
will be led to inquire how Mr. Wakley could so speedily
forget, that, after having said, " homoeopathy has nothing to
do with the matter," he yet drags it in, and drags it in ad-
versely to the medical gentleman accused.

But when to this is added, that Mr. Wakley expressed his
knowledge of homoeopathy thus, — " I believe that the homoe-
opathic principle is, that if the patient is purged, then you
go on purging; if sick, you make him sicker," — the pre-
sumption manifested by him in declaring, that the homoe-
opathy held by homoeopathists is a humbug, a quackery (all
will agree that his homoeopathy is such), becomes disgusting ;
and when it is remembered that this person is a judge, the
inquiry at once presents itself to the understanding, whether
such a person should be permitted to fill the judgment seat ?

If coroners' courts are to lose their value, and to become
obnoxious to the people of this country, such proceedings as

K K

260 APPENDIX.

SECT. V. those recorded in this case will have a strong tendency to
realize such results. In our opinion they call loudly for
parliamentary inquiry.

Chapter III. — The opinion of the Recorder on the eubjecU
of inquiry before Coroners^ Juries.

The next circumstance worthy of record is the part of the
address of the recorder of the city of London to the grand
jury at the opening of the Central Criminal Court at the Old
Bailey in Noyember, relating to this case.

*' He would address a few observations respecting a charge of
manslaughter, which would be presented to them on the finding
of a coroner's jury, who, upon the evidence before them, had re-
turned a verdict charging the accused person with that offence.

He did not mention this in order to prejudice the attend-
ants, but he thought it right to call the attention of the grand
jury to the nature of the inquiry to which their attention
would be directed, that they might see whether the evidence
would support the charge. It appeared that the accused
person was alleged to have committed the offence of man-
slaughter on the person of his brother, by practising what was
called the homoeopathic system, and refdsing to allow him to
have sufficient food while suffering under a supposed attack
of cholera. The person accused of this offence, he believed,
was a medical student ; but he was not duly qualified to prac-
tise. This, however, made no difference, as the law was dis-
tinctly laid down, that if a person, whether duly qualified or
not, acted honestly and bond fide in the treatment of a dis-
ease, and death ensued fi*om any operation he might perform,
it would not be manslaughter. If, however, it was shown
that the person who took upon himself to act as a medical
practitioner, in the course of his treatment occasioned the
death of the patient by gross and criminal negligence and in-
attention, in that case the offence of manslaughter would be
made out ; and this had been laid down in the case of St.
John Long. If the mode of treatment was of a doubtful
character that would not be sufficient, and the grand jury must
be satisfied that there had been either gross ignorance or cri-
minal inattention, before they would be justified in returning

TRIAL FOR MANSLAUGHTER. 261

s bill for manslaughter ; but if they were satisfied by the evi- SECT. V.
clence that there had been such ignorance or inattention on
the part of the prisoner, and that death was the result, the
fact of the accused being a medical man or not, ought to
make no difference in their decision."

These remarks on the legal part of the question show how
deficient the barrister, Mr. Membury Wakley, is in his know-
ledge of law ; for the recorder testifies that with the mode of
treatment the coroner and his jury had nothing to do : ** If
the mode of treatment was of a doubtful character, that would
not be sufficient."

The trial came on, and the firiends of Mr. Pearce and of
homoeopathy knew that then the truth would appear. They
knew that the medical witness on whose evidence Mr. Wakley
rested his summing up, would exhibit a spectacle that would
for ever shame him ; he, fortunately for him, escaped from
the trial, the case being not allowed to go on.

Chapter IV. — Report of the Trial of Mr. Charles Thomas
Pearce, at the Old Bailey^ for Manslaughter.

On Saturday, October 27th, 1849, Mr" Charles Thomas Pearce
was arraigned at the Old Bailey, before Mr Justice Maule, on a
charge of manslaughter, alleged to have been occasioned by homce-
opathic treatment. The indictment charged him with killing his
brother, Bichard David Pearce, by neglecting to order him, in his
professional capacity, a sufficient quantity of nutritious food to keep
him alive. The case for the prosecution was conducted by Mr
Horry ; and the prisoner was defended by Mr Sergeant Wilkins, Mr
Clarkson, and Mr Parry. The indictment having been read, the
prisoner pleaded "Not Guilty," when the case for the prosecution
was thus opened by

Mr. Horry : Gentlemen of the jury, this is an indictment, as you
have heard, arising out of a coroner's inquest, charging the prisoner
with feloniously killing and slaying his brother Richard David
Pearce. The circumstances of the case are very short — shorter,
perhaps, than the fact of the attendance of so many medical men
here might make it appear — for the case lies in this: whether in
point of i'act, the treatment of the deceased by the prisoner at the
bar was a proper treatment or not. It appears by the case that the
deceased party, Richard David Pearce, was the brother of the ac-

KK 2

262 APPENDIX.

SECT. V. ciiBed, and that about the 9th of September last he was attacked by
all the symptoms, I understand, which generally prevail in cholera.
On that occasion it appears thai his wife Mrs Pearce, called in a
medical gentleman named Harris, who will be called before you.
He proceeded to treat the disease according to the best mode he
could — according to his judgment and practice. In his judgment,
at the latter part of the day, Richard David Pearce was going on
HH favourable as could be expected under the circumstances ; but
about that time, the prisoner at the bar, who, I understand, is secre-
tary to some homoeopathic institution, was called in, and finally
superseded Mr Harris, because Mr Harris declined to act upon the
homcBopathic treatment. However, the homoeopathic treatment
was adopted and carried out wholly and fully from the period of
Pearce being first called in to treat the disease— that is to say, no
other person whatever was suffered to interfere with him ; no person
was suffered to act contrary to his directions. Now what the treat-
ment of Mr Harris was you will hear bye and bye, but it is my duty
to allude to the treatment of Charles Thomas Pearce, who stands
at the bar : instead of the system adopted by Mr Harris, he adopted
what is called the homoeopathic 8)'stem, as far as we can learn ;
because the parties whom I shall call before yon will state that
the prisoner fetched the medicines himself, that they were very
small bottles indeed, and that he carried them to Mr Pearce; and
Mrs Pearce will prove that she faithfully administered those medi>.
cines according to the directions of the said Charles Thomas Pearce.
Well, gentlemen, perhaps the most important part of the case for
you to consider will be this — what was the treatment of the disease
in combination with the medi&ines that were administered ? For I
apprehend it will be part of his case to show that the medicines he
administered, if any, were given in such quantity and of such
(juality as ought to have operated upon the deceased in all ordinary
cases. Gentlemen, it appears that the prisoner directed positively
nothing in the shape of solid food to be administered to his brother.
Beef-tea and gruel, I believe, and some other things of that sort,
were to be administered to him, but nothing else at the time. The
unfortunate man who finally fell under this treatment (whether
really so or not will be decided by you) complained that he was
starving, and said he should like to, have something more than he
had been taking; still, as Mrs Pearce was acting implicitly under
his brother, she declined to give it. The result was, that he lived
from day to day, and finally died quite exhausted ; for when the
body finally came to be opened by the gentleman who will be called

TRIAL POn MANSLAUGHTER. 263

before you, it was seen that there was nothing in the body that SECT. V.
could support life, even under the homoeopathic system. He died
on the 18th Sept. A coroner's inquiry was held, and the result is
the presence of the prisoner here to day on trial on the coroner's
inquisition. I am bound to tell you that the grand jury threw out
the bill preferred against the prisoner; but I apprehend that that
will operate neither one way or another. I cannot tell what witness-
es were called before the grand jury, and now cannot tell what
was their motive for rejecting the bill ; but for you it is quite suf-
ficient that a coroner's jury of twelve men have adjudged the pri-
soner guilty of manslaughter. With regard to medical treatment, I do
not profess to, be acquainted with the homoeopathic treatment, nor
with any other treatment, nor do I profess to have any knowledge
whatever of medical matters. Whether the course adopted by the
Board of Health is to be implicitly followed, or whether that of
private practitioners is to be adopted, or that of homoeopathy, I
don't know, nor, I dare say, do any of you. You will be guided by
the testimony that will be brought before you. If, according to
that testimony, you believe that the prisoner acted to the best of
bis judgment in taking up the case, and that as far as human judg-
ment goes, it might have been a correct course, probably you will
find a verdict for the prisoner. But, I apprehend, in order to come
to that conclusion, it will be necessary for you to know, In the first
instance, whether the prisoner at the bar was, or not, a person quali-
fied to form a judgment on such diseases. Now I am bound to
inform you, according to my instructions, that so far from being
a medical man, or ever having studied medicine, his position, as
far as I can learn, was precisely the reverse, and that he was en-
gaged in pursuits totally at variance with that of medicine. If that
should be the case, I apprehend so much graver does the charge lie
upon him. It has been laid down, and very properly, that anybody
— you, or I, or anybody else, may assist a fellow- sufferer in an emer-
gency, and if we do it under these circumstances to the best of our
judgment, why then it would be very hard indeed, if we were to be
made answerable to a criminal charge. You might fall down in a
fainting fit, and I might know some way of bleeding you. You
might recover, but if you were to die, it would be very hard to bring
me to trial. And if a fairly authorised man uses that treatment which
is best in his judgment and conscientious belief, then he should not
stand guilty ; but it must be a part of your consideration whether
he was qualified to form a judgment as to the mode of treatment ;
and more than that — whether he was the person to come in and

264 APPENDIX.

SECT. V. supersede a medical man. Here then arises the burden of the
charge, the question of treatment will be brought before joa. I do
not know whether we are going to try to*day the efi^cts of homoe-
opathic treatment or not.

His Lordship. As the indictment is represented to me, it nar-
rows itself to this — In order to be found guilty, the prisoner most
be proved to have committed homicide in the manner described—
not precisely, but in a similar way, as in the case of death by gun-
powder, gunshot wound, and the like. It is stated in the abstract,
which I dare say is correct, that the prisoner killed the deceased bj
refusing to permit or allow to be administered to him any food,
victuals, or nourishment, for the support and maintenance of his
body. Therefore by the want and absence of such food he died.
This is the particular mode of starving to death.

Mr Horry. I felt myself whether the prisoner had sufficient
power over the deceased as to be guilty of starvation, seeing that
Mrs Pearce was an intermediate party.

His Lordship. It rather surprised me to find that the prohibition
of food was not general^ but only a prohibition of some particular
kinds of food ; beef- tea and gruel were given, as I understand.

Mr Horry. I allude to homoeopathy, because this is one of the
subjects on which I shall have to call witnesses before you, for yon
to decide according to your own judgments. I was going to allude
to the point of the woman intervening. I do not know whether
there was a sufficient control over him to substantiate the charge.
If she believed him to be a medical man, or believed that he had
power to cure the deceased, you will say whether she might not
have acted under his directions innocently, believing that if she
did not, her husband would die.

The witnesses for the prosecution were then called. The first
was Mrs Pearce, who was examined by Mr Horry as follows.

Mr Horry. What is your name ? Witness. Jane Pearce. — Mr
Horry. Are you the widow of Richard David Pearce? Witness.
Yes. — Mr Horry. You recollect your husband being attacked with
an illness ? Witness. Yes, on Saturday night, the 8th September.
Saturday night was the first. — Mr Horry. Very well. In consequence
of his illnes8,did you call in Mr Harris? Witness. Yes. — ^Mr Horry.
How soon did Mr Harris attend? Witness. On Sunday morning.
— Mr Horry. Mr Harris attended once, or more than once
on that day? Witness. Three times in the course of the day. —
Mr Horry. Did he prescribe for him, or bring him any medicines?
Witness. He prescribed for him on Sunday morning. — Mr Horry.

TRIAL FOR MANSLAUGHTER. 265

D id you get any medicines ? Witness. Yes, he sent some medi- SECT. V.
ciiciesy sir. — Mr Horry. Did he send medicines each time. Witness.
Yes, sir. — Mr Horry. Did he give you any directions how to treat
your husband? Witness. Yes, sir.— Mr Horry. Did you follow
AdCr Harris's directions. Witness. Yes, sir; on Sunday I did. Mr
Horry. Did you afterwards see Charles Thomas Pearce ? Witness.
"Yes, he wa§ sent for on Sunday morning to see his brother. Mr.
Horry. How soon did he come ? — ^Witness. Directly. Mr. Horry.
Y^ou know him, do you? Witness. O yes, sir. — Mr. Horry. Now
just tell us this: did he recommend anything or not? Witness.
Yes. He recommended some medicine.— Mr Horry. You say Mr
Harris attended three times ? Witness. Yes. — Mr Horry. When
xlid he last attend? Witriess. On Sunday night was the last time.
"Mr Horry. Previous to that were you present at any conversation
-with Mr Harris and Charles Thomas Pearce ? Witness. No, sir, I
-was not. — Mr Horry. The last time Mr Harris attended was on
Sunday night. Who attended after that ? Witness. Charles Pearce.
— Mr. Horry. No one else ? Witness. No, not until Monday, when
1 called Mr Davia in.— His Lordship. Was that the next Monday ?
"Witness. Yes.— Mr Horry. Did you know Davis ? Witness. No.
— Mr Horry. Did you know Mr Harris ? — Witness. I did not know
either of them till they called. — ^Mr Horry. By whose directions did
you call in Mr Davis ? Witness. By my own directions. — Mr Horry.
Is he here? Witness. Yes, sir, he is. — Mr Hofry. You say Charles
Thomas Pearce attended your husband. Did he bring or send him
medicines? — Witness. He brought some himself. — Mr Horry. And
you received some from Mr Hasted? Witness. Yes.— Mr Horry. Did
you administer those medicines ? Witness. Yes.— Mr Horry. While
you administered them, did you administer any others ? Witness. No,
sir. — Mr Horry. Did you faithfully attend to the directions of Charles
Thomas Pearce ? Witness. Yes, sir, while he was attending him. —
Mr Horry. How long did he attend him ? Witness. Till the Wed-
nesday following. — His Lordship. Is that the 12th? Witness. Yes.
— Mr Horry. What were his directions as to food ? Witness. No-
thing at all ; no food at all was ordered ; no food at all except the
iced water and the medicine. He attended him till the Wednesday.
His Lordship. What time ? Witness. About eight o'clock.
Mr Horry. He sent medicines after that ? Witness. Yes. — Mr.
Horry. Did you attend to bis directions, and give him nothing but
iced- water and the medicines? Witness. Yes, till Wednesday. —
Mr Horry. What condition was your husband in on Wednesday ?
Witness. Much the same as when Mr Pearce first attended him. —

260 APPENDIX.

SECT. V. Mr Horrj. You did not give him any gruel, did you, or any thing
of that sort? Witness. Not till Wednesday: on Wednesday Mr
Pearce ordered some gruel and I gave it to him. — Mr Hony. Yoo
gave gruel according to Pearce*8 directions? Witness. Yes.-
Mr Horry. Well, Did yoir give anything else ? Witness. No.-
Mr Horry. What did you give him afterwards? Witness. Beef-tea
and gruel. Mr M^Oubrey recommended that.

His Lordship. Aiiy bread ? Witness. A small piece of bread.-
His Lordship. In the beef-tea or gruel, I suppose ? Witness. lo
the beef-tea.— His Lordship. This was by whose orders? Witoess.
Mr M'Oubrey's.— His Lordship. Is he a medical man ? Witness.
Yes. His Lordship. Who sent for him ? Mr Pearce.

Mr. Horry. Between Sunday and Wednesday did your hosband
complain ? (Mr Sergeant Wilkins objected to this question, and
it was accordingly not answered.)

Mr Horry. Mr M'Oubrey attended by the direction of Mr Pearce.
Did Charles Thomas Pearce continue to attend after Wednesday
Witness. Not himself. Mr M*Oubrey attended him twice, Thurs
day and Sunday. — Mr Horry. Did Charles Pearce come after Wed
nesday? Witness. No. — Mr Horry. He sent medicines? Wit
ness. Yes, as I said before.— Mr Horry. Did he send directions also
how to treat him after Wednesday ? Witness. Yes.

His Lordship. That was while Mr M*Oubrey was attending him?
Witness. Yes. Mr Pearce sent medicines which he made up accord'
ing to Mr M*Oubrey's directions.

Mr Horry. Mr M*Oubrey attended three times? Witness. No,
sir, only twice. — Mr Horry. When did your husband die ? Witness.
On the 18th, sir. — Mr Horry. Mr Davis, what did he do ? Witness.
He gave some medicines on Monday evening. — Mr Horry. Da?is
did? Witness. Yes.

His Lordship. Is that the day before he died ? Witness. Yes.

Mr Horry. You sent for Mr Davis yourself, did you not ? Wit-
ness. Yes.

His Lordship. As I understand, then, it was in this way : Mr
Harris was first called in. Witness. Yes.— His Lordship. Then
on Sunday night, the 9th, the prisoner came. Witness. Yes.—
His Lordship. Then he attended him that night and on Monday, and
then on Wednesday Mr M*Oubrey came ? Witness. No, on Thurs-
day Mr M*Oubrey came.— His Lordship. Then the prisoner left off
attending him. Mr M*Oubrey attended on Thursday and Sundav,
and on Monday night you sent for Mr Davis ? Witness. Yes.

