Pupils and Friends of Hahnemann



(Attomyr’s Correspondence with Hahnemann, vide Supplement 101.) DR. H. ROSENBERG.

Dr. H. Rosenberg was physician to the Duke Batthyanny of Fkervar, Vienna and Stein-am-Anger. He wrote a monograph on the Plica polonica and its complete cure by means of homoeopathic remedies as well as a pragmatic history to plica polonica together with the symptoms of Vinca minor and Branca ursine, proved by him and there other physicians. He asked Hahnemann if he might dedicate the little book to him.

(Pressburg, May 10th, 1838.)

DR. GUSTAV ADOLPH SCHRETER.

Dr. Schreter was introduced to homoeopathy by Hahnemann and remained a long time in tough with the Master by letter. He was father was a physician in that town. He went to Vienna in 1820 to study medicine and qualified in 1826. His father advised him to travel about Germany for two years and also recommended him to study homoeopathy. Thus he arrived in Leipsic during that year and came into contact with Hahnemann. The latter put him in touch with Haubold and Schubert, with whom be associated himself for several months in the study of the new science of healing. ON continuing his travels he became ill whilst visiting a relative, a clergyman at Besigheim (Wurtemburg). He treated himself with homoeopathic remedies and soon recovered. This attracted public notice and his practice rapidly increased in the surrounding country. He was one of the first homoeopathic physicians in Wurtemberg. Being a foreigner he naturally suffered severely from the jealousy and ill-will of the allopathic physicians of that town. But Schreter stood his ground firm and his reputation steadily increased, and the regret was general and great, when in the year 1828 he went to to Paris to further complete his knowledge of medical science. At the end of the same year he returned to his native home and settled there as homoeopathic physician. After having treated a Polish Countess successfully, who was suffering from carcinoma, and whom the allopathic physicians had given five days to live, he was asked to settle in Lemberg. Vacillating in his resolution, he asked Hahnemann’s’ advice. The latter advised him to accept the appointment “So that as a true disciple of homoeopathy you could introduce the new method of treatment in the interests of science and the welfare of suffering humanity, especially in those countries were no glimmer of the new truth has yet penetrated. ” Thus Schreter removed to Lemberg in 1831, and soon achieved the greatest successes, especially during the cholera period. The aroused the opposition of the allopathic physicians, who went so far as to urge the relatives to those whom Schreter had been unable to save, to denounce him, whereupon the Sanitary Authorities seized Schreter’s homoeopathic medicine chest and threatened to take away his doctor’s diploma. Under these circumstances he resolved to emigrate to America. Then the prominent and influential citizens of Lemberg sent an application signed with many hundreds of signatures, to he Emperor in Vienna, asking him to dispense his own medicines. On his birthday, 1836, he received an urgent private letter from Vienna stating that both requests had been granted, and the freedom extended throughout the monarchy. From that time Schreter was able to practise homoeopathy in Galizien without further opposition, and a second cholera epidemic (1855) gave him special opportunity to do this. He also undertook some provings of medicines (Thuja). he died on the 24th of September, 1864, in consequence of several apoplectic fits after having practised medicine for thirty-eight years as a most successful and distinguished homoeopathic physician of Galizien.

DR. JOSEPH BAKODY.

Dr. Bakody was born on the 21st of February, 1791, Wieselburg, Hungaria, and was the son of poor parents. Count Stahrenberg, Canon of Raab, took an interest in the boy and made him study” provided he was and remained first among his fellow pupils.”

This condition was fulfilled and Bakody took his medical degree in 1820. He began his medical career in Papa, near Raab, and he removed eighteen months later to Raab in order to be able to attend to his patron’s health. Here two friends called his attention to homoeopathy. He studied the homoeopathic works keenly and openly declared himself on the side of homoeopathy. In consequence of this courageous step he was violently attacked by his colleagues, who actually epidemic, 1831-1832 were wonderful; our of one hundred and fifty-four cholera patients only six died. This was the cause of further attacks to which he replied in 1832 with the Brochure:

“Justification of Dr. Jos. Bakody of Raab, with attested proofs, against the groundless attacks of two local physicians.”

