In 1876 at the time of the World ‘s convention of Homoeopathic Physicians there was a large number of physicians present from all the States and from abroad. Dr. Hering’s time was very much taken up by calls from a great many of these strangers all of whom wished to see Dr. Hering. I began to fear that I should not enjoy a visit to him on this occasion, when one day the day of Dr. Lippe’s dinner at the Union League Club House, Dr. Hering said to me, Come here this afternoon and go with me to the dinner; I shall not go unless you go with me. I was told that he seldom went out alone now and as he desired me to go with him and for fear that he might not see me at any other time, I did not fail to go. We took the cars on Twelfth Street at his door and rode to Walnut Street where he took another car and rode to Broad Street, near the Club House. It rained hard all the time, but this did not disturb him. He talked all the way about that first winter when the new faculty lectured and of the class all of whom he seemed to look upon as his children. Some of these he met at the dinner table. He seemed very happy all of the evening but was glad to get home again when I left him he said: Now when you come to Philadelphia again we will call on Dr.Lippe together and I shall not go until you go with me. At this time, I saw him but once more and then only for a few minutes. He said: There are so many here now to se me that I have no time for you, but I am hungry to see you just the same.
There was always a chair at his table for me, where I learned to like cheese, but I did not wish it in two ounce doses, without bread I can vouch for the flavor of Limburger cheese, when taken in small quantities and as a flavor to bread or crackers.
In 1877 I was again at his house, when he invited several of his friends to supper with me, in his garden. He seemed more fond than ever of calling around him younger members of the profession, and this afternoon, I think there were at least ten or twelve of them. He was particularly pleased that so many came to see him. When he invited me to this supper he said I want them to see the man who saved Lachesis. After they had gone he talked about the first time we met in the same garden, and how unexpected the meeting was. He had received my letter asking to be allowed to call on him for instruction in homoeopathy, only a day or two before the meeting. He said then that it had been the chief pleasure in his life viz., to impart to others what he knew. We expected then to make our call upon Dr. Lippe, but were prevented. This called up the time when Lippe was very sick with typhoid fever, the time of his visit to him and Hering taking down the Materia Medica looked it through and found the remedy in Silica which saved Dr. Lippe to homoeopathy.
When I left, Dr. Hering said: Come again next year. I said Yes and fully expected to have done so but did not, and never saw him again.
In writing these reminiscences I have given them as they recurred to me. On reading them over I wonder if his friendship for me was any closer than for others. Sometimes I feel that I was more than ordinarily a favorite but when I recall the memory of those whom I have met at his house I can not pride myself on this I will not undertake to name these others, but as I remember what Dr. Hering said of them, I can but think that had I not wanted instruction in homoeopathy I should never have found the way to his heart and so must give the honor to homoeopathy, instead of to myself.
This morning a postman brought me a letter, postmarked Philadelphia. On opening it I read, Enclosed I send you a lock of father’s hair. How glad I was to get it, I will not undertake to tell, but I will say that I will cherish it, as a memento of that dear of old man, who for so many years honored me with his warm friendship.
The President, Dr.John K. Lee, spoke as follows, after relinquishing the chair to Dr. Henry N. Guernsey:
We have listened with intense interest to the narration of the personal reminiscences of Dr. Hering and have been touched by the glowing eulogies upon his life, and it may seem superfluous and redundant to pay a further tribute to his revered memory.
But whilst he has been extolled for the greatness of his intellect, his profound erudition, his devotion to his profession, still the portraiture is incomplete, because it does not include a delineation of his moral qualities. And these according to their development, either ad grace and dignity to intellectual endowments, and link man to his Creator, or else dim the splendor of his achievements, tarnish the lustre of his fame and spread a pall of darkness over his grave.
In this respect I am happy to affirm it is not necessary to prevaricate or to enfold Dr. Hering in mantle of charity, since his moral nature expanded in beautiful harmony with his mind and blending each reflected the glory of the other and formed a well-rounded symmetrical character, always grand because underlaid by simplicity and fidelity to truth.