Cross-examined by Mr Sergeant Wilkins :

TRIAL FOE MANSLAUGHTER. 267

Sergeant Wilkins. How long, ma'am, have you known the pri- SECT. V.
soner? Witness. Ten years. — Sergeant Wilkins. Now do you
liappen to know that for the last five years be has been studying
medicine ? Witness. Yes, for what I know.

His Lordship. You have understood that, have you? Witness. Yes.
Sergeant Wilkins. Do you know that he was a lecturer* upon the
physical sciences at the University College of London ? Witness.
I have beard so, sir. — Sergeant Wilkins. Now do you know that
he attended lectures on anatomy, &c. Witness. I cannot say,
sir. — Sergeant Wilkins. Do you know whether he attended the
lectures of different eminent men, yourself? Witness. O yes,
sir, I have heard him say so. — Sergeant Wilkins. Now, in the
first instance, you say Mr Harris attended your husband. Wit-
ness. Yes. — Sergeant Wilkins. Upon Sunday evening the prisoner
was sent for? Witness. Yes, sir. — Sergeant Wilkins. Was it his
brother who requested it? Witness. I never heard him. — Ser-
geant Wilkins. However on being sent for he came ? Witness. Yes.

His Lordship. How came he to be sent for? Witness. His bro-
ther wished to see him in the morning when Mr Harris attended
him ; f arid in the evening he came again by my sending for him. —
His Lordship. He was sent for then by the desire of your husband ?
Witness. Not as I know of; he only wished to see him. — His
Lordship. What do you mean then ?

Sergeant Wilkins. She is drawing a distinction between sending
for him, and sending for him as a doctor. To the witness. Did Mr
Harris come again ? Witness. Once or twice : Mr Harris was out
of town. — Sergeant Wilkins. Now, did you give the deceased some
arrowroot on Tuesday the 1 1th, a week before he died ? Witness.
Yes. — Sergeant Wilkins. You gave him some arrowroot instead of
some weak gruel? Witness. Yes. — Sergeant Wilkins. Did he vo-
mit that up again ? Witness. Yes.

His Lordship. That was on the Tuesday. How did he have the
weak gruel? Witness. Because he preferred it. — His Lordship.
By whose directions did you give it ? Witness. By Pearce's. —
His Lordship. When was that given ? Witness. On the Wednes-
day he ordered it. — His Lordshiff. But you say you gave him on

• This was an error on the part of Mr Sergeant Wilkins. The brief he held
was misread ; it stated that the accused had attended lectures, not gave lectures
at the University College.

f The deceased anxiously entreated his brother to treat him, but his entreaty
was refused, because he was in the hands of a medical man.

L L

268 APPENDIX.

SECT. V^ Tuesday some arrowroot That is what you have been telling qs,
you know.

Sergeant Wilkins. You said you gave some arrowroot instead of
some weak gruel. Who had given the order for the weak gruel ?
Witness. Pearce ordered the weak gruel.

His Lordship. You said Pearce ordered the gruel on Tuesday,
after telling us that Pearce ordered that he should have nothing
but the iced water and medicine till Wednesday.

Sergeant Wilkins. Was it Tuesday that you gave him some ar-
rowroot ? Witness. Yes. — Sergeant Wilkins. And you say you
gave it instead of the weak gruel that Pearce ordered ? Witness.
Yes. — Sergeant Wilkins. Now, you gave the arrowroot, you know,
upon the Tuesday instead of the weak gruel that Pearce had ordered.
Mr Pearce then must have ordered that befcMre the arrowroot was
given ? Witness. I am in such trouble that I cannot recollect just
now. ^Sergeant Wilkins. However, you did give him some on
Tuesday instead of the gruel, and he threw that up ? Witness. Yes.
Sergeant Wilkins* How long had it been upon his stomach before
he threw it up ? Witness* Only a very few minutes. — Sergeant
Wilkins. Now then did you give him some weak gruel on Tuesday
after that ? Witness. Yes.— Sergeant Wilkins. When did you first
give him beef-tea ? Witness. On Thursday for the first time. — Ser-
geant Wilkins. Then you did give him some weak gruel on Wednes-
day ? Witness. A little weak gruel on Wednesday.

His Lordship. Did that agree with him ? Witness. Yes.— Sergeant
Wilkins. How much did you give him ? Witness. Two teaspoonfuls
at a time.— Sergeant Wilkins. How did it happen that the prisoner
ceased to attend him onWednesday. Witness. On account of illness ;
word was sent me that he was laid up with the cholera himself, and
therefore Mr M*Oubrey attended . him.— Sergeant Wilkins. Upon
Thursday you gave him some beef-tea ? Witness. Yes.— -Sergeant
Wilkins. How many times on Thursday? Witness. Three times. —
Sergeant Wilkins. Did you give him some on Friday ? Witness.
Yes.— Sergeant Wilkins. And gruel ? Witness. No, beef-tea.—
Sergeant Wilkins. And again on Saturday? Witness. Some beef-
tea.— Sergeant Wilkins. And on Thursday, you say ? Witness.
Yes. — Sergeant Wilkins. By order of Mr M'Oubrey ? Witness.
Yes. — Sergeant Wilkins. And again upon Saturday ? Witness. Yes.
—Sergeant Wilkins. And upon Sunday ? Witness. Yes, and on
Monday Mr Davis was sent for.— Sergeant Wilkins. Now what was
given him afterwards ? Witness. Some weak brandy and water, and
chalk-mixture.— Sergeant Wilkins. Allow me to ask you, daring

TRIAL FOR MANSLAUGHTER. 269

the whole of this time was the cholera upon him ? Witness. Yes, SECT. V.
sir, — Sergeant Wilkins (to his Lordship) . I submit that is an end
of this case.

His Lordship: I suppose there is somebody who will come and
say it is quite certain that this man was killed by not having nourish-
ment on Monday and Tuesday.

Mr Horry. That is the testimony of the surgeon.

Sergeant Wilkins. No, no, indeed it is not, we have his testi-
mony here.

Mr Horry. The thought has certainly occurred to me that several
persons interfered in the matter ; I will therefore leave it in the
hands of your Lordship.

His Lordship. It is very strange to me if a person whose bowels
are very much out of order could be killed by being without food
for two or three days. If such were the case, / should not be here
to-day. Perhaps you had better call any medical witness who would
say that death was caused by this treatment.

Mr Richard Harris was then sworn.— Mr Horry. Are you a sur-
geon? Witness. Yes, sir— Mr Horry. You recollect being called in
to attend Mr Richard David Pearce ? Witness. I do.

His Lordship. What day was that, Mr Harris ? Witness. On
Sunday, the 9th of September.

Mr Horry. Now say in what condition you found him ? Wit-
ness. I found him suffering under Asiatic or malignant cholera ; I
saw him first about 1 1 o'clock in the morning ; in the afternoon
he was much in the same way ; I subsequently saw him about 9
o'clock in the evening, 1 was sent'for in great haste.

His Lordship. In what stage of the cholera did you find him ?
Witness. Collapsed-— His Lordship. That is almost dying? Wit-
ness. He was in a very critical state, sir, all day Sunday.

Mr Horry. You attended him three times on that day ? Witness.
Yes, on that day— Mr Horry. You gave him medicine? Witness.
Yes — Mr Horry. Now, on Sunday evening how was he going on ?
Witness. He was somewhat relieved to what he had been in the
morning, but he was still in a very critical state. He was in the
greatest possible danger— Mr Horry. But not in so much danger
as in the morning? Witness. Yes, I think he was, though his symp-
toms were not so bad, and his pain and sufferings were in some
degree relieved.

His Lordship. Why, just as if he had been going to die? Wit-
ness. Just so.

His Lordship. Did you believe him to be dying at the time?

ll2

270 APPENDIX.

SECT. V. WitDess. I thought his state one of great danger, but not ho()e-
less.*

Mr Horry. I need hardly ask you whether you were prepared to
go oil with the case ? Witness. Certainly, most assuredly. I do
not know whether you are acquainted with the way in which I gave
up the case— -Mr Horry. How soon did you see Charles Thomas
Pearce? Witness. About half an hour afterwards. Hearing that
he had a brother in the profession, and finding him in extreme dan-
ger, I requested to see him, that we might have a consultation on
the case — Mr Horry. That was your request, and not the bro-
ther's? Witness. My request — Mr Horry. And not the brother's?
Witness. My request entirely — Mr Horry. Did you afterwards see
him? Witness. Not professionally— Mr Horry. Did you have any
conversation about the case? Witness. On that evening I did —
Mr Horry. What took place? Witness. I told Mr Pearce that I
considered his brother in very great danger, I represented to him
what I had done ; and asked him if he had any observations to
make upon the case, or any suggestions to offer with regard to his
brother s welfare. He then said " as regards the old system, the
allopathic plan, which you have adopted, you have done all that
you could do," or something to that effect. He said, as we both
considered the case one of extreme danger, he should like to
have the homoeopathic system tried, (I speak from memory) :
my reply was, " I know nothing at all about the doctrine of ho-
ma»opathy, and I must leave the case in your own hands."* I could
not act at all in concurrence with him. lie then asked if I had any
objection to look in as a friend, if I would not come professionally-

His Lordship. What did you say ? Witness, " Certainly not, I
have no objection to look in as a friend." But I gave up the case
to his feelings as a brother.

Mr Horry. Did any thing else pass ? Witness. Nothing that I
know of. — Mr Horry. At the time this conversation took place, did
you believe that he was a medical man? Witness. I did not ask
him that question, — Mr Horry. You said just now, that hearing he
had a brother in the profession, you sent for him ; now I want to
know how you knew him to be a medical man, or in the profession ?
Witness. Well, I don't know that I gave the matter a thought. I
heard that he was in the profession, but I don't know whether he
was a qualified man or not.

* Mr Harris explained his meaning by quoting the universal expression,
*• While there's life there's hope."

TRIAL FOR MAX8LAUGHTKR. '271

His Lordship. There was nothing in his conversation to show SECT. V.

tliat he was not ? Witness. On the contrary, from his conversation

I should suppose he was : he told me he had heen in the University

College four years. — His Lordship. Did he talk like a medical man ?

Witness. Yes. — His Lordship. Surely you could tell: why, if he did

not talk like a medical man, you would not suppose bim to b^ so.

Did you look in as a friend? Witness. I did.— His Lordship.

How did you find him ? Witness. He was considerably relieved : a

reaction had taken place. — His Lordship, Did you look in after

that ? Witness. I did, on the following day, on Tuesday. — His

Lordship. How was he then? Witness. Not so well. — His Lordship.

Did you look in again on Wednesday? Witness. No, sir. I did not

see him afterwards till the day before his death. I then called to

see bis wife, and he happened to be in the room at the same time.

Sergeant Wilkins. I believe you have already expressed an opinion
that he died from the disease ? Witness. 1 hardly know whether I am
justified in giving that opinion. On Sunday the disease was suf-
ficiently urgent to cause his death. «

His Lordship. You saw him on Monday, and he seemed better ?
Witness. Yes.— Sergeant Wilkins. Did you refer to the Sunday be-
fore his death? Witness. Oh no, Sir, I beg pardon, Sunday the Qth.
His Lordship. On Sunday, you say, he seemed in quite a despe-
rate state, and nearly dying ! Witness. Yes. — His Lordship. On
Monday, you say, he had rallied, and at that time the prisoner
began to attend him. On Tuesday he was rather worse, but not so
ill as on Sunday. On Wednesday you did not see him any more ;
and, for any thing you saw, the prisoner's plan was judicious, to
judge by the efiects of it ? Witness. I was vain enough to think it
was my plan that caused the re-action.-— His Lordship. Have you
any reason for supposing that he did harm by his plan ? Witness.
No. — His Lordship. Is a person suffering from cholera, and in a
collapsed state, fit to deal with solid food ? Witness. I had no
reason for ordering food till he could eat it. — His Lordship. If a
person is suffering from cholera so far as to be in a collapsed state,
are his digestive organs capable of dealing with solid food ? Wit-
ness. Liquid food he could take. — His Lordship. I am asking
about solid food ? Witness. No, sir. — His Lordship. Why don't
you answer then. You tn\g\^t as well say he could put on a clean
shirt if he wanted. It does not require a man of science to be able
to give a plain answer. A man in a collapsed state cannot eat a beef-
steak, or take what you may call nourishment. Were beef-tea and
gruel as good things as he could take? Witness. I thought *6o.

272 APPENDIX.

SECT. V. His Lordship. This man seems to have been doctored as well as be
could. How any man can say the defendant is guilty of manslaugh-
ter I cannot possibly imagine : it appears he was called in in a des-
perate case, and did everything it was possible to do under the
circumstances.

Sergeant Wilkins. The real truth is, it is an attack on homoeop-
athy, and not against him.

The case for the prosecution here dropped , and the prisoner was
immediately discharged.

Chapter V. — Comments on the Evidence of the Medicai

Witness.

The witness on whose evidence Deputy-Coroner Wakley
chiefly relied, was that of Mr. Davis,* a medical practitioner
residing at AmpthiU Square, Hampstead Road.

It becomes a matter of duty to the public at large,
and to the medical profession in particular, that his
evidence should be examined in connexion with the whole
inquiry. Such examination is essential, since this inquest
is one among the increasing number, in which coroners'
juries have been rendered inquisitions to examine and decide
upon questions of medical theories; and so becoming will
render such juries, when deciding upon statements made by
individuals like Mr. Davis, the means of practically reahzing,
not only to the medical profession, but also to the public, in
the liability to imprisonment for manslaughter, the ominous
warning, so sententiously expressed by Mr. Justice Maule, —
" None of us will be safe."

Conceive that it were allowed to pass unnoticed and unre-
sisted, that, because a man ventures to give a medical opinion,
which has an undue force given to it, because no opportunity
is given to show its fallaciousness, and because it happens to
be uttered before a coroner, who " feels strongly on the case,"
that a person guilty only of the presumed crime of differing
in medical opinion from the man giving vritness, and from the
coroner before whom the evidence is given, should be found
guilty by a coroner's jury of the crime of manslaughter, and
. — — — -

• " On looking at the evidence, I find tliat of Mr. Davis and Mrs. Pcarcc
most important." — Deputy-coroner's summing up.

COMMENTS ON EVIDENCE OP MEDICAL WITNESS. 273

as such should be committed to a prison and treated as a sect. v.
felon, what man, medical or non-medical, would have his
liberty safe ?

According to the conclusion, realized in this case upon me-
dical testimony, any parent who, for the sake of his child's
recovery, determined that he should abstain from food, would
be liable to a verdict of manslaughter. And if once the coro-
ner's court is to find a person guilty of manslaughter, because
lie has recommended abstinence from food, how many might be
found guilty of manslaughter, who have caused the death of
the patient, as it is likely was the case in this case, by giving
food contrary to medical orders : for though the coroner sums
up in accordance with the popular prejudice now, it may hap-
pen that a coroner may come who, regarding that food given
while disease exists^ is not nourishment, but poison, might
sum up so as to obtain a verdict of manslaughter against
some good, but ignorant brother, it may be mother, who gives
food when it ought not to be given.

Such misuse of the coroner's court must therefore be
resisted.

Looking at the past history of medical opinions, and the
treatment of those holding them by their medical brethren, it
is not deemed a very wise thing to allow even medical men
to decide on the opinions of members of their own body ; but
to allow persons not medical to decide points of medical prac-
tice, and the decision to have connected with it criminality,
and the consequences of that criminality, is a stretch of
power so anomalous as to require positive condemnation.

Such an application of the coroner's court, it appears to us,
has been made in the case in question ; and to such an appli-
cation Mr.Wakley was a party principally active, though, as a
barrister of two years' standing, he ought to have known what
the Recorder of London expressed in connexion with this
very case, in his address to the grand jury :

" K the mode of treatment was of a doubtful character, that would not
be sufficient to justify in returning a bill for manslaughter,"

Just fency a medical man attending a patient with the lia-
biUty, (supposing some ignorant, and consequently bold me-
dical man can be brought to swear that his patient died from

274 APPEJTDIX.

SECT. V. exhaustion from want of food,) of having a verdict of man-
slaughter, and the consequences of that verdict, hanging over
his head, in case his patient dies. Such a man's life would he
more miserable than that of a criminal. Yet such is the con-
dition of every medical man in the division of the county of
Middlesex over which Mr. Wakley presides as coroner, if he,
guiding the minds of twelve men on ex parte evidence, is to
have the power of deciding questions of medical practice. K
this be allowed once to settle down into a custom, every medi-
cal man happening to practise his profession within the coro-
nerial range of Mr. Wakley, must ascertain what is Mr. Wak-
ley's medical creed, and either bow to the medical image that
this medical Nebuchadnezzar raises up for medical worship,
or he must flee to the other division of Middlesex for safely.

The public are deeply interested in this question, for if any
one needs clearness of vision, freedom from fear of conse-
quences, in order to enable him to act with success, it is the
medical man when in attendance in cases of danger ; and yet
these cases of danger, if such verdicts as the one in question
are to be admitted without resistance, are the very cases in
whidh he will have to work, under conditions not less painAil
than that represented as the lot of Damocles, who sat en-
throned

" With a Bword hanging by a hair above his head."

