The following letters of Dr. Grieselich are complementary sidelights to the letters of Dr. Baumann quoted above:
Karlsruhe, 31st October, 1832.
The very instructive hours I spent with you, will always remain the most cherished memories of my scientific career, and you have contributed considerably towards strengthening me in the study of a science, a new branch of our profession, which I hold to be of the greatest benefit.
It is to this study that the opusculum which follows owes its origin (“Sketches, etc.,” Karlsruhe, 1832). Its value is only that of a beginner, yet that beginner has good intentions-and that at least is something. Please kindly accept this trifling creation of my intellect as a small sign of my esteem.
In Baden homoeopathy is making rapid progress; it can no longer be crushed. Baron von Lotzbeck continues untiringly to further the good cause. I took make it my business to do so. I have also converted a physician who came to see me from Upper Alsace in the Vosges; he at once procured all the books, and a few days ago wrote a long letter, in which he promises to do all he can to spread it.
At present in Lichtenthal near Baden, July 23rd, 1833.
The noble Lotzbeck continues to use his power, among us, in the service of your teaching; he spares no sacrifice. There will approximately 60 to 70 physicians who practise homoeopathy or are studying it, in the Grand Duchy of Baden. We are all beginners as yet, but the majority are animated by the keenest ardour. In Baden there is certainly a good foundation for your doctrine. I am cleansing myself more and more from the dross of allopathy. a Society has now been founded here (see above-R.H.) on July 1st of this year, fourteen physicians from the neighbourhood of Karlsruhe, met together and formed a homoeopathic Society for the Grand Duchy of Baden. The physicians were (here follow the names- R.H.). The Statues are just about to be put before the Government…. We have already received news from all sides, that the formation of the Society has become known. We have unanimously rejected the plan of becoming afflicted to the so- called Central Society of Leipsic; we are sufficient by ourselves. Also the homoeopaths of Alsatia and Bavaria on the Rhine wish to join us, and I hope to see soon a homeopathies Society of South Germany. I have lately received letter from Upper Alsace saying that Homoeopathy is spreading more and more: fresh physicians were coming over to our side; for instance in Colmar, dr. Curie and Dr. Jourdan, chiefs of the Military Hospital there, previously Broussais, had done so. In Switzerland too, things are progressing.
At the next legislative assembly homoeopathy will be brought forward. We have keen supporters of homoeopathy in the House of Commons. The deputy Councillor of Divinity, who is closely allied to the Grand Duke, is putting before them the proposition that the Government should supply theoretical and practical tuition in homoeopathy at our two Universities. The Grand Duke has been informed of the matter, and has declared that this proposition was the one he most favoured of the whole session. You probably know that in Darmstadt the House of common a few weeks ago wished to have repealed, documents; Mr. von Lotzbeck had them printed at his expense, and now they will be given to the members of the Diet, in the form of a pamphlet to which I wrote an historical introduction. Our cause will also find sympathy in the first House, particularly from the Prince of Furstenberg. The constitutional system of legislation of the State is very much to our advantage, because if the Government wants to introduce one-sided laws, the power of the Chamber opposes it; the prohibition of self-dispensing cannot, therefore, be introduced as a criminal law, as exactly what happened at Darmstadt would occur here.
Our Health Commission is constantly raging against homoeopathy, and it is ridiculous to watch how these gentlemen make useless work for themselves.
(See also Griesselich’s career in Chapter 27.)
Ernst von Brunnow to Hahnemann.
Dresden, September 20th,1831
In spite of all the machinations of the enemy, homoeopathy is winning one victory after the other. It is undoubtedly very important that Wurtemberg, which is a constitutional German State, has openly acknowledged homoeopathy, and the practice of self-dispensing. Thank God, this first big step in law has taken place!
The same.
Dresden, April 10th, 1834.
During recent years homoeopathy has made still greater progress. How glad you must be, that even in the United States of North America, a Society had been formed which bears your name, and which has for its object the propagation of your doctrine. The events in France also deserve the greatest consideration; the true method of treatment which is in accord with Nature’s laws, has at last victoriously entered into paris. In Germany, at least in one homeopathic physicians. In Russia the practice of homoeopathy has been allowed throughout the realm by an Ukase, and provision has been made for the erection of pure homoeopathic chemists’ shops. Even the right of self dispensing has, in many cases, been granted to the homoeopathic physicians. Even if this is in many instances associated with tedious formalities, or remains all the same a satisfactory beginning of a better period in science.
Our Parliament in Saxony has done nothing for homoeopathy, although I, in my capacity of secretary to the ‘Society, have sent to both Presidents of the Upper and Lower Houses, two copies of the edition de luxe of our first book of the annals of our Homoeopathic Society, and have also addressed myself to six of the most influential members with written representations and petitions for the hospital from the Treasury, but nothing resulted. Dr. Crusius of Leipsic, and friend of homoeopathy, assured me bluntly that it was unthinkable to expect anything from the present Parliament. They were only thinking of economizing and saving, and the voice of the majority was not in favour of homoeopathy. We must, therefore, keep our hopes for better days which perhaps are not far off.
(Regarding Brunnow, see more in Chapter 27.)
Dr. Gerstel of Brunn.
I am quite content in Brunn, because I practice solely as a homoeopath, and all goes well. All the (physicians and chemists are my sworn enemies, yet I do not come in touch with them. I let them go their own away, and therefore, they leave me in peace. This great hostility here (province of Mahren) against until a few weeks ago, because they disputed my right to settle here. If it had not been for the protection of the greater number of the aristocracy of Brunn, and of other influential persona I would not have succeeded in winning my suit. I appealed to the Court and although in may appeal I declared I was a homoeopathic practitioner (against whom there is a prohibition dating from the year 1819, which now will in all probability be repealed by a special order of His Majesty, with certain restrictions as in Prussia) I shall be allowed to remain here in residence. (Dr. Gerstel also sent 8 ducats for the homoeopathic clinic at Leipsic-R. H.).
St. Petersburg (without a date; marginal note by Hahnemann: “Replied, November 5th”).
Very esteemed great-uncle.
Permit me to introduce to you the bearer of this letter, Mr. von Wrasky, as a keen admirer and disciple of true homoeopathy. I would recommend him to your care all the more warmly because for nearly three years he has been treated by homoeopathy (in the beginning by Dr. Adam, later, after prolonged study on his estate, by himself). New that he has got halfway towards recovery, he has through your kind advice he may attain complete recovery in a shorter, more certain, and more complete way. I wrote to you before, that he hopes to give hardly requires more than a correction for the medical terms, to be ready far ringing. At the same time acting Privy Councillor Nil off, the translator of Hartlaub’s little book,. “Representation of the homoeopathic system for the lay public, ” takes the liberty to send tot he founder of the new school a copy of the first Russian book of homoeopathy. although you will not find it easy two red, I did not think that I ought to refuse the translator his wish (he does not desire to have his name known publicly) to send you a copy, which will serve to show you how the great truth is progressing in the North, and I hope this will please you. If we could only bring about a greater unity among the Homoeopaths here, or rather a better collective spirit, which of course is very difficult owing to the great distances in this large city, but yet could be accomplished, if everyone did not wish to live for himself only and work his own field. Of course there is another point also to be considered, that the majority of the fourteen homoeopathic physicians have more or less to practice allopathy as well, and many are forced to practice allopathy almost entirely if they do not wish to lose their practice and starve before they are able to find a new one. Your faithful and devoted pupil and heartily admiring great-nephew,
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