The pioneers of homœopathy

Preface

The memory of men who have been instrumental in relieving human suffering is worthy of being preserved, and it has been the aim to present in the pages of this book all the facts that it has been possible to obtain concerning the early pro vers of medicines and the practitioners of Homoeopathy. These, our pioneers, who, when Homoeopathy was ridiculed by the majority of the physicians of the day, and when it was looked upon with doubt by the laity, yet had the courage of their convictions and insisted by precept and practice that it was the only true system for healing the sick.

The first part of the book is devoted to an account of the pioneer provers of the homoeopathic materia medica. The devoted band of students who were Hahnemann's pupils in Leipzig from 1811 to 1821, and who recognized the genius of the savant, the teacher, the chemist and the physician, and were convinced of the truth of his method of healing. The men who assisted him by proving upon themselves various drugs and carefully noting their effects under his direction. It was from this union of bright intellects that Hahnemann was able to give to the world the " Materia Medica Pura," which ever since has been so useful to the practitioners of the homoeopathic school.

The second part of the book is devoted to biographies of all the persons who were practicing Homoeopathy previous to the year 1835. It is as nearly as possible a complete list of the homoeopathic practitioners in every country in the world where our method had then been adopted.

To accomplish this task has not been easy. Files of medical journals in a number of languages have been collated, often page by page. Many books on biography have been examined. In the case of Stapf a translation was made from an old book in the library of the surgeon-general's office at Washington. Nothing could be found in our literature about that distinguished man.

VI PREFACE.

Translations have been made especially for this work. Thanks are due to Rev. Mr. L- H. Tafel, who made the translations from the German. Occasionally lack of space made it necessary to condense biographies, in which case the account has been selected which gave most clearly the story of the man's life. Most of the biographies are printed verbatim as found in the journals.

Reference is given at the end of each biography to all the books and journals that contain any account of the person in question.

The members of the homoeopathic school cannot know too much about the struggles, under persistent opposition, of the men who carried the law of Homoeopathy into different lands; who, by their devotion, their belief in its truth made it possible that the physician of our faith is to-day recognized by very many people as the exponent of the most successful and best system of medical practice.

With the hope that these sketches may be of value to some one we present this "bead roll " of faithful, earnest men, men who were compelled by the power of logic to believe in the tenets of Hahnemann, to the members of the homoeopathic profession in the trust that from a knowledge of their lives and earnest purpose some good may result to Homoeopathy.

Contents

Achilloides, 139 Adam, 10, 139 Aegidi, Jul., 139 Aimer, 10 Albrecht, 140 Alleon, 141 Alessi, 141 Amador, R. de, 141 Amman, 141 Andrieux, 142 Anfossi, 142 Anniballi, 142 Anton, — ,10 Apelt, 142 Arnaud, 142 Arnold, W., 142 Attomyr, 143

Baehr, 10 Baertl, J., 150 Bakody, 151 Baldi, 154 Balogh, Von, 154 Bamberg, 154 Bano, Lopex del, 156 Baraczhaz, 156 Barth, 157 Baudis, 157 Baumann, 158 Baumgartel, 158 Bayard, 158 Bayer, Pere, 158 Becher, 10 Beels, 158 Becker, Benj., 158 Becker, C. J., 160 Behrens, 160 Beister, 160 Belluomini, 160 Bene, Von, 160

Bernhardti, 160 Bethmann, 160 Bergmann, 163 Bertrand, 163 Beyer, Von, 163 Beyer, Von. C, 158 Bigel, 163 Billig, 165 Birnstill, J., 165 Blanc, 166 Blasi, De, 167 Blau, 167

Part I Provers Who Assisted Hahnemann

Learning hath gained most by those books by which the printers have lost." — Fuller.

THE STORY OF THE

Provers who Assisted Hahnemann.

PART I.

INTRODUCTORY.

The Materia Medica Pura of Hahnemann was first published by Arnold in Dresden in six parts, from 1811 to 182 1. In this edition the symptoms observed by Hahnemann himself appear first and separately numbered. Under the heading: ''Observations by Others," follow the symptoms observed by his pupils under his own directions and also those culled from the writings of others; these are arranged and numbered specially. Hering says of this:* "In his Materia Medica Pura, 181 1 to 1821, he separated his own observations always from the symptoms by others. After Stapf had adopted the new doctrine and had brought over his friend W. Gross, and A. Haynel became Hahnemann's assistant, he got a class of students, and nearly all, willing provers. Hahnemann examined every report before the class carefully and with closest scrutiny. Every one had solemnly to affirm before the class that what he had written was the truth and nothing but the truth.