Though Mr. Membury Wakley seems unable to under-
stand this, it has been recognized by a judge of no mean posi-
tion, Mr. Baron Piatt, who, in a trial of a medical gentleman for
manslaughter, remarked that " the promulgation of the doc-
trine that medical men are criminally responsible for follow-
ing the dictates of their matured judgment, might have the
effect of preventing surgeons and others from acting with that
confidence and boldness, under peculiar circumstances, to
which the preservation of life and limb is often due." *

As already stated, the evidence of Mr. Davis formed the
material which the deputy-coroner used in the summing up,
which ended in a verdict of manslaughter against Mr. Pearce.

• JotMmcU of Health and jyisease and Monthly Journal of Homoeopathy^ vol. I.
p. 407.

COMMENTS ON EVIDENCE OF MEDICAL WITNESS. 275

The following evidence was given by Mr. Davis : SECT. v.

John Davis. — I am a member of the college of surgeons. I was called
to see the deceased, Kicbard David Pearce, on Monday, the IStb day of
September, at 9 at nigbt. I found bim extremely emaciated and suffering
from sheer exhaustion. / immediately ordered a glass of brandy and water
and nourishment and medicine. I saw him again at eight o'clock on Tues-
day morning, be was then dying. On the previous evening be said be
had been starved by the homoeopathic system. I ordered him to have
brandy and water, beef tea, and milk.

I have made a post mortem examination, and found the liver and kidneys
congested with blood, right side of the heart congested, gall bladder
emptyj lungs congested : there was no fat. The bladder was empty, there
was a small quantity of liquid in the stomach, about an ounce, a brown
liquid. I have, with the assistance of my son, analysed a portion of the
liquid and found a small quantity of arsenic, but not sufficient to cause
death : the cause of the death was exhaustion caused by the want of suffi-
cient food and nourishment, and congestion. The lungs were sufficiently
congested to cause death : there were no signs to lead me to suppose the
deceased bad had the cholera, the appearance of the viscera were not such
as you meet with in cholera.

Having beard the statement of the witnesses, the progress and illness of
the deceased and his medical treatment, and connecting the facts related
with the appearances of the body, externally and internally, when I made
the post mortem examination, I am still of the same opinion as to the
cause of death, namely, the want of sufficient food and nourishment,
and congestion.

The perusal of the evidence given by Mr. Davis at the- in-
quest will present many additional particulars, and to this
evidence reference will be made.

According to Mr. Davis, the deceased " died of want of
sufi&cient food and nourishment, and congestion."

Putting aside the verbiage of "food and nourishment,"
the grounds on which Mr. Davis forms his opinion may be
detailed.

These grounds are three : First, the appearance of the
patient when Mr. Davis saw him first, namely, the night be-
fore he died ; Second, the declaration of the patient, that he
had been starved by the homoeopathic system ; and Third,
the phenomena presented on opening the dead body, the post
MORTEM appearances.

GROUND FIRST.

" I found him extremely emaciated, and suffering from
sheer exhaustion."

M M

276 APPENDIX.

SECT. V. '* Suffering firom sheer exhaustion," not exhaustion simply,
but sheer exhaustion ; that is, exhaustion caused by sheer
want of the means of living : in other words, Mr. Davis con-
veys that the man had been starved.

In coming to this conclusion, Mr. Davis must have disre-
garded the feet, that the patient had had an attack of Asiatic
cholera, which was so severe that Mr. Harris, a surgeon, who
first saw the deceased, declared he believed him to be dying.
Mr. Davis must also, we think, have disregarded the second
fact, that the day Mr. Davis saw the deceased, he had had a
fresh attack of diarrhoea, having had fourteen dejections, a
number sufficient to emaciate even a healthy man. Mr. Davis
must have disregarded the third fiu^t, that the patient had
exposed himself to the cold, by going down on a bleak day,
Sept. 15, into his garden, of his own self-will. Mr. Davis must
have disregarded the fourth fact, of the injuriousness of the ex-
citement of that self-will on his debilitated system. Mr. Davis
must have disregarded the fifth fact, that the effect of this
going down into his garden was such a severe prostration, that
his family had great difficulty to get him back again. Mr. Davis
must have disregarded the sixth fact, that the patient had
had, after escaping the stage of collapse in cholera, the pecu-
liar, typhoid fever so generally occurrent, a fevet almost as
fatal as the collapse itself, and a fever attended with exces-
sive exhaustion.

All these facts were, we think, disregarded by Mr. Davis,
for he hesitates not to avow that the appearance of the patient
indicated that he was suffering from sheer exhaustion.

The patient was, as every one but Mr. Davis would have
supposed, after all these emaciating conditions, "extremely
emaciated." He had, as Mr. Davis aftierwards added in reply
to a remarkable interpellation of the coroner when sum-
ming up, " Any fat ?" " No fat."

This emaciation, by Mr. Davis, was from no cause but
want of food. Such was the drcadfiil starvation, that all the
fat, (it was easy for Mr. Davis to assume that the patient had
had fat before he was diseased,) had been absorbed to supply
nourishment to the sufferer. He had, pelican-like, fed on his
own fat.

COMMENTS ON EVIDENCE OP MEDICAL WITNESS. 277

To Mr. Davis, big with the idea of starvation, it mat- SECT. V.
t:ered not that it is characteristic of Asiatic cholera, that
it emaciates in a few hours the person attacked with
it, so that the appearance of a young man is changed to
-that of a man aged ; it mattered not to Mr. Davis, that the
emaciation produced by this disease is so remarkable as to
have been described by those well acquainted with the dis-
ease as being similar to that shrivelling seen in the hands of
i?<^asherwomen after a long wash.

All these well-known facts had in the mind of Mr. Davis
no weight, it may be presumed because they had no existence
there ; but how Mr. Davis could have the boldness (these
facts having an existence) to imperil a fellow-professional's
reputation, by declaring the emaciation in the deceased was
the result of sheer exhaustion, reminds of the aphorism —

" Fools rush in
Where angels fear to tread."

The second series of evidences given by Mr. Davis as pro-
bative, that the deceased was suffering from sheer exhaustion,
was founded on the statement of the patient.

" On the previous evening he said, he had been starved by
the homoeopathic system." Such is Mr. Davis's deposition.

The assertion of Mr. Davis was obtained at the inquest
thus : —

" He saw him Tuesday morning. Deceased was dying then. On the pre-
vious evening he stated he had been murdered, or starved to -death, or
something to that effect. — Cor. Did he say by what or by whom he had
been starved to death ? — Wit. He said by the homoeopathic system."

Ground of doubt of the accuracy of Mr. Davis's statement
in toto might be fairly raised from the vagueness of the asser-
tion in his evidence, he had been murdered or starved to
death, or " something to that effect."

It is not necessary to invalidate Mr. Davis's statement.
Still it is proper to record the fact, that of the five witnesses
besides Mr. Davis, only two assert that he said he was starved
to death; and these two were those who were least with him.

Eliza Higgins and John Hasted deposed thus : —

Eliza Higgins : " I have heard the deceased complain every hour in the

MM 2

278 APPENDIX.

SECT. Y. day of his wanting food, and he said that he was being starved to death.
He said this the night before he died and for some days before he died."

John Hasted : " On Thursday preceding his death, the deceased man
asked me to ask his brother to let him have some nourishment, as he was
starving."

Such was John Hasted's deposition. In his evidence at the
inquest he stated : —

Cor. Did he ever say he was starved? — ^Wit. He did; he said this on
the Friday night.

The testimony of the three other witnesses is different.
The widow deposed that her husband was always wanting
victuals, and repeatedly said he would have it.

The widow's mother, Sarah Payne, when asked by a juror:

Did he make any remarks about food to you ? — ^WiL None but what 1
have said. Would not tell a story. I will speak the truth.

The coroner asked this witness :

Did you ever hear him say any thing about being starved ? — ^Witness
answered : He requested me to give him a cup of tea.

Mr. Harris deposes nothing respecting starvation.

So that two witnesses who were constantly with the pa-
tient, namely, the wife and the wife's mother, heard nothing
about the starvation, although,, according to Eliza Higgins,
" every hour of the day he said he wanted food, and that he
was being starved to death."

But the most extraordinary fact is, that, though he was
being starved to death " by the homoeopathic system," his
constant wish was to see his brother, the man who starved
him !

Eliza Higgins testifies that —

" Deceased particularly wished to see his brother."

The coroner puts to the widow a leading question : " Did
he not make some remarks respecting the treatment he was
receiving from his brother." The witness replies : " No ; he
made no remarks about that."

And again, a juror asked: " Did deceased wish to see Mr.
Harris again ?" The witness replied : " Yes ; Mr. Pearce
recommended Drs. Epps and Curie ; deceased would not
have them. All he wished for was to see his hrother,^^ Mr.
Pearce recommended the additional homoeopathic advice on

COMMENTS ON EVIDENCE OP MEDICAL WITNESS. 279

;lxe I7th, the day before the patient died ; consequently, up to SECT. V.
ittG last day, the deceased wished to see his brother.

John Hasted, when questioned by the coroner respecting
tlie treatment, thus —

•* Did he say he was satisfied?"
1:1:1 e answer was not " No;" but was —

*' He wondered his brother did not come to see him."
This also was the day before he died.

The coroner fiirther, in endeavouring to obtain evidence
3.S to the opinion of the deceased as to the treatment he expe-
rienced from his brother, asked Sarah Payne : " Did he make
any remarks about the treatment ?" replied : " None."

So that, though all four witnesses testify that the deceased
^wanted to see his brother, though three of them testify
tbat he made no complaint of the treatment to which he was
subjected ; yet, Mr. Davis finds out from the poor man, that
lie was starved by the homoeopathic system.

A man of enlarged mind would have carefully weighed the
value of this assertion of a dying man. A medical man would
have said to himself, that is, if he had had any experience in
fever, and more especially in the typhoid fever of cholera,
this craving for food is a marked feature in many forms of
fevers, but especially in the cholera fever, may not this de-
mand for food be a mark of delirium ? Mr. Davis might
have been led to this conclusion more readily, because the
widow gave evidence and deposed, —

" On Friday, the 14th of September, he went out into the garden, he
vas very exhausted when he came in, and teas quite light headed^

This evidence Mr. Davis heard, but to it he was as the
deaf adder.

A well informed mind would at once have recognized the
probability that this craving for food was the result of disease,
from the fact, known to even the tyro in cholera symptoms,
namely, that in the first stage of cholera there exists an in-
tense craving for drink: drink, drink, is the perpetual cry:
but, who knowing anything of cholera listens to the demand
to give what the patient asks. He would drink gallons of
water if given him, but he vomits all. A well informed mind
would at once have had the idea originated : If this craving

280 APPENDIX.

SECT. V. for drink is a feature of one stage of cholera, may not the
craving for food be a feature of another stage of the cholera,
and as it is necessary to resist the application ia the one case,
is it not equally wise to resist it in the second ?

But, Mr. Davis's mind was filled up with the one idea,
'• death by starvation," and there was no room for all these
little thoughts of ingenuous minds to exercise their modifyiog
influence.

GROUND THIRD.

However unsatisfactory the two grounds are on whieh
Mr. Davis formed the opinion declared in his deposed dictum,
that the deceased died from exhaustion from want of food,
greater still is the want of satisfaction in the third reason.

He asserted that the deceased died of starvation, and when
asked by Mr. Johnston —

«* Will you describe to the jury, what were the indications that brought
you to your conclusions? Mr. Davis. The expressions of the deceased,
and the post-mortem examination."

No room for doubt remains that the phenomena, presented
on examination of the deceased's body after death, constituted
the ground for Mr. Davis's conclusion.

What these phenomena were, were elicited by Mr. John-
ston —

" Mr. Johnston. Will you describe the post-mortem examination ?
Mr. Davis. The lungs and right side of the heart were much engorged;
the liver also and intestines. — Mr. Johnston. Pid you open the stomach
and carefully examine the coats ? Yes. — ^Mr. Johnston. Did you find any-
thing ? Mr. Davis. Some inflammatory spots. — Mr. Johnston. Did you
open the intestinal tube, sir ? Mr. Davis. No. — ^Mr. Johnston. Tell the
jury what are the phenomena when a man dies from starvation ? Mr. Davis.
The same as existed in this case ; no material difference."

From this evidence, it appears that the phenomena pre-
sented, according to Mr. Davis, were, —

1. The lungs were much engorged, i. e., congested ;

2. The right side of the heart was much engorged ;

3. The liver was much engorged ;

4. The intestines were engorged ;

5. The kidneys were congested ;

6. The stomach was empty ; and had some inflammatory
spots on it.

COMMENTS ON EVIDENCE OP MEDICAL WITNESS. 281

7. The intestines were empty. 3ECT. V.

Mr. Taylor, who is Lecturer on Medical Jurisprudence at
Ghiy's Hospital, has published a work, now deemed a stan-
dard work, on the subject of medical jurisprudence. In that
^vrork is a section devoted to the phenomena presented in
death from starvation, and the following are the phenomena
rcaorded :

The lungs are collapsed and destitute of blood; they are
shrunk and contracted : states exactly opposite to these de-
scribed by Mr. Davis as present in the deceased, and
declared by him as indisputably demonstrative that the de-
ceased had died from starvation.

Professor Taylor states in reference to the heart, that it is
collapsed and destitute of blood : a state directly opposite to
that described by Mr. Davis as present in the deceased, and
declared by him as indisputably demonstrative that the de-
ceased had died from starvation.

So that the conclusion must be arrived at, that either
Mr. Taylor or Mr. Davis must be wrong. To suppose
Mr. Taylor to be in error as to the phenomena would be to
suppose that a person, who has paid attention to a subject
with a view to writing a standard work thereon knows less
than a man, who has had no opportunity, and has had no
reason to study the subject at all.

But what mattered to Mr. Davis that the signs described by
him are not the signs present after death from starvation ? It
mattered not to him that in case of starvation the lungs are
collapsed and destitute of blood, and, yet, in the case of Mr.
Pearce they were in a directly opposite state, i. e., congested.
Two incidental points, which Mr. Davis noted as indi-
cative of the exhaustion from starvation, were the stomach
being empty and the intestines being empty.

In reference to the former, any one acquainted with physi-
ology knows that the food always leaves the stomach in four
to six hours after it has been taken ; and, therefore, its
emptiness, per se, is not indicative that the party having the
empty stomach died from starvation.

Some argument might be drawn from the fact of the intes-
tines being empty. Mr. Davis, it will be presumed, would not

282 APPENDIX.

SECT. V. ventare to make this fact to be one point of the evidence on
which he was to injure the reputation of a medical prac-
titioner, without a most careful examination of the intestines
from the stomach to the last gut.

What is the &ct ? Mr. Davis did not open tlve intestines.
So that this extraordinary man could tell that the intestines
were empty without opening them. The eyes of most men
cannot penetrate into a cavity without removing the invest-
ments of the cavity ; but, Mr. Davis's vision enabled him to
penetrate the intestines and to see their interior without
opening them.

*' The stomach aiid the intestines are empty, but healthy,"
Professor Taylor asserts, in case of death from starvation ;
but Mr. Davis states that though the stomach was empty, it
was not healthy, but had on its inner coat inflammatoiy
spots.

Professor Taylor remarks, that in death from starvation,
" There is the most complete prostration of strength, which
renders the individual incapable of the least exertion." (Ma-
mml of Medical Jurisprudence^ p. 636, 2nd edit.) Yet Mr.
Davis knew that the patient bad been into his garden on
the day but one before he saw him.

That upon such evidence as this, a man brought up to the
profession of a barrister should rely is most extraordinary.
The further the inquiry is carried, the more extraordinary
does the evidence become. The following transpired in the
course of the inquest : —

Cor. Did you think deceased had cholera? — Mr. Davis. Cooid not
swear. Ko evidence in post mortem examination to prove the man died of
cholera.

So that Mr. Davis positively testifies that there was no
evidence in the appearances after death to prove the deceased
died of cholera.

The examination proceeds : —

" Coroner questions : Thought it was from exhaustion caused by the want
of food: several organs congested and sufficiently so to cause death: the
lungs and heart much congested."

The examination proceeds by Mr. Pearce asking Mr.DavisJ

** Whether congestion of the internal organs is not an invariable sign

COMMENTS ON EVIDENCE OP MEDICAL WITNESS. 283
after cholera ?" And Mr. Davis replied : " Most ceetainly, most cer- SECT. V.

T A INLY."

So that the deceased presented no signs of cholera in the
examination after death ; nevertheless, congestion of the in-
ternal organs was present ; and though congestion of the
internal organs is an invariable sign after cholera, yet the
patient had no sign of having died of cholera !

Can contradiction descend deeper ? Yet on this evidence
a brother is made to be guilty of the manslaughter of his
brother.

