If this can be accomplished, the writer believes that it should be possible to turn out a sort superior type of general practitioner, who would be able to carry the torch of Homoeopathy wherever he may settle. Believe it or not, it is not difficult at all for a man who knows Homoeopathy to create an impression and thereafter to hold his own, no matter what may be contrived and schemed against him. He only needs to handle his first few acute cases brilliantly; cure a few cases of acute tonsillitis and appendicitis, and help old Mrs. Grundy with her rheumatism, and they will all club together to be his most willing advertisers. Real curative work is so rare these days that it almost appears as a miracle to the laity. And real and lasting cures should not be very difficult to a man who had the right Homoeopathic training!
In the days when there was much opposition to Homoeopathy, it waxed powerful everywhere. It meant something to have been an homoeopathist. Extremely brilliant results were obtained. It became patronized by the best in society, including royalty. Statistics were furnished by homoeopathic hospitals which proved beyond any doubt its superior results in all classes of disease, from the most fatally acute to the most chronic, including insanity. Homoeopathy scored these honors through outstanding exponents by its merits and results. Physicians and laity were eagerly proving ever more new remedies. How does this compare with to-days laxity and half-hearted efforts?
Recently the writer had a latter from an Indian homoeopathist with which he included a copy of a letter from the Indian Ministry of Health, and in which a spokesman for that body suggests that it appears illogical that different systems of medicine should exist as permanent parallel entities, and also that Homoeopathy, Unani and Ayurveda may complement modern medicine, but that in view of its continued progress in the world, it must remain the ultimate systems of treatment for the sick.
This would appear quite logical and reasonable if we did not have prior experience of this very kind of thing elsewhere. Now if the Indian homoeopathists should accept such a compromise, then in the not too far distant future India will have only a few old people in practice and no young men coming forward to replace them. Have we not seen this in the United States, at one time the worlds repository of homoeopathic knowledge and learning? If Americans do not wake up and reorganize with a vengeance, the word “Homoeopathy” may be deleted from American medical dictionaries within fifty years time. It is already with sacrifice that Messrs. Ehrhart and Karl of Chicago keep up reprints of Kents Repertory, a great book that should be thoroughly revised and brought up-to-date.
Why all homoeopathic associations of the few remaining schools and hospitals are not completely severed is a real farce. The name of Hahnemann and his system are only retained to ridicule the life-work of a great medical reformer and benefactor of mankind, because none of these institutions propagate or practice his art or teachings.
America is not at present running one single course of instruction worthy of serious consideration by prospective students, [*With this statement the Editor is not in full accord. Considering the limits imposed on it by financial considerations, the Foundation of Post Graduate Course is excellent. That there is room for improvement we agree.] although this writer thinks back respectfully and fondly to his memorable association with the various teachers of the American Foundation for Homoeopathy, who, notwithstanding great financial difficulties and personal sacrifice, try to keep alive a spark of true Hahnemann Homoeopathy in North America!
It would appear that, instead of minor individual efforts by small non-influential groups, America and Great Britain, as the leading medical countries of the modern world, should each organize curricula of post-graduate instruction at well-known universities or hospitals, lasting at least two full academic years, and so set an ideal standard that will become internationally recognized for its excellence.
A Fellowship in the Royal College of Physicians or of the American College is indicative of excellence and high medical attainment anywhere in the civilized world. Is it really impossible to do something similar for Homoeopathy, if we put all our sincerity and will into the effort? Surely such a type of qualification in Homoeopathy should carry due weight and do away with much of the miserable misrepresentation of this finest of therapeutic sciences.
$ Editorial – Struggle For The Recognition Of Homoeopathy [Editorial – Struggle For The Recognition Of Homoeopathy].
The Homoeopathic Herald By Das N C.
# 1953 Nov Vol 14 No 8.
^ Das N C.
~ Editorial.
` ==.
In April 1937, during the British regime, the wide popularity of the Homoeopathic system of treatment and the growing public demand for the state recognition of Homoeopathy induced Janab Ghiasud-din to move a resolution in the then Central Legislative Assembly to that effect, which was adopted but effect thereto had not been given. But this had its repercussion in Bengal and the public demand for a legislative enactment of a Homoeopathic Bill led the Govt. of Bengal in the Department of Public Health and Local Self Govt. (Medical) to adopt a Resolution (No. 1866 Medl dated 24th June, 1941) as a result of which the General Council and State Faculty of Homoeopathic medicine, Bengal (now West Bengal) was ushered into existence on the 1st April 1943.
Afterwards on the 17th. February 1948 Sri Satish Chandra Samanta (M.P. from Bengal, General constituency) moved a resolution for consideration in the Constituent Assembly to the following effect:
“This Assembly of opinion that homoeopathic system of treatment be recognised by the Indian Union and that a General Council and a State faculty of Homoeopathic medicine be established at once.”
With reference to Sri Samantas resolution an amending resolution was brought forward by Sri Mohanlal Saxena in the following terms:
In view of the fact that treatment by the system of homoeopathy is resorted to by many people, this Assembly is of opinion that the Government should consider (a) The making of arrangements for the teaching of homoeopathy. (b) The advisability of having post graduate course of study; and (c) The advisability of regulating the profession and arranging for the registration of practitioners in order to raise and maintain the uniformity of standards.”
The Honble Rajkumari Amrita Kaur, Minister of Health, intervened at this stage and opined that if “recognition” was intended to facilitate legislation for purposes of regulating the practice under the system and registration of practitioners, then the matter would have to be very carefully considered and a Committee might be appointed for the purpose.
Accordingly a Homoeopathic Enquiry Committee of member under the Chairmanship of Dr. J.N. Mukherji, D sc., F,N.I., F.R.A.S.B. etc., was constituted by order of the Ministry of Health, Govt. of India, on the 31st. August 1948 with the following terms of reference:
(1) To report on the place of homoeopathy to relation to medicine in all its aspects including the treatment, prevention and control of disease; (2) to survey the existing facilities for the teaching of Homoeopathy in India, the extent to which this system of treatment is practised in the country, and the manner in which such practice is carried on, i.e. whether by people adequately trained or not; and
(3) to make recommendations to Government on
(a) the measures to be taken to improve facilities for training in homoeopathy and to regulate such training; and
(b) the desirability of state control of the practice of homoeopathy, and if control is desirable, the manner of such control.
The Homoeopathic Enquiry Committee submitted their unanimous report to the Ministry of Health on the 11th. July 1949. Subject to a separate note by one allopathic member of the Committee. The Committees recommendations, in the main, are as follows:
(1) A Council of Homoeopathic Medicine shall be established by law and called the Central Council of Homoeopathic Medicine, India.
(2) The functions of this Council shall be mainly of a co- ordinating and advisory nature, but the Council will have powers to control which will be exercised through the provincial Boards or Faculties in the following matters:-
(i) Standard, equipment and training of affiliated homoeopathic institutions:
(ii) Standard of examinations to be held for homoeopathic students:
(iii) Registration of existing homoeopathic practitioners;
(iv) Homoeopathic pharmacies, phamaceutical laboratories and manufacturing concerns.
(3) Provincial State Boards or Faculties as may be set up by Government of State Unions or Provinces will be responsible for the maintenance of register, for the actual conducting of examinations, publishing of results and enforcement of disciplinary action, subject to the supervisory authority of the Council.
