The major part of this department is devoted this month, by special permission of Dr. L. Duncan Bulkley, the distinguished editor of Cancer, to the reprinting of an article which appeared on its page in April. It deals with one phase of a very important subject, the scope of which is not fully indicated by its title. The title, Serology and Chronic Diseases, might suggest the larger field in which anaphylaxis” plays an important part; for the evils of protein poisoning, prominently exemplified in serology, find many other expressions besides cancer. We may well remind ourselves of the old axiom of logic, “the greater includes the lesser”. This side of malignancy and death a thousand lesser ills always exist, all arising from the same cause.
For the present, partly for lack of space, we refrain from detailed comment on the article , being content merely to italicize certain significant passages in order to awaken attention and provoke thought. For those who are well informed on the subject the article itself is sufficiently clear and emphatic.
It suffices to say that Dr. Reinheimer has handled his subject discreetly with an eye to the opposition it is sure to arouse from the serologists. He evidently is fully aware that it has relations and points of contact with other subject of vital importance to suffering humanity besides cancer, to which his article is expressly limited. For this special purpose his references and illustrations are well chosen. But many of them would be equally pertinent and illuminating in other, and especially its homoeopathic connections. He is aware that the subjects of anaphylaxis and immunity are fundamental.
They are rooted in the soil of vitality. The forces which are brought into play in the actions and reactions that take place are the forces of Life-in-organism. The living organism is the most delicate reagent in the world. Its balance is the most easily disturbed, although its reactions are often difficult to measure or detect, especially for those who depend principally upon the resources of the laboratory and are not experts in the observation and interpretation of the finer forms of functional symptoms, as practiced by homoeopathicians.
It should be remembered that the severe typical cases of anaphylaxis-those which compel the attention of even the most hardened and unobservant serologist-represent only a very small fraction of the number of cases which actually exist, and which are constantly developing in the practice of serology. The condition exists in many forms and degrees,the lesser of which are generally overlooked or ignored. It seems that nothing short of a catastrophe, or a series of catastrophes, can arouse the confirmed serologist or the profession at large to a realization of the evils of this practice. Even then, such is his obstinacy and callousness, he will fight to the last ditch before he will change or refrain. Errors and evils die hard, but in the long run they succumb.
It is becoming more and more clear that the appalling increase of chronic, constitutional diseases in civilized countries, typified by cancer, is largely due to systemic poisoning by albuminoid (animal) substances, deliberately administered by innoculation or hypodermically for prophylactic or therapeutic purposes. Beginning with innoculation with the virus of small-pox among the Chinese and Turks centuries ago, down through its modifications in “vaccination”, and thence through the extension and development of that idea into modern serology, this Satanic agency has gone on doing its malignant work, taking a constantly increasing toll of human life and health.
It may well be considered as, at least, one of the causes of cancer. Today the serologists, in the flush of pride and at the height of their power and popularity, are very confident, very comfortable and very prosperous. They think themselves secure from attack. Let them go on thinking so. Some day there will be a rude awakening. The article follows.
Dr. Close was born November 24, 1860 and came to study homeopathy after the death of his father in 1879. His mother remarried a homoeopathic physician who turned Close's interests from law to medicine.
His stepfather helped him study the Organon and he attended medical school in California for two years. Finishing his studies at New York Homeopathic College he graduated in 1885. Completing his homeopathic education. Close preceptored with B. Fincke and P. P. Wells.
Setting up practice in Brooklyn, Dr. Close went on to found the Brooklyn Homoeopathic Union in 1897. This group devoted itself to the study of pure Hahnemannian homeopathy.
In 1905 Dr. Close was elected president of the International Hahnemannian Association. He was also the editor of the Department of Homeopathic Philosophy for the Homeopathic Recorder. Dr. Close taught homeopathic philosophy at New York Homeopathic Medical College from 1909-1913.
Dr. Close's lectures at New York Homeopathic were first published in the Homeopathic Recorder and later formed the basis for his masterpiece on homeopathic philosophy, The Genius of Homeopathy.
Dr. Close passed away on June 26, 1929 after a full and productive career in homeopathy.