It would have been well Jiad Mr. Davis read Taylor on
Medical Jurisprudence, before venturing to be so dogmati-
cally positive on the appearances in persons dying of starva-
tion. He might then have met with the subjoined, which is
earnestly recommended to his notice : —

" It is unnecessary for me to remark that great responsibility is attached to the
duties of a medical witness, and that any member of the profession may find
himself involved in this responsibility, from circumstances of merely accidental
Datura. He should remember that his duty lies strictly in developing medical
proofs ; and he must endeavour to lay aside that feeling, which often induces us
to see a criminal in every one who happens to be accused: — '* priiis est de
crimine quAm de reo inquirendum.** — (Grotius.) I trust that I may not be
found to have departed from this maxim in treating the subjects contained in this
Manual. While I have endeavoured to bring forward every medical point neces-
sary to establish a crime, I have not concealed the numerous objections to which
medical evidence is exposed. On one side, my object has been to establish
guilt,— on the other, to vindicate innocence. Whether in any case requiring
medical evidence, a person be wrongly or rightly accused, is a question which
rests with the jury, and not with the witness. In recent times, however, it has
been customary to speak of a medical prosecution and defence. A witness who
thus places himself in the position of a medical counsel, entirely forgets that his
evidence should always be given with a view, — ^not to the acquittal or conviction
of a particular individual, but to the vindication of justice, and the due protec-
tion of society ! He appears for the country, and neither for the Crown nor the
prisoner. He is bound to state conscientiously, without scruple or reservation,
the wJwle of the medical facts and doctrines which may be necessary to bring out
the truth. An unqualified answer, returned to a general question, may be the
means of sending a fellow-creature into eternity ; — and morally debased must be
the mind of that individual, who, because he has been selected as a witness either
for the prosecution or defence, thinks that he is justified in giving only as evi-
dence what may appear to favour the prosecution or the prisoner. He should
remember that his oath binds him to speak tJie whole truth, and not merely so
much as may serve the party by whom he is summoned. If he has not the
courage to place himself in this position, he is assuredly not qualified to act as a
witness. He who would strain medical doctrines and distort medical evidence

284 APPEiroix.

SECT. V. before men miable to tert the groimd« of hia professioiua opinion, in order to ex-
tricate one whose guilt was apparent, wonld have very little scruple where his
interest inclined him, to express opinions that might consign an innocent person
to the hands of the executioner. The power of a medical witness in a court
of law is exceedingly great. If it be employed for good, it may be also employed
for evil. A statement may be required as evidence, which will probably become
the turning point of life and death to an accused person ! Is such a statement
to be made a subject of bargam and sale ?— Yet if medical witnesses once give
way to the temptation of rendering themselves partial advocates, it is impossible
to say to what results the practice may ultimately led."— ifomiaZ of Medxxal
Jtiritprvdence, by Alfred Taylor, F.R.S.

]

Chapter VI. — Comments on the Conduct of the Coroner,

•• I feel strongly on the case myself."— Deputy-Coroner Wakley.

Mr. H. M. Wakley, when he made the above observation,
uttered a truth. He did feel strongly, and it is proposed to
present some illustrations of the strength of his feelings: an
exhibition, which, it is 'hoped, will make him in future, when
he feels strongly, to endeavour to feel wisely.

ILLUSTRATION FIRST.

Mr. Harris, the practitioner who first attended the deceased,
was absent at the first and second meeting of the inquest.
His evidence, it might be inferred, would be important, and
Mr. Johnston, Mr. Pearce's legal adviser, required that he
should be called. Several of the jury considered his pre-
sence requisite ; but the coroner

" Did not see the necessity of Mr. Harris being present.**

The inquest was adjourned to enable Mr. Harris to be pre-
sent. His presence was attended with very evident illustra-
tions of its necessity.

Some results of his presence may be noticed.

A juror had inquired of the coroner, at the second day of
meeting of the inquest, respecting the giving up the patient
by Mr. Harris to Mr. Pearce.

" Juror. Do you not think it very strange conduct of Mr. Harris, sir, to
give up a patient in that state ? — Cor, No, sir j it is but a piece of estab-
lished etiquette between medical men in such cases, to quickly retire when
another medical man is called in."

COMMENTS ON CONDUCT OF CORONER. 285

Here the deputy-coroner indicates that Mr. Pearce virtually SECT. v.
caused the dismissal of Mr. Harris — an indication not justi-
fied by any evidence given, and consequently unjustifiably
indicated by the deputy-coroner as a fact ; the more unjusti-
fiably assumed, because had Mr. Pearce so taken the patient
out of Mr. Harris's hands, any gross neglect or gross mal-
treatment would haye had additional criminality attached
to it.

The coroner evidently felt this idea as one of the points on

. which he felt strongly, since, afterwards, when Mr. Pearce,

referring to the state of his brother on Sunday at one o'clock,

bad observed that he visited him simply as a brother, the

coroner thus queried :

" Cor. to Mr. Pearce. Was deceased under your treatment then? — Wit.
No, sir, I refused to treat him. — Cor. Don't you call it treating a man
medically when you rubbed his legs for an hour and a half? — Wit. No,
sir, it was treating him humanely. I rubbed him for humanity's sake.
Should have rubbed you, sir, as long and as well, had you been in that
condition.'*

What judge but one who felt strongly on the case would
have surmised that an act of humanity constituted an act of
niedical treatment, an act of intrusion of himself medically,
an act of extrusion of another medically : in other words, that
rubbing the cramp-affected legs of a suffering brother was an
act dismissing the medical practitioner in previous medical
attendance ?

The importance of Mr. Harris's presence is exhibited in
the fact, that he dissipates by his evidence the whole of the
imaginings of the coroner.

Mr. Harris, in giving his evidence stated, that on leaving
the patient on Sunday night —

*' I requested one of the attendants to inquire whether Mr. Pearce would
like to see a physician ; was then told about Mr. C. T. Pearce, and I requested
to see him ; considered the case then one of great danger. The attendants
said that his brother, Mr. C. T. Pearce, was in the profession, and would
be there in the course of the evening, about half-past nine. — Cor. Did Mr.
C. T. Pearce call to see you ? Mr. H. Yes j I left word that I wished to
see htm. — Cor. After meeting and consulting, did he wish to take the case
out of your hands ? Mr. H. It was so agreed between us. He stated that
he was a homcBopathist, and that he should like that system adopted in

nn2

286 APPENDIX.

SECT. V. the case. — Cor. And in consequence of that remark, you gave the case over
to him ? Mr. H. I transmitted the case to him, and he then requested me
to look in the next day as a friend, to see how matters were going on. —

• Cor. Did you do so ? Mr. IL 1 did so, giving him to understand that I

could not act in concurrence with him, being totally ignorant of that
doctrine.

The coroner proceeds to inquire, as if the matter was not
perfectly clear ; *

" Cor. Did Mr. Pearce take him out of your hands ? Mr. H. No, no, sir."

The importance of Mr. Harris being present is evidenced
in the fact, that he testifies that the patient improved while
under Mr. Pearce's treatment.

" Cor. Was he relieved on the Monday when you called to see him ?
Mr. Harris. He was very much relieved."

The importance of Mr. Harris's presence becomes more
and more apparent, since Mr. Harris testifies that

His private opinion was that he (the patient) died from the results of
disease.

This was a home-thrust for a coroner who felt strongly
on the case. Mr. Deputy-Coroner was not to be put ofi" in
such a manner. He had not studied law in vain. He meets
Mr. Harris's assertion by inquiring —

Cor. How can you form that opinion, that he certainly died from dis-
ease ? In law, that opinion would go for nothing. You must be a most
wonderful medical man to come to such a conclusion, when you did not
see him for eight days.

If Mr. Harris was a wonderful medical man for presuming
to have a private opinion on the death of a patient, Mr. Wak-
ley was a far more wonderful coroner for making Mr. Harris
a wonderful medical man on a ground which, as a coroner,
he was bound to know did not exist. For this very judge
had ascertained by his own question that Mr. Harris had seen
deceased the day before he died.

"Cor. (to Mr. Harris). When did you see the deceased last? Mr. Harris.
On the 17th (the day before the patient died) was called to see Mrs.
Pearce, and saw him then."

Not half an hour after this examination of Mr. Harris, the
deputy-coroner, who had drawn out by his own examination the
fact that Mr. Harris had seen the deceased the day before he
died, calls him a wonderful medical man forgiving an opinion

COMMENTS ON CONDUCT OF CORONER. 287

>vhen he had not seen the patient for eight days. When to SECT. v.
tbis is added that another witness, Eliza Higgins, testified
that Mr. Harris saw the deceased three times after the Sun-
day, can Mr. Wakley's oblivion be explained otherwise than
by the acknowledgment he made —

" I feel strongly on the case."

And this conclusion is the more sustained, when it is re-
tnembered the great deference paid by the coroner to Mr.
Davis, as long as he testified that he died from sheer exhaus-
tion, from want of food ; directly, however, Mr. Davis began
to modify his opinion, the coroner then began to treat him as
a barrister does when brow-beating a witness. (See page 290.)

ILLUSTRATION SECOND.

The state of mind expressed by Mr, Wakley," I feel strongly
on the case myself," affords the explanation of many absurdi-
ties into which the coroner fell.

" Dr. Kelsall. Has had much experience in Asiatic cholera, and has
formed the conclusion, that the very key-stone of safety to the patient is
the abstaining from food from the moment he is attacked to the moment
that he is convalescent."

The coroner then asks the following stupid question :

" Suppose it lasts for twelve months then ?"

How any man could commit himself by asking a question
so egregiously absurd, is wonderful ; but how a judge could
ask such a question, is so extraordinary, that nothing but the
feeling strongly on the case can explain the fact. Such a
remark might pass for a joke, but jokes were not suited to the
dignity of the judge in a court of justice, or of the court in
which he was the judge.

ILLUSTRATION THIRD.

Another exhibition of the truth of the acknowledgement,
" I feel strongly on the case myself," is afforded in the mode
of eliciting information from the witnesses.

Mr. Deputy-Coroner Wakley is, as has been already stated,
a barrister of two years standing. He must, therefore, know
that it is a rule laid down by the highest judicial authorities,

288 APPENDIX.

SECT. V. and practised by the best men at the bar, not to put questions
so as to lead the witness ; and, if some one should foolisUy
attempt to do this, the question is immediately opposed*

A few of Mr. Deputy-Coroner's questions may be se-
lected:
Cor. Did he say by what or by whom he had been starved to death?
" By what or by whom^^ rather comprehensive.

Cor. Did he not make some remarks respecting the treatment he was
receiving from his brother ?

This question " did he ^ot " has rather an inviting-answer
attached to it, and it was addressed to the widow.

Cor. Did he ever say he was starved ?

This was addressed to John Hasted.

Cor. Did you ever hear him say anything aboat being starved ?

This was addressed to the mother-in-law.

Supposing, as Mr. Wakley's position as a barrister requires,
that he should know the proper mode of questioning, this
mode of questioning, taken with all the connecting circum-
stances, evidently was adopted with the view of damaging
Mr. Pearce, and can be explained only on the supposition that
Mr. Wakley felt, as he acknowledged, strongly on the case.

ILLUSTRATION FOURTH.

The coroner having so far the knowledge of law as to
know that a dying testimony of a man has legal weight, and
having learned from Eliza Higgins that the deceased com-
plained of being starved the night before he died, the coroner
immediately inquired,

Did he know he was dying ? Wit That I am not aware of.

Foiled here, the coroner asks.

Did you consider he was dying ? Wit. I do not know.

Foiled still, the coroner asks,

Did you hear him say that he felt his end approaching ? Wit. I did not

ILLUSTRATION FIFTH.

The most extraordinary exemplification of the strong feel-
ing on the case experienced by the coroner, is afforded by the
following.

COMMENTS ON CONDUCT OF CORONER. 289

The coroner drew out of Mr. Davis, by a leading question^ SECT. v.
-t^hat the deceased had asserted that he was starved by the
liomoeopathie system.

When Mr, Johnston said —

" He had with him two medical gentlemen, Drs. Epps and Kelsall ; he
-wished to have their opinion brought before the jury; that is, their opi-
nion of the case as treated by Mr. Pearce, in order that the jury may be
convinced that the patient has been properly treated.'*

The coroner replied—

" The question is rather as to the deceased's dying in consequence of not
having sufficient food j so that homoeopathy has nothing to do with the
present case ; the system may be well and good enough : this is another
thing : but the patient seemed to have died in consequence of want of
food."

Having thus made homoeopathy to have a great deal to do
-with it, namely, having obtained the assertion that the dying
man stated, that by the homoeopathic system he was starved,
the deputy-coroner, when the solicitor for Mr. Pearce wished
to bring evidence in reference to that system, finds that
•* homoeopathy has nothing to do with the present case."

But still, though homoeopathy has nothing to do with the
present case, the deputy-coroner proceeds to unfold Ms homoe-
opathy —

"I believe that the homcBopathic principle is, that if the patient is purged,
that you go on purging ; if sick, you make him sicker.**

Having thus developed his homoeopathy and in so develop-
ing exhibited his ignorance, (for gross indeed must be his
ignorance to put forth as the reality the opposite to what is
taught by homoeopathy), and having by this judicial statement
biassed the minds of the jury against homoeopathy, the deputy-
coroner in his summing up, drags in homoeopathy, which he
had previously stated, " had nothing to do with the present
case :" remarking —

" The jury has to consider who it was withheld the food, at the same time
it appears, that he has been treated homoBopathically."

So that after all it has to do. And Mr. Deputy Coroner
proceeds to make it do most effectually :

** Now, this is a treatment looked upon by the profession as a species of
humbug, or quackery."

And then after adding that he did not think that Mr. Pearce •

290 APPENDIX.

SECT. V. had exhibited great or gross neglect, he adds, " but tlie case
has been treated homoeopathieally."

It is asked, without hesitation, is a man who sums up thus
fit to sit on the judgment seat ? A man, who declares that ho-
moeopathy has nothing to do with the case : who then gives an
absurd and positively erroneous statement of what is home-
opathy, and then designating it humbug, and then declares,
though there was no gross neglect, " the case had been treated
homoeopathieally.''

ILLUSTRATION SIXTH.

How strongly Mr. Wakley felt on the case is evidenced, by
the anxiety he expressed, when Mr. Davis wanted to modify
his e^ddence, or rather the conclusion from his evidence.

" Mr Davis here wished to qualify the statement, * That it was from
want of food.' Of course it was coupled with the disease and debility, as
well as the absence of food.**

Coroner. Heard nothing of this on a former occasion. (Reads.) " The
cause of death was exhaustion from the want of food."

Mr Davis. And the disease : of course the absence of food helped.

Coroner. — ^You must repeat your evidence again, sir.

Mr Davis said he found him labouring under cholera together tcith
tcant of food.

Coroner. Will have a direct answer ; did he die from disease or from
want of food ? Mr Davis. Could not conie to a certfitn conclusion : the
patient said he wanted food.

Coroner, (sharply). Did he die from exhaustion, Mr Davis ? Mr Davis.
I believe he did.

Coroner. Then, you mean to say, that the man died from exhaustion
from disease, as well as from want of food? Mr Davis. Yes, sir. —
Coroner. "Was the disease caused by want of food ? — ^Mr Davis. That I
cannot say. — Coroner. Would want of food produce congestion? Mr
Davis. It would. — Coroner. You found congestion, Mr Davis? Mr
Davis. I did.

Coroner. Mr Davis modifies his evidence now : he says the want of
food would cause the congestion. Mr Davis (rather angrily) said, that
disease and hunger together, — Coroner. Considers it amounts to the same
thing.

What sapience ! a man dying from disease and hunger is
the same as dying from hunger alone. Unhappy Middlesex.

WHAT THE SUMMING UP OUGHT TO HAVE BEEN. 291

Chapter VII. — What the Summing up of the Deputy-
Coroner ought to have been.

The summing up of the deputy-coroner has already been SECT. v.
given, (p. 255). That it is characterized by the state of
mind, '* I feel strongly on the case myself," does not admit
of doubt. To show how grievously that summing up was
influenced by this state of mind, it is proposed to present a
summing up in accordance with the evidence : —

Gentlemen of the Jury,
This inquest is held because Mr. Davis, who was the medical
stttendant that saw the deceased last, did not feel justified in
signing a certificate as to the cause of death being cholera.
Mr. Davis declared his opinion at first that he died fi-om ex-
haustion from want of food ; subsequently he modified that
opinion, and stated that the deceased died from exhaustion
from disease, as well as from want of food. In support of
that opinion, the evidence of Mr. Davis has reference to three
points ; first, the appearance of the patient, " he looked ex-
hausted;" second, the statement of the patient, the night before
he died, " that he was starved by the homoeopathic system ; "
and third, the ^^post mortem appearances,*^ Other evidence was
brought to prove that the patient said he wanted food, and
also that he demanded food, and that he was starved.

As this opinion, put forth by Mr. Davis, is attended with
grave consequences to the brother of the deceased, who at-
tended him previous to Mr. Davis, Mr. Davis no doubt care-
fally considered the matter before he gave the opinion which
he has expressed, there being no point which requires greater
caution in forming an opinion than upon medical treatment.
It will be my duty to go over the evidence with precision.