A single instance in his history, related to me by one who was admitted to his confidence and privacy, will illustrate the elevation of his moral sentiments his magnanimity and abhorrence of the least departure from the path of rectitude, and honor. Some years ago, the relator during a conversation with Dr. Hering he remarked, J…. is stopping with me. He is a man of wonderful ability but I have lost all regard for him. At supper, last evening, in a burst of feeling he said: How badly it makes one feel to be convinced of error’ I felt indignant at such a sentiment and replied: No, not if he be moved by proper motives The only feeling of an honest man should be How glad I am to learn the truth: and from that moment I lost all regard for the
man
The thought here expressed is so lofty, grand and pure, that I will not impair its force by verbal comments but leave it to penetrate your minds to influence your lives.
Dr. Joseph C. Guernsey addressed the chair as follows:
Mr. President: I do not rise to eulogize Dr. Hering or to recount his many good works in the advancement of our cause. There are many here tonight who can do and have already done more justice to that than I can do.
I merely wish to present an interesting memento relative to his medical graduation. It is a translation from the Latin of the subjects of his Thesis, which he defended as was the custom in public disputation before graduating at the University of Wuerzburg, in the year 1826.
The following preamble is printed, in Latin, on the cover of the Dissertation:
Johann Lucas Schoenlein, Dean pro tempore of the gracious order of physicians, Doctor of Philosophy Medicine and Surgery, and public professor in ordinary etc., etc., with all due courtesy invites the noble vice-rector of Academy the senate fathers the professors of all grades, the academic citizens, finally men of letters and the patrons of letters to public disputation to be held March 22nd at 9 a.m. by the very noble illustrious and learned man Herr Constantine Hering Saxon under the presidency of Cajitanus. Textor, Doctor of Philosophy Medicine and Surgery, Aulic Councillor to the August King of Bavaria and Public Professor in Ordinary etc., for the purpose of duly obtaining the highest honors in Medicine, surgery and Obstetrics.
INAUGURAL DISSERTATION
On Psychic Remedies Theses I Springs are living fossils. II I hold that there are nerves in the placenta III The ganglion petrosum is to the ear what the ganglion ophthalmicum is to the eye IV The olfactory optic and acoustic nerves are apophyses of the cerebrum and cerebellum, not nerves V The old man is the perfect man VI Materia medica is to Hahnemann what Pathology was to Hippocrates. VII Such as life is, is disease. VIII The rational is not merely the better, but the only one in pathology IX I deny psychical diseases.
X Any disease may be removed at any stage XI No one has yet appeared to refuse Hahnemann XII Homoeopathy is heterostheny, and its fundamental law; Contraria contrariis. XIII In the struggle of vital forces as a foundation rests every vital effect.
XIV There is only one normal position for the foetus. XV the resurrection of the dead is the highest ideal of medical art. XVI Not to deliver individual men from particular diseases but to deliver the whole human race from the cause of disease, is the ultimate goal of medical science.
INAUGURAL SUBJECTS.
I. President’s Question: The checking of traumatic hemorrhages II. Candidate’s subject: The Medicine of the Future
Dr. Charles Mohr then rose and made the following remarks:
I approach the subject of anything relating to the life and work of Dr. Hering with a great deal of diffidence.
But on this occasion, I cannot consistently with any sense of duty neglect saying a word or two in regard to the manner in which Dr. Hering treated the stranger student and the younger practitioner of homoeopathy.
I remember the first time I ever saw Dr. Hering. It was on an evening after I had attended a lecture in this room and I was somewhat perplexed about a case I was treating and thought I would like to hear what he had to say in relation to what has best be done.
In 1878 and 1879 he published 2 editions of his book, Sunstroke and Its Homeopathic Treatment.
Upon Hering's death in 1880 Knerr became responsible for the completion of the 10-volume Guiding Symptoms.
Dr. Knerr wrote 2-volume Repertory to the Guiding Symptoms,