Dr. Hering says: Haussman is the only man who could bring me back over the ocean again. Betts showed pictures of German professors at Vienna; Skoda and Rokitansky. Dr. Hering offers to tender him a reception.
Hering Family. Sons of the Third Wife. As soon as his children were born Dr. Hering predicted what profession they would enter born Dr. Hering predicted what profession they would enter when grown up. When Rudolph, the eldest, was born his father said: This one will be an engineer. The next son, Walter, he said, will be a printer. Both of these predictions were fulfilled. The third son, Carl, was born with a caul, which is considered lucky. The mother asked: Why dont you say something for this ones future? The father said: This one is to be a physician. In this case he erred. Carl became an electrical engineer.
When the last of the sons, born to the father at the advanced age of sixty-three came into the world, he was named Hermann Siegfried, and his father said: This one, too, will be a physician, but the one before him, Carl, will be a surgeon.
Rudolph, the oldest, became prominent as a Sanitary Engineer, a builder of bridges and designer of plans for city drainage. All of the sons rose to eminence in their professions, efficient and honored for their attainments. Hermann, the youngest, at first a teacher, joined the ranks of Christian Scientists, in which he gained eminence as a practitioner, and at present is a lecturer of world fame. He is one of the directors in Mrs. Eddys Church.
Hepar Sulph. Hering introduced Hepar sulph. calc. for the treatment of suppurations, as early as 1827, while in South America. About the same time Hartmann, in Germany, introduced Mercurius.
Korndoerfer. Hering predicts that Dr. Korndoerfer will some day become co-editor of the college Journal, also a member of the Faculty, which prophecy was not fulfilled though Korndoerfer was one of our leading homoeopathic physicians, extremely active for the cause and helpful to Hering in his literary work.
The Murder of Mrs. Rademacher. Finger-Prints. Rademacher, who lived on Arch Street, was one of the early homoeopaths in Philadelphia. His wife was murdered in her room. Dr. Hering secured a piece of wood from a post on which was left the bloody imprint of the murderers hand. He placed this under a microscope and found that the hand, a delicate one, had left particles of shoe-makers wax in the impress. He said the murderer is a shoe-maker. The murderer, Langenfeld by name, was tried, found guilty and executed.
While the criminal was in prison awaiting his execution, Hering suggested that his finger-prints be taken, but this was denied him. After the execution, Hering and some other physicians, were permitted to view the corpse. It was Dr. Herings intention to take an impression from the hands, in wax, for comparison with the specimens obtained under the microscope; but the hands of the cadaver were found cut and mutilated beyond recognition. This piece of vandalism had been committed by an eclectic who was jealous of a homoeopaths triumph in a matter of science.
Another murderer was discovered through the imprint of a bare foot on the floor of a mill, where some flour had been dropped. The murderer had the reputation of being an honest and god fearing man. Jealousy over a woman had been the incentive to the murder.
The Bertillon method was but little practised at the time of these occurrences. Now we know that the lines in the human hand are singular and never duplicated.
May 20, 1869. Trinks. Trinks, a German claiming to be a homoeopath, was a promoter of literature; of books which others had written for him, one of which with the silly title, Das Handbuch auf dem Standpunkt, (The Handbook on a Standpoint) was a frequent mark for Dr. Herings ridicule. Trinks, in ugliness and disposition, resembled the animal Gnu, and was so named by Hering on account of his irascible temper; a sobriquet which stuck to him.
Examination Before the Faculty of the University of Wuerzburg. First of all I had to pass a written examination. I was known to be a homoeopath, for which reason I met with great opposition which I had to overcome. I was made a butt for ridicule among my fellow-students. The faculty did not allow students to grow moustaches. I defied the custom and appeared before the faculty unshaven. I wished to show my independence, as a homoeopath, to the fullest, a dangerous thing to do, a thing which I would not advise a student of the present day to venture to do.
A week before the regular examination the students were required to call upon their respective teachers to advise them of their intended appearance for examination.