And here, at the outset, let me remark, you must not ima-
gine that because a sick man says he is this or that, that
it is true. It is quite common for persons, while under the
influence of disease, to say that they are eternally damned,
that they are being murdered, and yet they are persons of the
most exemplary Christian character and surrounded by the

292 APPENDIX.

SECT. V. kindest friends ; so the deceased, labouring under a peculiar
fever, and being, as his wife deposed, in her opinion, " insane
or light-headed," might have expressed strongly his belief that
he was starved ; but this testimony is not to be regarded as
being a testimony to a &ct, but as an evidence of the state of
his mind while labouring under a disease. To this statement
of his opinion I cannot recommend you to attach any weight ;
and this I have the less hesitation in declaring, because till
Wednesday, while he was most abstinent, he was improving,
and afier that period, when he became worse, he appears, by
the evidence of the witnesses, to have had beef-tea, Ac, i. e.
to have been not so abstinent.

It is true that Mr. Davis, who, as stated, was the medical
practitioner who saw the deceased last, testifies that the ap-
pearance of the patient and the post mortem appearances
indicated that he had died from exhaustion from want of
food. This is evidence highly important. Still it is my duty
to add that Mr. Davis has modified his testimony to-day, in
stating that he died from exhaustion from disease, as well as
from want of food. In opposition to this view, Mr. Harris
deposes that he believes the patient died from the effects of
the disease, and as Mr. Harris saw the patient at the com-
mencement, and therefore knew the severity of the first at-
tack, and saw him also on the 17th, the day before he died,
his opinion is of equal value as that of Mr. Davis, because
Mr. Davis, having seen him only in the night before and on
the day of his death, could not judge of the effects on the pa-
tient's constitution of all that he had gone through during the
week preceding his attendance.

I may fru-ther add, that it is well known that this disease,
Asiatic cholera, which Mr. Harris testifies the patient had
when he attended, so alters an individual, that a robust-look-
ing man is changed in a few hours to the appearance of a man
aged, and hence I think that the appearance of a patient
when seen by Mr, Davis, (it having been proved, by witnesses,
that the deceased had had an attack of cholera,) is not to be
taken into consideration.

It is painftil to me, however, to draw your attention to a
great discrepancy in Mr. Davis's statement as to the pQst

WHAT THE SUMMING UP OUGHT TO HAVE BEEN. 298

mortem appearances. He defK)sed, that " there was no evi- SECT. v.
dence, from the post mortem examination, to prove that the
man died from cholera;" he fiirther stated, that "the appear-
ances presented when a man dies of starvation are the same
as existed in this case, no material diflFerence ;" but then,
having deposed further, that there was congestion of internal
organs, and being further asked, " Whether congestion of the
internal organs is not an invariable sign after cholera ? " he
replies, " Most certainly." So that this witness declares that
the patient has no signs of having died of cholera, and yet he
has all the signs : so that, unless the signs of starvation are
the same as those that are presented after death from cholera,
(of which we have no evidence,) the testimony of Mr. Davis
evidently establishes that the patient died from cholera.

As to the patient having been treated homoeopathically,
with that we have nothing to do. Every medical man is jus-
tified in using the means which he deems best suited for the
cure of disease, and as Dr. Kelsall has testified that he has
had great success in the treatment of this disease, he pursuing
the homoeopathic method, and he having adopted abstinence
as a part of that treatment, all ground of charge against Mr.
C. T. Pearce, on the score that he treated his brother homoe-
opathically, is removed. In fact, as a lawyer, I have to inform
you, that it is not one of the objects of the coroner's court to
decide upon modes of practice, even though they be doubtfiil.
I feel bound to add, that success seems to have attended
Mr. Pearce's efforts, and it was only, when, from an attack of
Asiatic cholera, he was unable personally to attend his bro-
ther, that the progress seems not to have been so great ; still
he prescribed from a daily statement, and obtained the aid of
Dr. M*Oubrey; and further, recommended the patient's fiiends
to obtain further homoeopathic advice : so that he seems to
have exhibited neither gross neglect nor gross and unskilfiil
treatment, the only grounds on which any charge against
him would rest.

My opinion, therefore, is that Mr. C. T. Pearce did the best
he could under the circumstances, and though I respect the
conscientious scruples of a medical man preventing him from
signing a certificate when he has some doubts, yet I cannot

294 APPENDIX.

SECT. V. help expressing my conviction, that it would have been &r
more in accordance with that honourable feeling which ought
to exist between gentlemen of the same profession, if Mr.
Davis had communicated to Mr. Pearce his difficulties, and
then, if not resolvable after consultation with Mr. Pearce and
Mr. Harris, to have called an inquest.

My conclusion, therefore, is that the patient died from cho-
lera, a disease, a feature of which, as most know, is its dread-
All fatality.

CuAPTEU VIII. — Remarks of the Press.

The following remarks upon the trial itself show what the
gentlemen of the profession, though not believing in homoe-
opathy, think of the vulgarized judicial and journalist oppo-
nents of this mode of medical treatment.

The matter quoted is from the Medical Gazette^ p. 761,
vol. XLiv., New Series.

" We elsewhere insert the report of a recent trial at the
Central Criminal Court, in which a medical student was
charged with having caused the death of his brother by
hotnwopathic practice. Neither the indictment nor the evi-
dence sustained the charge. The former alleged that death
had been caused by reason of the accused not having allowed
the deceased suJlcierU food and nourishment ; but the medical
evidence clearly established that the deceased was suffering
from malignant cholera, and that he was in a very critical
state before he was seen by the defendant : in &ct, the medi-
cal witness for the prosecution admitted that when he first
saw the deceased the disease was of itself sufficiently urgent to
have caused death. It is not surprising, from this evidence,
that the Grand Jury should have thrown out the bill, and
that the jury at the trial, without calling for a defence, should
have returned a verdict of Not Gkiilty, There are hundreds
of medical practitioners who might with equal reason have been
put upon their trial for the results of their cholera practice.
Those who have resorted to the free employment of iced
drinks and cold water, and who had not at the same time
provided food and nourishment for their patients, under the

REMARKS OF Tfl£ PR£SS. 295

xdea that the viscera were incapable of assimilating it, hxive SECT. v.
^ad a very narrow escape. We could name half a dozen prac-
-fcitioners, who, upon this peculiar view of the crime of man-
slaughter, ought to have been placed in the dock at the Old
JBailey, to answer for the unfortunate results of their practice.
The case might well call forth the indignant remonstrance of
-the judge, Mr. Justice Maule, who, after all the evidence for
the prosecution had been given, said, ' How any man could
be found to say that the defendant was guilty of manslaughter
I cannot conceive.'

"We are no defenders of homoeopathy or homoeopathic prac-
tice, as our columns have at various times sufficiently proved;
but we regard anything like persecution, whether directed
against medical student or practitioner, with aversion. It
damages the character of the profession, and weakens the
power of its members to benefit the public, by the prosecu-
tion of unlicensed practitioners.

" We cannot conclude these remarks without directing
attention to the very unpleasant position in which the medical
vntness placed himself by not giving a plain answer to a plain
question.

" ' Mr. Justice Maule. — Would it be a proper course in the
case of a cholera patient who was in a state of collapse to give
solid food, or would the bowels be in a condition to receive it ?

" ' Witness. — He could have had liquid food.

" ' Mr. Justice Maule. — Why do you not answer the ques-
tion ? Would it be proper to give solid food ?

" ' Witness.— No.'

" Whatever a witness may think of the relevancy or irre-
levancy of a question put to him by a judge, barrister, or
coroner, he should always give a plain straightforward answer.
If a lawyer does not obtain a plain answer at once, he will be
sure to extract it, to the discomfiture of the witness, in a
circumlocutory way. The judge said nothing about liquid
food ; and if, after having replied to the question as the witness
was subsequently compelled to reply, in the negative, he had
qualified his answer by stating that the stomach in this case
might have received and retained liquid food, he would have
equally attained his object, and have avoided exciting the dis-

296 APPENDIX.

SECT. V. pleasure of the court. We must admit, however, that by the
verdict of the coroner's jury the medical witness in this case
was placed in a most unfortunate position. He was expected
to prove that a man labouring under an attack of malignant
cholera had died, not from the disease, although this was
admitted to have been urgent enough to have caused death,
but from the want of sufficient food and nourishment with-
held from him by the accused, when, as the witness admitted,
in answer to a question from the learned judge, he saw nothing
which induced- him to believe that the defendant had acted
improperly in the case ! "

The next quotation is from the Spectator, a journal that
did good suit and service against Mr. Wakley; a service
which, under the title of " Bloomsbury College," Mr. Wakley
will remember.

AN ENGLISH INQUISITION AGAINST MEDICAL HERESY.

TO THE EDITOB OF THE SPECTATOR.

St, JohfCB Wood, Nov. I, 1849.

Sir, — Unhappy Middlesex has for Deputy Coroner Mr.
Henry M. Wakley; whose chief qualification for the office
appears to be that he is the son of his &ther. Doubtless, as
the law now stands, that is technically a sufficient qualifica-
tion, when backed by that father's warrant ; but there was
once a Thomas Wakley whose deep-mouthed patriotism would
fain have made the very stones of Finsbury to rise and mutiny
against such an abuse of patronage. No more of that, how-
ever : men are but men ; and if the most popular of coroners
will put his own son into a snug berth that should be filled
by a better man, the £siult is not so much in the individual as
in human nature, and in the laws which sanction the custom
of converting offices of public trust into family chattels and
hereditaments.

Mr. Wakley, junior, has lately signalized himself by a dis-
play of amazing — stupidity let us mildly call it, in his judicial
capacity, to the cruel injury of an unoffending man. On
Saturday last, Mr. Charles Thomas Pearce, a medical student,
was tried at the Old Bailey, on the coroner's inquisition, for
manslaughter alleged to have been committed on his own

REMARKS OF THE PRESS. 297

brother. The following were the main facts brought out in sect. v.
eYidence.

The deceased was attacked with cholera on the 8th of
September last. On the 9th, he was visited and prescribed for
by Mr. Harris, a surgeon; who of his own accord resigned
the case to Mr. Charles Pearce ; and the latter had charge
of it from Monday, September 10th, to the Wednesday night
following. On the 13th, he was himself seized with cholera ;
and his brother was transferred to the care of another surgeon,
who continued to prescribe for him until the 18th, when he
died. Thus, it appears, that the fatal illness extended over a
period of eleven days ; during the first two and last six of
vrhich the defendant took no part in its management. He
was charged, nevertheless, with having "feloniously killed
and slain " his brother, by preventing him (for three days !)
" from having sufficient food and victuals for the nourishment
of his body." What! said Mr. Justice Maule, when the
evidence on this point was given, "is it meant to be con-
tended that a sick man cannot survive three days' abstinence
from food ? If that were true, I should not now be sitting
here." Yet was it on something surpassing even that absurd
assumption in its wild defiance of common sense and common
experience, that the whole case for the prosecution was
founded. Mr. Charles Pearce withheld solid food from his
patient for three days — not all food ; for, said his brother's
widow in her cross-examination, the defendant " ordered gruel
for the deceased on Tuesday, and told me to give it him, two
teaspoonsfiil at a time." And these were the facts which
a jury, presided over by Mr. Deputy-Coroner Wakley,
considered sufficient to warrant a charge of manslaughter !
The jury in the higher court did not even require any defence
before they acquitted the accused ; and Mr. Justice Maule,
who tried the case, received their verdict with this emphatic
declaration : " How any man could be found to say that this
defendant was guilty of manslaughter, I cannot conceive : it
appears that he was called in in a desperate case, and that
he did everjrthing it was possible to do under the circum-
stances."
No unprejudiced person will dispute the fitness of Mr. Justice

298 APPENDIX.

SECT. V. Maule's concluding observations, or &il to see that they amount
to a most severe censure on the proceedings. Has Mr. Wakley,
junior, no discreet friend to point out to him the propriety
of confining himself to the question before him : the deputy-
coroner rushed into a disquisition on homoBopathy, which he
assured the jury was a system of " humbug and quackery.''
His rigmarole on this totally irrelevant topic had its effect
in the return of the foolish verdict so pointedly con-
demned by the judge of assize. The fact is, Mr. H. M.
Wakley mistakes altogether the nature, objects, and uses of
the office of coroner. The business of a coroner is, to
enquire into facts and calmly weigh and state the evidence to
the jury, and not to compel men to discuss medical theories
upon oath, or to set up his own theories as a medical man.
We think it was a great error on the part of the freeholders
to elect a medical man to the office.

This case, Mr. Editor, affi)rds another proof of what you
lately urged — namely, that the interest of the public demand
the creation of means for openly, fully, and impartially testing
novel facts and doctrines in medicine, so that those who are
desirous of truth, and of truth only, should no longer be misled
by blundering or deceitful guides, or distracted by the clamour
of contending sects. It is desirable that the world should at
last be enabled to come to some settled conclusion respect-
ing homoeopathy, if it were only for the sake of public
decency. Let it have a &ir field, and stand or fidl by its
own merits. If the system is true, the Sooner its truth
is universally recognized the better; if &lse, surely more
effectual means may be found for making its falsehood ap-
parent. I am, Sir, &c„

W. K. K,

The foregoing letter was copied into the Eocaminer^ which
expressed its entire concurrence in the observations contained
in it.

From the Journal of Health and X>i8ea^e and Monthly
Journal of Homceopathy.

The subjoined is selected from the numerous expressions
of indignation the conduct of Mr. M. Wakley has called
forth.

REMARKS OF THE PRESS. 299

Comment on the Trial of Charles Thomas Pearce. sect. v.

*• This man seems to have heen doctored as well as he could : how any
man can he found to say this defendant is guilty of manslaughter, I cannot
possibly imagine : it appears he was called in in a desperate case, and did
every thing it was possible to do under the circumstances." — Justice
3faule,

Well might Judge Maule express his surprise that any jury
could have returned a verdict of manslaughter in the case of
C. T. Pearce : the reason why they did return such a verdict
is however simple enough, when it is plainly stated : and as
it involves a principle of great public interest, whether any
[Englishman ought to be imprisoned in Newgate at the caprice
of one individual, and after a sojourn of seven days in a
felon's celJ, be called before a judge to plead, it is requisite
that the cause of this extraordinary verdict should be ex-
plained. The history of the verdict which excited the surprise
of the judge, is just this —

Mr. Deputy Coroner Wakley, " feels strongly on the sub-
ject of homoeopathy;" in his wisdom he deems it "humbug
and quackery :" ei^o, he thinks all such humbugs and quacks
fit objects for his prlu^tical jokery, and determines to make
them also feel strongly that he disapproves of homoeopathy :
a seemingly fitting opportunity presents itself for the expres-
sion of his disapprobation, and in his eagerness to crush a
mode of therapeutics, he hates without comprehending, he
commits an act which has as much the appearance of illega-
lity as of prejudice.

It is to be hoped that Mr. Wakley will learn, from the ge-
neral expression of indignation at the verdict against Mr,
Pearce, that it will not do in these days to allow the opinions
of the proprietor of a medical periodical to be operative in the
mind of a judge. If Mr. Wakley is to hold the dignified posi-
tion of a judge, he must seek to obtain the mental condition
necessary to a judge, which is perfect impartiality. No cha-
racter is higher than the judicial ; and he who, in any respect,
does anything to degrade it in public estimation, is the worst
enemy to the liberties of his country, however loudly he
may talk about freedom.

p p

800 APPENDIX.

SECT. V. Extract from " The Morning Post'' Newspaper, (leading
article,) of Saturdat/, October 13, 1849.

The report of an inquest which has been twice adjourned,
and only on the occasion of the jury assembling for the third
time could be decided, appeared in our paper, of Wednesday
last.

The account we published was headed, *^ Manslaughter
against a homoeopathic doctor i^ but as, on reflection, we deem
it possible that the title which introduced the report may, by
seeming to confirm a prejudice which really has nothing to do
with the case, be the means of injury to the accused^ we un-
hesitatingly retract the expression we have used.

Mr. Richard D. Pearce, (ought to be Charles T. Pearce)
against whom a verdict of manslaughter has been returned is,
it appears, upon conviction a supporter of the homoeopathic
doctrine; but though he acted as secretary to a dispensary es-
tablished to carry out such principles, he was not shown to
have engaged in practice, and therefore we were in error when
we gave him the title of practitioner. He is a student at the
London University, where he has attended four years, being
on the eve of appearing before the examiners who grant me-
dical diplomas. His position is one of peculiar distress, and
we cannot do otherwise than sympathize with a gentleman
who, while free from the most distant suspicion of moral cul-
pability, will be obliged in a court of justice to refute a most
serious charge.

Mr. Pearce's professional prospects cannot be advantaged
by the delay to which the verdict of the coroner's jury will
subject him ; but we confid^itly trust that no circumsta^ice
will be allowed, after the trial has decided the question of his
innocence, to aggravate the disappointment he must necessarily
endure. He stands in a situation of almost tragic interest,
and commiseration is excited as we view the conditions by
which he is surrounded. The deceased was the brother of the
accused, and being attacked with a dangerous dianiioea a re-
gular practitioner, in the first instance, was called in to treat
the disorder. There are some counter statements concerning
the view taken of the case by the original attendant, but in

REMARKS OF TUB PRESS. 301

vrliatever light it was regarded, there is no doubt that Mr. sect. v.
Pearce ultimately undertook to minister to his brother's com-
plaint. He does not appear to have interposed with rudeness,
or to have used any right that relationship can bestow with an
undue show of authority, since the gentleman he superseded
did not see proper to entirely discontinue his visits. From
motives of a£Pection, and a conscientious belief that certain
measures known to himself would preserve his brother's life,
Mr. Pearce upon the evidence seems to have interposed. His
intentions were pure, and the convictions which emboldened
him are shared by a great number of educated persons, while
the duties of his secretaryship had, we may suppose, given him
opportunities of practical observation. He was, moreover, rxp
youth likely to rashly hazard an experiment, but when passed
thirty-four years of age, he had for a considerable period ap-
plied himself seriously to the study of medicine.