"Still Hahnemann kept his own symptoms separately, and what he observed himself was of greater importance to him. He did it to the torment of all who joined the New School and were obliged to read all the volumes as far as published, to find the similar drug, and he adhered to this plan and doubled the difficulty, not being credulous or incredulous, but he was more certain of his own symptoms. We all had to read both — first his, then that of others — in looking for a corresponding medicine.

"Even in the second edition he still kept up this, for all of us, distressing separation."

*N. A.Jl. Horn., Vol. xxii., p. 101.

The second edition of the Materia Medica was issued also in six parts by Arnold from 1822 to 1827, the same arrangement being observed.

In the Chronic Diseases, 1828 to 1830, he, however, included his own symptoms, those of his provers and those obtained from other sources (Old School books), in one arrangement, numbering them continuously.

Of the third edition of the Materia Medica only Vols. I., II. were ever published, in 1830 and 1833. In these the observations are all arranged together and numbered continuously.

The medicines are in none of these books arranged alphabetically.

In the preface of Vol. I. of Dr. R. E. Dudgeon's translation of the Materia Medica Pura may be found the following list of the men who proved one or more drugs for the Materia Medica Pura of Hahnemann. The names of the medicines proven by each are also given.

HAHNEMANN'S FELLOW PROVERS.

Adam, Dr. — Carbo an., Carbo veg.

Ahner, G. A. — Aeon., Cap., Cina., Menyan.

Anton, C. Chr. — China.

Baehr, Aug. — Ars., Bell., China, Coccul.

Becher, Hueda — Chelidon., China, Digit., Ledum, Phos. ac, Spig., Squilla, Veratrum.

Caspari, Care — Carbo veg.

Clauss, W. — China.

Cubitz, C. A. — Dulcamara, Opium, Staph.

Flaming, Johann Gottfried — Coccul., Hyos., Nux vom.

Franz, Carl — Angustura, Argentum, Arnica, Asarum, Aurum, Calc. acetica, Camphor, Cannabis, China, Conium, Cyclamen, Digit., Hyos., Ledum, Magnet north, Magnet south pole, Manganum, Menyanthes, Oleander, Phos. acid, Rhus t., Ruta, Sambuc, Spig., Stannum, Staph., Stram., Tarax., Thuja, Verat.

Gersdorff, Franz von — Amber, Carbo veg.

Gross, Wieheem — Aeon., Angus., Argent., Arnic, Arsen., Aurum, Bell,, Can., Chel., China, Cocc, Dulc, Digit., Ferrum,

Ignat., Mang., Mercu., Moschus, Olean., Phos. ac, Rheum, Ruta, Sambuc, Opii., Stan., Staph., Thuja, Verb.

Gunther — North magnet.

Gutmann, Saeamo — Coloc., Dros., Men., Merc., Mur. ac., Olean., Opium, Phos. ac., Spig., Spong., Staph., Stram., Tarax.

Hahnemann, Freidrich — Aeon., Am., Ars., Aur., Bell., Bry., Cannab., Cicuta, Coloc, Dros., Euphras., Fer., Hepar, Hyos., Ign., Merc, Moschus, Nux v., Phos. ac, Puis., Rhus, Spong., Stram., Sulph., Thuja, Veratrum.

Harnisch, Ernst — Angustura, China, North magnet, South magnet.

Hartmann, Franz — Bell., Bismuth, Carbo an., Chel., China, Guaiac, Hell., North magnet, Menyanthes, Merc, Mur. ac, Oleander, Phos. ac, Ruta, Samb., Sarsap., Spig., Spong., Squill., Stannum, Staph., Thuja, Verbascum.

Hartung, J. C. — Bell., Caps., China, Cyclamen.

Haynee, Adoeph Franz — Argent., Cocc, Mangan., Menyanth., Mur. ac, Spong., Stannum, Staph., Thuja.

Hempee, Gust. — Aurum, Cannabis, North magnet, Thuja.

Hempee, H. — Bell.

