Homoeopathy With Variety of Cases

This is a reproduction of a library book that was digitized by Google as part of an ongoing effort to preserve the information in books and make it universally accessible.

https://books.google.com

FONDS,

FONDS BOIRON

LB -/£b3

PRACTICAL

OBSERVATION^

ON

HOMCEOPATHY:

WITH

A VARIETY OF CASES,

TENDING TO PROVE ITS DECIDED SUPERIORITY OVER THE

ORDINARY SYSTEM OF MEDICINE.

BY W.

BROACKES, M.R.C.S.

LONDON : PUBLISHED BY EFFINGHAM WILSON, ROYAL EXCHANGE ; AND TO BE HAD OF THE AUTHOR, HEGENT PLACE, CITY ROAD, AND No. 33, OLD JEW*¥. 1836.

LONDON ! JOSEPH B1CKEKBY, PRINTER, SHERBOURN-I.AXE.

CONTENTS.

Page Introduction 1 Chapter I.—The Manner in which the System of Homoe opathy first became known to the writer.—The Ob stacles that presented themselves to his trying Experi ments, and their Results 7 Chapter II.—On Homoeopathy 18 Chapter III.—To the Public and the Medical Profession 25 Chapter IV.—On Disease aud its Mode of Treatment . . 42 Chapter V.—On the Attenuation and Administration of the Remedies ........... 60 Chapter VI.—On the Opposition and Prejudice with which the Science has to contend 76 Chapter VII.—Comparison of the two Systems 83 Chapter VIII.—Sketch of the Life of Hahnemann .... 9.5 CASES. Notice to the Reader Ague, Tertian—J. B... ... ...... Apoplexy —Mr. A Asthmatic Cough—Mr. H —r B. R. Esq Asthma, Chronic—Mr. W A.R. Esq J. P. Esq — Rev. Mr- ••• Cholera, Spasmodic—J. R. - English—Mr. J. Colic, Painters—T. P

102 128 • • 130 112 H4 1 lf> 116 117 1,8 1 09 109 • • . - • l&t

CONTENTS. Colic, Painters—D. L Consumption—Miss E Cough, Chronic—Mr. J , and Spitting of Blood—Mrs. C Eruption, Scorbutic Eruption, with Ulcers—Mr. S Eruption with Dyspepsia—Miss A , Extremities Cold—Miss T Fever, Scarlet—Mr. F. . Mr. B.'s children Fever, Typhus—Mr. T..... Fistula—A. M Indigestion—Mrs. R Mr. J Indigestion—Mrs. P Mr.N Inflammation of the Bowels—Mrs. D. — of the Kidneys—Mr. Y . of the Eyes—Mr. C.'s child Jaundice—Mr. O Mrs. M Liver Diseased—Mr. H.. 1 Mrs. M Mercurial Action—Mrs. D. Opthalmia-C. R. Esq Palpitation of the Heart— Mr. P Paralysis—J. C. Esq Piles and Haemorrhage—Mrs. W Pulmonary Affection—Capt. G Rheumatism, Acute—O. H. Esq Mr. B Spine, disease of—Miss S Stricture of the Rectum—Mrs. B Toothach

,,

Page 133 115 Ill 113 120 121 120 128 122 122 123 131 104 105 106 106 125 125 131 108 108 105 107 129* 132 126 129 124 110 118

127 123 ••• •■ 13*

HOM(EOP ATHY.

INTRODUCTION.

It is with the greatest diffidence that I appear before the public in the character of an author ; a character, which I feel and confess myself unequal to sustain in the way that I could wish, from being unac customed to literary composition,—from my various avocations, and from the pressure of many other engagements, which are too unimportant to be intruded upon the at tention of those whom I venture to ad dress.

2 For upwards of twenty years my time and attention have been wholly devoted to the arduous duties of an extensive practice ; nor would any motive, but that which arises from the sense of the obligation which binds me to promote, as far as I am able, the welfare of my fellow-creatures, have in duced me to encounter such taking as the present.

an under

But I am so per

fectly and so sincerely convinced, both from practice and theory, of the vast superiority of the Homoeopathic practice of medicine over the old', or Allopathic system, that I should consider myself guilty of a derelic tion of duty, and of an act of injustice to the public, were I to refrain, through the fear of personal inconvenience, from pub lishing the result of a

series of experi

ments, which have been carefully made, and long and sedulously continued. It will no doubt be admitted, by every candid and unprejudiced mind, that the

3 present system of medicine is very uncer tain in its operation at all times ; andy in many cases, is totally inadequate to the re moval of disease, even though it may pro duce very

considerable amelioration—an

uncertainty

which arises, in some mea

sure, from the complication which

are

so

generally

of the drugs

employed,

and

to which I shall more particularly advert hereafter. I am perfectly aware that, for a practi tioner of my standing, to write in favour of a system which is diametrically opposed to the one that he has been pursuing for more than twenty years, will, most probably, draw upon him the animadversion and censure of not a few of his profession ; and will, perhaps, expose him to the severe criticism and satirical remarks of many others.

To

such persons he will only say, that the motives which influence him will fully satisfy his own conscience, and that the time and labour b 2

4 which he has devoted to the study of the system that he now advocates, should in duce those who differ from him, to receive the results of his investigation with candour, and not to decide till they can speak from equal experience upon the subject with himself. Such persons indeed must, if they would avow it, feel convinced from their own knowledge, of the necessity of some im provement in the practice of medicine ; and if they will only be prevailed upon to examine the principles of the Homoeopathic treatment, and to try the effects of the re medies which it proposes, with a mind un biassed and open to conviction, the result can only be that which has been produced upon myself ; namely, a thorough assurance of its being the greatest acquisition to, and improvement that has ever yet been made in, modern science.

But those who have not

received a medical education, if their ge

5 neral acquirements be liberal, are unques tionably fully competent to form an opinion on the advantages of the different modes of treatment, after having perused a discus sion of them both.

To come to a just con

clusion on their respective merits, it is not essential to possess any advanced know ledge on medical subjects—far from it ; for professional men, as I have frequently had occasion to observe, are much less likely than others to decide correctly in such a case as the present ; the prejudices of their education,

and consequent bias of their

minds, inducing them to determine, at all events, in favour of the old and established mode of practice. I shall now, and without further intro duction, proceed to state in what the dis tinction principally consists, between the new, or Homoeopathic, and the old, or Al lopathic practice. This it will be my endeavour to accom

plish as briefly as the subject will permit, without at present entering into the slight est disquisition, which is merely profes sional ; and I trust to be able to do so, in a manner which shall be plainly and per fectly understood by those who may not as yet have heard of the system, even by name. However the success of that system may, from a variety of causes, be for a time im peded, I feel the most perfect confidence that it must and will utimately prevail— "Magna est Veritas, et pravalebit."

And

in the cause which I now undertake, I trust I shall never experience any other occasion of regret, than that the powers of its advo cate are not more commensurate with its great and unequalled merit.

7

CHAPTER I.

The Manner in which the System of Homoeopa thyfirst became known to the writer— The Ob stacles that presented themselves to his trying Experiments,—and their Results.

That the practice of Homoeopathy had been making rapid progress on the conti nent I had heard ; but my first introduc tion to any knowledge of its principles was purely accidental. I was dining one day at the table of a friend, whose lady was seized with a violent toothach and swelling of the face. being at that time

the professional

Not at

tendant of the family, I merely proposed something which should produce a tempo rary alleviation of pain, till her own prac

8 titioner should arrive ; but her aversion to medicine I found so invincible, that to pre vail on her to take a dose on the old sys tem was utterly impracticable.

This led

to a discussion on Homoeopathy and its principles : and deep cause, indeed, had my friends for speaking and feeling so warmly as they did in favour of that sys tem ; a system which had been the means of saving the lives of my worthy host and one of his partners ; and that too, when their recovery had been pronounced im possible

by many of our most eminent

practitioners. Shortly after this I was introduced to several other parties, all of whom felt as warmly interested in favour of this system as the family to which I have just alluded ; and I naturally became anxious to acquire some further information on the subject. I must candidly admit that I considered them little better than enthusiasts.

That

9 they had been benefited, and to a great extent, by the system in question, I could not, for one moment, either deny or even doubt.

But even after this admission, I

was reluctant to shake off the trammels of ancient usage :

I was still influenced by

prejudice ; and I could not bear to think that the principles which I had been so long practising, were, if not altogether er roneous, at least far less efficacious than those to which my attention was now di rected. I was perfectly willing to allow that im provement, and that to a great extent, was necessary, in the practice of medicine ; but still, and for a length of time, I perse vered in attributing their recovery to some accidental cause, for which I could neither explain nor account. I was at length prevailed upon to make a trial of some of the remedies, under the direction of a gentleman, who had, for se

10 veral years, made Homoeopathy his study. I feel that it is the first duty of those who undertake to devote their time, their talents, and occasionally their very lives, to relieve the suffering part of the community, to re ceive, though with prudence and caution, any suggestion, and to attempt every expe riment which may enable them to select and make efficient the best means of adminis tering to disease,

from whatever source

those means may be derived. Until the introduction of Homoeopathy, a spirit of slumber in the science of medicine appears to have oppressed our faculties; several centuries having elapsed without any very decided efforts being made to improve the existing system ; and even from the few efforts that have been made, no very effectual or beneficial results have been ob tained, or principle established. The language of the advocates of Homoeo pathy is—do not place implicit confidence

11 in that which is related, but lay and judge for yourself;

make such experiments as

you are directed to pursue ; follow atten tively the rules that are prescribed ; and you will not fail of being eventually convinced. This must appear to all to be the lan guage of conviction and truth.

It must,

in every thinking person, produce a deter mination to try, by a repetition of expe riments,

whether all

Hahnemann

and

his

that

is

stated

followers,

by

which

sound so well in theory, can be advan tageously reduced to, and corroborated by practice. To a person, however, who has been long established in the profession, almost inconceivable impediments arise.

Much

greater difficulties, in fact, present them selves, than ed ;

and

could

be

possibly

imagin

many obstacles are continually

thrown in the way of a change of sys tem.

Opportunities are also wanting to

12 try those experiments, which are absolutely requisite to be made, and which must be constantly repeated, before any reflective mind can suffer itself to be convinced of the advantages of a system so novel, and so much at variance with received opinions. Aware, however, that facts are the only sure guide to the discovery of truth, and that they are the foundation of universal principles, I determined to be influenced by facts alone, and by the clearest results of experiments, which

should

be

com

menced and carried on under my own im mediate observation and persevering inspec tion. But now many difficulties began to arise. The medicines, although many of them are the same as those which are every day prescribed, being so different in their bulk and form, could not be administered with out exciting remark and enquiry. These, in almost every case, produced

13 objections :

for let me ask any invalid,

who reads this book, if he would like to be the subject experimented upon ;

and al

though he would very readily admit the ne cessity that the trial should be made, yet he would not as readily be induced to be come the passive medium through which it should be attempted. But supposing an invalid to be so dis posed as to try the effect of a new remedy. The nervous feeling which would in all probability be

excited on the occasion,

would prevent the medicines from acting so satisfactorily and so decidedly, as they would under other circumstances. Having an extensive dispensary practice, these obstacles were not only foreseen, but, to a great extent, provided against, by pre scribing the Homoeopathic remedies to all the dispensary patients; few of whom had the slightest idea that any but the usual remedies were administered.

14 By this means an opportunity has been obtained of observing, and of noting the most minute symptoms produced by the several remedies, on diseases equally vari ous, and of remarking the different periods at which the action of each became per ceptible, and also the length of time that elapsed before the action ceased.

It will

be very readily perceived, that a great degree of anxiety must have been encountered, and a vast deal of time consumed, before the results of these experiments could be so clearly ascertained as to carry perfect conviction to the mind.

Eventually, how

ever, the results were satisfactory, even beyond what I had anticipated ; and it pro duced such a decided effect on my mind, of the superior mode of removing disease, which Homoeopathy offers, that I was de termined, without further hesitation, im mediately to study, and to make myself thoroughly

acquainted with

the

system.