The patient however died, and a coroner's inquest was
summoned to ascertain the cause of death. We lament that
throughout the investigation a great deal of professional feel-
ing appears to have been displayed, but in the summing-up of
the coroner every semblance of decency seems, in the heat of
partisanship, to have been discarded. Mr. H. M.Wakley "told
the jury that the homoeopathic treatment was looked upon by
the medical profession as a species of quackery and humbug."
Language so strongly flavoured with abuse certainly sounds
oddly when associated with the character of the judge. The
coarseness and vulgarity of the expressions are, however, se-
condary to the absence of strict agreement with truth which
the words discover, and their total want of applicability to the
matter which the jury had to decide upon.

That a majority, and a very large majority, of the gentlemen
who follow the medical profession entertain sentiments of pro-
found contempt for the homoeopathic doctrine, we do not
deny; but a majority does not constitute the whole, and it is a
feet that those who practice homoeopathy are recognized mem-
bers of the different colleges by which medicine is represented.
If therefore some ridicule, others believe ; and the statement
when £Edrly made warrants no absolute conclusion either fa-
vourable or adverse to the principles in question.

pp 2

302 APPENDIX.

SECT. V. The tendency of the evidence, however, if it could establish
anything, went to prove that the deceased perished from star-
vation. Mr. Davis, who examined the body after death, de-
clared that he found the viscera healthy ; and if we grant such
to have been the case, then also must we admit that the reme-
dial measures that had been adopted were judicious and
effective. The signs by means of which a disease is charac-
terized had been during life removed, and the medical treat-
ment, consequently, had left nothing for the jury to consider.
That matter had been settled anil thoroughly disposed of,
therefore when Mr. H. M. Wakley took advantage of the
official position to promulgate the opinions or prejudices of
his party, he was guilty of an offence wliich is aggravated by
the vulgar acrimony of its expression.

Dietetics and therapeutics are no less distinct from one an-
other than are food and physic, when we view the subject
strictly, neither the magnitude of the dose nor the nature of
the nourishment administered can be confounded v^dth the
maxim in which the peculiarity of Hahnemann's opinions is
expressed. The support allowed may have been insufficient —
it certainly seems to have been very limited, and such severity
of regimen appears to us to be most injudicious ; nevertheless,
there was no evidence to demonstrate that it had in this case,
so successfully treated in other respects, been the cause of
death. When Mr. Davis examined the body, he found the
stomach empty; but as the deceased had, during the last
twenty-four hours of life, been under that gentleman's
care, and as, when he first saw the patient, he states that
there was a craving for food, the condition of the stomach
after death with respect to its contents, if of any importance
to the verdict, rather tells against the measures adopted by his
successor than against those employed by the accused. Iced
water and thin gruel were by Mr. Pearce administered, and
though such spare diet is less than we think life demands du-
ring the existence of an exhausting disease, nevertheless a
witness was found in Dr. Kelsall to openly attest the practical
results obtained by such enforced abstinence ; and assuredly
the post mortem went far to confirm thtf boldness of the doc-
tor's assertions.

REMARKS OF THE PRESS. 303

That the verdict of the coroner's jury will ever be confirmed SECT. v.
is not to be supposed. There is no case to submit to a jury,
£tnd had the matter been in the sUghtest degree dubious, we
should not have made it the subject of remark. On principle
Ave are opposed to any interference of the press which possibly
might influence the court of justice. We are often silent up-
on topics on which our contemporaries hesitate not to com-
ment ; but when we see a form of law perverted, and facts
distorted to gratify party animosity, we recognize a duty far
stronger than the observance of any outward propriety. - We
have therefore on this occasion, violated a rule of conduct
which we generally respect ; for, though the homoeopathic
doctrine may be untenable, and the measures adopted by
Mr.Pearce may have been improper, yet, as the facts were not
proved, we cannot forbear from expressing sympathy for the
gentleman who, in consequence of motives honourable to hu-
man nature, has been dragged from the privacy of domestic
sorrow to answer a charge that appears to have no foun-
dation.

The subjoined is another testimony from the Morning Post,
Dec. 14, 1849, to the conduct exhibited towards Mr. Pearce.

" The Journal of Health and Disease, and Monthly Journal
of Homoeopathy, Nos. 5 and 6. — Sherwood and Co., 23,
Paternoster-row.

The major portion of both these numbers is devoted to the
report of, and remarks upon the trial of Mr. Charles Thomas
l^earce, who was some short time since, in consequence of
the verdict returned by a coroner's jury, committed to prison
on the charge of manslaughter. Our readers will remember
that we, in a leading article, noticed the injustice of the case,
and commented upon the cruelty of the decision. Against
the accused we saw no distant prospect of substantiating the
charge, and therefore we declared that there was no case to
submit to a jury. The result justified our conclusion; for,
after only two of the witnesses for the prosecution had been
examined, Mr. Justice Maule interfered, and Mr. Pearce
was discharged. The editor, with great good sense, makes

304 APPEITDIX.

SECT. V. no remark upon these extraordinary circumstances, but he
gives full reports of the trial and inquest, leaving these to do
their work, which they certainly perform most effectually.
We trust it will be some time before we again behold a judi-
cial station converted into a medium for giving publicity to
professional spite or personal prejudice. Nothing tends more
to lower the medical character thui those outbursts of vulgar
intemperance which certain of our coroners are too apt to in-
dulge in. A profession suffers in general estimation when
the persons who are supposed to have been chosen from its
ranks on the ground of their superior merit display an incapa-
city to observe the customary decencies of behaviour.

Mr. Pearce has been subjected to considerable hardship.
A case of so much cruelty ought not to be allowed to remain
where it now stands, and we hope to see it hereafter taken up
in a proper spirit. Homoeopathists are not to be persecuted
for their opinions. They may be wrong in much of their
doctrine ; but, if they are, there exist a very large number
who, for such a reason, should rather look on them with
sympathy than with indignation. Homoeopathy, however, is
not all wrong ; for it has, on a few points at all events, taught
those who presume to judge it. We are indebted to it for the
introduction of Arnica and Aconite into general practice;
and the profession which has been instructed by its teaching
ought not to be so very severe in condemnation of its practice.
Willingly would we see the feuds which now distract medicine
and retard its operative utility merged in one common effort
to ascertain the truth. Exposure such as results from the
trial of Mr. Pearce injures the respectability of the whole
body of practitioners, and the moral lesson which the inci-
dents convey should not be overlooked."

Medical Science and Coroners* Law. — Froin the
" Economist," Dec. 1.5, 1849.

The case of Mr. C. T. Pearce, committed in October last,
by the warrant of the Coroner for Middlesex, to Newgate, on
a charge of manslaughter, because his brother died from
cholera after he had been a few days under Mr, C. T. Pearce*s

REMARKS OF « THE PRESS. 305

care, and afterwards tried and acquitted without entering sect. v.
into his defence, is likely, according to a statement in the
Journal of Health and Disease^ to be made the subject of
parliamentary investigation. We abridge, therefore, from
that journal an outline of the case as deserving, both for the
interests of science and of law, the attention of the public.

Mr. C. T. Pearce is the Honorary Secretary of the English
Homoeopathic Association, and the coroner who committed
him is the son of Mr. Wakley. The latter is a barrister, and
yet a very young man \ but he is closely connected, by feel-
ing and interest, with allopathic practitioners. In summing
up, he said that homoeopathy was looked upon by all the
prc^essional and intellectual men of this country as quackery.
The principal testimony, or rather declaration against Mr.
G.T. Pearce was that of Mr. Davis, belonging to the allopathic
school, with which the homoeopathists wage an intense war.
Mr. C. T. Pearce seems so have been a strong partisan of the
homoeopathists, for he declared that he would not ^' subject a
dog" to the treatment of the allopathic practitioners. The
dispute was really between the believers in two different
theories of medicine ; and the coroner, being biassed appa-
rently in favour of one, committed the homoeopathist to
Newgate for manslaughter. The grand jury ignored the bill.
Mr. Justice Maule, before whom the case was tried, pro-
nounced a very strong opinion on the coroner's verdict, when
he said, after hearing aU the evidence for the prosecution,
^^ How any person can say the man is guilty of manslaughter
I cannot imagine." Mr. Membury Wakley took on himself
the task for which Pope could find no fit person, of deciding
" when doctors disagree ; " but a higher authority than the
youthful coroner reversed his decision, and indirectly passed
a severe censure on his presumption.

We might be disposed, as the young coroner was, and as
some others were, to joke about the matter, but we cannot
forget the consequence of partisanship, hasty decision, and
bad law. A gentleman, perfectly innocent in intention,
scrupulously careful in his professional practice — even if
erroneous — ^who had to mourn the loss of his brother, and
was himself laid up with cholera, that gentleman was, in the

306 APPENDIX.

SECT. V. name and by the instramentality of the law, which is made
and obeyed only for the common benefit, vrrongfully dragged
off to gaol, kept there for several days, and put to great
expense and inconvenience before he could obtain a judge's
order to be liberated on bail. He had then to stand in the
dock as a criminal — ^for, being committed on the coroner's
warrant, the judge was bound to deliver him — ^had to go
through the ignominy and odium of a public trial, all because
the young coroner had a bias towards a particular theory of
medicine, and was not a very sound and dispassionate lawyer.
A similar infliction may fall on any man from such a mode of
administering the law ; and if we wish to guard ourselves
against injustice, and retain for the law the respect and
honour it deserves, we must insist on Mr. Membury Wakley,
or whoever may be coroner, being more careful in his pro-
ceedings. As Mr. C. T. Pearce has no remedy at law against
the coroner, and as the parliament is never better employed
than when it is inquiring into and redressing, as far as it can,
the wrongs done by persons in authority, the case seems a
proper one to be brought under the notice of the House of
Commons.

The question of science involved concerns our health as that
of law concerns our liberties. Of the causes of such diseases
as cholera, medical men are as ignorant nearly as the rest of
the world; of the means of cure, and of the operation of
remedies, generally, on the human body, their knowledge is
little better than conjectural ; and whether they be homoB-
opathists or allopathists, it is unbecoming to be dogmatic and
positive in their assertions. The best medical man we are
acquainted with — one of the most distinguished and accom-
plished surgeons of the day — ^is at the same time the most
cautious in prescribing and the least positive in his anticipa-
tions. An ordinary apothecary is ready for every emergency,
and prescribes for every case that he is summoned to off hand,
as if he were Esculapius himself, knew at a glance the whole
history and nature of the disease, and was as certain of the
operation of his drugs as a smith is of the effect of his forge-
fire on a piece of iron. Amongst such men, looking out for
practice as a means of living, we meet with truculent dis-

EVIDENCES HAD TRIAL PROCEEDED. 307

putants aboat the merits of their own and the quackery of SECT. V.
others* theories of physic. Less ready to inquire and observe
than to gather pelf, they hunt after fees arid neglect know-
ledge. They see no other way to reach eminence and wealth
than to press down a rival. Science gets crushed or distorted ,
between their personal quarrels, and the healing art, founded
on ill-understood principles, divested of truth and beauty,
neither deserves nor commands the confidence of mankind.

Considering the complex nature of the animal functions^
the merely empirical and conjectural knowledge which the
most enlightened physicians have of the expected operations
of medicines on any given patient, and considering the im-
portance to all of the preservation of life and health, there is
no science which ought to be prosecuted with more care than
therapeutics. It is, therefore, offensive to the public, and
disgraceful to medical men, to impede investigation by hard
names, and rabidly attack individuals instead of coolly ex-
amining the discoveries they allege they have made. We are
•no advocates of homoeopathy ; but we can safely say, that
allopathy has been in many cases so little successful, that it
ought to welcome instruction and assistance, from whatever
quarter it may come.

Chapter IX. — Evidences that would have been brought at

the Trial,

The English Homoeopathic Association did its duty by its
member, Mr. C. T. Pearce. A defence was prepared which
would have placed his medical conduct, in the treatment of
his brother, on the highest basis, namely, the scientific. The
subjoined gives a brief rSsumi of the witnesses who would
have been examined, and of the points which would have
been established.

Mr. Simmons is a member of the Royal College of Surgeons, resides at
156, Tooley-street, will state that he is not a homoeopathic practitioner :
That he has known T)r. Kelsall (who is a homoeopathic practitioner) about
two months : that their acquaintance commenced when witness was un-
well himself, and hearing of the Dr.'s successful treatment of cholera,

Q Q

308 APPENDIX.

SKCT. V. witness tent to request he would prescribe for him. Witness had dysentery:
that he did not then know that Dr. Kelsall was a homosopathist : that
when witness was convalescing. Dr. Kelsall accidentally called, and just
before he arrived, witness's wife had been attacked with unequiTocal
symptoms of cholera, L e. collapse: that Dr. Kelsall took charge of wit-
ness's wife's case, gave her only homoBopathic medicines: that she was
dangerously ill, snd Dr. Kelsall allowed her to take no aliment whatever
during seven days, except plain water, a teaspoonful at a time : that it is
witness's firm conviction that his wife would have died, had she taken any
food during the time it was forbidden; and, although she frequently
desired food, and said she should be starved, it was not granted : that
witness's wife's health has been exceedingly delicate for at least fifteen
years, and that she is not a likely subject to bear starvation ; but, that she
certainly benefited by seven days total abstinence from food.

William Alexander Hills, No. 10, Grove-road, Palmer's village, West-
minster, wiU prove : That he was taken ill with cholera, on Wednesdayi
5th Sept 1849: that he was attended by Dr. Curie from that day: that
from that day until Sunday, the 30th Sept. 1849, (twenty-five days),
witness took no food : that the only thing which witness did take during
that time was iced-water, and water in which toast had been immersed,
and the medicines prescribed by Dr. Curie : that he so abstained from food
by the advice of Dr. Curie : that on Sunday, the 30th Sept. 1849, he took
only some beef-tea, and that he took it at first only in small quantities, one
spoonful of beef-tea to two of water, and even that was oppressive to him.

E. H. Oould, 70, Lombard-street, will state : That the prisoner (C. T.
Pearce), attended witness's wife while labouring under an attack, of
Asiatic cholera : that when the prisoner was called in she was considered in
great danger, she had violent cramps and vomitings : that the prisoner
kept her without food for four days : that after that, he only allowed her
to take very small quantities at first, only a teaspoonful of water twice or
thrice in an hour : that the collapse state of cholera was followed by fever
and wandering of mind : that witness with the consent of the prisoner
called in Dr. Epps, who approved of the prisoner's treatment : that nei-
ther witness nor his wife had previously any faith in homoeopathy : that
so rapid was witness's wifeVimprovement under the prisoner's treatment,
that although not expected to'survive many hours on the 27th Sept., she
on the 4th of October, paid a visit to a relative, three miles distant from
her home.

Jenny S., governess in the family of the Earl of Wilton, Heaton-park,
Manchester, will state : That she is a native of Switzerland, and that she
left that country about seven years, to accompany the family of the Che-
valier Bunsen, to England : that shortly after her arrival in England she

EVIDENCES HAD TRIAL PROCEEDED. 309

had a violent attack of illness, and was placed under Dr. Curie's care : that SECT. V
witness was kept thirty days without any food except as after mentioned:
that during the first fourteen days witness took nothing but sugared-water,
that for the next fourteen days she took nothing but plain water, that at the
end of the twenty-eight days as witness appeared somewhat better,
Dr. Curie gave her three small spoonsfuUs of Gelee de Viande, which occa-
sioned a relapse, and she was again for ten days in indescribable agony :
that witness was in so weak a state when first placed under Dr. Curie's
care, that he gave her food and persisted in doing so until witness became
much worse, and she then began to abstain from food and continued to do
so, as before stated : that witness ultimately recovered under Dr. Curie's
treatment, and has since enjoyed good health, while before she had been
for several years on a bed of sickness, excepting only short periods of con-
valescence, during one of which she came to England, as before stated.

Samuel Bee, 11, Kent-place, Old Kent-road, shoemaker, will state:'
That witness had an attack of Asiatic cholera on the 19th August, 1849,
and was attended by Dr. Kelsall : that witness was by the Dr.'s directions
kept without food for thirteen days, viz., &om the 19th to the 31st August,
except as after stated : that during the whole time witness craved in-
cessantly for food and said he was ])eing starved, but for the last three
days, as vritness began to get better, the craving diminished ; that when
witness was craving for food his wife gave him (but against the Dr.'s direc-
tions) about a wine-glass of weak milk and water, and on another occa-
sion the doctor yielded to the urgent entreaty of witness's brother, to allow
him to take two teaspoonsfull of weak brandy and water, but he forewarned
witness of the effects which would follow the taking of it : that on both
occasions after taking the milk and water and the brandy and water wit-
ness felt much worse, all the symptoms were aggravated, and after taking
the brandy and water witness thought he should have died: that the
cholera was worse in the neighbourhood of witness's residence than any
other part of London, and many of witness's neighbours, who were treated
by the ordinary doctors, died, and witness believed that he also should have
died if he had been treated by them.

