Hahnemann’s Second Marriage



I wish you could only be here once to see me in my happy, I could almost say, blissful wedded-life, and see also the many excellent oil-paintings which adorn my room (my good wife’s collection) among which her own are not the least, as she was considered here a famous artist.” There is among others a portrait in oils, which is perhaps the best resemblance that ever existed of me, it had already been painted in Cothen, after I had cured her of tic douloureux, in the right hypochondrium, from which she had suffered for many years. The famous David has just finished an excellent bust of me.

Hahnemann’s letter to von Gersdorff:

Dearest Friend and Beloved Godfather,

Having been hindered by a number of impediments, only to-day have I the pleasure of thanking you for your kind wishes of April 5th.

After our departure from Eisenach, where I and my deal Melanie had the pleasure of seeing you before saying good-bye, we arrived safely in Paris after short day stages, on the 21st June, at the house hitherto occupied by my wife. We were so well that even on th second day we were able to attend an excellent opera. As our first residence, in the middle of the city, did not seem suitable for the health of us both, we eagerly sought and found an excellent house which could not be surpassed for its advantages by any other house in the whole of great Paris. The windows of our servants’ rooms look on to the street; our rooms, however (on the first floor) look out upon our garden which is well laid out, and has an exit into the great garden of the Luxembourg, which provides a walk of half-an-hour in the purest country air to all who are found of walking. On his side we live as if we were in the country, surrounded by most beautiful scenery, and are away from all noise, a point which makes a sojourn in the city so unpleasant-yet on the other side we are actually in Paris, and the patients from Paris have easy access to me (also by carriage), as they are chiefly from the higher and highest classes, but I also give my help with pleasure to the poorest, as my excellent wife lends me a most helping hand, as she is warm friend to our friends. To sum up, I am so happy in my present position as I never was before during the whole of my life. I have a highly educated wife, who loves me dearly. She is endowed with knowledge of the most varied kind, and has a kind disposition, great intelligence and refinement; I also lover her as the most precious jewel of my earthy existence. Her incessant care is only for me, even to the most trifling details, so that every wish of mine is fulfilled, no-matter what it may be. This year we have not been separated for a single hour, and we live such an intimate and happy life together, that there cannot exist in Paris another pair which could equal us in our perfect love. So much so, that acquaintances who saw me years ago hardly recognise me, and assure me that I took ten years, younger, and as far as that is concerned I feel myself as strong and vigorous and free from infirmity as I was in my thirtieth years. This is the work of my precious Melanie, with whom I am one in heat and soul, and who turns the evening of my life into a earthly heaven. Previously she was a distinguished poetess of which her beautiful epic poem, “l’ Hirondelle d’Athene,” gives proof. She procured by means of it, at the time, a considerable sum of money for the oppressed Greeks; she is also a celebrated painter (and the best portrait of myself was painted by her in oils, when in Cothen, and is now here, in our hand some collection of pictures); she is now the keenest pupil and has good knowledge of the homoeopathic method of treatment.

As, on leaving Cothen, I divided my estate between my eight children and grandchildren in such a way that they could henceforth live on the interest (without being able to touch the capital, according to a clause enacted by me), I think I have unburdened myself of a great charge, and believe that, at any rate in this respect, I can calmly look forward to a tranquil old age.

The homoeopathic method of curing is more conscientiously and correctly practised, with success and honour, by many true disciples in the larger and smaller provincial towns of France. It is only in Paris that the thirty to forty so-called homoeopathic physicians stopped half-way and have also acquired the charlatanism prevailing in other branches of science and have therefore accomplished very little good, but have done a great deal of harm for which reason they were treated with disdain by the Academic Royal de Medicine. The allopathies and the Academic leave me in peace; I seem to have impressed them, perhaps because they never saw before in their great Paris, a man who good disciples around me, but I have great hops of the younger generation, the young local medical students, who have not yet been spoiled by the old humdrum practice, and who show much good intention.

My dear Melanie commends herself, with me, to your friendly remembrance, and also to your most esteemed family.