Having done this, I fearlessly assert, that disease can be eradicated by it in much less time than we had previously the means of effecting ;—that, on the effects which the remedies will produce we can calculate with much greater certainty ;—and that they decidedly leave none of those debilitating consequences, which the practitioner has frequently so much difficulty to remove, and sometimes occasion to deplore. Another cause of considerable anxiety arose in my mind, from the risk a profes sional man incurs of injuring, even in the slightest degree, his reputation, should the remedies not produce the desired effect. For although a patient may not be aware that the system on which he has been treat ed is any other than that to which he has been accustomed,, yet all invalids will very shortly become restless and dissatisfied, un less something approaching an amelioration of their complaint takes place.

But this

16 is a source of anxiety to which he Ho moeopathic practitioner will never be sub jected, provided he acts with consideration and caution ; provided also, he has tho roughly studied, and perfectly understands the theory of the system : for that it is a system which requires the deepest study, and the most deliberate attention, before it can be made subservient to the removal of disease, will very shortly be discovered by all persons who may attempt to practise it without having first read the works that are published,—without having resorted to a long course of tedious experiments, and reflected with that seriousness on the sub ject which it

imperatively demands.

It

has been certainly asserted, that a know ledge of the theory may be acquired in a few hours.

But those who draw such

hasty and bold conclusion, can have de voted but a very small portion of their time or consideration to its study, or they would

17 have discovered many, and almost innu merable difficulties to arise in the applica tion of the system, notwithstanding it is so simple in appearance. The various impediments which are at present thrown in the way of Homoeopathy, when

it

is

more

generally

understood,

and the science becomes better known and appreciated, will no doubt be gradually di minished, or altogether removed.

But im

pediments will still long continue ; and one of the principal ones with Avhich we have to contend, proceeds from the want of some English works

publication on the subject ; the which have been as

yet written

being either in the German or French lan guages.

c

18

CHAPTER IT.

On Homoeopathy.

The

term Homoeopathy is compounded

of two Greek words, 'O^oioe, like, and iraOog, an affection or disposition, which, in some measure,

explains

the

principles

upon

which it is founded, and at the same time accounts for the name which has been as signed it by the illustrious founder of the system.

As a clearer illustration of the

principles, it should be stated that its fun damental points are, First, to ascertain what symptoms each medicine is capable of producing upon a healthy subject, previously to applying it to the removal of disease.

19 Secondly, that to effect the removal of any

given complaint,

a

specific remedy

alone should be administered, the effects of which are observed to bear the strongest resemblance to those of the disease. These are the leading points upon which the system rests ; a system which is far from being so perfectly novel as is generally as serted ; for, as far back as the year 1738, a Danish physician expressed, most un equivocally,

his conviction of its truth.

He remarks, that the received method of treating disease by opposite remedies—that is to say, by medicines which produce ef fects opposite to those of the disease—is completely false : on the contrary, he felt persuaded that

disease

was only to be

subdued by agents which produce a " simi lar affection."

For example, burns by the

heat of a fire, inflammation and contu sions by spirituous applications.

By these

means, he says, he succeeded in curing c 2

20 a disposition

to rigors with very small

doses of sulphuric acid, in cases where a multitude of absorbing powders had been administered without effect. great truth

has, more

Thus far the

than once, been

approached, although a transitory idea was all that presented itself.

Stoerck was also

struck with the idea, that if strammonium disturbs the senses, and produces mental derangement in persons who are healthy, it ought to be administered to maniacs, for the purpose of restoring the senses, by ex citing a change of ideas. In almost every age there have been physicians whose minds were imbued most forcibly with the impression, that medi cines might remove disease by the faculty which

they possess

of

exciting morbid

symptoms resembling the disease itself. Physicians of a later period have also knownand proclaimed the truths of Homoeo pathy.

Boulduc, for example, discovered

21 that the purgative property of rhubarb was the faculty by which this plant removed diarrhsea.

Detharding supposed that senna

would cure the cholic, by virtue of the power it possessed of exciting that malady in healthy individuals. John Hunter likewise pointed out the evil results attending the treatment of burns by cold water.

Many other writers assure

us that cold applications are very hurtful in such cases—that they produce the most disastrous effects ; that inflammation, sup puration, and sometimes gangrene are the consequences.

The inhabitants of warm

countries usually drink a small quantity of spirituous liquors when they are much heat ed.

Experience, the source of all truth,

has convinced them of the advantage and efficacy of this Homoeopathic mode of pro ceeding. In England, although not acknowledged, the system has been acted upon very gene

22 rally.

Nitric acid is frequently recom

mended in cutaneous disease : the internal use of this remedy, in an extremely diluted form, produces eruption over the whole sur face of the body ; whilst the external appli cation of a solution, in the proportion of one part of acid to one hundred and twenty parts of water, will produce inflammation and ulceration of the skin.

The natural

conclusion therefore is, that nitric acid re moves cutaneous disease by the power it possesses of producing a similar affection. The ordinary effects of hyosciamus are vertigo, stupefaction, and

delirium ;

yet

diseases will be found to yield to small doses of the tincture of this plant. Innumerable other medicines might be named, which have always been made use of on the same principle.

Neither let it be

erroneously supposed, that till the discovery of Hahnemann, a method so natural, and so perfectly true, as that of observing the

23 pure effects of each medicine individually, in order to ascertain by that means the dis eases it was capable of removing, had never suggested itself.

Haller was the first who

felt the necessity of pursuing such a plan ; but to Hahnemann alone is the gratitude of mankind due for pursuing, with a persever ance that could only result from, and be supported by the perfect conviction of a truth so valuable to the human race, that the Homoeopathic administration of medi cines is the most scientific and certain me thod of curing disease. On perusing the works of authors who have written on the morbid effects caused by medicinal substances, which through neg ligence, criminal intent, or otherwise, had got into the stomachs of healthy individuals, which are reported as cases of poisoning, and as proofs of the inherent pernicious effects of these energetic agents, it will be found, that the facts narrated coincide with

24 the experiments

and observations which

have been made by Hahnemann.

But not

one of these writers had the slightest pre sentiment that their histories of disease pro duced by medicines would, at some future period, furnish the elements of a pure and true materia medica, which has at length almost attained perfection through the in^defatigable exertions of one enterprising in^ dividual.

25

CHAPTER III. To the Public and the Medical Profession. In commencing this little work, it was nei ther my intention nor my wish to enter into details on the science or the practice of Homoeopathy ; but merely to explain, as concisely as the nature of the subject would admit, what that system means, and wherein it materially differs from the present mode of practice. The work before me has, however, una voidably increased far beyond the limits which I at first proposed to myself ; and I can only express, as I have already done before, my most anxious wish that it may be received with the spirit in which it has been written, and estimated by the motives

26 which led to its production ; motives which have been explained more at large in ano ther place. I have long waited for some publication on the

subject, from those more compe

tent than myself to discuss and explain its merits ; but none having yet appeared, at least in the English language, I deter mined to make known

my own humble

opinions, and to offer the result of my own experience ; assured, as I feel, that there is not an individual in the community who is not most deeply interested in ascertain ing whether the practice of Homoeopathy be right or wrong, be founded on fallacy or on truth.

All terms which are merely

technical and professional I have studi ously avoided.

My highest aim has been

to diffuse, as clearly as I was able, the knowledge of a system of medicine, which I firmly believe to be true ; and I humbly conceive

that, imperfect as the attempt

27 may prove, it cannot reasonably be cen sured, or the science itself injured by the weakness of its advocate. From the works of Hahnemann, Dr. Bowninghausan, and other writers on Ho moeopathy, have many of the remarks on the fundamental principles of the system been extracted. An acknowledgment which I here candidly and fully make ; and once for all, both as it regards those writers themselves, and as it may apply to others, upon whose labours I have occasionally drawn.

In the more practical remarks,

however, nothing has been stated from the labours or from the knowledge of others ; for in them, whatever is advanced is the distinct result of my own experience ; and, I may venture to hope, my own accurate observation. As years have already been expended on the experiments which have been made in the practice of Homoeopathy, it cannot be

28 asserted that it is a sudden and violent in novation on that system of medicine which now prevails.

A system which time has

consecrated, and the prejudice in favour of which time alone will be able to extin guish—a prejudice which, it is to be feared, will still continue to be cherished by many, whose names stand most deservedly high, and to whose opinions we are, in many in stances, inclined to bend.

Deference to

great names and distinguished talent is a tribute which they richly deserve ; a tribute which it would be criminal even to attempt to diminish, and impossible, indeed, were it to be attempted.

But whatever respect

may be due to the scruples, to the preju dices, or to the reputation of others, nothing can justify our persevering in a course of opinion, or of practice, which our own judgment teaches us entirely to condemn. The conquests achieved by just and scientific principles are always firm and durable ; and

29 the opponents of the science of Homoeopa thy are aware that a current has already set in, which threatens, at no very distant period, to subvert the system which they continue to uphold ; and we have every reason to expect that the revolution, which has already commenced amongst those who are destined to guide the public health, and by whom no compromise can be made be tween the professions of individuals and the general good, will shortly lead to much greater

results, and

powerful effects. combat prejudices

produce

still more

But he who aspires to and

opinions

which

have been long established, must regard them with becoming courtesy, or he will only contribute to perpetuate the evil which he is aiming to remove.

If, therefore, the

author should have inadvertently been be trayed into any remarks that can be deemed in the least disrespectful to the profession of which he is a member, it will cause him

30 unfeigned regret.

He has the happiness to

know many whose characters and abilities entitle them to his highest esteem ; and for their more immediate consideration he has commenced, and hopes shortly to complete a work on the subject of Homoeopathy, re garded in a more professional and scientific point of view than the nature of the present will permit.

Had he, however, consulted

merely his own private interest he would never have advocated the practice of Ho moeopathy. He has already an extensive and longestablished practice ; and a conviction of its propriety alone has

induced him

pursue his present line of conduct.

to His

first experiments were commenced without any idea, andx he will even admit, without any wish, that they should succeed.

But

the results proved so startling, the cures were effected so rapidly, that, although he foresaw the

certain opposition, and

the

O1

probable censure pf the profession, yet he felt it his duty to continue, uninfluenced by such

apprehensions,

in

a course of

practice from which it evidently appeared that so great a public benefit would, if not immediately, at least eventually accrue. The virtues of the Homoeopathic system, he is well aware, are doubted by a large majority of the medical profession ; and by many others of it, unreservedly ridiculed, and abruptly denied. That some parts of it are startling, at a first and superficial glance, he unhesitat ingly admits ; but it should not, from that cause alone, and without any further in vestigation, be deemed wild and visionary. That it opposes

all

previously received

opinions and established maxims, and that it shows a perfect disregard to all that has been taught in medicine for many centu ries, is

most true :

but why should we

hesitate to shake off the errors of centu

32 ries, when they are so clearly proved to be errors ; and that, too, in cases in which not only health, the greatest of all bless ings, is concerned, but in which, perhaps, the life of our fellow-creatures is at stake ? Should we not rise superior to all forms and prejudices, however specious, however venerable they may be, or however hal lowed by the acceptance of past

ages?

Amongst the discoveries which have been made, and the improvements which have been introduced into almost every branch of human knowledge, is it not surprising to find the most important branch of all, that of medicine, still remaining, if not stationary, yet certainly without making that

progress

towards

perfection which

might have been rationally expected, while the art of surgery has, at the very same time, so wonderfully advanced as to leave but little to be desired by posterity. It must be candidly confessed, that the

33 properties of medicines, and the powers which they possess for the removal of dis ease, still continue, comparatively, but lit tle understood, in defiance of all the re searches that have been

made,

and the

perseverance that has been bestowed. Now, with all due submission, I would ask

any professional man, are

not

the

time and talent which have been thus ap plied, and thus, alas !

consumed with so

little success, the very best possible evi dence that can be adduced, that medical science is not only still far from having arrived at that point which we must all so ardently desire ; and whether the mode of practice which is now followed is not altogether a mistaken one, and the princi ple itself too surely erroneous? ly,

then, do I trust,

Sincere

that so scientific a

body of men as my brother practitioners will not slightly condemn, much less wholly reject the system of Homoeopathy, till they D'

34 have satisfied themselves, by actual expe riment, of its fallacy, and its inadequacy to realize the benefits which it professes to dispense. I would beg further to observe, if the system has been really introduced by an ignorant pretender, or by one, who, from mercenary motives, endeavours to delude the public ; nothing can be more simple or more easy than to prove him an impostor, and to expose his unfounded pretensions ; but by assertions alone, or by unqualified censure and opposition, this can never be effected.