Mrs. Matilda Shaw, 3, Wellington-place, Kent-road, will state : That
witness had an attack of Asiatic cholera in August, 1849, and was attended
by Dr. Kelsall : that witness by the doctor's advice abstained from food for
ten days, and during that time took nothing but water, except the medi-
cines prescribed by Dr. Kelsall, until the tenth day, when witness was
allowed to take two teaspoonsfull of beef-tea : tliat witness's husband had
also an attack of cholera and was kept by Dr. Kelsall without food for five
days: that both witness and her husband had at first a desire for food, but
Dr. Kelsall would not allow any to be given, and the desire afterwards

QQ 2

310 APPENDIX.

SECT. V. abated: that witness, her husband, and another person, (Mrs. Watkins),
who was attacked with cholera in witness's room, while on a yisit to her,
all recovered under Dr. Kelsall's treatment : that when witness was first
attacked she sent for Mr. Blomfield the parish surgeon, but he did not
come for five hours afterwards, and that in the meantime Dr. KelsaU had
been called in : that when Bir. Blomfield called, witness and her husband
were in the same bed in a state of collapse, Mr. Blomfield acted very im-
pertinently, told witness and her husband that if they committed them-
selves to Dr. Kelsall's treatment it would kiU them ; he also urged witness
and her husband to place themselves under his care, but they both pre-
ferred remaining under Dr. KelsaU : that neither witness or her husband
knew anything of homoeopathy before, but were recommended to consult
Dr. Kelsall, by witness's master, Mr.. Mills, a brewer.

William Warre Simpson, 65, Old Broad-street, shipbroker, will state :
That he was attended by Dr. Curie for an attack of pneumonia in July,
1849 : that he was ten days kept without food by Dr. Curie's direction, and
during that time only had water in which toast had been sopped and gum
water : that witness first had food but was much the worse for it, and that
he afterwards had a craving for food but the doctor prohibited him from
taking any, and he ultimately recovered.

The Earl of Wilton will state : That his eldest daughter, during an at-
tack of pneumonia, was kept without food for above a fortnight, and during
that time took nothing but toast water : that his eldest son, during an in-
flammation of the stomach and intestines, abstained from all food, except
toast water, for nine days : thaC they were both treated homoeopathically,
and so abstained from food by the doctor's directions : that they both re-
covered.

Octavius William Mayman, 24,. Munstez^square, Begent's-park, will
state : That witness was treated by the prisoner, C. T. Pearce, during a
recent attack of Asiatic cholera : that for three days witness took nothing
but water in teaspoonsfull, excepting the medicines : that for the next two
days he took a little cocoa, also in teaspoonsfull : that on the 7th day wit-
ness was sufficiently well to be able to go out for a walk : that Mr Pearce
was not called in until witness's life was despaired of; he had previously
for two days been treated by an allopathic practitioner : that witness had
never tried homoeopathy before, and had no faith in it when it was pro-
posed to him.

William Wame, 9, Gresham-street west; will state : That about four
years since his wife had an attack of confluent small pox in its most viru-
lent form, and was attended by Dr. Curie : that, by the doctor's directions,
she took nothing for fourteen days, except plain water and toast water and
the medicines : that for ten days the patient was totally blind, and for six

EVIDENCES HAD TRIAL PROCEEDED. 311

days delirious, but that when the malignity of the disease had abated, she SECT. V.
rapidly recovered, and soon attained her usual strength.

£ev. I. Wise is a Baptist minister, residing at 34, St John's-wood- ter-
race, will state : That his wife was attended by the prisoner, (Mr. C. T.
Fearce,) for an attack of Asiatic cholera : That the patient was violently
attacked with diarrhoea on 11th Sept. 1849; the prisoner attended her, and
prohibited her from taking food, and the vomitings, which had been very
violent, ceased for the whole of that day ; but upon afterwards taking food,
it increased, and continued to increase until the 20th September, when
cramps and other aggravated symptoms set in : that witness inmiedlately
sought the prisoner, who had himself been suffering under an attack of
cholera, from which he had not recovered ; but at witness's urgent entreaty,
the prisoner came to visit his wife, and immediately forbid all food, except
water in teaspoonsfull : that the patient recovered under the prisoner's
treatment : that witness had been previously much opposed to homoeop-
athy : that witness's wife's case was the more dangerous, as she has been
a great sufferer, from an internal disease, for sixteen or seventeen years.

Henry Legrand, 2, Bridge-place, Southwark-biidge-road, agent, will
state : That he was taken ill a few days before Michaeknas-day, 1849, with
typhus fever and diarrhoea : that he was attended by Dr. Curie, and by his
direction was kept ten days without food except gum and toast water :
that, after the ten days, when very light food was given to witness, it made
him ill again.

Emma Munden : That witness was attended by the prisoner for an attack
of Asiatic cholera : that by the prisoner's directions, witness was kept with-
out food entirely for four days, and that for four days more she scarcely
took anything : that witness recovered from the attack, which was a very
violent one ; witness's husband had previously recovered from an attack of
cholera under the prisoner's treatment; while her sister, who had been
treated according to the old system, died from cholera.

Ann Hoy, 16, Boston-place, Dx>rset-square, will state: That she was
attended by the prisoner for an attack of Asiatic cholera, and, by his direc-
tions, was kept without food for several days, although witness had a great
craving for food : that witness recovered from the attack under the pri-
soner's care : that witness was at first treated by the old system, but finding
herself getting much worse, her friends became alarmed, and then called
in Mr. Pearce.

Mrs. Hookway, 5, Regent-street, Dovor-road, will state : The patient
was attended by Dr. Kelsall : that her son, aged twelve years, was attacked
with Asiatic cholera on the 13th Sept 1849, and that from that day to the
23rd Sept 1849, (eleven days,) he took no food whatever, except on one
occasion: that that occasion was on the 18th Sept, when a teaspoonful of

313 APPENDIX.

SECT. V. arrowroot made with milk was given to the patient, which occasioned
alarming symptoms and aggrayation of disease : that sometimes the patient
naid he was hungry, but could not eat: that it is witness's firm opinion,
that if the patient had taken food during the attack, he would have died.

Lord Robert Orosvenor will state : That witness has known several
instances where patients, suffering from Asiatic cholera, have be^n kept
without any other food than the nourishment derivable from toast water,
gum water, or thin barley water, for upwards of a week, and recoyering
well afterwards: that such patients were treated homceopathically, and
the abstinence from food, in witness's opinion, tended most materially to
hasten their convalescence.

John Epps, M.D., is a physician of the University of Edinburgh, and was
for several years a lecturer on Materia Medica, being one of the lecturers
recognized by the Koyal College of Surgeons, the Apothecaries' Company,
and the Army and Navy Boards ; will state : That for the eleven years last
past he has practised exclusively on the homoeopathic system : that he has
had considerable experience in cholera : that in that disease, in its most
fully developed form, total abstinence is essential to the recovery of the
patient : that abstinence must be carried on, not only during the stage in
which the vomiting and the purging of rice water evacuations prevail, and
the stage of collapse, but also in the stage which succeeds, as long as cere-
bral symptoms manifest themselves : that the fever which follows the stage
of collapse is one peculiar in its nature ; that it is even more dangerous
than is the actual attack of cholera, and that the taking of food in this
stage is often attended with fatal results : that in this typhoid-like fever, a
craving for food is, in many cases, a marked symptom of the diseased state ;
the patient indeed demands food, says he is starved, and this demand for
food is present even when the tongue is coated with a brown fur : that if
the statements of Mr. Davis, as to the post mortem appearances, be correct,
the deceased's life would, in the witness's opinion, have been saved, if the
abstinence enforced by Mr. Pearce had been followed out, and homoeo-
pathic treatment pursued ; and witness further believes, supposing the
statement of Mr. Davis to be correct as to the post mortem appear-
ances, that the giving food by the widow and the ordering brandy
and beef-tea by Mr. Davis caused the fatal result: that in reference^ to
want of power of digestion in fever, witness will state that food does not
digest in fever: that it is a fact proved by the observations of Dr. Beau-
mont, that while in the healthy state gastric juice is always poured into the
stomach when any substance is introduced into that organ, in the febrile
condition, gastric juice is not poured out when food is introduced into
the stomach, and the gastric juice not being poured out the food taken
remains in the stomach undigested, even for forty-eight hours, producing

EVIDENCES HAD TRIAL PROCEEDED. 313

and keeping up by its presence a great amount of irritation.— P. 98, 99, of SECT. V.
a work entitled, ** Experiments and Observations on the Gastric Juice and
the Physiology of Digestion," by Dr. Beaumont, republished by Dr. Andrew
Combe.

P. F. Curie, M.D., this witness is a homoeopathic practitioner, will prove :
That he has examined with great attention the case of Mr. Pearce, and
thinks it may be stated according to the symptoms that the imtient died of
cholera at the typhoid stage. The post-mortem examination does not dis-
prove this opinion, since the most important organs, the most acted upon
in this disease have not been investigated, the intestines and the brain.
Witness writes, " I will not dilate upon the verdict given by the jury, it is
impossible to understand it, as it is in direct opposition to the testimony of
the witnesses, who all agreed that the patient had taken nourishment dur-
ing the period of his illness, it is, therefore, quite evident he did not die
from starvation : hence the verdict of manslaughter is unjustifiable. But,
Mr. Pearce did not the less recommend abstinence, and it becomes a
scientific question to determine whether he was right or wrong in recom-
mending his patient to abstain from food. I have no hesitation in testify-
ing my approval in favour of the abstinence prescribed by Mr. Pearce ;
according to my judgment there is not a more dangerous treatment than
that of giving aliment during the progress of acute disease, and more
particularly in cholera cases. Food either solid or fluid should be inter-
dicted most strictly during every stage of the disease. It is only with the
greatest care nourishment should be allowed when in a convalescent state
as previously the patient cannot digest, and the most serious results
infallibly attend the administering of food even in the smallest quantity.
These opinions as to the necessity of abstinence from food in acute disease,
I am ready to substantiate by actual facts, and by the testimony of the
best authors in medical science, from the days of Hippocrates to the
present time.^

At this period of the ease Mr. Davis would have been re-
examined by counsel in relation to the following facts : —

Mr. Davis will admit a conversation with defendant on Wednesday, the
day before the first adjourned inquest was held. Defendant went to him in
pursuance of an invitation from witness. The following is copied from
defendant's memorandum of the interview : — " On the evening of the 25th
September, I visited Mr. Davis at his request. He appeared very friendly.
I remained with him about an hour and we conversed freely about the case
of my late brother, and the coming inquest He remarked that when he
was called in and attended my brother, he was not aware that he had had
Asiatic cholera, he found him suffering from diarrhoea: that he had

314 APPENDIX.

SECT. V. fifteen actions of the bowels and that he was in a very weak condition :
that he ordered him a glass of brandy, followed with beef-tea, after which
he had milk and water given him, and brandy repeated together with
stimulant medicines. The diarrhcsa was checked but he died tEe following
morning. On my interrogating him as to the post-mortem appearances,
he said he found the right side of the heart congested, lungs congested,
liver and kidneys also congested, gall-bladder empty, and urinary-bladder
empty. He had only time to * just look' at the viscera, he said, and the
stomach he handed to his son to examine. The intestines, he said, were
empty, but hs did noi epen them. The time was short, he said, for he had
a sudden notice on the day of the inquest, to make the post-mortem ex-
amination, it was then 2 o'dock, and the jury was to sit a quarter before 4 ;
in iact, said he, the body was so offensive, I was glad to hurry out of the
room. The brain he had not examined nor any part of the nervous system.
On questioning him as to the appearances presented after death from
cholera, I found hb knowledge very limited, but he thought the congested
organs indicated cholera. I questioned him so closely as to his know-
ledge of anatomy, that he admitted that when he was a student, subjects
cost about £18 each, and hence beyond his reach. He at parting begged
as a favor, that I would refrain from mentioning our conversation, or that
we had had the interview."

Catherine Stedman, 8, Belmont-row, Nine Elms, Vauxhall, will state :
That she was in a situation as servant with Mr. Whimple, 20, Canterbury-
. place, Lambeth, was attacked with cholera in September last, was treated
by the medical man of the family, vie., Mr. Golombel, residing at Lambeth-
road. After two days her mother was sent for, but Mrs. Whimple tried to
prevent her being treated homceopathically. The mother, however, per-
sisted, and she was taken home on a bed in a coach, and placed under the
care of Dr. Epps. She abstained from taking anything but medicine and
a very little cocoa, about half a pint, until the Sunday following, when feel-
ing much better she was induced to take a little toast and cocoa, and a
very small piece of very light pudding. On Monday morning at 4, she .
was worse than ever, she was then eight days without tasting anything but
the medicine, a little cocoa and cold water. She is now recovered and is
perfectly persuaded that she would have died had she not been treated
homcBopathically, that is, refrained from food. A sister was seventeen
days without tasting anything, by direction of Dr. Epps, but this was not
a case of cholera.

Edward Cfronin, M.D., Loughborough-road, Brixton, will state : That
he has been in India and Persia for some years as a medical man, and
whilst in those countries, and also during the late visitation here, has been
called largely to attend cases of cholera of the worst kind : that it is wit-

EVIDENCES HAD TRIAL PROCEEDED. 315

xkess's opinion that entire abstinence from food is essential to the successftil SECT. V.

"treatment of cholera, and of the typhus fever, which frequently follows

iti : that witness can speak to the marked success which has attended the

liomoeopathic treatment of cholera: that from witness's experience as an

allopathist, when connected with a large fever hospital in Dublin, he has

frequently known nurses dismissed for allowing patients, in typhus and

other fevers, much less pernicious food and in less quantity than that given

to the deceased : that witness is perfectly satisfied that serious mischief must

liave resulted from what was given to the deceased : that any intelligent

and honest practitioner of the old school would judge in this particular

the same at witness.

William Docksey will testify that he was a patient of Dr. Epps : That
he had been treated at Guy's Hospital, but without any benefit : that he
had afterwards been treated by a surgeon, in Commercial-road, but became
worse : he, in August, 1849, came under Dr. Epps's care, and he improved
till Sept. 3rd, when he was much worse again j Dr. E. inquired whether he
had had any great trouble to cause him to be worse j he told Dr. E. that
he had just buried his daughter, aged 26, who had died of cholera, and one
of his grandchildren was lying dead of cholera, and another was dying, if
not dead. William Docksey will testify that he stated to Dr. Epps, that
the surgeons (two attended) gave the three patients some medicines to
stop the purgings and the vomitings, and tTiey never recovered their semes
after taking the medicines. Dr. E. told him, on reaching home, to exa-
mine the children not buried, and see if they really were dead, as perhaps
they were only in a stupor from opium. The same day, William Dock-
sey will testify, he, with his son-in-law, the father of the children, came
back to Dr. Epps, and stated that one of the children, namely, Nathaniel
Cannon, was alive ; although the surgeons who attended the child told the
parent, on the Saturday preceding the Monday when William Docksey saw
Dr. E., to give the child no more medicine, as it was of no use : that the
child's death might be expected every minute : he could not live a few
hours. William Docksey will testify that Dr. E. prescribed for the child
and though during the treatment he never saw the child, the child was
cured, and is now in perfect health : and that the child took no food but
cocoa for seven days,*

William Brewer, Fort-place, Grange-road, Bermondsey, will testify that
he has been captain of an East Indiaman : that he has been several times
to India : that he has seen much of the Indian cholera : that he himself

• Additional particulars of this case are recorded in the Journal of Health and
Disease and Monthly Jovmal of Homoeopathy for October, 1849, p. 99. Messrs.
Piper, late Sherwood and Co., Paternoster-row.

R R

316 APPENDIX.

SECT. V. was Mixed with cholera, and hia life was despaired of, and that he took
nothing but a little liquid food for twelve daye^ while under treatment

George Coles, of Clapham-park, merchant, will state : That his wife,
while under an attack of typhus fever, abstained from food and took no-
thing but water, or toast water, for nine or ten days : that at the end of
this period, under the impression that the symptoms were sufficiently sub-
dued, she partook of a little beef-tea and bread, but the fever returning,
she was again compelled to fall back upon water, and another period of
nine or ten days elapsed without her tasting food : that on the subsidence
of the fever, beef-tea diluted was administered sparingly, and subsequently
bread was allowed, and she then rapidly recovered : that the patient was
attended by Dr. Curie, and witness cannot but feel that the treatment pur-
sued by Dr. Curie was judicious, and that but for the strict observance of
his rules and instructions, a far different result might have ensued.