Herrmann, Christian Theodore— Argent., Aurum, Bell., Bry.. Bis., Camph., Chelid.. China, Cyclam., Ledum, Phos. ac, Ruta, Sarsap., Spig,, Stannum, Staph.

Hornburg, Chr. G. — Aeon., Arnic, Arsen., Asarum, Bell., Bry., China, Cicuta, Coccul., Colocynth., Digit., Helleb., Manganum, Menyanthes, Merc, Puis., Rheum, Rhus, Ruta, Spig., Spong., Squilla, Staphisagria.

Hugo — Cannabis s.

Kummer, Ernst — Arnic, Bell., Hell., South magnet, Spigel., Staphis., Taraxacum.

Langhammer, Chr. Fr. — Angustura, Argentum, Arnic, Arsen., Aurum, Bell., Bismuth, Calc acet., Chelid., China, Cicuta, Cina., Coccul., Coloc , Conium., Cyclamen, Digit., Drosera, Euphras., Guaiacum., Helleb., Hyos., I pec, Ledum, North magnet, Manganum, Menyanthes, Merc, Muriat. ac, Oleander, Phos. ac, Ruta, Sambuc, Spig., Spongia, Stannum, Staphis., Taraxacum, Thuja, Verbascum.

Lehmann, Chr. F. G. — China, Rhus t.

Lehmann, J. G. — Bell., China, Digit., Ipec, Spong.

Meyer, F. R.— Angust., Argent., Arsenic, Chelid., China, Digit, Phos. ac, Spig.

Michler, C. — Angustura, Bryonia, China, North magnet., Pulsat., Rhus t.

Moeckee, A. F. — Bellad., Menyanthes.

Mossdorf, Theodore — Angust., Capsic, Helleb., Squilla, Verbascum.

Mueler — Dulcamara.

Nenning, Caj. — Dulcamara.

Rosazewsky — Ferrum, Taraxacum.

RuECKERT, E. Ferd. — Aeon., Bry., Digit., Dulc, Hell., Pulsat.. Rheum, Rhus t.

Rueckert, Leop. B. — Asarum., Bell., Cina, Colocynth., Manganum.

Rummel, F. — Merc.

Schoenike — Opium.

SCHROEDER — Rhus t.

Stapf, Ernst — Aeon., Arnic, Arsen., Asarum, Bell., Bry., Camphor, Cannabis, Cham., China, Cina, Coloc, Digit., Dulc, Hell., Hepar, Hyos., Ipec, South magnet., Manganum, Merc, Moschus, Muriat. ac, Opium, Phosph. ac, Pulsatilla, Rhus, Ruta, Spigel., Spongia, Squilla, Staphis.

Teuthorn, J. Chr. Dav. — Chelid., China, Digit., Guaiacum, Ledum, Manganum, Menyanthes, Phosphor, ac, Rheum, Sarsaparilla, Squilla, Staphis., Thuja, Veratrum.

Trinks and Harteaub — Cannabis, Coccul., Dulcam., Igna tia, Rhus t.

Urban, F. C. — Manganum.

Wagner, Gust. — China, Dulcam., Spong., Thuja.

Wahee, Wieheem — Aeon., Cannabis, Coccul., Dulcam., Manganum, Nux vom.

Waether, Fr.— Chelid., China, Ledum, Spigel., Squilla, Sulph.

Wenzee, Jue. — Manganum.

Wiseicenus, W. E.-- Angust., Argentum, Arnica, Aurum,

Bell., Calc. acet., Camphor, Capsicum, China, Conium, Dros., Euphras., Hell., Hyoscyam., Menyanthes, Mur ac, Phos. ac, Ruta, Sambuc, Spigel., Spong., Squilla, Stannum, Thuja.

Dr. Hughes, in his "Sources of the Homoeopathic Materia Medica " (London, Turner, 1877), gives the names of the provers, but omits Adam, Caspari, Flaming, Von Gersdorf, Hartlaub, H. Hempel, Hugo, Muller, Nenning, Rummel. Schoenike, Schroder, and Trinks.

Hering says of these provers: " Next to the practicing physicians outside of Iyeipsic, E. Stapf and G. W. Gross, they (a few students who had formed a class in Leipsic to attend the lectures of Hahnemann) were the first who assisted Hahnemann in his explorations." *

IO STORY OF THE PROVERS