SUPPLEMENT 181
FURTHER LETTERS FROM HAHNEMANN IN PARIS, TO HIS FRIENDS IN GERMANY, FROM 1838 TO 1843.
To Stapf:
Dear Friend,
Your kind letter, brought to me by the Polish doctor, gave me much pleasure especially as it confirmed my conjectures that there still exists in Germany a small circle of true homoeopaths (among whom in the first place I always reckon Gross and you) who are not led away by that vulgar bragging joker and impudent the abusive talk of these despicable men will make and impression on the rising generation of doctors. These latter will soon learn from their own experience that no good can come of such distortion of my teaching, and will remain all the more faithful to the true art of healing.
Honorable Germany! I had credited you with greater power of discrimination and more acumen, At all events these heresies have met with hardly any response in france, England and Italy.
As regards out system France is still very weak. There are more true followers and keen as well as capable pupils, in the provinces than in the capital. (Please be so good as not to make public my opinion of the homoeopathy in Paris.)
During the last six months a livelier interest in homeopathy has been aroused among the younger generation of physician, through a large number of cures effected by himself and my ear wife. The latter has actually accomplished more cures, even of the most dangerous diseases, among the poor, than I have with my rich patients. Ten to twenty patient daily fill he ante-chamber; and even the stairs of our little house in which we live by ourselves.
These successful cures arouse the interest of the more intelligent younger generation whose feeling for suffering humanity have not yet bee blunted by the practice of allopathy. the older homoeopaths very much resemble of half-homeopaths found in Saxony. Among those residing in Paris, scarcely tour of five true homoeopathic physicians can be found, but I hope that their number will increased in the future.
A good homeopath has, of course, to fight a hard battle against the manifold prejudices of the public, which thinks nothing of a method of treatment that makes no use of venesection, leeches, and setons, and does not prescribe any health beverages, etc. Great obstacle have, of late years, been put in the way of foreign physicians wishing to practise in Paris, through the influence of he Royal Academy of medicine, probably in order to prevent and suppress the introduction and spread of homoeopathy as much as possible.
Everything here is four or five times dearer than anywhere else. I pay, for instance, a yearly rental of 6,000 francs for my house, and my carriage (without which no one could carry on a practice here) amounts also to about 9,000 francs a year.
In england our system make greater progress than in Paris; the successful cure I have undertaken with?English people who have come here especially in order to put themselves under my treatment, may have contributed to this.
I am highly esteemed, here, partly no doubt because my wife is French and comes of a distinguished family nd possesses a large circle of eminent friends. I enjoy better health and feel intellectually fresher than during the last twenty years. Many Germans who knew me formerly assure me that I look much younger. I have chiefly to thank my dear Melanie for this, who with me wishes to be remembered to you and your family.
My kind regards to you and be assured of the unalterable friendship of
Your devoted, SAMUEL HAHNEMANN
Paris, April 30th, 1838.
Rue doe milan, No.1
To Councilor von Gersdorff, Eisenach.
Dear Councillor Gersdorff, Dearest Friend and Godfather,
Your letter of April 5th has given me much pleasure but I only found time to particularly in that of my little godchild. and we should be very happy to be able to welcome her here, in Paris,, if you could bring her, because we are not likely.
Our consultations for my wife as one of my best pupils takes great interest in the treatment, and daily treats by herself 20,3 or 40 poor patients with astonishing results) begin at 10 am. and last until 5 or 6 p.m. Every patient for he patient distinguished pesonages. Only those who are unable to walk or for the most distinguished personages. Only those who are are bedridden, receive a visit from us in the evening whether they are rich or poor, unless it be urgently necessary to see them earlier in the day. Our horses are fleet and our carriage light. The number of our patients has steadily increased even during summer, although the larger number of the wealthy inhabitants of Paris live far out in the country at this season, and the physicians here are practically without practice.
