M. Heermann, apres un court eloge d’Hering, expose I’objet de la reunion. Ensuite chacun emet so avis et I’on adopte a L’unanimite les deux resolutions suivantes:
1. Une lettre de condoleance sera adressee a Mme. veuve Hering et signee non-seulement par tous membres presents, mais aussi par le plus grand nombre possible de medicins homoeopathes a Paris.
2. M. Heermann, en qualite d’ami d’Hering, est charge d’ecrire son eloge avec tous les developements que comporte I’importance de ses travaux.
The following eulogy, in French, read by Dr. C. Heernmann, translated by Mrs. M. F. Green and Miss Emily Jones is here reproduced:
On the 23rd of July, at about ten o’clock in the evening Dr. Hering departed this life, having passed his 80th year.
He had, for some time before his death, suffered from asthma, without, however, ceasing to attend to his daily duties. He retired to his study, on the evening of the 23rd, a little after 8 o’clock. About ten o’clock he called his wife, who founded him suffering from much difficulty in breathing, but in full possession of his faculties. Doctors Raue and Koch were summoned at once, but before they came his soul had passed away.
To one of those around him, Mrs, Mertens, a friend of the family, he said, Now, I am dying. Upon others occasions, when he had been very ill, and given up by his friends, he had always refused to believe that he was dying, feeling sure that his hour had not yet come.
Constantine Hering was born in Oschatz (Saxony), Germany, January 1st, 1800. From his earliest childhood he evinced a great desire for knowledge, and finished with honor the studies preparatory to entering the college at Zittau, where he devoted himself to classical learning, from, 1811 to 1817. He excelled in everything, especially in mathematics, and in all branches he went far beyond the average of his time. He had a decided taste for the study of medicine, which he followed first at the Surgical Academy at Dresden, then at the University of Leipzig where he was a pupil of the celebrated surgeon Robbi. His preceptor having been at the time requested to write an article against Homoeopathy, entrusted his pupil with the writing of it. The latter threw himself into it with ardor, studied the writings which he was to attack, and there found this expression, Represent me, but represent me correctly. (Machts nach, aber machts reacht nach). He decided to make a personal investigation of the matter in order to insure a more complete victory.
Hering, with this end in view, applied to a druggist, in Leipzig, for the bark of Cinchona; the druggist, who was a friend, said to him, after having heard is purpose, Let that alone dear Hering, you are treading on dangerous ground; but Hering replied that he did not fear the truth.
The pamphlet against Homoeopathy was not written. About this time a dissecting wound produced upon him such serious effects, that not only did amputation seem necessary, but grave fears for his wife were felt.
One of his friends, at this time, persuaded him to try against this malady the power of homoeopathic drugs. An entire cure was the result. His conversation to Homoeopathy was from that time complete, and his thesis written to obtain his degree contained a masterly defence of the homoeopathic law.
After he obtained his degree, March 23rd, 1826, at the University of Wuerzburg, he was appointed, by the King of Saxony to go to Guiana, for the purpose of scientific research, and to make a zoological collection. There he pursued the study and practice of the new doctrine, and cured the daughter of the governor of the province of a disease which had been pronounced incurable by the resident physicians. Having, besides, during his stay in South America, contributed to the Homoeopathic Archives, thanks to the influence of the court physician, he received royal orders to quit the study of medicine and attend only to the duties of his position.
His independent nature rebelled at so much intolerance and he immediately sent his resignation, and continued the practice of medicine in Paramaribo. One of his friends and a student, Dr. Bute, who had formerly been a missionary there, and who had since then established himself at Philadelphia, represented this city t him as a useful field for his labors. Hering arrived there in January, 1833, but only remained a short time, having been asked by Dr. Wesselhoeft, of Allentown, Pa., to assist him in founding there a homoeopathic school of medicine, the first which had ever existed. The government of Pennsylvania accorded to the faculty the right to confer the degree of doctor of medicine.
We next find Dr. Hering established in Philadelphia, with a large practice.
So great was the variety of the doctor’s acquaintance, and the charm of intercourse with him, that his society was sought eagerly by statesmen, and the most illustrious representatives of political economy, science and the fine arts.