It is not by calling a man an im

postor ; it is not by railing at him as an em pirical enthusiast, that you can prove him to be such ; but by a just and candid exa mination into the truth of his statements ; by a fair and patient trial, whether the medicines really will produce the effects asserted, —whether the statements made of the cures which have been performed are

35 correct or false,—and whether the system is equal to effectuate all the benefits that it assumes the power to do, that the theory of Hahnemann must stand or fall—must be altogether admitted or rejected.

Jt allows

of no middle course, of no temporising compromise ; nor will it, much less, amal gamate, in any degree, with the existing practice.

The author of this publication

takes the liberty to observe, that no mer cenary motive cap be fairly imputed to him? for endeavouring to draw the serious attention of the medical profession to the investigation of a

science which

he has

found to succeed, almost in every instance, far beyond his expectations, and in the most minute particulars. His interest, could such a subject in deed be regarded as a matter of interest, would, it must be evident, be better pro moted by his applying the results of his experience to the benefit of his own im d 2

36 mediate connexions, and individual prac tice.

He however

altogether repudiates

the idea of being influenced by any mer cenary motive ;

and for the

encourage

ment of his brother practitioners, he would here be allowed to state, that his first ex periments were commenced with a mind as prejudiced against, and as determined not

to

be influenced

by

their

results,

as any of theirs can now be—that he never suffered his prepossession in favour of the mode of practice to which he had been so long accustomed, to diminish in the least, so long as he could possibly adhere to it ; and that, by facts alone—by facts which no reasonable person could resist, he has been compelled, even against his inclina tion, to acknowledge the indisputable su periority

of

the

Homoeopathic

system.

Should his observations, therefore, be the means of exciting only

a

small portion

of the profession to reflect on the great

37 importance of the subject to which he has presumed to invite their attention, he shall rest satisfied that, what he has deemed the faithful discharge of his duty, has not been unavailing. In concluding, he would beg to strengthen this address to his brethen, by claiming their impartial attention to the following observations of the Rev. T. Everest, who thus expresses himself upon a subject of such paramount importance to the health and happiness of mankind. " The medical practitioners of England have higher occupations than to study and refute every

whimsical theory and bold

assertion ; but a circumstance might oc cur, and such is the present, when inves tigation becomes a sacred duty. find its

principles

If they

fallacious, the public

will indeed feel grateful for having taught them to avoid a gulf, into which great part of the world is falling ; and will be proud

38 to think, that the practitioners of England alofte remain free frohV its infection ; that they have waited so long before investi gating ; that they have suffered the system to be fully tried and experimented upon in other countries ; that they have waited to see its full effects produced, and to hear all the arguments in favour of, or against its

adoption,

before

they would

admit

either its truth or fallacy, is the surest evi dence that, if once admitted by them, it will only be from the perfect conviction of its truth.

What reliance could be placed

on the decision of men, suffering them selves to be influenced by every visionary, to be led astray by every enthusiast Y' That

the

science of Homoeopathy is

based upon

principles which will stand

the severest test, cannot be more convinc ingly proved, than by the efforts which have been so vainly made to crush its founder. Under the persecutions he has experienced,

39 and the privations he has undergone, would not both he and his discoveries, have sunk into oblivion ? Whilst, on the contrary, they have withstood, for a quarter of a century, the most violent efforts to extinguish them. True it is, that the system is new, the name new,

the practice

dissimilar to that to

which we have been

accustomed.

vertheless

steadily ;

it advances

Ne

for this

simple reason, that it has performed cures which no other system could perform ; the only thing still requisite to smooth its pro gress, is to familiarize the mind with a few of the arguments in its favour. An attempt to explain the principles upon which it is founded, may probably procure a trial from some who have formed unrea sonable prejudices against it. No arguments can either establish or shake its truth ;

on experiment alone

it

rests : nor is it probable that it would so loudly call for, and provoke a contest with

40 men of talent, stimulated by interest, un less it were tolerably confident of the result. In foreign medical works, numberless cases are described, which at least demand in quiry : it cannot be supposed that all the numerous supporters of Homoeopathy are either enthusiasts or madmen.

Can it be

believed that so many celebrated men have combined to cheat the public into a belief of a system which has neither truth for its basis, nor evidence to support it ? Would such a man as Rau, of Berlin, who com menced by assailing and endeavouring to write down the system, would he after wards have become a convert, except from its truth having been made so apparent, that to resist its evidence was impossible ? Will any one venture to say, that the innu merable cures which are daily asserted to be performed by the Homoeopathic prac tice are merely visionary ; that the system itself is a foolish theory, a ridiculous dream,

41 and a delusion to which no man of sense can give credit ? On what evidence are these objections founded ?

Have not the public a

right to demand a thorough investigation of a system which promises, and is avowed to have performed so much ? Supposing it to be a vain hypothesis, it has now so many devoted adherents in other countries, that it is certainly enti tled to at least a trial in this. I hope that every practitioner will con vince himself of the truth or falsehood of the principles inculcated—that he will not rest satisfied with asserting that the minute ness of the dose is absurd, but ascertain if it really produces

the effects described.

Facts are the only arguments to which the system appeals, it is consequently by them only that it can be opposed ; they must either be admitted as truths, or exposed as the misrepresentations of enthusiasm.

4(2

CHAPTER V.

On Disease, and its Mode of Treatment.

The

vital principle is a thing but little

known to us, except by its effects ; nor can it ever be made perceptible to the senses. No idea of its nature

can be obtained from

a reference to any of those illustrations, or conjectures, which serve to explain other phenomena. It does not obey the ordinary laws of nature which govern inorganic bodies. The living organization possesses a fun damental inherent force,—a principle which can put the body in motion, contrary to the law

of

motion,

which determines,

that

43 matter at rest shall continue at rest, till acted upon by some external force. This energetic principle which enables the body to disobey the common law of matter, is purely spiritual—it cannot be touched. When this mysterious principle is in full and vigorous operation, the body is strong, and

in

health.

that

state which

we

designate

There is no pain, no appearance

of anxiety, the mind is at ease ;—but still this principle is subject to certain altera tions, or changes, which, when communi cated to the organization,

produce that

state of suffering which we term disease. This principle of life is never disturbed without the individual feeling it, and that feeling constitutes what is termed a symp tom. The degree of disturbance is measured by the symptoms of

which

the

person

44 complains, and they indicate the disease by which he is afflicted. The only aim of the physician is to re store to its regular state, whatever has thus suffered disturbance ; and to remove, as far as possible, every inconvenience, of which his patient complains. The perceptible changes are all he has to consider. If he gets rid of them, disease is eradi cated, and nothing but health can remain. To effect this object, it has hitherto been the practice to

inquire into the circum

stances which have produced this change, in order that, the cause being known, the effect may be removed. That this treatment would be effectual, provided the causes were more easy to be appreciated, is probable, and exemplified by any foreign body being introduced into the system ; as dust, for example, into the

45 eye,—remove the substance and the symp toms disappear. But, in by far the majority of cases, the origin of disease is a virtual disturbance of a purely spiritual principle, which cannot be submitted to the eye ; and whilst the causes are, from the limited nature of our faculties, so much beyond our perception, it is a waste of time to search after that which cannot be apprehended, and which, if it were apprehended, could not be con trolled ; for in almost

every

case, even

where the cause is evident to our senses, we are unable to appreciate its mode of action. In the epidemic fevers of marshy coun tries, what do we know of their produc tion, except that something arises to dis turb the state of the human organism? How much time elapses, also, before a fever, which has been communicated by infection, shows itself ; and yet the seeds

46 have been lurking in the system long be fore the attack commenced, although we cannot perceive the changes which they must have gradually introduced. If a person, labouring under an attack of inflammation of the liver, is told that inflammation is the origin of his suffering, will not his own sense tell him, at once, that it is the disease itself, and not the cause ? Of that cause we really know nothing, we can explain nothing.

We may attri

bute it to irritation, to morbid secretions ; but why these secretions, or why the vital powers are disturbed, we still remain igno rant. It were wiser, therefore, not to perse vere in investigating the cause of disease, which can never

be clearly ascertained,

but to proceed at once to its symptoms. A patient does not complain of the ori gin of his complaint, but of such or such painful

sensations.

Remove,

then,

the

47 symptoms, and what more can be reason ably required? The points which Hahnemann considers as requiring the deepest consideration in the treatment of disease, are the three fol lowing :— 1st. By what means is a practitioner to arrive at the necessary information, relative to the disease, that he may be enabled to undertake its cure ? 2nd. How is he to discover the morbific powers of medicines ; that is to say, of the remedies which are best suited to remove natural disease ? 3rd. What is the best mode of applying these artificial powers ? Relative to the first point, it will be ne cessary to enter into some general consi derations.

The diseases of mankind re

solve themselves into two classes. The first are, rapid operations of the vital power departed from their natural

48 condition, which terminate in a shorter, or longer period of time, but are always of moderate duration : these are denominated acute diseases. The others are less distinct, and often almost imperceptible on their first appear ance ; but they seize upon the organism, and, by degrees, so far remove it from a state of health, that the vital energy cannot resist, but in an imperfect manner ; we are, there fore, compelled to let them grow, until in the end they completely destroy the or ganism. The latter are known by the appellation of chronic diseases. Acute diseases may be classed under two distinct heads. The first attack single individuals, and arise from some pernicious influence to which they have been exposed. Of these, immoderate excess in either eating

or drinking,

violent

impressions

49 of physical agents, or mental excitement, are the most frequent causes. The others attack a plurality of indi viduals at once. To this class belong all those which arise from one cause, and which exhibit symp toms that are analagous.

These usually

become contagious when they act upon close and compact masses of human be ings ; and to these, war, inundation, and famine frequently give

rise.

The term

chronic is very improperly applied to those which attack persons who are constantly exposed to baleful influences, from which they might have screened themselves. sons who

constantly make

use of

Per ali

ments that are hurtful to the system ; who commit excesses that are injurious to the health;

who inhabit unwholesome coun

tries, and, above all, marshy places ; who are exhausted either by immoderate labour

50 of the mind or body, and who are con sumed by perpetual ennui. These diseases, or rather these privations of health, frequently disappear of them selves, by a new change of regimen, pro vided there be no chronic miasm in the body ; but they cannot, therefore, be call ed chronic diseases.

True chronic dis

eases are those which make continual pro gress in

the

system, when no

curative remedy is Opposed ;

specific

and Avhich,

notwithstanding all imaginable care, both with regard to the regimen of body and mind, never cease to torment the patient with an accumulation of miseries.

These

are the greatest and most frequent scourges of the human species ; since the most ro bust constitution, the best-regulated life, and the greatest energy of the vital powers are insufficient to resist them.

The exami

nation of every particular case of disease, in order to ascertain whether it is acute or

51 chronic, which information it is indispen sable that a physician should possess pre viously to undertaking its cure, requires an unprejudiced mind, sound understanding, and calm reflection. On enquiring into the state of a chronic disease, it is requisite to consider the cir cumstances in which the patient may be placed, with regard to his ordinary occu pation, mode of life, and domestic situa tion, to discover whether there is any thing that could give birth to, or continue the disease.

In chronic affections, patients

become so accustomed to their sufferings, that they pay but little attention to those minor symptoms, which are frequently very characteristic of the disease.

They are

also of such various tempers, that some, particularly those who are hypochondriacal, and others who are sensitive, depict their sufferings in exaggerated terms, to induce the physician to relieve them promptly. e 2

52 Others, from resignation or mildness of dis position, are much more silent, with re gard to the sufferings they endure, and only hint at many of those symptoms of which others would forcibly complain : it is therefore necessary that a practitioner should possess an intimate knowledge of the human heart and disposition, to en able him completely to comprehend the disease in all its details. An examination of acute disease is ge nerally less difficult.

The patient is more

alive to the difference between the existing state of things, and the health that has been so recently destroyed. With regard to a search after the symp toms of an epidemic disease, it is wholly indifferent whether any thing similar ever existed before.

Under whatever name,

neither the novely nor the specific charac ter of an affection of this kind will make any difference in the mode of studying it,

55 or in that of its peculiar treatment, on the Homoeopathic system.

