Of this I can assure you, that I never called upon him that I did not find him the same affable, courteous and hospitable gentleman. He always addressed me in terms of respect, and in language that showed that I was not only a welcome guest at his house, but that he bore for me an affection born of a true and lofty manhood. I have also seen him entertain others, and can say, for, and of him, that he always made his visitors feel at home, and all that he had in the way of entertainment was theirs. No matter how young, or humble his visitor in professional rank, that visitor was made to feel before he left, that in Dr.Hering’s character and make-up there was no such thing as caste or rank. In manner he was simple and unostentatious. He never paraded his knowledge, or displayed his learning for the mere sake of show, nor did he try to impress one with the greatness of his character or genius.
He spared no pains or expense in showing his admiration for and his attachment to his medical confreres.
While there is much in his life and character to respect, admire and venerate, yet there is one trait that strikes me with peculiar interest, and that is his life-long devotion to a single object and a single purpose. This trait stands out more boldly and more pronounced than all others.
What he accomplished in the field of Materia Medica, by this oneness of aim, proves that the first great law of success is concentration. He bent all his energies to one point, went directly to that point, and looked neither to the right nor left. He showed great wisdom in daring to leave many things unknown, and practical common sense in leaving other things untouched. If I study this trait of his character aright, he was impressed with the fact that life was too short and art too long, and too valuable for universal scholarship. The range of medical thought and knowledge is so vast and extensive that no one brain can encompass it, or grapple with it as an entirety. Therefore, if we would know one department of medicine well, we must have the courage to be ignorant of some others, however attractive or inviting they may appear. If we would succeed as did Hering, we must single out our specialty and pour the whole stream of our lives into it. No name has been longer or more intimately connected with homoeopathic interests and homoeopathic literature than that of our deceased brother, Dr. Constantine Hering. Certainly none is more widely known, more generally honoured, or more universally beloved.
For nearly the whole period of his life, he has devoted and consecrated all the energies of his mind, and body, to the unfolding of homoeopathic truth, and to the dissemination and elevation of its principles.
Even in old age he did not seek the rest and retirement which his years justified and his health demanded; but he, full of love for and devotion to his chosen school of medicine, worked on with such well directed zeal as to merit the highest respect and admiration of all succeeding generations. Although dead, he still lives in the books and works which he has left, and which are ours to inherit, and to enjoy. These are his voice, coming to us out of the grave of the past, floating on the tide of time, and breathing forth the fire of his youth, and the wisdom of his riper and more matured years.
Dr. Piepgras, of Loveland, made the following address:
Providence has called one of our dearest and greatest members to eternity, and we wish to express the deep grief which wells up from the depths of our hearts.
The name of Constantine Hering will be spoken with reverence by every true homoeopath down to remotest time, since he was a champion of truth in medicine, and one of the chief pillars of our school, in Europe as well as in America. I am sure that every advocate of the truths of Homoeopathy will love his memory until the time when he joins him above.
I have never enjoyed the honor of a personal acquaintance with him, but knew much about him through my master, Dr. Arthur Lutze, now deceased, and also through his writings.
I may be permitted to mention a little anecdote, which may be new to you, and which will give a pleasant remembrance of our dear departed.
Whilst travelling in Germany,-says Dr.Hering,-I one day came to a village, the proprietor of which invited me to spend the night at his house, in place of putting up at the inn. He was a rich old gentleman, a great original; always an invalid, having ennui and good wine in plenty. On learning that I was a young medical man, about to commence my travels, he told me that he would sooner make of his son a hangman than a doctor.
On my expressing surprise at the observation, he produced a large book, saying that it was now twenty years since he became ill in body, but not in mind; that doctors of celebrity, whom he then consulted, had quarreled about his disease and that, consequently he had not employed any of them, nor taken their medicines, but that he had registered the affair in his book. Then after finding that his sickness did not improve, he set out on his travels, resolved that if he could find three doctors who perfectly agreed upon his case, without hesitation, he would allow himself to be treated by them, but by none other. For this purpose he had, first of all consulted physicians of reputation, but afterward others whose names were less known; but having, in spite of his suffering never abandoned his first resolution, and while keeping an exact account of every consultation, in his book, he had never found any to agree upon his case.
Accordingly, not having followed the advice of any, although an invalid, he was still alive. As may well be supposed the book had cost him a pretty sum of money. This book had the appearance of a ledger, in large folio, and was kept in tabular from. In the first column were the names of the physicians, amounting to 477 in number; in the second column the names of the disease with explanations concerning its nature, of which there were 313, differing radically; in the third column were the proposed names of the remedies, in all 1097, included in 832 prescriptions.
The man now took up a pen and coolly requested me to prescribe something for him. Having no great inclination to do so, I asked if Hahnemann was on his list. With a smile he turned to number 301, name of disease 0; remedy prescribed 0; he was the wisest of the lot’ he said, for he said that the name of the disease did not concern him, nor the name of the remedy; but that the cure was the essential point.’ But why’ I inquired, did you not allow him to treat you?’ Because,’ he replied, he was but one, and I must have three to agree.’
I asked him if he were willing to sacrifice some hundred francs for an experiment, in which case I would be able to mention, not three, but thirty-three physicians, living in the neighborhood, and in countries and parts of the world widely separate, who would be of one opinion. He expressed his doubts, but at the same resolved to undertake the trial. We then made out a description of his symptoms, and when the copies were finished, sent them to thirty-three homoeopathic practitioners. He enclosed a louis d’or in each letter, begging each physician to name the remedies which were capable of curing, or at least of alleviating his disease.
A short time since, I received a cask of Rhenish, of the vintage of 1822. I send you wine of the year 1822,’ he wrote, because twenty-two physicians agreed upon a remedy respecting my case. I hereby perceive that there is certainty in some things in this world. I have gotten various works upon the subject, in order to get further information. From about two hundred medicines, twenty-two physicians have fixed upon the same remedy. One could not expect more. The physician nearest me has me under his care, and I am sending you the wine that I may not be tempted to drink too much of it from mere joy at seeing my health improving from day to day.
Dr. C.N.Hart spoke as follows: There is a beautiful and ancient custom in the land of my ancestors, which causes each person on the highway to uncover his head as a funeral procession passes, whether the deceased by known or not.
This evening, we, with thousands of our brethren, assembled in all parts of the world, have met to pay a tribute to the memory of a great and good man who has passed away- Dr. Constantine Hering.
Let us rejoice that his life upon earth was one of social and intellectual enjoyment, and that upon passing onward he has left to us, and to future generations, such works as time cannot destroy.
After a long period of highest service to his Maker, and to mankind, both in Germany and in America, he has passed onward to a higher and brighter sphere, ossa bene qui encant. In the words of the great and lamented Dunham, the study of his life has been, not fabrics, nor wares, nor stocks, the works or machinations of men, but the noblest of God ‘s creation-that which He made in His own image-the body and mind of man.
He was, to both old and young, kind and affectionate, and alike teacher and friend. Envy and malice had no part in his career, but with his one hand as an index pointing onward, and his other as a support to those acquiring knowledge, he lived and died. And thus may all of us strive to emulate this noble man, who lived and died in love and honor.
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,