But the doctor reserved for the students, and younger practitioners, his Saturday evenings, during which he taught them from his own experience, and shared with them the boundless treasures of his knowledge. This kind custom was kept up during his entire life, and even the most clever considered it a great honor to be admitted to these intellectual feasts.
What witty nights, where science and manly enjoyment were united to a hearty simplicity and native freshness What delicious love-feasts under his truly hospitable roof
As to his works, let us at least give a list of them which will serve to show the boundless activity of this fertile brain. Before leaving the Saxony legation he had proven Mezereum, Sabadilla, Sabina, Colchicum, Plumb. ac., Paris quad., Cantharis, Sodium, Antimonium tart., Argentum met., Aristol, Clematis, Bellad., Caltha palust., Opium, Ruta, Tenacetum, Viola tric., etc., etc.
During his stay in South America his proving extended to Lachesis, Theridion, Askalabodes, Caladium, Jambos, Jatropha, Solanum, Spigelia, Vanilla, Alumina, Acid phos., and Psorinum.
After his arrival in Philadelphia, he either himself, proved or superintended the experiments and editing of the provings of the following medicines: Mephitis, Ictodes foetid., Crot., Hydro-phobinum (Lyssin), Brucea, Calcarea phos. (acid and basic, ) Hippomanes, Castor, egorum, Kalmia, Viburnum, Phytolacca, Gelsemium, Gymnocladus, Chlorum, Bromium, Fluoric ac., Thallium, Tellurium, Palladium, Platinum, Osmium, Lithium, Glonoine, Apis, Cepa, Aloes, Millef., Baryta carb., Nux mos., and Formica.
Besides his contributions to the Homoeopathic News, 1854, and to the American Journal of Materia Medica, 1867-1871, (the Homoeopathic Quarterly and other Journals) and the help which he gave tot he translation of Jahr’s Manual, we have many of his writings, large and small:
Rise and progress of Homoeopathy, a pamphlet translated into Dutch and Swedish.
Proposition to Suppress Homoeopathy, 1846, a satire. Logic of Homoeopathy, 1846, a satire. Effects from the Poisons of Serpents, 1837. Suggestions for Making Medical Provings.
The Domestic Physician, 1835, of which there have been edited seven editions in America, two in England, and fourteen in Germany; it has been translated into French, Spanish, Italian, Danish, Hungarian, Russian and Swedish.
American Drug Provings, 1853-1857. Translation of Gross’ Comparative Materia Medica, 1866. Condensed Materia Medica, two editions, 1877-79. Analytical Therapeutics, 1875.
The Guiding Symptoms of Our Materia Medica, in 10 volumes, the 3rd of which was in press at the time of his death (since completed from his manuscript by his literary executors).
The quantity of material gathered together by Dr. Hering, from which are drawn his Analytical Therapeutics and the Guiding Symptoms, is a marvel of activity, and the most careful and complete collection which exists upon Materia Medica.
Dr. Hering was an active member of the American Academy of Natural Sciences, in Philadelphia, to which he gave his large zoological collection (including the original Lachesis trigonocephalus from South America, from which were made the first provings).
He was one of the founders of the American Institute of Homoeopathy, of which he was the first President and to which he lent his cooperation during his entire life.
He founded the American Publishing Society, whose share holders obtained his medical works and other publications at greatly reduced rates.
He was the author of a number of satires written in defence of Homoeopathy and printed in the German language; (also a political pamphlet entitled The Natural Boundary, in German, which treats of the dividing line between France and Germany).
He was a co-founder of the American Prover’s Union, co- founder of the Medical Academy at Allentown, Pa., co-founder of the Hahnemann College and Hospital where he taught for a long time the doctrine of Homoeopathy according to the Organon, which, as a true disciple, he himself honored in interpreting.
The Hahnemann College of Philadelphia was, when in danger of closing, saved and reorganized by Dr. Hering. It numbers at this time ten professors, seven lecturers and demonstrators; contains a large library, a collection of models and pathological specimens, a complete chemical laboratory and rooms for the study of anatomy and practical surgery. Medicine is taught here in all its branches, including toxicology, materia medica, general and special therapeutics, etc.
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,