We must regard

every prevailing disease as a thing that is unknown ; we must not substitute hypo thesis in the room of observation ; we must act upon disease, not from the name by which we have been accustomed to hear it designated, but from the symptoms which it developes. The second point in the duty of a phy sician, is to examine carefully the proper ties and the instruments which are destined to be employed by him ; to study the mor bific powers of medicine, that he may be enabled to select one whose list of symp toms constitutes a fictitious disease, resem bling, as closely as possible, the principal symptoms of the natural malady which he intends to cure. It is requisite to ascertain the full extent of

the power by which

excites a disease.

If to

each

medicine

arrive at this

54 knowledge medicines were only to be ad ministered to invalids,

little

or nothing

would be seen of their pure effects ; the symptoms of the natural disease, then ex isting, mingling with those which the me dicinal agents are capable of producing, the latter would rarely be distinguished, with any clearness or precision, from the former. There cannot, therefore, be a more na tural, or a safer mode of discovering the effects

of medicines upon the health of

man, than by trying them separately and singly, in

moderate

doses, upon healthy

individuals, and observing what changes they create in the moral and physical state. That is to say, what elements of disease these substances are capable of producing. For, as has been before stated, the entire curative virtues of medicines depends solely upon the power they possess of modifying the state of health. Each medicine produces particular ef

55 fects on the body of man, and no other medicinal substance can create any that are precisely similar. In the same manner that each distinct species of plant differs from all others in its external form, and peculiar mode of vege tation, its smell, and taste, so, in the same manner, do all these substances differ from each other in regard

to

their

morbific

effects, and consequently in their curative properties.

Each substance exercises upon

the health a certain

and

particular in

fluence, which does not permit itself to be confounded with any other. ought

to

distinguish

Thus

we

medicines carefully

one from the other, since it is upon them that life and death,

disease

and

health,

depend. Nor can any thing but a judicious choice of the remedy ever restore, in a prompt and permanent manner, that greatest of earthly blessing, " a sound mind in a heal thy body."

Every medicine must be given

56 in its simple and pure form, as on its being so administered depends the restoration of health, and the welfare of future genera tions. It is absolutely indispensable that such medicines only should be employed as are well known ; and only such as we are con vinced remain pure,

unadulterated, and

possessed of their full energy. The third point is to employ those medi cines whose effects have been proved upon a healthy person, in the manner best suited to the removal of disease. Of all the remedies, that one of which the symptoms bear the greatest resemblance to the totality of those which characterize any particular natural disease, is the most appropriate and certain Homoeopathic re medy that can be employed, and is the specific remedy in that case of disease ; and which, from its greater intensity and by reason of its similitude, now substitutes istelf for the natural disease.

57 From that moment it results that the vital powers no longer suffer from the ori ginal

disease,— the

organism

being

no

longer attacked, but from the medicinal disease, and the dose of the remedy admi nistered being feeble, the medicinal disease very shortly disappears. Subdued

by

the

power, like every

energy of the vital other

mild medicinal

affection, it leaves the body free from suf fering ; that is, in a perfect and permanent state of health. When a proper selection of the Homoeo pathic remedy has been made, the disease which is to be removed, however

malig

nant and painful it may be, subsides in a few days, if recent, and in

an

incon

ceivably short period if of longer standing ; —every trace of indisposition vanishes,— scarcely any thing is seen of the artificial disease produced by the remedy, and health is restored by a rapid and almost insen

58 sible transition ; but those diseases which are of

very long

standing,

when complicated,

of

particularly

course

require a

longer course of treatment. It is perfectly certain that a Homoeopa thic

remedy eradicates

disease

without

producing any great degree of suffering, its effects being felt in those parts only of the organism that are already a prey to irritation,

and

by

exciting

stronger medicinal affection, and annihilates the other.

in

them

a

extinguishes Nevertheless,

some slight inconvenience is generally ex perienced, particularly in very sensitive or irritable patients ; and it frequently occurs that at the expiration of a few hours, a state rather

less

favourable, and

which

the patient

supposes to be the original

disease aggravated, is produced ;—notwith standing this, the re-establishment of health goes forward, and it is in reality nothing more than a medicinal disease, very similar

59 to the primitive one, but rather more in tense in its nature.

This aggravation is in

almost every instance announces that the speedily be removed.

the

omen

which

complaint will very

60

CHAPTER VI.

On the Attenuation and Administration of the Remedies.

One great source of the opposition to the science of Homoeopathy, is stated to be the very small particle of medicine which is administered, and the degree of attenua tion to which that particle is reduced. But are we to consider all things, of which we have hitherto been ignorant, as a paradox or an absurdity ? Is the great activity of medicinal sub stances, or the smallness of the dose which Homoeopathy prescribes, more repugnant to reason, than the velocity with which light traverses space ?

61 Why should it be conceived ridiculous, that a powerful curative property is found in a substance so attenuated as not to al low of chemical analysis ? The remedies their bodies,

are

of

merely stripped of

their

matter, that the

spirit only may be employed, and that they may be rendered palatable. Are we not

equally ignorant

of the

cause of the developement of seeds com mitted to the earth ; but do we, therefore, refuse to profit by the results ? not.

Neither, then,

Certainly

let us neglect at

tempting to relieve the sufferings of our fellow-creatures, in a safe and easy man ner, by applying a minute particle of medi cine, which will only act upon the part affected, rather than to disarrange still more the diseased organ, by a superabundance of medicine, and an attempt to procure the restoration of health by a revolution in the whole system.

62 In whatever manner the Homoeopathic remedies act, whether by transforming a real disease into one produced by the re medy, which

is

promptly removed;

or

whether they assist nature in the developement of her restorative energy, in order to make her arrive more readily at the de sired end, which is the re-establishment of health ; or, whether the action of the re medy, and the disease which has a resem blance to it, be, like the similar poles of a magnet, which mutually repel each other, so that the one expels the other from the body, is perfectly immaterial. It is sufficient for us to have ascertained; that whatever the process may be by which it is effected, the desired result is invari ably obtained.

. . .

It has been found that constant and longcontinued trituration augments to a won derful degree the

inherent properties of

medicinal agents ; and, in many cases, de

63 velopes new energies in substances, which have hitherto been regarded as completely inert. This has been repeatedly proved, beyond the power of misrepresentation, or the pos sibility of error. Amongst

many others

that

might be

adduced, gold, silicia, charcoal, &c. have been found to acquire from trituration a very strong medicinal action. This fact is, in itself, a sufficient refuta tion of the charge made by some of its ad versaries^ that the Homoeopathic remedies are without effect, or that they are poi sons. The minute particles to which they are reduced form a very valuable part of the system.

•

;

One grain of the medicines, divided into several hundred, is found to act more be neficially, and more mildly, upon the hu man frame ; to continue that action longer,

64 nay, for days, and occasional^ even for weeks to produce an action, which several grains, given according to the old system, would have failed to produce. All substances possess attractive, or re pulsive powers, to a certain degree, and are susceptible of being altered, or dis turbed in their state of existence. They may also equally alter or disturb the existence of another body, by producing upon it a physical action. All substances, therefore, may be em ployed as remedies, because they^ are ne cessarily active. The medicines administered are in many cases the same that have always been em ployed in the Allopathic practice ; but the mode of preparing them is so totally dif ferent, and the quantity given so much smaller, as to render them much safer in their action, and effects.

more durable in their

65 Hahnemann assures us that immediately after his discovery of the great principle of similia similibus, he ascertained that the remedies, unless administered in most mi nute doses, would produce effects much too powerful. This compelled him to reduce the strength of the medicaments to that degree which experience proved to be the most desirable for producing, without trouble or commo tion, a salutary reaction, and the conse quent cure of the patient. It was by long and laborious experi ments, the necessity of which has been con firmed by every Homoeopathic practitioner to the present day, that the highest degree of attenuation and reduction in the remedies, was found to be indispensably necessary. It is only by persons little familiarized with the most

common phenomena of nature,

that the smallness of the remedy, or that its minuteness and unity will be considered F

66 sufficient to deprive it of its medicinal pro perties. Do we not constantly see that great re sults proceed from the most trifling causes ? Do we not, also, frequently remark, that the most healthy individuals possess the greatest susceptibility to certain influences ? And have we not seen robust persons vio lently affected by the perfume arising from incense?

Are not surfeits too, occasion

ally produced by the smell of viands ? If a simple smell then, or if influences equally minute, be capable of producing so much effect, in how much higher a degree would the same agents act, if applied to a sickly state of body, which must be so much more easily excited ? Do not these facts prove most indis putably, that medicinal substances should be employed in the smallest quantity to which it is possible to reduce them?

It

must moreover be remembered that not

67 one remedy is

employed,

the effects of

which have not been fully proved, either in the Homoeopathic hospitals, or in the prac tice of the principal Homoeopathic physi cians. Allopathy acts physically upon the or gans when it intends to produce evacua tions or relaxations.

At other times it is

applied chemically to disperse, neutralize, or destroy any humour, or substance, which appears to be the cause of complaint ; and in order to obtain such an effect, it must be necessary to administer large doses of medi cine.

But Homoeopathy, which acts merely

upon the principle of life, which principle is always susceptible and easily excited, particularly in a state of disease, requires only the smallest possible dose to produce the desired effect. This effect explains itself, on the one hand, by the susceptibility of the organ, and on the other by the remedy possessing the r 2

68 power of specifically producing on the body the same disease, the same species of irri tation that it has already felt. Thus, in acting upon the principle of similarity, it is easy to perceive that the action of the remedy being directed imme diately upon the sickly organ, it must be requisite to give a dose extremely small, and that the more closely the effects of the remedy correspond with those of the disease, the greater attenuation will be ne cessary to be made in the strength of the medicine ; whilst, on the contrary, should a remedy be administered, which is not strictly indicated, the patient will be saved from any inconvenience ; for, in that case, the medicine will not act upon the disease, nor will it be sufficiently powerful to pro duce irritation on the healthy parts of the body, the quantity prescribed being always proportioned to the strength, sex, age, and susceptibility of the patient, as well as to

69 the state of the disease, whether it be chronic or acute. But there

are

degrees

of attenuation

almost as various as the remedies

which

are applied. —It is, therefore, an absurdity to suppose that they are reduced to a par ticle so minute as to deprive them of ac tion. It was deemed expedient by Hahnemann, that the effect of each medicament should be proved upon as many persons as pos sible, of both sexes and of all ages ; that the various symptoms, produced, should be

which might

be

clearly understood :

thinking it also probable that each indivi dual not being equally susceptible, every effect, which a remedy is capable of pro ducing, might not manifest itself upon the same person. The minutest symptoms were remarked with care ; for it must be remembered that the grand principle of the system is, that

70 the symptoms

produced

by the remedy

must correspond most accurately with those of the disease.

It will, therefore, be appa

rent, that great care is requisite in ascer taining the symptoms, in the first place ; and that, afterwards, the greatest considera tion and reflection must be required before a remedy can be selected for it ; and it will most generally occur, that two persons, who are apparently affected by a similar disease, will yet require a very dissimilar remedy. By the variations in sex, constitution, and susceptibility

are we also guided as to

the repetition of the medicines ; precisely as in the Allopathic mode of treatment ; some persons being affected by very mild, whilst others will require several repeti tions, before any decided amelioration takes place.

One of the greatest advantages to be

derived from

so clearly ascertaining the

symptoms which each remedy will pro

71 duce, is the power which this knowledge gives us of directing its effects immediately and pointedly towards the organ that is dis eased, whilst the contiguous parts entirely resist its influence.

This fact alone must

prove that medicines have not those general effects which have been attributed to them ; for it has been generally found, that those remedies which have

been administered

with the view of producing symptoms op posite to the disease, have acted as mere palliations, and that the evil reappeared, after a short period, more aggravated than before.

Physicians have flattered them

selves that they could subdue an inveterate tendency to

constipation,

by purgatives

administered in large doses ; but the se condary result of this treatment is gene rally that of constipating the bowels in a still greater degree. Wine is prescribed as a remedy in chro nic debility, but it is only the primitive

72 action of this agent which is stimulating ; its definitive results are those of reducing the powers still more.