(Signed) SAMUEL HAHNEMANN.

Paris, Rue de Madanme, No.7.

14th June, 1836.

Dr. J. Fr. Hennicke to Hahnemann:

Esteemed friend,

I have not received any news of you since you left Germany and took up your residence in Paris, although i made inquiries from several homoeopathic physicians. I had almost given up all hope, when I unexpectedly received, on the 24th September, through your presents publisher, Schaub, of Dusseldorf, dated September 20th, to which was added some information about tour medical activities in Paris. i has extremely pleased about it and published it in No 272 of the allg. Anz d. Deutschen, and sent many copies to homoeopathic physicians in all parts of Germany; I also send a copy to you through Schaub. I should feel very pleased if you would be so kind as to send me some concise news of your medical activities and the progress of you method of treatment. With it we could put a stop to many lies and much slander which your numerous enemies are spreading by word of mouth and by writing.

Your system of treatment makes great progress in. the United STates of North America. You will herewith find a reprint in No.233 and No.234 of he Allg. Anz. d. D. of a documentary report of the foundation of a Homoeopathic Academy in Allentown, pennsylvania, established by the indefatigably active and capable Dr. Const. Hering of Zittau, where his father still lives.

A few days ago i received from him his “Homoeopathic family physician fro the German citizens of the united STates,” Allentown, 1837. I immediately wrote critical announcement of it in. he Allg. Anz. d. D. and at the same time gave a specimen of the first part of “Printed documents of the Homoeopathic Academy of Allentown, etc.” a work which bestows credit upon the author, Dr. C. Hering, and upon homoeopathy.

I received a little while ago a continuation of ” Correspondence of homoeopathic physicians in America,” concerning the scheme of which I gave a report in the Allg. Anz. It will help to diffuse more widely, in Germany, belief in the truth and efficacy of homoeopathy.

In Germany you teaching still find many bitter opponents among the doctors, who either have not yet understood their true nature, or through ignorance and blind prejudice, fight and deny their truth in a malicious and shameless way. The consequences of this have again been felt in a very ugly way through the cholera epidemic of this year, in Berlin, Breslau, and the whole of Silesia, not to mention Naples, Palermo, Messina, Catanea.

Homoeopathy is spreading more and more among he lower classes in the small towns and among the rural population. Our friend Plaubel, a sensible and thinking man, does you credit as a true pupil and is therefore very much esteemed by all those who know him and intimately. Dr. Schindler is familiar with your method of treatment, but he loses all respect as a man through his slippery behaviour and because he is adducted to drink. Dr. Madelung only employees homoeopathic remedies when they are requested; he also prescribes is homoeopathic remedies from the local pharmacies where they can be purchased.

Dr. Emil Braun of Gotha, who became acquainted with homoeopathy through Dr. Plaubel, has been living in Rome for several years, and there is very active in its propagation. He has had several medicine chests sent to him from Gotha, lives a keen homoeopath, Hallmund, who prepares medicine chests with the greatest care and conscientiousness under the supervision and with the co-operation of Plaubel.

You will perceive from these few communications, esteemed friend, how much i care for a cause of homoeopathy. May this induce you to honour me and give me the pleasure of news from you. May you yet enjoy good health and an active life for a long time; this is the wish of your true friend and admirer,

DR. J. FR. HENNICKE.

Gotha, 3rd November, 1837.

Hahnemann made the following reply to this letter:

Dearest Friend

Your kind interests in me and my work during my sojourn in Paris, expressed in your last letter, dated November 3rd, has again stimulated my former gratitude towards you. How very much indebted is out true new science to you, who have known so well how to propagate if be voice and pen.

Richard Haehl
Richard M Haehl 1873 - 1932 MD, a German orthodox physician from Stuttgart and Kirchheim who converted to homeopathy, travelled to America to study homeopathy at the Hahnemann College of Philadelphia, to become the biographer of Samuel Hahnemann, and the Secretary of the German Homeopathic Society, the Hahnemannia.

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