Meanwhile Hahnemann received the support of his influential patient, the Prince of Schwarzenberg, who was at the time under his treatment, at Leipsic. In grateful recognition for services rendered to him, the Field Marshal applied to the King of Saxony on behalf of his physician. Regarding this we have the following documents which are to be found in the State Archives of Dresden:
ps. to the Government Office on July 11th, 1820. Page 63.
Noble Count, The rumour which is being circulated here, that Dr. Hahnemann will be forbidden the practice of his method of treatment, by an act of the Government, forces upon me the necessity to beg His Majesty the King, to graciously grant an audience to my Adjutant-General, the Colonel Baron Wernhardt, so that he may put before him some information regarding this new method of treatment which I am undergoing at present.
The memory of our old friendly relations justifies me to hope, that your Excellency will be good enough to support my petition, before His Majesty, to the best of your ability.
Since I have been under Dr. Hahnemann’s treatment some of my attacks have already been alleviated, and I do not doubt that I shall soon have improved sufficiently to put before His Majesty, personally, my very deep gratitude for the many proofs of His graciousness which I have experienced during my sojourn in this town.
I shall be especially glad to see you again on this occasion, after a long separation, and to assure you once more of my friendly sentiments and deep esteem.
I have the honour to be, Your Excellency’s Obedient Servant, KARL, Prince of Schwarzenberg.
Leipsic, July 8th, 1820.
ps. to the Government Office.
July 11th, 1820.
Your Majesty,
The rumour is spreading here that Dr. Hahnemann, whose treatment I am undergoing at present, will be refused, by a decree of the Government, the right of treating patients in accordance with his new system. Therefore, I respectfully take the liberty to humbly request Your Majesty to grant an audience to my Adjutant-General, the Colonel Baron Wernhardt, and to allow him to put before Your Majesty, in my name, a few disclosures on the method of treatment of Hahnemann, which I was able to acquire while under the care of this physician.
In the hope that You will graciously accept my humble petition with your usual clemency, and that my improved health will soon allow me to tender personally my most submissive thanks for the many tokens of your gracious good will received during my sojourn here, I remain with deepest respect and submissiveness.
Your Majesty’s most humble servant, KARL, Prince of Schwarzenberg.
Leipsic, July 8th, 1820.
(Answer to the Prince of Schwarzenberg).
Your Excellency,
I have to communicate to you in obedience with a gracious order received, the following with regard to the medical situation concerning Dr. Hahnemann at Leipsic: it is not a question of prohibiting him the practice of his own method of treatment. It was that the apothecaries of Leipsic had complained to the town council about the dispensing of his own remedies, and the said authorities were on the point of prohibiting Dr. Hahnemann the punishable presumption in accordance with the existing regulations of the law. Several patients of Hahnemann, Dr. Volkmann and Cons. have lodged an appeal against this and thus the matter has been brought to the notice of the Government. The latter requested a declaration of opinion from the Medical Council and from the Medical Faculty of Leipsic. Both these declarations have already been received and have proved adverse to Hahnemann, so that now it would mean to warrant Volkmann’s appeal against the prohibition of self-dispensing pronounced by the City Council. But the Government of the country has deemed it necessary to bring the matter for final decision before His Majesty, owing to the interest that the Prince of Schwarzenberg has taken. Therefore, the submissive report which has already been drawn up could be handed in tomorrow. Now I am asking for permission to await your Excellency’s further orders of procedure, before any further progress is made.
With deepest esteem, I remain,
Your Excellency’s most humble servant,
BARON VON WERTHERN.
Dresden, July 11th, 1820.
A Monsieur mon Cousin, M. Prince Charles de Schwarzenberg, a Leipsic.
Noble Prince, especially dear friend,
The Colonel Baron von Wernhardt, whom you have sent, has already delivered your message to me in connection with the matter of Dr. Hahnemann of Leipsic, and has received from me an answer to the effect that I shall make enquiries. I have ordered all that is necessary for that to be done, and arranged at the same time that no further steps shall be taken against Dr. Hahnemann. In any case he shall not be hindered in his efforts to cure your dear person with his new method of treatment. It is my sincere wish, that it may fully answer all expectations, and the pleasure which I personally shall derive from being convinced of it, will be equally great I assure you. I would like you to be convinced of my sentiment of esteem, which I try to show by small signs of pleasant courtesy which I remain willing to prove at any time.
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