Of all the names of the worthy few of the pioneers, none have contributed to render the literature and the practice of Homoeopathy more illustrious than Constantine Hering.
I consulted him on one occasion with reference to a patient in whom I had an special interest (it being my other, and better half), and after making a careful and critical examination, he invited me to his private study to review the case further, and proceeded to make an exhaustive investigation. His manner of study, his thoroughness in analyzing a case (so in contrast with many whom I have met in a profession possessed with more of assumption than wisdom, who would deign to study a case only as a marked exception) impressed my mind forcibly as to the necessity of a thorough and accurate knowledge of pathological condition, symptoms, and remedy, before prescribing. In the course of that investigation he remarked to me: Let us apply the tri-angular test, and if we can find three important, or characteristic symptoms, pointing to one remedy, let me assure you that we can prescribe it with almost unerring certainty. I have tested its application in hundreds of cases, and when clearly defined, it seldom fails to fulfil its mission. As an aid to my investigations, I have kept faithfully in view the illustration of the triangle, the trinity of symptoms, in the selection of a remedy, with the motto inscribed within the boundaries of its lines, and angles, so appropriately expressed- By this sign we conquer.
And now, fellow-members of the profession, let us one and all strive more fully to emulate the example of him in whose memory we have assembled here tonight, illustrious in not only a few, but in many things; working so faithfully in the cause so self-sacrificingly espoused, even to the very day and hour when his spirit was summoned to leave this earthly tabernacle, to come up higher; inscribing his name among the highest on the triangular pyramid of fame, wreathed with a galaxy of time- honored achievements, whose lustre shall brighten as the days were on and the years roll by, to be crowned with immortal inheritance.
While thousands are assembled in their respective places of abode, on this day, and this hour, throughout the length and breadth of the land to do honor to his name-fitting tribute to one so noble and worthy-I will gladly express, in the language of another, the sentiment: May his memory grow green with the years, and blossom through the flight of ages.
Dr. A.L. Cole made the following remarks:
The spirit of man takes its departure from the body, the lifeless tissues return to the elements from which they originated; the atomic rearrangement of these elements convert them again into living organisms, and man once dead again lives.
The transitory stage from life to death is not one of fear pain or agony; not of anguish or regret, but calmly the vital forces ebb away, the combination of vital organ cease to perform their functions, the vitalizing fluid ceases to circulate, respiration is suspended, and all that was once a living animate being is transformed to a lifeless structure.
Man is but a mass of matter, the feeblest in nature; yet how mighty when compared with all else of the animal creation. This element we see in men like Hering, feeble in muscular development as compared with others, yet yielding an intellectual power which commands the respect, love and admiration of their strongest brothers. He will live in the minds of men; although literally dead, his memory is always fresh, his career bright, beautiful and pure, like the rich sparkling diamond.
He lived for the good of man, in order that this world might be beautiful for his having lived in it, and to this end a greater portion of his life was given up to the work for the benefit of others. He lived an honest, modest life, temperate in his habits, pleasant and gentlemanly to those who sought his acquaintance and aiding many without remuneration, to the great detriment of himself.
His home was in his study, the ornaments of which were volumes of manuscript; there he loved to devote his hours in gathering the products of thinking minds the world over, of ascertaining their accuracy, and arranging them into convenient form for us to digest.
And so he succeeded admirably; the products which from the result of his great mind are to be found in the libraries of his fellow-laborers of every land, cherished by their possessors as only the works of Hering can be cherished, and more valued than the wealth of gold and jewels.
For the noble work, performed by him, we, this day, assemble to commemorate his life, and may his memory be cherished by all. May we spare one moment in thought for him, and when in our libraries we ponder over master-work in search of knowledge that will enable us to save the life of some poor creature entrusted to our care, let us praise Hering for his great work. Dr. Emma Eastman followed with these remarks:
Examining a placer mine and hearing a miner say that he wanted its gold, but that it would not pay to work it, reminds one of American scholars who bend all of their energies to the test question-will it pay? If it pays they will burn the midnight oil and use their brain-power without stint or measure; but if not, the Yankee seizes upon the results of others and often robs the laborious student of his hardly won honors.
It is not so with the Germans. They are willing to delve for the grains of golden truth until their accumulations are the envy of all nations.
Preeminent among such miner was Dr. Constantine Hering. While a student he became so renowned for his profound scholarship, and for his bitter hostility to Homoeopathy, that he was appointed to expose the fallacy of the doctrine Similia similibus curantur. Like a true scholar he investigated, and experimented for himself, until he was won over to the new theory of medicine and wrote a thesis, De Medicina Futura in which he expounded and maintained the doctrine of Hahnemann in the great University of Wuerzburg, where he graduated.
Thus was the seed sown which will make the name of Hering go down the ages, growing brighter and brighter unto the perfect day.
Dr. L.J.Ingersoll addressed the meeting in the following words:
A great and a good man has fallen. Dr.Hering was great as a student, as a scientist, and as a benefactor. He was great as a leader in a most beneficient profession; great as an organizer of a comparatively new school of medicine; great because he made few mistakes; great because, while he excelled others in breadth and exactness of knowledge, he was held as an enemy by none. He was great by nature, and great by culture.
Dr.Hering was good, because, while cultivating earnestly the best gifts for himself, he strove through good and through evil report to lead all men up into a higher and a better life; good because, while he acquired all the knowledge he could that would relieve the suffering, and keep the well from sickness, he used his skill, not for self, but for the good of all who would receive.
And now that Dr.Constantine Hering has gone from among us, we shall do well to gather up what of wisdom he has left us, remembering that he has written nothing that ought to be forgotten.
While we lament that one so great and good should have been called up higher from so needful a work, I am most thankful that he lived so long and did so much for his race-how much we can never know. As physicians we can never cease to cherish his memory, or forget the gracious heritage he has left us in his unsurpassable Materia Medica.
Hering is dead, but his words and works live to bless mankind. The stream that rose from the hills of Germany so many years ago, and which for half a century blessed our Western continent, has peacefully found its way back to its source. That life that sent sunshine and joy into so many sick-rooms and brought health to so many, has at last gone out in the still brighter glory of the redeemed. He who saved so many from the destroyer, could not save himself. Hering cheerfully passed away as one conscious of having dried many tears, and of having turned sighs into joy.
Who of all the thousands, that remain, will take the place of this fallen chief, this great and good Master of Homoeopathy in America?
I can say to every brother physician and to every patient, I have lost a teacher today. Dr. Ambrose S.Everett then said:
I have known Dr.Constantine Hering, whose genius and whose life-work they meet, tonight, all over the world to commemorate; personally, for nearly fifteen years, and since my first acquaintance with this Hercules of our school of medicine, I have never allowed myself to visit Philadelphia without calling upon him.
While I do now realize that he has gone from the scenes of his earthly labors, and that the place that once knew him shall know him no more, forever, yet I have no doubt, that when I come to visit Philadelphia again, I shall miss him, and his absence from the field of battle and the bivouac of professional life will come home to me in language far more eloquent and pathetic, than I can conceive, or express.
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,