The evidence, a rough outline of which has been thus pre-
sented, would have completely established the propriety of
Mr. Pearce's medical treatment in its general points. After
the delivery of such evidence, and after the cross examination
which would have taken place, the philosophic character of
homoeopathy would have been patent. Mr. Davis may thank
his good fortune that the case broke down before it required
his assistance : for pitiable would have been the figure that
he would have presented, had he been placed in the witness
box. It is to be hoped that the fear he experienced at the
thought of being so placed, will have created in him a deter-
mination to exercise the precaution of, in future, most care-
fully considering the opinions he ventures to give, opinions
which, in this case, subjected a gentleman to the treatment
of a criminal.

Chapter X. — Depositions taken before the Coroner.

It is deemed necessary, in order to complete as &r as pos-
sible this extraordinary case, and to give all the data neces-
sary for medical men, centuries hence, to have a most full
view of the animus existing towards homoeopathy at this
time, to give the depositions which the coroner put into
court.

Eliza Higgins : I reside at No. 86, Mary-street, Hampstead-road. I am
a single woman. I was present at the death of Kichard David Pearee

DEPOSITIONS TAKEN BEFORE CORONER. 317

which happened at half-past ten o'clock, on Tuesday the 18th day of Sep- SECT. V
t^ember. He died at No. 86, Mary-street, in this parish. He was taken
ill last Saturday week, the 8th day of September, with a violent bowel
complaint, and he got worse in the night.

On Sunday, the 9th day of September, he had Dr. Harris to see him,
and Mr. Charles Thomas Pearce, the deceased man's brother, saw him
also, and took him (the deceased) out of Dr. Harris's hands the same day,
and Mr. Pearce then attended deceased himself as a medical man. He is
a homoeopathic doctor, who resides near Park-road. Dr. Harris called on
the deceased three times afterwards in a friendly way, but not medically,
and told Mrs. Pearce (the wife of the deceased) in my presence, that he
-was in great danger.

Mr. C. T. Pearce went on attending his brother as a medical man up to
AVednesday the 12th September. Mr. C. T. Pearce, the doctor, then became
ill himself, and discontinued his visits, and directed that we should send
and let him know how deceased was every day ; a friend of the deceased
used to call on his brother and state how he was going on, and the brother
used to send medicines, but did not see him. The deceased was allowed
very little to drink, and not allowed any nourishment except a little thin
gruel. He had some beef-tea and arrowroot, but this was after his brother
had ceased to see him. I do not know who ordered It.

Mr. Davis, a medical man, saw the deceased on Monday night, the 17th
September. He was sent for, because the deceased was much worse. The
deceased was continually wanting and asking for food. I have heard the
deceased complain every hour in the day of his wanting food ; and he said
that he was being starved to death ; he said this the night before he died,
and for some days before he died. And for some days before he died, he
made no complaints except of want of food. I heard Mr. C. T. Pearce (the
deceased's brother) say to the deceased man's wife that her husband was
to have no food.

John Davis : I am a member of the college of surgeons. I was called
to see the deceased, Richard David Pearce, on Monday, the 18th day of
September, at 9 at night. I found him extremely emaciated and suffering
from sheer exhaustion. I immediately ordered a glass of brandy and water
and nourishment and medicine. I saw him again at eight o'clock on Tues-
day morning, he was then dying. On the previous evenhig he said he
had been starved by the homoeopathic system. I ordered him to have
brandy and water, beef tea, and milk.

I have made a post mortem examination, and found the liver and kidneys
congested with blood, right side of the heart congested, gall bladder
empty, lungs congested : there was no fat. The bladder was empty, there
was a small quantity of liquid in the stomach, about an ounce, a brown
liquid. I have, with the assistance of my son, analysed a portion of the
liquid and found a small quantity of arsenic, but not sufficient to cause
death : the cause of the death was exhaustion caused by the want of suffi-
cient food and nourishment, and congestion. The lungs were sufficiently
congested to cause death : there were no signs to lead me to suppose the
deceased had had the cholera; the appearances of the viscera were not such
as you meet with in cholera.

Having heard the statement of the witnesses, the progress and illness of
the deceased and his medical treatment, and connecting the facts related
with the appearances of the body, externally and internally, when 1 made
the post mortem examination, I am still of the same opinion as to the
cause of death, namely, the want of sufficient food and nourishment,
and congestion.

Jane Pearce (the wife of the deceased man) : He was first taken ill on
Saturday, the 8th of September ; he was relaxed in his bowels. On

R R 2

318 APPENDIX.

SECT. V. Sunday morning, the 9th of September, I went for Mr. Harris, who tuid
me it was cholera. Mr. Harris saw him three times, the deceased's brother
also came. Mr. Harris saw the deceased in the evening. Mr. C. T. Pearce
(the deceased's brother) then went to see Mr. Harris. Mr. Harris did not
attend the deceased after that dav. Mr. C. T. Pearce told me, he had
taken his brother to himself from Mr. Harris, and that he would treat him
himself. Mr. C. T. Pearce went on attending the deceased up to the 12th
of September, and did not see him after, and told me not to give him
anything to eat or to drink, except the medicine. The last time Mr. C. T.
Pearce saw the deceased, was on the 12th of September, and he wished
me daily to let him know how he was (which I did), and he sent medicines,
but did not see the deceased. I asked him if I might give him something
to eat, and he said " No, you will kill him." I gave him a little gruel and
a little beef- tea, (against the order of Mr. C. T. Pearce), because my
husband said he wanted food, and he would have it. On Monday, the
17th of September, I went for Mr. Davis. Mr. Davis came and said he
was sinking from want, I gave him what Mr. Davis ordered. On Friday,
the 14th of September, he went out into the garden: he was very ex-
hausted when he came in, and was quite light-headed. I gave my
husband some food (against the orders of Mr. C. T. Pearce) on Thursday,
previous to his death. The food was beef-tea and he kept it on his
stomach.

John Hasted : I reside at No. 62, Clarence-gardens, and am a tailor. I
have known the deceased man for eight years, his health was good, I saw
him on the 11th day of September, he was very feeble, weak, and ill. On
Tuesday, the foUowins day, I was sent for to go to his brother. On
Thursday, the 13th of September, I went to see the deceased and fancied
he was better, and they sent me to see how his brother was, who was ill.
I went to fetch medicine from Mr. C. T. Pearce for his brother, twice on
ITiursday, the 13th of September, and once on each day up to Sunday, the
16th of September. On Thursday, previous to his deatli, the deceased
man asked me to ask his brother (Mr. C. T. Pearce) to let him have some
nourishment as he was starving, but his brother refused. Mr. C. T.
Pearce said, he must not have beef-tea, and no food but a little arrow-
root and gruel : this was on the 13th day of September.

Sarah rayne : The deceased man was my son-in-law. I saw him last
alive the day he died, viz., 18th of September. I was sent for on Sunday,
the 9th of September, and found he was very bad, and he said he had
cramps. I saw him once a-day up to his death. I saw the deceased man's
brother, (Mr. Charles Thomas Pearce,) there on Sunday, the 9th day of
September. I heard Mr. Charles Thomas Pearce say to the deceased man's
wife (Mrs. Pearce), that he was to have no food, this was on Tuesday,
the 11th of September. The deceased man said he always wanted food,
but his brother Charles did not wish him to take it. On the 12th of
September, I gave him a cup of tea and a bit of toast, because he said,
previously, " For God's sake do or I shall be dead before the morning."
I gave him the tea and toast, and he kept both on his stomach.

Richard Harris : I reside at 43, Gower-street, and am a member of the
College of Surgeons. I was called to see Richard David Pearce on Sun-
day, the 9th day of September, I found him suffering from cholera with
cramps, purging and vomiting. I saw him four hours afterwards. I again
saw him at 9 o'clock, the cramps and sickness were relieved in consequence-
of the medicine I, gave him. Mr. C. T. Pearce called in on me the same
evening, (Sunday, the 9th of September), and after some remarks said,
he should like the homoeopathic system adopted with his brother, and in
consequence of that, I left the case to him. I was not aware that he was
not a qualified man. He asked me to call and see his brother as a friend

CONCLUDING REMARKS. 319

which I did, hut not medically. I told the hrother (Mr. C. T. Pearce) I SECT. V.
could not attend professionally in concert with him, inasmuch as 1 was
"totally ignorant of the doctrine of homoeopathy. On the 10th, 1 saw
IRichard David Pearce and he was much relieved, and I fancied it was
from the medicine I had given him. I gave up the patient at the request
of Mr. C. T. Pearce. It was my opinion that the man died from disease.
I did not see him professionally after the 9th.

Charles Thomas Pearce on being sworn and duly cautioned said : I
reside at 3, Taunton-place, Park-road. I am a medical student and
not a member of the College of Surgeons, On the 9th of Septem-
ber, I was sent for to see my brother (the deceased). I found him
ill with eramps and purging, and suffering from Asiatic cholera. My
brother wished me to treat him. I treated him homceopathically. Mr.
Harris consented to give up the case to me. On the 9th, the first day I
saw him, he was then in a dving state. On the 10th of September, he
was much better but craving for food, which I denied him. I gave him
Belladonna and Arsenic. On Monday, the 11th, Mr. Harris saw the
deceased, and congratulated me on the deceased^s improved appearance.
On the 12th, I saw him last, and he was evidently better. On the 14th,
at 8 o'clock in the evening, a message came to say he was worse and
wandering in his head. I understood he had been into the garden
against my orders. On the 17th day of September, a messenger came
and a remark was made, that it was a shame 1 did not see him. 1 denied
him food because he was suffering from cholera.

Henry Kelsall : I reside at 6, Surrey-place, Old Kent-road. I am a
Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons. I profess homoeopathic prin-
ciples. I have been twice round the world and nave had much experience
in cases of cholera. I was formerly a surgeon in the navy : my opinion
is, that no food should be given to a person attacked with cholera, until
he is convalescent. I have had patients under my care without their
taking food for a longer period than ten days. Arrow-root was vn-ong to
give to a person labouring under cholera. I have had at the lowest
number a hundred cases of cholera and have only lost ten patients.
Craving for food is a symptom of cholera.

SONCLUDING REMARKS.

The facts and the views published in this statement will, it is
believed, be the means of establishing in the public mind the
injustice which has been practised against Mr. Pearce, and
through him on homoeopathy. They will further demonstrate
that injustice recoils on those who practise it. They further
exhibit the importance of trial of jury before a properly quali-
fied judge. They further demonstrate that a necessity exists
for an appeal to parliament : that as there are no steps which
can be taken in a court of law against the deputy-coroner for
his proceedings in this matter, the Houses of Commons and
of Lords form the great National Court before whom the
matter must be brought : and this the Committee of the Eng-
lish Homoeopathic Association have decided to carry out : and

320 APPENDIX.

SECT. V. they will bring before the House the point whether or not the
law, which allows the coroner to appoint his deputy, in this
case, viewing the position held as judicial, a stripling, should
be repealed ; for the electors of Middlesex, it is certain, would
not have selected Mr. H. M. Wakley as the coroner had the
choice been left to them ; they chose Mr. Thomas Wakley,
but did not consider that such appointment enabled the father
to postpone their selection of another coroner, if he found
himself unable for the performance of the duties.

The Committee have the pleasure to add, that the expenses
incurred in the defence of Mr. Pearce, amounting to nearly
two hundred pounds, have been supplied by the Aiends of
homoeopathy, and Mr. Pearce has not had to pay anything;
and although the treatment he has endured is one truly pain-
ful, he will feel satisfied in the fact, that such treatment has
excited a general expression of indignation, and has, as pro-
ducing such a state of the public mind, done much to pro-
mote the progress of that truth which Mr. Pearce has served
so faithfully.

FIXIS.

PRINTED BY JOHN TBAPP, BUDGE ROW, LONDON.

ENGLISH HOMEOPATHIC ASSOCIATION,

Instituted in May, A. D. 1845,

JBeing the Homoeopathic General Association first established in this country.

President, LORD ROBERT GROSVENOR, M, P.
Treasurer, THOMAS H. Johnston, Esq.
Committee,
W. ARNUM, Esq.
W. H. ASHURST. Esq.

EDWARD BATES. Esq
DONALD BROWN. Esq.
P. F. CURIE, Esq. M.D.
EDWARD CRONIN. EsQ.M.D.
A. O. DEACON. Esq.
ROBERT S. DICK. Esq.
JOHN EPPS. Esq. M.D.
EORGGE N. EPPS. Esq. M.R.C.S.
ROBERT FRITH. Esq. M.R.C.S.
PETER GARDNER, Esq.
THOMAS H. JOHNSTON. Esq.

H. KELSALL, Esq. M.D., F.RC.l
JOHN MILLER. Esq.
W. M'OUBREY, Esq. M.D.
H. F. OSMAN, Esq. M.D.
C. T. PEARCE. Esq.
W. PERKINS, Esq.
JAMES STANSFELD, Esq.*
PETER STUART. Esq.
ALLAN TEMPLETON. Esq.
J. THOMSON. Esq. M.D.
WILLIAM WARNB, Esq.
JAMES WILSON. Esq. M.P.

Honorary Secretary, C. T. Pearce, Esq.

The utility of the English Homoeopathic Association is
demonstrated by the defence of Mr. Pearce, and also by the
issuing of the work now before the reader. The subjoined
Address is again presented to the reader, and it is hoped that
its perusal will induce him or her to obtain fresh members for
the Association, by associating all the friends of homoeopathy
with it.

ADDRESS.

From the time when Homoeopathy was first promulgated, the sti'uggle
on its behalf has been carried on solely by the individual efibrts of a few
physicians who have had the candour and courage to investigate its prin-
ciples, and to acknowledge its claims. But within the comparatively
short space which has intervened since the period when it was recognised
only by a single mind, it has been dififusea by those efforts throughout
almost every civilized country ; and the time is now come when its dis-
ciples are sufficiently numerous to take, by a judicious organization, a
definite part in promoting its reception.

The English Homoeopathic Association is therefore constituted with
the view ofuniting, as completely as possible, the friends of Homoeopathy,

(professional and non-professional,) throught)ut the country, and of en-
abling them to give effect, by active co-operation, to the interest they feel
in its advancement All who are acquainted with the system, or who
desire to promote its fair investigation, are invited to join the ranks thus
formed; and, as the advantages to be derived not only from a weD-

{)lanned organization, but from numerous, rather than from individually
arge, contributions, have been strikingly exemplified in connexion with
many of the most important questions of the present day, it has been
resolved that the funds of the Association shall be raised entirely by
voluntary donations, coupled with the payment of half-a-crown from each
of its Members as an annual fee for registration.
Among the chief objects of the Association are, —

I. To bring together the most active friends of Homoeopathy by

means of General Meetings, at which the progress and the pros-
pects of the science may be detailed.

II. To publish treatises and issue periodicals explanatory of the prin-

ciples of the system, for distribution (gratuitously as far as
practicable) amongst the Members and the public.

IIL To furnish the Members with statistical reports of Cases in the
various Homceopathic Institutions, and with notices on all
important points bearing on the progress of the cause.

rV, To promote the publication of a correct translation of the works
of Hahnemann and others.
V. To establish an Hospital.

That these measures effectually carried out would greatly accelerate the
progress of the science, will be at once seen. The statements furnished
at the General Meetings would present to the public the facts of Homoeop-
athy as the best antidote to the libels of angry and uninformed opponents;
the general circulation of explanatory treatises and periodicals would
carry knowledge into quarters where the system may never have been
heard of, except through misrepresentations; and the publication of
cases, and also of the works of the founder of the system, would be cal-
culated to stimulate members of the medical profession to abandon their
present mode of opposition, and to resort to scientific experiments as the
only test of the truth or falsehood of scientific statements.

And apart from these consequences of its active efforts, the mere exist-
ence of the Association will work much good. The majority of the world
dread ridicule more than they love truth ; and while individuals feel that
in venturing to give even a trial to Homoeopathy, they are exposing them-
selves singly to the jests of its opponents, — the prejudiced, and conse-
quently unin(]uiring, multitude, — ^they will timidly draw back. If, however,
they are fortified by being able to point to a body large in number, and
comprising many respected contributors to science, openly avowing their
recognition of the doctrine as the result of personal trial and investi^-
tion, this difficulty will disappear. The advocate of the old school, while
he denounces the system as unworthy of inquiry, and boasts of never
having descended to its statistics, will no longer be regarded as an abso-
lute authority, and his phrases " impostor" and " dupe," levelled at the
practitioners and the disciples of a science of which he is ignorant, will
lose their force when he is reminded that terms of this sort can scarcely
apply to a large and influential body, using their best efforts, by the dif-
fusion of information, to enable him, if it ha possible, to prove them in
the wrong.

Each Member pays an annual registration fee of 2s. 6d., and gives any
donation deemed suitable. Persons desirous of joining the Association
can communicate with the Honorary Secretary, C. T. Peakce, Esq.
23, Queen Street, Pimlico.

N.B. Post-office orders to be made payable at the post-office, Pimlico,
to Chables T. Pearce.

THE BOflROWER WILL BE CHARGED
AN OVERDUE FEE IF THIS BOOK IS
NOT RETURNED TO THE LIBRARY
OR BEFORE THE LAST DATE STAMPI
BELOW. NON-RECEIPT OF OVERI
NOTICES DOES NOT EXEMPT
BORROWER FROU OVERDUE

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