I first went before Texter, noted surgeon, who was terribly angry, and said: What is your wish?’ Professor I have come for examination.’ For examination?’ said he very gruffly; How, and in what manner do you ever expect to make your way in the world?’ I replied: Professor, I wish to go to Holland, and become a surgeon on broad ship in the navy’. He then asked in what subject I felt myself most interested. I told him, In the treatment of the peculiar wounds made by the splintering of wood on board ship.’
On examinations day we had to go to a large, dark hall. On the table stood an urn in which the professors deposited questions, written on slips of paper, which the students were required to draw and answer. The hall had an imposing appearance with its columns and dim walls. I sat down to one of the small tables and wrote my answer to the first question, which was followed by other questions and answers, promptly gathered by other questions and answers, promptly gathered by janitor in charge. To me the janitor remarked: What already finished?’ Next came the oral examination. I first appeared before the botanist, who sat in one of the window niches; in a second niche sat another professor with his victim before him. The botanist was a mild, pleasant old gentleman. He had a small herbarium in his hand which he showed me and said: Can you tell me, may be, what this plant is called?’ I made the correct answer. He then handed me the herbarium and asked me to tell him names of all the plants in it with which I was familiar. I picked up one plant after another, laid them carefully to one side, after the manner of botanists, mentioning the name of each one after the other. I came to a strange plant in the collection which made me hesitate. The professor said: What is the name of that one?’ Oh That,’ said I, is a new plant, discovered lately. I saw a picture of it in one of your works, professor.’ I then named the plants according to other to which they belonged. Other professors were within hearing distance and no doubt thought, How can we manage to let this fellow through; a homoeopath should not be allowed to graduate from our institution.’
I next went before the physiologist. After him again came Texter, the surgeon. He pitched right into me with, What’s this? Whats the answer to that?’ and asked me as a test question: What are the various causes of cataract?’ I named the ordinary conditions; eye-strain and traumatism as the most common, which, however, did not seem wholly to satisfy the professor, who said: What other cause is there for cataract?’ Schoenlein, who did not sit far off, overheard the question and said: I, myself, know of no other cause.’ All were silent Texter said Old age is a cause of cataract’ Schoenlein turned about in his chair and laughed in his sleeve
The obstetrician on the faculty being absent, Texter examined me in that branch also. He questioned me in regard to the various positions and operations of childbirth. I explained these in the order of the three stages of parturition, which surprised the professor, but he wished to know if I could remember another. I do not.’ Neither do I,’ said he, with a smile. Then came the veterinary, whose examination I passed without any difficulty. Finally I came before Schoenlein, the man whose great Knowledge of pathology had lured me to Wuerzburg. Knowing my leaning to homoeopathy he questioned me on the Hahnemannian treatment of scarlet fever. Here I was at home and passed the examinations satisfactorily. In fact, I graduated with highest honours in all the departments. My nine months of study at Wuerzburg had enabled me to do this. Yet if Schoenlein had wished to be inimical to the young homoeopath he would have flunked me.
A Woman-Hater. The death of my second wife, Marianna Husmann, the mother of Max and Odelia, whom I loved dearly, affected my mind to such a degree that for a long time I felt a strange antipathy to all womankind. On the day of my wifes funeral I was in an exalted state of mind, which made me talk inordinately, without being aware of what was happening. My dislike of women became so extreme that I no longer wished to have them come to consult me. Such was the extent of my disaffection that I would have been seriously injured in my practice thereby.
Fortunately I was cured in a way corresponding to the law of Similia. Fanny Ellser, famous German dancer of that period had arrived at New York. One of my friends coming from there to see me, spoke highly of the great art displayed by this woman, who from patriotic reasons, had refused to be advertised as a French danseuse. I am a German,’ she said, and will appear before the public as such.’ This feeling to her nationality inspired me, and when she came to dance in Philadelphia, I went together with my friend, Professor Knorr, to the Academy of Music to witness the ballet. The subject of this was a fairy tale in which a goddess descends to the earth, takes on the form of a mortal, and falls in love with a man, whom she marries. Her husband clips her wings, treat her cruelly, and she dies. Angels descends from heaven and take her up on a sunny cloud.
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,