The 185th. Birthday anniversary of Samuel Friedrich Hahnemann was commemorated under the auspices of The Bengal Homoeopathic Institute at the Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science, on April 10. The right Honble Lord Sinha or Raipur presided.
The Calcutta Homoeopathic Hospital Society solemnised Hahnemanns 185th. Birthday. Kumar Bishnu Prasad Roy presided.
Dhacca did not lag behind. Under the auspices of the Dhacca Homoeopathic Association, the Masters birthday was duly observed at the Bar Association Hall. The function was presided over by Prof. Bihari Basu. The guests were treated to tea and light refreshment.
Even on such a sublime occasion the Homoeopathy of Calcutta could not shed its separatist complex this year also. Large, medium and small size meetings were held at various places which helped to requite eagerness of enthusiasts to come to the fore with the concerning and presiding spirit. Life is short and so it is difficult to sue patience for an opportunity to present itself at an unknown future. An, in a big gathering one is not sure to get to his turn to open his mouth and display his florid harangue. Wiser indeed to form a mutual admiration society and satisfy ones importance-hunger.
Barisal-the martial district of bengal-is going to have a medical school as soon as possible. It was so decided at the meeting held at Albert Hall on Thursday, April 11, presided over by the Honble Mr. Fazlul Huq, Chief Minister of Bengal, who promised a personal donation or Rs. 10000/- to initiate and encourage public subscriptions. Out of an estimated expenditure of 3 lakhs of rupees, one lakh would have to be raised from the public. Perhaps this indicates that the balance of two lakhs will be granted form the Government exchequer.
A second thought over this scheme will reveal that it should be a Homoeopathic Medical school. The funds in contemplation will enable the committee to annex a magnificent Homoeopathic Hospital the running expenses whereof will be fifty percent less than of the spectacular system of treatment of the other school of medicine, and yet Homoeopathy is more effective.
Calcutta kept lively for two days with the sixth session of the All-Bengal public Health Conference held at the Calcutta Medical Club House, on Saturday and Sunday, April 13 and 14. The Honble Minister of Public Health opened the Conference and Lt. Col. A.C. Chatterji, I.M.S., Director of Public Health, presided.
Dr. Sundari Mohan Das, the oldest and seniormost obstetrician and gynecologist of Bengal, presiding over the Maternity and Child Welfare section, delivered an address full of wisdom and practical value. In course of his speech he observed: “For the efficient training of Lady Health Visitors fit for social service in Bengal homes, the Sir John Anderson School for Health has been started by the Red Cross Society and a standardized syllabus has been fixed.
The scheme, if successful and the atmosphere congenial and attractive to Indian ladies, will solve the most important problem-that of unemployment among our educated ladies who overcrowd the Education department. The present rate of pay of LAdy Health Visitors ranges from 75.- to Rs 120-per mensem. She is entitled to free furnished quarters and months holiday with pay per annum.”.
A little training in Homoeopathic in Homoeopathic therapeutics will certainly make the lady heal;th visitors very much more useful to the society and the class of people amongst whom they are to work. Any of the first rate Homoeopathic colleges will not grudge admitting them free and training them without fee.
Another vital problem of the day is the Moral and Social Hygiene. At the annual general meeting of the Association for Moral and Social Hygiene in India, held on April 3, at the Viceroys House, New Delhi, Her Excellency Lady Linlithgow in course of her speech observed: “I am all in favour of the teaching of social service, hygiene, and domestic science in the schools, but I think the teaching of matters commonly associated with sex requires very careful handling.
So much depends on the personality of the teacher, and unless the pupil feels that the teacher is in sympathy with the weaknesses to which the flesh is heir, and can through this very sympathy appeal to all that is best in themselves, they might do more harm than good. I cannot quite visualize the possibility of teaching these matters to a class. There must always be some rebels amongst them, and the derision of few of their friends and contemporaries would have far more effect on the friends and contemporaries would have far more effect on the majority than the teaching and worldly wisdom of their teachers.”.
We are in complete agreement with this opinion of Her Excellency. Associations and medical officialdom, in their unrestricted zeal, scarcely visualize the cons and hold fast only to the pros of a scheme.
The problem of social hygiene was hit upon also by the Direct of Public Health, Bengal, in course of this presidential address at the sixth session of the All Bengal Public Health Conference, on April 13. He gave three salient features about the danger of the social diseases and six potent reasons for the increased spread of the disease in this country. As one of the remedies for social evils he said that “It is up to society to evolve such social conditions that the chances for temptation are minimised as far as possible.
For example, the bounds of the family should be strengthened; young men and women should be encouraged to marry and the community should help them to established a home and bring up a family. Economic dependence and difficulties play an important role in compelling persons to succumb to temptation.”.
Yes, marriage is a great panacea of many a social danger, and young men and women should be encouraged to marry. But with young men and women of today, lifes outlook is judged by the standard of life exhibited all around them, and they want to deduce a via media and adopt it, And, when they face economic crisis in their daily existence which eclipse all hopes and even any attraction to life itself, they revolt against marriage and adopt desperate living. They need practical encouragement to marry, to establish a home, to bring up a family.
The Homoeopathic charitable dispensary of the Marwari Relief Society, Calcutta, treated 3957 cases during the month of March last.
We compliment Dr. D.N. De for his having received an annual grant of Rupees one thousand from the Corporation of Calcutta for the Dunham Homoeopathic College-Hospital. This amount of money should enable the Hospital to liquidate the debt it owes to the College department. We understand that this Hospital is going to make further extension of its female ward. We hope the management will immediately add to its maternity ward.
Calcutta
Chief Editor, Homeopathic Herald