Immersion in cold water

instantly relieves the pain occasioned by a severe burn;

subsequently, however, the

pain is increased to an insupportable de gree, and the inflammation extends to the neighbouring parts. supposed a proper

Bleeding has been remedy to

stop

the

temporary flow of blood to the head ; but this mode of treatment is always succeeded by a still greater determination of blood towards the upper parts of the body. \

The

present school of medicine has never suffi ciently reflected on the secondary effects of their remedies.

If the disease has in

creased, a still stronger dose has been ad ministered ; but from this treatment mo mentary relief must be the only result. And a more striking proof of the perfect in efficiency of the Allopathic treatment of disease cannot be adduced, than the fact

73 of opium, or any other narcotic, being em ployed with the view of promoting sleep. The primitive

effect we admit to be

palliative ; this palliation, however, is but of short

duration;

and experience con

stantly proves, that, notwithstanding the addition or augmentation of the dose, the loss of sleep again returns with greater force.

The remedy is then changed, per

haps ; but should the whole series of nar cotics be exhausted, the same result alone would be obtained. The reason assigned for this, has always been that the patient had become accus tomed to the remedies, and that, conse quently, their efficacy was diminished or destroyed. moval

But can this be called the re

of disease ; or ought any practi

tioner to feel satisfied with, and persevere in a mode of treatment which only pro duces such a result?

Assuredly not ; and,

as every professional man has seen and

74 felt these difficulties, does it not appear extraordinary, that, during so many centu ries,

the same course should

still

con

tinue to be pursued, notwithstanding the acknowledged inefficiency of the remedies ? But does it not appear even yet more extraordinary, that finding tion given

the

applica

of remedies in a mixed state, with

the intention

of

and

producing

effects opposite to those apparent in the disease, did not succeed in its removal, that the idea should never have suggested itself, that the use of only simple remedies, and the application of them in a manner directly opposite, might, probably, lead to a method of treatment by which a perfect and per manent cure would be effected ?

If, again,

a medicinal effect, contrary to the symp toms of the malady, only procures temporary relief; by the same rule the inverse method, that is to say, the Homoeopathic applica tion of medicines, administered according

75 to the analogy existing between the symp toms they excite and those of the disease itself, substituting, at the same time, in lieu of the enormous doses that are prescribed, the smallest that could be applied, might, and most probably would, produce the per fect and rapid removal of disease.

The

pernicious results of mere palliative treat ment, and the salutary effects proceeding from the reverse method, have, 1 trust, been now sufficiently explained, by the numerous observations that have been made, and by the facts that have been stated ; and facts, we know, to be the only sure guide to the discovery of truth, and the only sure found ation of universal principles.

76

CHAPTER VII.

On the Opposition and Prejudice with which the Science has to contend.

From the violent prejudices, and decided opposition which marks the reception by the public of every discovery or alteration in science, it appears as though it was in the nature of man, at first to reject truth, when suddenly introduced ; and to satirise and ridicule that, which comes, however slightly, in collision with his self-love or pri vate interest.

Such has been the reception

of all those discoveries which have occa sioned scientific revolutions; and it was thus that the discoveries of the motion of the earth, of electricity, and the circulation of the blood were rewarded.

It will not then

77 be deemed surprising that a system which not only endangers, but which almost sub verts and destroys the very means of ex istence of so many highly respected and talented men, should encounter opposition ; that a disposition to place every obstacle in the way of its rapid promulgation should be evinced ; and that every attempt should be made to throw indiscriminate ridicule over the whole system. Does it not appear more extraordiaary that so little criticism

has

been exercised on an occasion by which so many private interests are affected ?

It is

certainly to be regretted that no decided alteration can be made, no extensive im provement can take place in science, with out injuring, in a very great degree, the pros pects of so many individuals ; but it has always been deemed expedient that private interest should yield and become subservient to that which appears likely to produce a public benefit.

78 Many of the first and most bigoted opposers of Homoeopathy, have now declared themselves in favour of the system, and are amongst its most zealous advocates; and many others are, at the present moment, studying it deeply, with the intention of commencing its practice as speedily as pos sible.

Some of these are gentlemen who

stand deservedly high, and are in extensive business as Allopathic practitioners.

Nor

is it in England alone that Homoeopathy is progressing.

On the

Continent there are

already several hundred practitioners, and their numbers are already increasing : there remain, however, still very many profes sional men, who reject Homoeopathy, with out understanding its principles, and without endeavouring to understand them. There are even some who contend against it with asperity, and who endeavour to arrest its progress, by every means in their power.

But feeble indeed will these ob

79 stacles prove, to the promulgation of truth ; for, in despite of all opposition, the science is

advancing

with

astonishing

Those who oppose it

with the

rapidity. greatest

violence are perfectly aware that it is not a system brought into notice by a few vi sionary enthusiasts, but that it is advanced by men of great observation, of deep learning, and decided talent; by men who have de voted their time and property, who have risked their constitutions by the innumera ble experiments which they have been com pelled to make ;

and who then offer the

benefit of their discoveries and the result of these experiments to the world, without recompense or reward.

Can any person

venture to assert that such men as these are mere enthusiasts, or that they only seek the applause of the public, or their own private emolument?

" Certainly not" for

widely different would be found the con

80 duct of persons who were influenced by mere mercenary considerations. The opposers of the system are also per fectly aware* that amongst the members of the new school are men of the most dis tinguished talent, who have practised Allo pathy with success, and whose names now appear amongst those who, by their writ ings, promulgate in every part of the world the principles and benefits of this medical doctrine. Can there be any laudable motive to jus tify the conduct of persons, who will not allow themselves to be convinced of the efficacy of a method possessing so many great and evident advantages ?

Let them

at least acknowledge, as very many scien tific men have already done, that great im provement in the science of medicine is re quisite ; that much remains to be under stood, which up to the present time, there

81 have been no means of effecting, and that that improvement, at all events, should be sought for in the system of Hahnemann, whose name will be pronounced with gra titude and admiration, long after the adver saries of his doctrine shall be forgotten. Even should it be proved that he has not founded a new and

splendid system, he

has, at least, put us in possession of an ac curate knowledge of the full and proper effects of medicinal substances, for which alone he deserves the thanks and veneration of mankind. But this is not all, for he has taught us to base our knowledge on pure experiment ; and has given an impulse to investigation, the ultimate consequences of which no man at present can

conjecture.

Succeeding

generations will, in all probability, admit much that we have rejected as mere idle speculations, as we have admitted much that was refused by those who have preG

82 ceded us.

Newton was regarded as a mere

visionary ; the inventor of steam-boats met with little encouragement ; and the intro ducer of gas into our streets was rewarded with a prison. A reverence for long-received opinions is far from blameable.

Without

it we should be at the mercy of every inno vator, or enthusiast, and to-morrow would destroy what yesterday had raised : still we must

not

forget that

but

improve

ment is requisite in every branch of human knowledge, and that it is now too late to treat the advocates of Homoeopathy with contempt ; for it now no longer depends on the talent of its defenders, but stands firmly * upon its own basis, truth.

A few months

ago there were but two Homoeopathic prac titioners in London ; there are now eight, and the numbers will no doubt rapidly increase.

83

CHAPTER VIII.

Comparison of the Two Systems.

The Homoeopathic system is one of speci fics.

It employs only simple medicines,

and allows of no combination. The Allopathic

is a system

of

anti

dotes, and administers compound prescrip tions. The rule of the one is " Similia Similibus Curanter" or, that remedies will re move the same

disease which they are

capable of producing. That of the other is " Contraria Contrariis," or that, to effect the removal of disease, it is necessary to give only such G 2

84 medicines as will produce one diametrically opposite to that which already exists. The

former

administers infinite small

doses with the intention of producing infi nite small aggravation. The latter creates a violent temporary disease, by the administration of drachms and ounces. The one rejects external appli cations,—the other prescribes liniments and lotions. The first step which every practitioner of the old system would immediately adopt, would be, either to bleed, blister, leech, give emetics, or purgatives.

In every in

stance, one or other of these modes of treat ment, " varied of course, according to the nature of the disease," would be resorted to : and this is asserted without the slightest inclination to detract from the high reputa tion which

so

many of our physicians

and general practitioners have so justly ac quired.

85 But the

practitioner

never resorts procedure.

to

of Homoeopathy

any of these modes of

All his efforts are directed to

the support and improvement of the consti tution, but never to depress and produce debility by forced evacuations, which must evidently tend to dissipate the strength, to exhaust the powers, and to procrastinate the sufferings of the patient.

. -.

The following case, which is one of almost daily occurrence, will place this circum stance in a stronger point of view.

It often

happens that within one hour before that shivering is felt, which always precedes an attack of acute pleurisy, the pulse of the patient continues to be regular and steady. In a very short time after the attack, fever commences, violent plethora exists, and the practitioner assures the patient

that re

peated copious bleeding is absolutely neces sary to effect his recovery. Now will not the patient most probably be

86 impelled to ask,—from what extraordinary cause is it, little less indeed than miracu lous, that those pounds of blood, which were, only an hour or two previously beat ing within him, with a tranquil movement, should have obtained an entrance into his arteries?

His reason tells him that there

cannot be one ounce of blood more in his circulation than there was, when just before he felt in perfect health.

And he is un

questionably right ; for his malady proceeds from an irritation of the vascular system, and not from a superabundance of blood : nothing can therefore warrant our proceed ing with such a debilitating mode of treat ment as the prevailing practice directs. A prescription written according to the old mode of practice, would generally be com posed of one principal drug as a basis, and to this would be added several others, occa sionally mixed together with the addition of a syrup, which likewise possesses distinct medi

87 cinal properties ; and it has been imagined that each component of this mixture will perform the part that has been assigned to it, without allowing itself to be disturbed, or led astray by the others.

Can any ra

tional being, or can any reflecting mind expect the best, the most speedy, and the most salutary result from such a mode of practice; can, moreover, the most scientific chemist venture to decide upon the effect which those compound medicines will pro duce, which are, under the present mode of practice, introduced in such variety into the stomach ? the

Can he form even an idea of

influence which one may exert over

the other, and the consequent derangement which will follow of the digestive organs ? One only of these drugs may be sufficient to destroy wholly, or in part, the operation of either of the others, or may give to the remainder a mode of action altogether dif ferent to that which was intended ; so that

88 the effects calculated upon could not be, by any possibility, produced.

This inexplica

ble mixture must frequently produce symp toms which were little expected, and most assuredly not desired.

Nor can there be

any hope of disease being removed speedily and effectually, so long as this mode of associating various

medicinal

substances

continues to be employed. The stomach, also, becomes distressingly affected, from being so constantly loaded with nauseating drugs, and the patient, on any but a case of necessity, defers to send for a professional man to the latest moment, at the sacrifice of his feelings, and at the risk of increasing the disease under which he labours, from his utter aversion to take the quantity of medicine prescribed, and, from the length of time that is generally occupied

before the disease is subdued.

For many years past, even among the ablest practitioners on the old system, there have

89 been some, who felt the absurdity of mixing such a variety of medicines, without how ever being able to discover any means of obviating the difficulty, and who, conse quently, have been compelled to follow a routine which was condemned by their bet ter judgment. It has been stated in the introductory chapter, that the combination of drugs ap pears to be one of the most objectionable parts of the old system ; the perfect avoid ance of such practice is,

therefore, the

strongest recommendation that can be ad duced in favour of the new. By the Homoeopathic mode of practice, all these difficulties are obviated, all un pleasantness is removed, and the drugs are only administered singly, in a highly con centrated, though in an attenuated form. They are perfectly free from taste, and are, at the same time, agreeable from the man ner in which they are administered.

90 Next to the stomach, the tongue and mouth are the parts most susceptible of re ceiving medicinal influence. The Homoeopathic remedies, therefore, being given in minute quantities, are ge nerally administered by being placed upon the tongue and suffered to dissolve.

