4. The study of all our pathogenesis begins by that of the mental, moral, or psychical state in certain physical conditions. One of these conditions being given, the other is necessarily deduced from it. This study, applied to infancy, gives us the means of modifying its psychical tendencies, or of improving the race.
Strong in obedience to the law, and this science, we entered the arena, physicians of the body, physicians of the soul, apostles of the right, true benefactors and regenerators of the human race. It was from henceforth a question if the science of medicine should be material or spiritual. By its very constitution Homoeopathy is the realization in science of that which the Christian idea has already attained in art and literature, a vital influence which preserves from death.
To deny Homoeopathy we must either return to the singularly changeable-some say useless-medicine of the Academy, medicine of experiment, of quackery, and which, by the uncertainty of its course, tends to destroy all faith, or else we must invent new principles, the formula of which we do not suspect today. And it must be said, during the length of time that we have existed, nearly a century, in spite of the almost febrile mental activity of the times, no one has found this new way. After Hahnemann no denial is possible. In his system the connection of the different parts is so close, and binding, that it is not be wondered at that a mind which sincerely tries to become acquainted with it should become seriously impressed. Hering, the medical student, his knife in his hand wished lightly to make this acquaintance; but he soon discovered that it was instead a study which one must follow carefully. At a single glance he was struck with the importance of this event in the medical world. He saw not only what we have said, but many other things besides, all the advantages of the position, a victory already acquired, which it was only necessary to organize. This life work was spread out before him from that very hour.
Armed with the motto, I can do nothing unless God helps me, he risked his career, and before the faculty which was to decide his fate he dared to throw down the gauntlet in the name of the medicine of the future. This faith never contradicted itself; it inspired him.
After a few preliminaries in the way of observations and controversy, he made his first appearance through the study of Lachesis, a production sufficient in itself to insure him the reputation of a master.
For many years he made personal confirmations of the provings made by Hahnemann, verifying them and adding to them new symptoms. His part in the great struggle was determined by the certainty which he thus obtained for the superiority of our Materia Medica, and of the great benefit which our school derives from it. He gave his life to add to the precious discoveries which are comprised in our Materia Medica. If a cure, or a new symptom was reported to him he made careful note of it, but subjected it to careful examination. When verified, it became new material. He adopted nothing which had not been subjected to positive proof. His horizon, always enlarging, widened by sure degrees. But so great success never caused a single fibre of his heart to contract. Whoever knocked at his door was welcomed kindly upon the threshold, for Dr. Hering joyfully opened to all the doors of the sanctuary of science. And everyone, receiving more than he had hoped to find, went away with his wishes gratified, and his heart ennobled by his great example. It is not because the American people were credulous, or lacked a practical spirit, but rather because they were so eminently practical, that they were so eminently practical, that they listened to this man, who was born a physician of full growth, and that he accomplished, under this influence, the results which we know. Either, as advisor, or associated invisibly with all our struggles, which are crowned with success, Hering, in his turn, did full justice to his fellow-workers, attributing to himself but a small part of the results. And names of Dunham, Gosewich, Gray, Guernsey, Haynel, Hull, Jeanes, Kitchen, Lippe, Neidhard, Pulte, Raue, Wells, Wesselhoeft, Williamson, and many others were always mentioned by him with respect and enthusiasm.
Dr. Hering’s conversation, accustomed as he was to write with precision and brevity, was not constrained in private life. It was enlivened by piquant and witty remarks, and he sometimes employed sarcasm, although he rarely made use of this weapon. He enjoyed a joke, and his easy and natural narration of different events, joined to a slightly bantering air, lent a great charm to a sweet and sonorous voice.
Thus, for a half century, Dr. Hering worked, gathering together treasures of science, which he has bequeathed to us, as if the duty of doing good was the only thing which kept him on this earth. A man of profound and sincere religious faith; as a Homoeopath, having faith in the cause, and feeling himself endowed with a special mission, he has fulfilled his task, worthily, nobly, grandly, for the good of man and to the glory of God, in whose peace he is still living.
MEETING OF CANADIAN HOMOEOPATHIC INSTITUTE.
At the meeting resolutions commemorative of Dr. Hering, were read as also the touching memorial by Dr. Edward Bayard, printed in this volume under the transactions of the New York County Homoeopathic Medical Society.
MARYLAND STATE SOCIETY.
At a meeting of this Society, held on November 11, 1880, Dr. McManus spoke as follows:
Forty-three years ago, this very month of November, I had the pleasure of making the acquaintance of Constantine Hering, M. D., by calling upon him. I was then visiting Philadelphia preliminary to my investigation of Homoeopathy. I explained to him the object of my visit, and was listened to with kind patience and advantage to myself. I profited by the instructions I received from him. My visit having occurred during his consultation office hour, I noticed that he frequently made reference to his books for aid in selection of his remedies. I mentioned this to him, and he replied; You will find out that no man can carry Homoeopathy in his head, every case being different, and a subject for study. I oftentimes, afterwards, derived aid from his suggestions and advice when consulting him about serious and obstinate cases.
By the splendour of his mind, and by his indefatigable labors in the cause of medical science, he has created his own monuments, to perpetuate his fame, and his worth to future ages, and a stimulus to ambition in all who are engaged in his high, honorable and responsible calling.
It has often been remarked-in religion, in medicine, in law, in politics, in the arts and sciences-of some distinguished individual, that his place can never be filled as he filled it. If ever such a remark proved to be true, it may be proclaimed in regard to our late distinguished colleague, Dr. Constantine Hering. WEST JERSEY SOCIETY MEETING.
This meeting was held on February 16th, 1881. A preamble, and resolutions were adopted.
AMERICAN INSTITUTE MEMORIAL SERVICE.
At the thirty-fourth session of the Institute, held at Brighton Beach, N. Y., a special hour was set apart on the fourth day of the session, June 17, 1881, for a memorial service in honor of Dr. Constantine Hering.
The necrologist, Dr. Henry D. Paine, of New York, had presented the following memoir:
No memorial that can be embraced in the circumscribed limits of these brief chronicles of our departed colleagues, can adequately set forth the character and services of this eminent and venerable apostle of Homoeopathy, whose death, since the last annual session of the Institute has affected our whole fraternity with a profound emotion. Wherever Homoeopathy has any standing in the community, the name of Dr. Hering has benn known,. for a generation at least, as that of one of its most distinguished expositors and propagandists, while thousands who have shared the privilege of his personal acquaintance, or having received instruction from his lips, not only venerate him as a master, but loved him as a friend and father.
To give a full account of his honorable career, or even a summary of his great services to the cause to which the greater part of his life was devoted, would far exceed the object and the limits allowed to these reports, as well as the time and ability of the writer. An extended eulogium in this relation is unnecessary, in view of the memorial service which is to be held in his honor before the close of this meeting. All that will be attempted in these brief remarks is a brief sketch of the principal circumstances in the life of Dr. Hering, every turn of which must henceforth be of interest to every member of the Institute, with those foundation and early history he was so closely identified. It was expected that in the preparation of this narrative, the compiler would have had the assistance of some one whose knowledge of these events, derived from a long and intimate familiarity of them. would have more thoroughly secured its accurate performance. Although disappointed in his expectation, it is hoped that the following compendium, though imperfect, is substantially correct.
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,