On the contrary she willingly spent all she had from her father,–it should be remembered that her father was a well-known apothecary and as such quite well-placed financially, for the family in the days of poverty, which in her own view Hahnemann had brought upon himself. In spite of all this, it is painful to read this noble lady reproached. Hahnemann on his part loved her equally devoutly and respected her wishes wherever it was possible. Her death must have been a great shock to Hahnemann but he had a lions heart and he bore it so well that it never interfered with his activities which were in the interest of humanity and for which God destined him to spend his life.
In 1831 there raged a very virulent type of Cholera in Russia and in a short time spread to various parts of Europe. Dr. Hahnemann had before this, had his different provings of remedies which closely corresponded with the symptoms of cholera, and he therefore in a detailed paper treated the subject with particular reference to its successful treatment. In this, Camphor was the chief remedy, advised both as a curative and as a preventive. Other remedies like Veratrum album, Phosphorus, Cuprum, Phosphoric Acid, Arsenic alb. were discussed.
At this time however the old school was trying to find out remedies for this terrible disease and drugs like calomel and opium were recommended along with other measures like venesection. It is to be noted however that physicians from different parts who treated this disease with homoeopathic remedies in strict accordance to the law of similars, got the best results. They were published for the benefit of the medical profession, but only those who were true homoeopaths used them faithfully with most gratifying result.
1834: The followers of Hahnemann set on foot a movement to start a homoeopathic hospital (public) and raised the money necessary to start it. They also formed the Managing Board for the hospital and requested the great master to become the President. Dr. Muller was to be the Director and Dr. Schweikert was to be the Superintendent. It was agreed that the whole medical staff of the institution was to give its services free. While the bye laws were being formed, for the convenience of a legal formality.
Dr. Mullers name was proposed to the Superintendents post and he agreed to it on the understanding that it was only a formality and that Dr. Schewikert alone would have it. In the meanwhile this latter doctor expressed to the Managing Body his desire to have some honorarium for the post he was to hold. In this connection Dr. Hahnemann showed his attitudes of intolerance by threatening to remove his name from the institution on the ground that the management contained men who subscribed to the old school and were likely to spoil the cause of true homoeopathy.
Dr. Schweikert application for honorarium was refused by Dr. Muller on the ground that he had no authority to do it. The misunderstanding became so acute that Dr. Muller had to resign. Dr. Schweikert was later duly installed in the post of the Superintendent and the hospital started working in January 1834. It tried to get a subsidy from the Leipsic Government, but could not succeed. It was for some time run on funds collected privately but as the funds got exhausted and the Government did not grant any help, it was closed and converted into a dispensary.
In connection with this hospital affair, Dr. Hahnemann has been charged with intolerance, but if it was so, it could be fully justified on the ground that it must have been a natural result of all the persecution he (Dr. Hahnemann) had undergone at the hands of the allopaths of the very place (Leipsic). Moreover it further shows how the master was very keen to keep the purity of the science of which he was the father. It is therefore not surprising that Hahnemann took such a stern attitude in this matter, when particularly his name was to be at the head of the institution which was to be started solely for the furtherance of Homoeopathy and the benefits it would give to the suffering humanity.
In the latter part of 1834 a French lady, Mlle. Melanie DHervilly came to Coethen to consult Dr. Hahnemann for her health. She was a very talented, attractive lady of accomplishments. While in Coethen she was so attracted to Dr. Hahnemann and his homoeopathy that a sort of friendship developed between the doctor and herself ultimately resulting in their marriage on 28th January 1835. Dr. Hahnemann after this decided to leave Germany for Paris, to pass the rest of his life in peace and happiness.
Before leaving the country Hahnemann by a will distributed all his movable and immovable property equally among all his children. In this connection it is noteworthy that Madame Hahnemann insisted upon this making a will of all his property accrued so far, to his children alone, herself refusing to have any share of the same. Hahnemann laid down in his will that the belonging that he would take to France would be entirely the property of his wife. Hahnemann bade the most affectionate good bye to his family and admirers in June 1835.
Paris, 1835-1843
After reaching Paris, for some time Hahnemann passed a very quiet and happy life in the happy company of his second wife. But soon after the members of the Gallican Society consisting of many of his admirers and followers, bestowed upon him the honorary presidentship of the Society. This was the starting point of his activity in Paris. In the meanwhile Madame Hahnemann who had a great foundness of homoeopathy was induced to use her influence in Government to secure for Hahnemann the permission to practise.
This she easily managed to get and the doctors disciples had soon the happy privilege of seeing their master giving his valuable help to the sick. Hahnemanns practice in Paris was extremely large and busy. Patients from all classes and all countries of Europe flocked around him for relief. Madame Hahnemann was always by his side to take down the history of the patients sickness.
In course of time she became so adept that she treated many of patients as successfully as the master himself. Even Hahnemann was surprised with her abilities in this art. Now the Master was enjoying an extremely happy life in company with his second wife who cared for him so tenderly, attended to all his needs and further saw that he was not annoyed mentally or physically by people who flocked round him for one purpose or the other. It was very remarkable that Hahnemann was even at this age of eighty years enjoying and keeping perfect health and spirits.
During his stay in Paris he was the recipient of great honours – which he richly deserved – of Docterate, Fellowship and Membership of Societies from countries of Europe and even far off America. In Paris alone he was the recipient of birthday getting from various people and societies. The crowd of visitors that longed to see the master contained people from all ranks, poor, rich, literary, scientific, philosophers, politicians, etc., and from every country of Europe and even America. In such happiness and bliss, Hahnemann reached his 89th year.
We are now approaching the end of the story of this magnificent life. He was now really getting old and his physique was going weaker. For the last ten years Hahnemann had been, every spring, a sufferer from the disease of the very old, bronchial catarrh. In April 1843 he was again taken in with it and became seriously ill. He as usual prescribed for himself and when he became too weak to do it he recommended the remedies that his wife and Dr. Chatran should use.
He really suffered only just at the end from increasing oppressions of the chest. When after one such attack his wife said Providence surely owes you exemption from all suffering as you have relieved so many others and have suffered so many hardships in your arduous life, he answered:
“Why should I expect exemption from suffering? Every one in this world works according to the gifts and powers which he has received from Providence, and more or less are words used only before the judgment sent of man, not before that of Providence. Providence owes me nothing. I owe it much. Yes. Everything.”
He bore the pangs of approaching death with an unparalleled equanimity of mind. Though his mortal body was sinking his mental powers remained unimpaired to the last moment. He was quite conscious that he had not lived in vain but had fulfilled the mission, for which Providence had sent him to this earth.
Thus on July 2nd of 1843 passed off from earth, the magnificent soul of Dr. Samuel Hahnemann. His memory can truly be said to be celebrated, only if we try to realise what he was and follow him faithfully. To sum up:.
Hahnemann was a towering personality, possessing the deepest faith in the mercy and wisdom of Providence. He was humility incarnate as can be learnt from his words “The discovery that God has allowed me to discover.” He had a very kind heart as can be seen from the way he treated his children, his patients, admirers and followers and on the top, his adversaries who persecuted him through the greater portion of his life. He never blamed them but believed in the goodness of Providence to do them justice; for he called them misguided souls that did not know what they were doing.