My faithful Melanie undertakes the extensive foreign correspondence. On those evening when there are not patients to be seen we frequent the best theatres (among which the Italian there, the big Opera and the Theatre Francais are the most prominent ) or attend good concerts.
We live along in a small mansion we have a garden, and the air is very pure. Our servants are good:the cooking is of the best, yet without being luxurious.
In other respects we live happily and cheerfully together like good children, and love each other to the astonishment of all our acquaintances. My best of wives surrounds me with the greatest care and her love and tender devotion I am growing one year younger because they say I took so well. At least, I know that during this year I have not felt one touch of illness. This has not happened during the last ten years, for every spring I used to suffer with a continued attack of severe catarrh accompanied by cough and fever.
I think that I shall be able to attain the object of my life here,, which is to procure for your divine science, in this great capital of one and a half million inhabitants, recognition, confidence and facilities. My dear Melanie contribute a great deal towards this.
(Here the letter deals with the application of an electrical rotation machine known to the person addressed.)
Our friend Mure found untold opposition here to his apostolat which was so easy for him in Palermo, to which he is now returning, because although it is very mild, he cannot stand the climate, here, on account of his chest.
Kind regards to you, my dear friend, and to your beautiful family. Accept also the good wishes of my incomparable wife, and those of
Your SAMUEL HAHNEMANN
Paris, August 7th, 1840
(In accordance with the copy from an original to be found in England-R.H.).
Hahnemann writes to Dr. schreter of Lemberg. on August 13th, 1840:
Hahnemann writes to dr. Schreter of Lemberg, on August 13th,1840.
Most valued friend and colleague, I do not know when, in my long life I have been in better health and happier than now in paris, in the company of my dear Melanie who cares nothing in begin to arose, in this cosmopolitan city, not merely curiosity but high esteem their position, consult me every day (with the exception of sunday) in my own and ten in the evening. Once or twice a week I go with my wife to the theatre or a concert.
The envelope of the following letter is addressed to: Dr. S. Ed. Hirschfeld, Bremen
Franco, Hanover Paris, November 28th, 1840
Dear friend,
I and my wife are very well and happy. The latter takes the liberty of sending you a small portrait of me.
We would like to hear soon how you and your dear family are: we hope that you are very well.
This young man, Mr. D. Malan of Stuttgart, wishes to devote himself to our method of treatment; he asked me to give him a note to you, assuring you of our friendship. With kind regards.
Yours, SAMUEL HAHNEMANN.
(Signed)
Hahnemann to Baron von Brunnow: ` Paris, July 22nd, 1841.
Dear Baron,
I was greatly pleased to see from your esteemed letter that you still remember me kindly.
After having been so much misunderstood by my own countryman I have happily found a haven of rest, where even the Allopathic Guild esteems, generally speaking, highly esteems me, and where I can accomplish unhindered much that is useful and good through the only true art of healing. I have means, and am beloved by my wife who is a model of virtue and knowledge, such as I have not found before in any other woman in this world, and who does everything possible in order to satisfy my wishes and to prolong my life, health and cheerfulness. This is due to chiefly to the fact that she has progressed further than any other of my pupils and followers, in the knowledge and practice of out method of treatment. She daily treats a considerable number of poor patients, some of whom are suffering from diseases that hardly any physician has yet been able to cure.
I am better and happier then I have been for many years and I enjoy life. i wish with all my heart that you may be as well. My wife wishes to be kindly remembered to you.
In order that you may be able to remember me better, I enclose a small portrait of myself.
(Signed) SAMUEL HAHNEMANN.
(The two previous letters are copies of original to be found in England).
Hahnemann to Hofrath Dr. Lehmann of Kothen:
Richard Haehl was also an editor and publisher of the homeopathic journal Allgemcine, and other homeopathic publications.
Haehl was responsible for saving many of the valuable artifacts of Samuel Hahnemann and retrieving the 6th edition of the Organon and publishing it in 1921.
Richard Haehl was the author of - Life and Work of Samuel Hahnemann