By

this means the stomach is preserved from every species of annoyance, from that de rangement which invariably engenders in digestion, ennui, and hypochondriacal sen sations of every description. The contrast between the two systems must be observed in another strong point of view : I allude to the invariable practice of prescribing purgative medicines, of the injurious aware.

effects

of which

we

are

all

They produce immediate relief, it

is true ; but it is also equally true, that they at the same time produce debility ; and that so far from removing constipation, they rather tend to confirm it, by rendering it

91 necessary to increase the strength of the dose, and the frequency of its repetition. The number of Homoeopathic medicines amount to nearly three hundred ;—amongst these, not one purgative is admitted ; but they produce, after taking a few doses, that which is infinitely superior, such a healthy action in the digestive organs, as not only to render the immediate use of aperients unnecessary,

but to prevent their being

afterwards required. On this point I can speak decidedly from experience. The next most striking variation from the present system is, that of never having recourse to the lancet ; a practice which is wholly avoided in the new,

and so fre

quently resorted to in the old. If the substitute be equally efficacious, and

if

bleeding can,

in

all cases, be

dispensed with, it will, I imagine, require no eloquence on my part to convince my

92 patients and the public, that it is the most agreeable, as it is the most desirable mode of practice.

To

the use of the lancet, ex

cept in cases of apoplexy, the Homoeopa thic practitioner never has recourse. When the Allopathic physician prescribes venesection, it is not all superfluous blood that he draws from the patient ; this fluid never existing in too great a quantity ; but he deprives him of a portion of that blood which is indispensable to his

existence,

and to the re-establishment of his health. The true cause of his malady is not from a superabundance of blood, but merely, as was before stated, from an inflammatory action of the vascular system.

But, replies

the practitioner, I see the ill effects of so much depletion, and am aware of the fre quently lamentable effects resulting from it ; but in what manner can it be obviated ?—for, unless we immediately relieve the circula tion, and we are aware of no other means

93 of doing so, than the existing one, the most imminent danger to the patient will, in all probability, be the result.

I admit that, in

all human probability, such would be the case ; but we are now no longer reduced to the extremity of endangering the life of the patient whom we are expected to relieve, or of resorting to a mode of cure, of which our reason wholly disapproves ; and which we, at the same time, feel conscious is per fectly inadequate to obtain the desired end. Partial bleedings, by the application of leeches, in local inflammation produce, it is true, a palliative relief, but not a perfect cure. This

is sufficiently apparent from the

weakness to which the diseased parts, if not the body generally, are reduced. By one of the Homoeopathic remedies, the whole cause of the disturbance in the vascular system may immediately be ar rested without loss of blood : and surely no

94 person will deny that this is the most plea sant, the most rational, and the most scien tific mode of treatment. From what has been already stated, it is apparent that the Homoeopathic treatment can never do any positive injury,

even

should it fail in removing disease ; nor can it ever, under any circumstances, injure the constitution of the most delicate patient.

95

CHAPTER IX.

Sketch of the Life of Hahnemann.

As

it must be interesting to the public

generally to be made acquainted with any particulars relating to an individual who has done more to improve the science of medicine than any man who has preceded him

for centuries,

I

shall give a short

sketch of the life of Samuel Hahnemann, the founder of the Homoeopathic system of medicine. This great man was born in

1755, at

Misnia, in Upper Saxony. At an early age he exhibited traits of a superior genius ; and his school education

96 being completed, he applied himself to the study of natural philosophy, and natural history.

Shortly afterwards he prosecuted

the study of medicine at Leipsic, and at other Universities.

A most accurate ob

server, a skilful experimentalist, and an indefatigable searcher after truth, he ap peared formed by nature for the investiga tion and improvement of medical science. On commencing the study of medicine, he became annoyed at the contradictory asser tions and theories which existed ; and find ing so much that was vague and obscure, he resolved on abandoning altogether the medical profession. Having been previously engaged in the study of chemistry, he determined on trans lating into his native language, the best English and French works which were ex tant on the subject; and whilst occupied in translating the Materia Medica of Cullen, 1790, in which the febrifuge virtues of

97 cinchona bark were described, he became very desirous of ascertaining its mode of operation : though he was at the time in the enjoyment of the most robust health, yet he determined to commence the use of this substance on his own person ;

and in a

short period was attacked with all the symp toms of intermittent fever, similar, in every respect, to those which that medicine is known to remove. Being struck most forcibly with the iden tity of the two diseases, he immediately divined the great truth, which has become the foundation of the new medical doctrine of Homoeopathy.

He did not, however, re

main contented with making an experiment in one single instance, but proceeded to try the virtues of various medicines, as well on the persons of others as on himself. In his investigation he arrived

at this

conclusion, that the substances employed H

98 possessed an inherent power of exciting, in healthy subjects, the same symptoms which they are said to remove in disease. He next compared the investigations of the ancient and modern physicians, upon the properties of poisonous substances, with the result of his own

experiments, and

found them to coincide in every respect ; and, upon these deductions, he laid the foundation

of that system which he has

since published to the world. Taking this law of Homoeopathy for his guide, he recommenced the practice of me dicine, which

he

had

for a time relin

quished, with every prospect of his labours being crowned with success.

His first dis

sertation on the system was published in 1796 ; and his friends, his family, and him self devoted, for upwards of twenty years, their whole time and energies in making those experiments which they deemed: ne

99 cessary, to convince themselves and the public of the truth of the system which they had discovered. In 1811, Hahnemann, commenced as a public lecturer in Leipsic, where, with his pupils, he zealously continued to investigate the effects

of medicines on the healthy

body, which formed the basis of the Materia MedicaPura that appeared during the same year. In

1820

he

retired with some of his

pupils, and formed with them a society for the purpose of prosecuting the study of the Homoeopathic system', and of reporting their progress and observations.

Several works

have since appeared containing the detail of these investigations. In 1824 the Homosopathic doctrine was embraced by Rau, physician to the Duke of Hesse Darmstadt ; by Bigelius, physi cian to the Emperor of Russia ; by Stegmann Hiifeland, and many other persons h 2

100 celebrated in medicine ; and we must not lose sight of this fact, that the system is spreading most rapidly throughout the whole continent of Europe. Germany, Austria, Russia, and Poland have already done homage to the soundness of its doctrine ; and physicians have been appointed in those countries to make a spe cific trial of its effects ; the results of which, as far as they have been published, are un equivocally acknowledged to be of the most favorable nature. The writings of Hahnemann have been translated into five different languages.

In

France alone they have reached a fourth edition. Had Hahnemann been a charlatan, as some persons have designated him, he might have lived unassailed, and have died weal thy.

With a liberality, however, which is

by no means rare in the annals of medi cine, he gave to the world all the bene

101 fits of that discovery, which it cost him so many arduous and anxious hours to ac complish. When his name is mentioned, we cannot forget that hitherto obloquy and reproach have been his sole reward ; but he will stand before the tribunal of posterity, by whom

his

discovery

will

be

assuredly

adopted, and who will respect his perse verance, and

appreciate his disinterested

motives. An untrodden field was before him : he felt that from the labours of his predeces sors he could derive little or no assistance ; and he applied himself steadily to execute the gigantic task which he had assigned himself.

Nor did he publish to the world

that theory, which it had caused him so much labour to mature, till twenty years of silent and incessant application had taught him to classify, compare, and connect all the results he had obtained.

NOTICE TO THE READER.

The following cases, selected from a great many others, have been drawn up to the best of the author's ability in a strictly popular form, professional technicalities being as much as possible avoided. For a similar reason the names of the various medicines have not been introduced, under the impression that they would not be understood by the general reader"; but to any member of the profes sion he will, with the utmost pleasure, communicate any information which may be desired. Many of the persons whose cases are annexed were ex ceedingly desirous that their names and places of resi dence should be published at full length; but others having objections, it was deemed more expedient merely to insert the initials. A certain class of diseases have been omitted—the description of which, it will be imme diately perceived, could not be introduced into a popular work with a due regard to delicacy ; but many experi ments have been made upon them, and it can therefore be affirmed with confidence, that they can be eradicated with greater facility by the Homoeopathic practice than by the prevailing system. Finally, the author begs again to embrace the opportunity to offer an apology for any repetitions which occur in the different divisions of his little work—a fault which he is perfectly aware would have been avoided by a person more experienced in com position.

CASES.

DISEASED LIVER. Mrs. H. had been in a delicate state of health for many years, labouring under dyspepsia until it terminated in a confirmed case of diseased liver. She was periodically attacked with violent pains in the stomach, palpitations of the heart, sickness, and general debility, attended with a high degree of nervous excitement. The medical prac titioner, who had attended her for many years, considered her case so desperate that he could hold out no hope of being able to effect a cure ; and the utmost that could be expected, was a temporary palliation of the disease by the administration of opiates. Additional medical aid of the most respectable character was also called in, with no other result than fully to confirm the above opinion, with the further painful assurance, that death must, at no remote period, terminate her sufferings. In one of the above-described attacks I was re quested to visit her, about eleven o'clock at night, when I ordered two of the powders to be administered. Upon calling the next morning, 1 was informed she had

104 experienced considerable relief, and felt better than she had usually done at the end of a week, after any of the previous attacks. She had been for a considerable pe riod unable to eat animal food without immediately after suffering violent pain in the stomach, attended with other symptoms of indigestion ; but in less than a month she was able to digest a moderate quantity of animal food without feeling the slightest inconvenience, and enjoyed better health than she had done for a number of years. I visited her a few days since, and found her in excellent health and spirits ; and expressing her gratitude that the practice prescribed had been the means, in the hands of Providence, of rescuing her from an untimely grave.

INDIGESTION. Mrs. R. had been long afflicted with a severe stomach complaint ; and I was requested to visit her, after she had been under the treatment of several eminent medical practitioners, without deriving any benefit beyond occa sional temporary relief. She had the usual symptoms attending dyspepsia, viz. incessant pain in the stomach after taking food—flatulence and distention of the abdo men—palpitation of the heart, and irritability of the whole nervous system, accompanied with great depression of spirits. After detailing her case at considerable length, she informed me that her sufferings had been so severe, and so long protracted, that death would be a welcome visiter ; and that, although she had little hope of deriving permanent benefit from any thing that could be done, after what she had already experienced, she had been ad vised by her friends to apply to me, as a last resourse ;

105 and she therefore solicited my candid opinion, whether or not I could render her any service. I informed her, that although her case was complicated and of long stand ing, and attended with symptoms which, in many instances proved fatal, yet that.there was no ground to despair of her recovery, as I felt assured that I could effect a permanent cure of her malady. I administered medicines, enjoin ed the necessary regimen ; and within two months she was restored to perfect health ; and has subsequently suffered no relapse. Indeed it may with propriety be here observed, that one of the great advantages of the Homoe opathic practice is, that the medicines render the patient much less susceptible of disease ; so that they combine the two essential qualities of being a remedy for the disorder, and a preventive, in many cases, against its recurrence. Upwards of fifty cases of a similar description could be enumerated, which were attended by analogous results.

Mb. J. a gentleman upwards of sixty years of age, was introduced to me by a friend, who had himself derived great benefit from the Homoeopathic medicine. He was in a state of great nervous debility—had no appetite for food, and even when taken in the form of fluid, it was immediately followed by great pain in the stomach and bowels. He was a constant martyr to headach, arising from vitiated biliary secretion, accompanied with nausea and vomiting, which had completely exhausted his phy sical power. With all this complication of diseases, by following the course 1 prescribed, he was perfectly re covered in one month, to the utter astonishment and high gratification of his family and friends.

106

Mr. S., a gentleman following a sedentary occupation, applied to me four months ago. He complained of indi gestion, food of every description disagreeing with his stomach, and producing nausea. It was accompanied with hectic fever, furred tongue, morbidity of the bowels, great irregularity in his motions, frequently recurring pain in the head, lassitude, and a high degree of nerv ous irritability. I furnished him with a packet of the Homoeopathic powders ; and at the end of a week, he called upon me, expressing his astonishment at being, in so short a space of time, perfectly restored to health.

Mrs. P. had, for upwards of four years, suffered most severely from debilitated stomach. During the greater part of the time she had been unable to eat animal food, even of the most delicate description, without its being immediately followed by acute pain, and great irritability of the stomach. For a considerable time she had in con sequence been literally reduced to the alternative of sub sisting upon fluids, and even then she was subject to fre quent vomiting and palpitation of the heart, attended with great lassitude and debility. In less than one month after she commenced taking the Homoeopathic medicines, the whole of the symptoms above described disappeared, her appetite and physical energy returned, and she has since enjoyed perfect health.

