In Dr. Hering I recognized, as I doubt not that everyone here present recognized, a genius in medicine, and not only a genius in medicine, but a master-workman in medicine. Rich in new thoughts, he was industrious in the application and the working out of these thoughts. Dr.Hering has added to our Materia Medica many things of great value. These things will remain, and the passing years will increase their importance. They will be comprehended more and more. But Dr.Hering was mortal; Dr. Hering was fallible; not all of his opinions can we accept, nor can we appreciate the value of all that he has added to the Materia Medica; but we in the homoeopathic school, have been taught to think independently, to think for ourselves to weigh all things and form our opinions in regard to them. We learned early, as did Hahnemann, who taught us to disregard authority when authority was not in accord with facts, and with science. Therefore in taking the works and products left by Dr.Hering, it becomes us not to accept them as revelations from above, as perfect in all respects, but to accept them as contribution to truth, and opinions put before us for our consideration, and our use, in the light that is given us from all quarters. We are expected, therefore, to accept all of Dr. Hering’s works, and all of his teachings as authoritative, not to be differed from at all. What was defective and erroneous in the opinions and works of Dr.Hering will pass away. No amount of veneration of him, no amount of appreciation for his genius, nor his industry, will require us to hold on to those things which experience and increasing light and knowledge do not endorse and sustain.
Dr.H.M.Smith, of New York City, said: Dr. Dake seems to have been cut short in the expression of his feelings in regard to Dr.Hering. When he moved that the time be limited to five minutes to each speaker, he must have known that he could not have expressed his feelings in so short a time. I could not imagine any occasion on which I could not have something to say about Dr.Constantine Hering, but in five minutes I do not know where to begin, any more than I know where I shall end. I can only give expression to my feelings and my veneration for that man.
As a young man in the profession, I cannot but think kindly of the many happy and instructive interviews I have had with him, When the American homoeopathic Review was in existence, we received a great many contributions and a great deal of assistance from Dr. Hering, and it was our custom to spend one or two days with him every summer. Dr.Carroll Dunham and Dr.P.P.Wells, and myself, went on there to meet the homoeopathic physicians from various section of the country, and in his study, that Dr. Morgan speaks of, the recollections come back to me of many pleasant and instructive house, and it is pleasant to recall the merry laugh and cheery face of Dr.Hering, when giving us some information, or relating an anecdote. I went in one day to see him especially in regard to Digitalis. He had written an article in the Review on Digitalis, the second part of which was never published. He was never ready to publish it because some proofs were wanting he was to get from a convent, or monastery in Italy. After some casual remarks I said, “Dr.Hering I came to see you especially in regard to that article on Digitalis: when can you give me half an hour?” “Quarter of four tomorrow morning,” said he. Accordingly, the following morning I was in Dr.Hering’s library. The old gentleman slept there. He had arisen from his couch, and was reading. He directed me to sit down an to write what he dictated to me. That was the way that Dr. Hering worked, careful to obtain sufficient proof before making statements as facts, and always ready to assist everybody who sought information.
Dr.F.R.McManus, of Baltimore, said: I wish to state little incident that occurred in the early part of my homoeopathic investigation and career. I went from Baltimore to Philadelphia in search of an allopathic physician who had practised both systems, and I found one; I went to another physician afterwards, who was Dr.Hering. I introduced myself to Dr.Hering as Dr. McManus, of Baltimore. I told him the object of my visit, and he said: “I am very glad to see you, but you have happened to call at a time when I am attending to my consultations; take a seat there for a few moments, when I will talk to you.” Well, I waited until he got through, and I said to him: “Doctor, I noticed you referring to your books and volumes of your library in every case in which you prescribe. “Yes,” said he, “and no man will be the right kind of a homoeopathic physician who does not do it, for there never was a brain, in my opinion, that could ever contain the one-hundredth part of what it ought to hold to enable one to practise without studying every case; for every case is a new one.” I told him it seemed to be a great deal of labor. “Well,” said he, “when you come to study Homoeopathy, you will find out the difference in the two schools, in regard to the means and the facility to practise because an allopathic physician can prescribe for forty cases where a homoeopathic would be hardly able to prescribe for two or three, or perhaps one.”