The result was that Dr. Bakody was very much sought after. In the year 1836 he settled in Pesth, and there too in a very short time he became one of the busiest homoeopathic physicians. He died on 2nd November, 1845. The obituary notice which Dr. Attomyr dedicated to him ends with the words:

The deaths which have become frequent in our camp show that the generation that was present at the birth of homoeopathy, and perceived its first utterances of joy and pain, and nursed it, is dying out and a new generation is replacing it, which can barely form a feeble conception of the fights and persecutions that its predecessors had to bear. Bakody’s life has been particularly embittered and sadly moved through the blind fury of his opponents.

DR. ADOLPH HEINRICH GERSTEL.

Dr. Gerstel of Brunn (Mahren ) as a result of his desire for knowledge during his student days, entered into active correspondence with Hahnemann. He became a faithful follower of homoeopathy owing to his successes and experiences during the cholera period. He was born on the 19h April, 1805. He took his medical degree in Prague at the end of his medical studies in June, 1831, and in the spring of 1832 he was appointed Master of Obstetrics. He went immediately to Brunn in order to obtain information it the treatment of cholera. In consequence of his correspondence with Hahnemann he obtained such striking results by the use of homoeopathic remedies that he was publicly commended by the authorities. Among other things he received letters of recognition and thanks from the Imperial and Royal constabulary of Brunn (November 10th, 1831), from the Secretarial Office of the estate of Lord Tischnowitz (December 30th, 1831), from the domain Kanitz and the council of the city of Znaim (August 18th, 1832). He practised in Brunn until 188342, and was repeatedly opposed by the authorities, who deprived him of his homoeopathic medicine chests. He then went to Vienna, induced by a family who had preceded him there, and here he became very active in his profession as well as in honorary practice as the hospitals and other charitable institutions. He therefore stood in high esteem even with the allopathic physician and professors of the Viennese Medical Faculty. He retained his mental freshness and bodily vigour until his eighty-third year. He died in the winter of 1888 after a short illness of influenza.

SUPPLEMENT 264

HOMOEOPATHY IN POLAND AND RUSSIA.

Dr. Bigel of Warsaw wrote to Hahnemann (in French) on he 29th May, 1832:

In recognition of all that I owe to your noble mind, I work assiduously at the propagation of your wonderful discovery especially in France. Your fine treatise on “Chronic Diseases” will become known without delay. My manuscript has been bought and by next autumn your excellent writings will be read in the French language. I have enriched it with annotations which will put into greater relief the merits of your great ideas. An introduction is directed against the opponents of medical reform and so is also the conclusion

4th October, 1832.

My work entitled “Manual of Homoeopathic Diet” is completed. It will consist of 300 pages. I have put a brief representation of the homoeopathic doctrine at the end in order to increase the number of followers among the laity, because I can well see that we must enlighten the public. They will force the profession who obstinately close their eyes to the light.

6th October, 1832.

I am glad to tell you that my translation of “Chronic Diseases” is already being sold in France and that it will go to Poland and Russia where it is very much in demand. My manual of homoeopathic diet will be printed immediately, it is a work which will be indispensable alike to the physician and the layman.

5th September, 1833.

I have just completed a small manual on the treatment of new psora… I shall take the liberty of offering it to you, as well as my translation of “Chronic Diseases” and my treatise on “Homoeopathic Diet.” I am expecting the immediate arrival of these two books from France.

4th December, 1833.

The Emperor of Russia astonished at some striking homoeopathic cures, achieved by my colleagues as well as by myself, has just allowed by a Ukase, the practise of homoeopathy in his realm. This Science has therefore a lawful right in the States. Your “Chronic Diseases” and my treatise on homoeopathic diet have just arrived from France.

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