107 Mb. N., a gentleman who had been all his life accustomed to luxurious living, and of a plethoric habit of body, made application to me, in a state of great alarm, under the impression that he should die of apoplexy. His stomach was disordered, and his appetite bad, at tended with severe pain and restlessness after taking food, acute pains in the region of the kliver, followed by nausea, and frequent vomiting of the biliary secre tion. I endeavoured to remove his apprehension of any immediate danger from apoplexy, and administered two powders. In three or four days after, he called upon me greatly improved in health and spirits ; and by a repetition of the medicine, in eight days he was com pletely recovered.

DISEASED LIVER. Mrs. M. had been in bad health for many months from diseased liver ; and although she was under the treatment of a gentleman ranking high in the profession, he had failed in producing the slightest amelioration, and had abandoned her case as hopeless. When called upon to visit her, I found her suffering the most acute pain from inflammation of the liver, with the skin deeply tinged, the appetite gone, the urinary organs incapable of per forming their functions; the strength exhausted, the mind in a state of depression, and she exhibited every appear ance of speedy dissolution. In two days after adminis tering the Homoeopathic medicines, the pain had nearly subsided, the skin had resumed its natural colour, the appetite progressively returned, and within a fortnight she was convalescent.

-

108

JAUNDICE. Mr. O. had for a considerable time laboured under an affection of the liver, which at length terminated in a very bad case of jaundice, with all the symptoms uniformly attendant upon the disease of that important organ. He had consulted several medical men, who had exhausted all the antidotes which are usually efficacious in such cases ; but the disease was so confirmed and inveterate, that it had in no perceptible degree yielded to the ordi nary treatment. He was literally reduced to a skeleton, and in a state of great mental depression, when he was ad vised to apply to me. In a very few days the Homoeo pathic medicines made a sensible impression ; and in a month he was restored to sound health, and the liver has since executed its functions with perfect regularity.

Mrs. M.—This was another case of jaundice I was requested to visit, a short time ago, by the relations of the patient. She had been attended by two different profes sional gentlemen for several weeks ; and although the treatment, according to the ordinary rules of practice, had been highly judicious, it had altogether failed in produc ing even an amelioration of the complaint. When I visited her, she complained of violent pain in the region of the liver, which was greatly increased by external pres sure. The collateral symptoms were loss of appetite, nausea, excessive headach, and frequent vomitings, when liquids were taken into the stomach—the use of solids being out of the question. She also complained of ex

109 treme lassitude, and appeared to be rapidly sinking under the protracted influence and violence of the disease. In the course of three or four days after I commenced ad ministering the Homoeopathic medicines, the skin began to assume its natural hue, her appetite was improved, her strength progressively returned ; and in a short time I discontinued my attendance. She has ever since been in the enjoyment of perfect health.

CHOLERA. J. R.—This was a decided case of spasmodic cholera, which I was called upon to visit in great haste. On my arrival at the residence of the patient, he appeared to be in the last stage of the disease. Spasms in the stomach and bowels, cramp in the lower extremities, eyes sunk, skin blue, voice weak and tremulous, the pulse scarcely perceptible, and the body cold, with profuse and con tinual evacuations. After administering three or four doses of the medicines, he was entirely relieved of pain ; the circulation became active, the body warm : he was soon enabled to take nutritious food, and in five or six days to resume his usual avocations.

Mr. G.—This patient had an attack of cholera, when it first visited this country ; and during the summer of last year, he was seized in precisely a similar manner. I was called upon to visit the case with every pos

110 sible dispatch ; and on my arrival I found the symptoms indicated a very highly aggravated attack of English cholera. Being always provided with medicines during the prevalence of the disease, I immediately administered one dose, and left instructions that I should be informed, as soon as possible, if any change occurred in the condition of the patient. At the end of six hours, I was apprized that the effect of the medicine had been so instantaneous and effective, that there had been no necessity to repeat the dose ; that the evacuations had entirely ceased, the pain was removed, and with the exception of a little lan guor, the patient felt as well as he was previous to the attack. I have succeeded in curing a vast number of cases of Diarrhoea with the Homoeopathic medicines, in the course of my practice during the last summer, in an almost incre dibly short period of time. Hundreds of cases have instantly yielded to a single dose ; and in the most in veterate cases of the very worst type, I have scarcely ever found it necessary to exceed two doses. From my own experience, indeed, I feel myself warranted in affirming with confidence, that were this mode of treatment adopted generally, during the prevalence of malignant spasmodic cholera, a much greater number of lives would be pre served.

PULMONARY AFFECTION. Capt. C. had been ou service in India for upwards of thirty years. In the course of the second year after his return to England, (about three years since,) he was se

Ill verely attacked with spasmodic asthma. On my first visiting this gentleman, I applied the usual remedies ac cording to the Allopathic system, but they entirely failed in affording him even temporary relief. I then had re course to the Homoeopathic medicines, which instantly mitigated the obstructed respiration; and in a short time he breathed with perfect freedom. I have subsequently, on several occasions, been called to attend this gentleman during paroxysms which were so severe that his family experienced the utmost alarm, and thought it impossible that he could survive until medical assistance was procured. The Homoeopathic medicine I invariably found to prove efficacious : relief almost instantaneously followed their application; and the interval between the attacks has become so progressively extended, as to afford the most pleasing and confident belief that the complaint will be entirely subdued.

CHRONIC COUGH. Mrs. J.—This lady had been afflicted with a chronic cough of many years' duration, accompanied with de rangement of the digestive organs. The stomach was so much debilitated that she was unable to digest solid food of any kind for many months, and even fluids were fre quently rejected. When medicines were administered for the purpose of relieving the cough, the irritation of the sto mach was thereby greatly increased, and vice versa ; so that the amelioration of the one was an aggravation of the other. Exclusive of her own regular medical attendant, she had

112 consulted many physicians of the most extensive hospital practice in the metropolis, without receiving any perma nent benefit; and had thus expended large sums of money ineffectually in search of relief. When she applied to me, she stated that it was only in compliance with the pressing solicitations of her friends, and not from any hope she herself indulged, that the Homoeopathic medi cines would be more effectual in subduing the complica tion of disorders under which she laboured. It was obvious, therefore, that the power of the ima gination, which is frequently assumed to be, and which probably often is, the chief agent in the cure of chronic diseases, could exercise no influence in this case. I, in the first instance, directed my attention to the state of the stomach, as the more immediately urgent part of the case ; and in one month she was able to retain and di gest any kind of solid food without inconvenience. The cough had, however, become so severe during that inter val, that in some of the periodical paroxysms she was in imminent danger of suffocation. I then introduced an alterative for the purpose of subduing the cough, and with such success, that in another fortnight it had entirely subsided. The stomach also continued to improve and maintain a stronger tone; and she is now enjoying perfect health, after many years of severe suffering, which the most skilful practitioners had failed in relieving, by all the expedients they could devise under the ordinary mode of practice.

ASTHMATIC COUGH. Mr. H.

This young gentleman had been a severe suf-

113 ferer for many years from a chronic cough, hereditary in his family, his father having been subject to asthmatic affection, which accelerated his death. As usual in such cases, it was much worse during the winter months, and was greatly aggravated by a humid atmosphere. The cough was hard and dry, with occasional expectoration of mucus, of a quality which indicated partial suppuration of the lungs ; and his general health was so much injured, that he was afraid he would be compelled to resign a lucrative situation he held* from inability to perform the duties. In addition to the necessary course of regimen, he only received two supplies of medicine, when he was so much improved that the cough had entirely subsided, and his health was so far restored, that he had no diffi culty in fulfilling the duties of his station. Since then, without any repetition of the medicine, he has progres sively improved, until his health is completely confirmed.

COUGH AND SPITTING OF BLOOD. Mrs. C. —This lady had borne nine children within ten years ; which operating on an originally delicate constitu tion had so much impaired her general health, that when I was called upon to visit her, she exhibited every symp tom of pulmonary consumption. For several months pre vious she had been afflicted with a severe cough, accom panied with spitting of blood, which had then become so frequent and profuse, that she was greatly debilitated ; and her friends were strongly apprehensive that it would soon terminate fatally. I recommended the immediate adop

114 tion of the Homeeopathic regimen, and administered two or three doses of the requisite medicines, which did not require to be repeated, as on my next visit, at the end of a few days, I found her comparatively well ; the cough had nearly subsided, and the spitting of blood entirely so. She has had no return of either, although upwards of twelve months have since elapsed. Her general health has also had a corresponding improvement.

ASTHMATIC TOUGH. B. R. Esq.—This gentleman made application to me on the recommendation of a friend whom I had succeeded in curing of an asthmatic affection, by the new system of practice. He stated, that he had a constitutional cough of many years standing, accompanied with great difficulty of breathing, which became almost insupportable on any rapid change of temperature,—on his attempting to walk quickly, or ascending stairs, &c, which rendered him in capable of all active exertion. Being possessed of an ample fortune, he had consulted medical practitioners of the first eminence, without receiving any benefit, beyond a very partial and temporary relief ; and he had abandoned all hope of being effectually cured. As this was a chro nic case of very long standing, I did not feel very confi dent in the perfect efficacy of the medicine ; but, much to my surprise, the cough, and also the other symptoms, dis appeared in less than a fortnight, and no relapse has since taken place.

115 In this instance only a few d6ses of the medicine were administered.

CONSUMPTION. Miss E. This was a case of pulmonary disease, in a girl eighteen years of age, attended with the usual symp toms. She complained of continual oppression and acute pain in the chest, after which the expectoration of mucus was copious, mixed with coagulated blood. Her strength was greatly impaired ; and as several members of her fa mily had sunk under the same disease, her relatives were in a state of great alarm, lest a similar fate awaited her. With the conviction before me, that the highest order of medical talents had been in vain exerted to find a remedy for this insidious complaint, I was diffident in holding out any confident hope that I could effect a cure ; and the more especially so, as the disease appeared to have made great progress within a short period. I, however, under took to make the experiment ; and, in a fortnight from the commencement of the administration of the medicines, the expectoration of blood had ceased,—the cough gave little uneasiness,—the pain in the chest had greatly diminished, and in six weeks all the symptoms had entirely disap peared. This case occurred above twelve months ago ; and on my paying a visit to the family a few weeks since, to ascer tain how far the effect had been permanent, I found her in good health.

116 CHRONIC ASTHMA. Mr. W. had for many years suffered under chronic asthma, with all its distressing and afflicting concomitants. On my first visit I found that he had been unable to lie down in bed for eight successive nights ; and that, during this protracted period he had obtained no sleep, nor had been able to take any sustenance whatever. In one hour after the Homoeopathic medicines, were adminis tered, he was enabled to lie down in a horizontal posi tion : he reposed soundly for eight or nine hours, and, on awaking partook of a hearty meal, the enjoyment of which was much enhanced by long abstinence. I could adduce many instances which have occurred in the course of my practice during the last winter, which were attended with precisely similar results : cases of this kind having been more frequent in the metropolis, than in any season during the period of my recollection.

A. R. Esq. a gentleman in affluent circumstances, re siding a few miles from town, applied to me recently, for relief.in a case of chronic cough, and general asthmatic affection of very long standing. He had been under the treatment of the most eminent medical men in the pro fession, and had unavailingly spent many hundred pounds in pursuit of relief. The slightest physical exertion, or change of atmosphere, immediately brought on the most distressing fits of coughing, which in a great measure ex cluded him from society ; and, except in a carriage, it de barred him from all exercise. He was induced to apply to me in consequence of the benefit which a friend of his,

117 similarly affected, had derived from the Homoeopathic me dicines, and said, that he should be satisfied if partial re lief from his suffering could be afforded him—a perfect cure being beyond his expectation. In less than two months after commencing the medicines, the cough en tirely left him, and his breathing was so much improved that he walked a distance of several miles—a degree of exertion altogether beyond his power of locomotion for upwards of fifteen years before. I could adduce upwards of fifty other cases of invete rate cough and chronic asthma within the range of my own practice, in which perfect cures have been effected by the Homoeopathic medicines.

J. P. Esq.—This gentleman had for several years, during the autumn, been attacked with a cough and difficulty of breathing, which had confined him to his room for many weeks. In the autumn preceding that in which he called upon me, " at the request of a friend," he had been at tended for six weeks by one of the leading physicians of the metropolis ; who had debilitated him so much, by cathartic medicines and spare diet, that he did not re cover his general health until the following summer. When I first saw him he was unable to walk any con siderable distance, from the lassitude produced by the diffi culty of breathing, although his health was in other re spects good. I had occasion to administer only one dose of medicine when the cough immediately disappeared, and in the course of a few days he was enabled to breathe with perfect freedom.