I merely mention this because it may stimulate the younger members of the profession to individualize and study their cases closely, as it has always stimulated me in my forty-three years of homoeopathic investigation and practise. It has been to my advantage to do so, and, of course, much to the advantage of Homoeopathy. I hold his memory in the sweetest recollection, and I am glad that I cannot say anything that will throw the slightest cloud upon his efficiency as a physician, or to his adherence to Hahnemann as a homoeopathist. Dr.T.C.Duncan, of Chicago, spoke as follows: I cannot let this opportunity pass without presenting my deep regret for the death of our distinguished father of Homoeopathy in the United States, and the impression made upon me by his loss will deepen as the years glide on. I think the one thing that will impress the profession, more than anything else, is the inexhaustive power of Dr.Hering in gathering together the fund of information that was scattered here and there in our medical writings. He was the one individual in the whole world of Homeopathy that gathered together all facts, and it is perfectly wonderful what he has accumulated, and it seems to me very proper that some one should take this up and continue it.
Various fats are coming out bearing upon Materia Medica and on Therapeutics that will be lost except some one gather them together as did Hering. Dr.Hering has made a noble beginning. He has, I believe, in his library, or did have them at the time of the Centennial, every fact bearing upon Homoeopathic Materia Medica extant. His memory will be bright forever; I hold him in high regard, and his influence upon the cause, in the United States, I think we cannot too highly appreciate.
Dr.Fisher, of Montreal, said: I will not take up the time very long, but still, while we are on the subject, I may mention that before I commenced practise on this side of the Atlantic, on my way back from Europe I called at Philadelphia and saw Dr. Hering, and one of the things which he then mentioned, and which I thought characteristic, I was very much struck with, and have often thought of since-he said,”When I come to the bed-side of a patient I often feel like a fool.” Now, such has been the result of my own experience on many occasions. I have often looked back and thought of that fact, which has encouraged me to go on, notwithstanding that I felt for the moment like a fool. There was another thing struck me at the time. We were speaking about somebody else, another medical man. “Well,” said he, “He is a queer fellow, but we are all queer.” Well, that also struck me, and I have often thought, since, that most men are dreadfully frightened by what the world calls eccentricity. Now, it has often occurred to me that no man can be really original without being more or less eccentric. He may be eccentric without being original, but the effect of that eccentricity, no doubt, keeps a good many of us from doing things which we would otherwise like to do.
Dr. I.T.Talbot, of Boston, said: I cannot let an occasion like this go by without dropping one tribute of memory to a great man, for I believe Dr.Hering was really great. The memory of his kindness to students and young men, the memory of Dr.Hering’s kindness to myself, who had no special claims upon him, in any way, is pleasant to contemplate. Soon after I had graduated, and about to visit Europe, I was recommended, by Dr. Carroll Dunham to get some letters from Dr.Hering to physicians living aboard, and assuring me that he would be willing to give them, I called upon Dr. Hering in Philadelphia. He was busy at the time, and said: “Come to me tonight and I will be happy to see you.” At what time shall I come? “Well, I shall get through with my work about 10 o’clock; come then.” I went there. He had two friends with him who were also acquainted in Europe, and whom he had brought there for the special purpose of seeing me. From 10 p.m. until 3 a.m. was spent in talking of European affairs-of what could be of benefit to me in my trip abroad-a sacrifice, on his part, of sleep, of rest, for an entire stranger, which we could hardly suppose any one would make on such an occasion. Having made a list of letters which he proposed to give, he the next day sent me six, to prominent persons in Europe, old Dr.Stapf, being one of them. The letters were of great service to me, and the kindness extended through each of them I place as a tribute to the memory of Dr. Hering, and I venerate that great heart, that noble spirit that could give so much to a young man without any claims upon him.
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,