118 Rev. Mr . A clergyman of the church of England had laboured under incipient asthma for several years, attended with cough and difficulty of breathing, es pecially when performing his Sunday duties. The ail ments of which this gentleman more particularly com plained, and which, he assured me, were frequently experienced by many of his brethren, who had heavy duties to perform, were, continued irritation of the trachea, which was always attended, as soon as the winter commenced with violent cough, and difficulty of breath ing, particularly when walking upon a rising ground, however trifling the ascent might be, with a sharp pain upon the ribs, and with oppression when he lay down to rest at night. He had received advice from many who were considered to be the most eminent in removing diseases of this nature, but with little temporary, and certainly with no permanent relief. The nauseous medi cines he took, and which were repeated thrice a day, for months, produced but little alleviation ; and, till the spring advanced, when his complaint gradually subsided, he remained a sufferer in the way described. I adminis tered the Homoeopathic remedies, with the usual success. The general health of this gentleman has been, as he thankfully acknowledges, decidedly improved ; and were it not that the weekly nature of his laborious duties, renews as often the causes of his disease, he would be effectually relieved.

RHEUMATISM, ACUTE. 0. H. Esq.—In the month of February last this gen tleman had so severe an attack of acute rheumatism, ac

119 companied with a high degree of febrile action, that he was unable to move any of his limbs, and had lain nearly motionless for upwards of a fortnight. He was attended by one of the most eminent physicians of the day, under whose direction upwards of seventy ounces of blood had been extracted. Digitalis, tartarized antimony, &c. had been administered, and the whole arcana of active practice exhausted, without the least appearance of allevia ting the disease. The patient having previously had an opportunity of hearing my opinion of the Homoeopathic system, and its effects on similar diseases, was induced, from his rapidly increasing danger, to have recourse to it. Within six hours after the medicines were administered, his skin became moist and cool, the limbs relaxed, and his pulse, which had previously been at 130, was reduced to 84. A speedy convalescence followed ; and he has since enjoyed more perfect health than he did for many years previous to the attack.

Mr. B., a mercantile gentleman, had been for a consi derable period subject to frequent attacks of rheumatism. When called upon to visit him, he had been confined to his room for upwards of three months, the attack being more severe than he had ever experienced on any former occasion. His upper and lower extremities were swollen and inflamed to such a degree, that locomotion became im possible ; and he experienced, at the same time, the most agonizing pain in nearly every joint. In twenty-four hours the pain in the lower extremities was subdued, and the swelling dissipated. In forty-eight hours the same effect was produced on the arms and upper part of the body ; and in less than a week he was able to resume his business, and has ever since enjoyed uninterrupted health.

120 SCORBUTIC ERUPTION. W. T. Esq.—This gentleman had been affected with an inveterate scorbutic eruption for many years; and although he had consulted several professional men of the highest reputation, all the means which their skill could devise had failed in affording him any relief. When he called upon me recently for my opinion of his case, it was ap parently under the impression that he had very slender hopes of my being able to render him any benefit ; and from its long standing and great virulence I confess that I did not feel very sanguine of being able to effect a radical cure. This I candidly told him ; but as he still expressed a strong desire to avail himself of my advice, I furnished him with the necessary medicines, requesting him to call again upon me at the end of a week. At the expi ration of that period, to his great astonishment, as well in deed as to my own, the eruption had nearly disappeared ; and by continuing the medicines for another forttiight, it was entirely obliterated. He has since had no return of the eruption, and enjoys better general health than he did previously.

ERUPTION WITH DYSPEPSIA. Miss A.—This young lady had, for several years, been subject to frequent attacks of dyspepsia, accompanied by a most painful and distressing eruption in different parts of the body, the latter being greatly aggravated by the slightest deviation from regularity in diet or exercise. Every means had been pursued which easy pecuniary cir cumstances could command, or the medical art could de vise, to subdue the complaint, but without effect ; and her friends had been assured, by several eminent practitioners

121 who had been consulted, that nothing more could be done for her. She incidentally heard of the success of the Homoeopathic practice in similar cases, and was advised to apply to me : and although the eruption was extremely obstinate, it yielded to the medicines in six weeks from the date of their first administration. She has since had no return of the eruption, and the dyspeptic symptoms have also disappeared.

ERUPTION WITH ULCERS. Mr. S.—This gentleman applied to me in a very painful and distressing case of cutaneous disease. He had been for a considerable time afflicted with a most irritating eruption on different parts of the body ; but it was more especially troublesome and painful on the face and ears. It appeared first in livid spots, attended with itchiness and great irritation ; and in this stage there was a copious discharge of watery acrid fluid. In a few days these spots became dry, formed a thick, disagreeable coating or crust, which after a short interval scaled and dropped off, when the process was again repeated. In one month from the application of the medicines the eruption had entirely disappeared,—the skin had be come soft and resumed its natural colour, and there has since been not the slightest symptom of its return. I could adduce a number of other similar instances, for there is no class of cases in which the Homoeopathic system has been more successfully applied than in every description of cutaneous disease.

122 SCARLET FEVER. Ma. F. a young man about twenty-five years of age, who was in a very dangerous state with scarlet fever. He complained of violent pain in the head, alternate heat and cold, shiverings, insatiable thirst and great lassitude ; and the usual eruption was general over the whole body ; the glands of the throat were ulcerated, and inspiration and respiration were attended with excessive pain and diffi culty. I immediately administered the belladonna, which afforded instantaneous relief. On the seventh day from the time I was called in he was able to resume his usual avo cations in the counting-house. I could adduce numerous examples of the same descrip tion attended with precisely similar results.

Ma. B's children. These were two very bad cases of scarletina, the one six, the other ten years of age. One of them had been previously in a delicate state of health ; and when applied to I considered them both to be in a very dangerous situation ; for independently of other symp toms, the trachea and thorax were in a state of active in flammation. On the fourth day the one was able to eat heartily ; and at the end of a week the other was also per fectly recovered. These rapid changes were effected exclusively by the administration of belladonna ; and not more than three or four doses were required in either case to complete the recovery. Judging indeed from an extended experience, without encountering a single case of failure, I have every reason to- believe that that medicine is a specific in inflammatory and eruptive fever.

123 TYPHUS FEVER. Mb. T. together with several of his family were attacked with typhus fever ; and when I was called upon it had in all the cases assumed a very malignant aspect. The pre eminence of the Homoeopathic practice was strongly manifested on this occasion, as the whole of them re covered in less than one half the usual time required under the ordinary method of treatment. Having for a number of years had the appointment of surgeon to the extensive and populous parish in which I reside, and in which a large proportion of the lower class of its inhabitants are of irregular habits, and occupy badly ventilated houses, I have had abundant opportunities of witnessing both typhus and scarletina in every possible form and degree ; and I can without hesitation affirm, that I have not failed in a single instance with a patient in either, since I adopted the Homoeopathic practice.

STRICTURE OF THE RECTUM. Mrs. B. —This lady, immediately subsequent to her last accouchement, which occurred about sixteen years ago, was attacked with stricture of the rectum, accompanied with confirmed constipation of the bowels. To such an extent was constipation carried, that twelve or fourteen days frequently elapsed before she could obtain relief, and never, in any instance, without the administration of the strongest purgative medicines, the influence of which was often imperceptible for many successive days. Ulce ration of the intestinal canal followed, often accompanied with profuse haemorrhage, and a most copious discharge of mucus. Lavements and other mechanical means had

124 also been exhausted, without affording any permanent re lief ; and when an evacuation was procured, it was in variably accompanied with intense pain and suffering, which continued for a considerable length of time. Her nights were sleepless, and her general health so greatly impaired that her friends expected that she must very soon sink under the influence of the disease. As this lady is the wife of a professional gentleman, who had commanded the assistance of the first order of medical talent in the metropolis, it was with no small degree of diffidence, and a strong doubt of being able to afford her effectual relief that I undertook the case. I first gave directions to discontinue the use of all aperient medicines, which had previously been considered essential ; and, by substituting the new system, in about three weeks I succeeded in removing all inconvenience arising from constipation. I then directed my attention to the local seat of the disease, which, contrary to my most sanguine anticipations, immediately gave way, and by continuing the medicines for two or three months longer, a perfect cure was effected. Nine months have since elapsed without her using a single grain of purgative medicine ; and to the surprise of her friends and her own gratification she is now in the enjoyment of uninterrupted health.

PILES AND HEMORRHAGE. Mrs. W.—This lady, after having had a numerous family, was severely afflicted with piles, frequently accompanied with haemorrhage to an alarming extent. Previous to her application to me she had exhausted all the usual

125 remedies under the direction of her medical attendants, without deriving any benefit ; and had arrived at the con clusion that no relief could be afforded her by the ordi nary system of practice. By the new method of treat ment she was speedily recovered ; and several months have since elapsed without her experiencing the slightest in convenience. I have witnessed the same result in a great number of similar cases.

INFLAMMATION OF THE BOWELS. Mrs. D.—This was a case of violent inflammation of the bowels, which had made great progress before application was made to me. The usual treatment in such a case is profuse bleeding, cupping, leeching, blistering, or all of these combined, the warm bath, and a copious administra tion of aperients. The patient, however, soon recovered by the Homoeopathic treatment,—which embraces none of the above means ; and I have since been equally suc cessful in many similar instances. There is, indeed, no greater error than the assumption that the practice must be inapplicable to emergencies of the above description from the slowness of its progress, for it is particularly in acute diseases that its superiority becomes most con spicuous in its effects.

INFLAMMATION OF THE KIDNEYS. Mr. Y.—This was a case of inflammation of the kidneys, which had continued for upwards of a week previous to my being called upon. The pains in the back and loins

126 were exceedingly acute, and attended with all the other symptoms, which usually accompany the derangement of the urinary organs. Having fully satisfied myself as to the nature of the attack, I ordered three doses of medicine, with the necessary instructions respecting the intervals at which they were to be taken, if the pains were not removed. On calling next morning I found they had subsided in two hours after the first dose had been administered, and in two or three days the patient was convalescent.

PALPITATION OF THE HEART. Mb. P., a young gentleman, who had, for a considerable number of years, been affected with palpitation of the heart. The disease had been progressively gaining ground, notwithstanding the ordinary means of treatment had been resorted to, combined with the strictest atten tion to prescribed rules, on the part of the patient. The action of the heart, and nervous irritability, had so much increased, that any abrupt or rapid physical movement, or sudden or unexpected mental excitement, brought on such a quick respiration and alarm, as frequently to threaten syncope. He had been explicitly informed, by his medi cal attendant, that he could afford him no further assist ance ; and having accidentally heard of the Homoeopathic mode of treatment, he applied to me as a last resource, with his mind in a state of great perturbation and alarm, from an apprehension that he would be taken off suddenly in one of the attacks. I had some difficulty in removing his apprehension of immediate danger ; but having suc ceeded in doing so, he attended most minutely to my di-

U7 rections respecting regimen and the medicines. In one month from my first visit he was restored to perfect health, and enabled to resume his business in the counting-house ; since which time he has felt no inconvenience. Other cases of affections of the heart have yielded to the new practice with equal facility, and under equally adverse circumstances.

DISEASED SPINE. Miss S.—About three months since I was applied to by the relatives of this young lady, who for two or three years had grown with unusual rapidity. She was suffer ing under great debility ; the vertebral column was much distorted, one of the hip-bones was two inches higher than the other, and, as the leg was necessarily shortened, she was consequently so lame as to walk with difficulty. I could hold out no very confident hope to her parents of being able to effect a perfect cure ; but recommended a trial of the Homoeopathic medicines, by way of experi ment. She is now very much improved under the prac tice; and, judging from the progress made in so short a time, I have not the slightest doubt but the curvature of the spine will soon be entirely removed, and the just pro portion of the limbs restored. I feel myself perfectly warranted in coming to this conclusion, from the progress already made in the case, strengthened by my experience of one of an analagous kind, which occurred about nine months ago, and terminated in the most satisfactory manner.

1