The second edition came out in 1924. Among recent works by homoeopathic physicians we must mention the book by Dr. Karl Erhard Weiss, behandlung dr Augenskrankheiten (Konkordia, Buhl). Form the same author comes the translation and revision of Seven Hundred Red Line Symptoms from Cowperthwaites Materia Medica (Pyramiden, Berlin, 1927). In this connection we must also mention Wie ich die Homoopathie Lehre, by Dr. P.Wassily, which gives in thirty key word pictures the personal experiences of a homoeopathic physician who was the teacher of many younger doctors (Hahnemannia, Stuttgart).
From Dr.Friedrich Wolf appeared Dir Nature als Arzt und Helfer (Berlin Publishing House, Leipzig, 1028) with the fine thoughts of this man known as a physician and a poet. Dr.A. Pfleiderers Volksarzt (Hahnemannia, Stuttgart) is a popular book which discusses homoeopathy carefully. There are many other works, many homoeopathic physicians that have made contributions which, although on other subjects, have an indirect relationship to homoeopathy, but we have to pass over them. When we come to the question of the development and continuation homoeopathy during the last ten years we reach a very important chapter in the history of homoeopathy.
IT is true that conditions have become very much better since the sad situation of the time following the war, thanks to the efforts of individuals and small organizations; but we are still far from a satisfactory solution of these fundamental questions of homoeopathy. At the present time Berlin has a medical school for homoeopathy which every year in the spring and fall gives four-week courses with lectures on theory and practical clinical demonstrations. In connection with this course the students have an examination in materia medica. Ten to fifteen physicians, also pharmacists, are teachers.
Those who take the courses must be physicians or medical practitioners and they may also attend the polyclinic consultations of the Union of Berlin Homoeopathic Physicians. They may also use the extensive laboratory of this organization. The course is only intended for physicians who have already acquired theoretical knowledge of homoeopathy. It is not for beginners. The laboratory works along scientific homoeopathic lines using modern methods and publishes its findings n the periodicals. The Berlin organization controls who polyclinics with consultation hours which may be taken advantage of, and x- ray apparatus.
At the close of this course in Berlin, opportunity is given to take the apothecarys examination for Prussians, on the ground that the homoeopathic physician has the right to give medicine directly to the sick, which is otherwise not allowed. On account of the unreliability of the preparation of homoeopathic medicine, especially in earlier times, in many parts of Germany, this exception was very necessary. Of this we will speak later. In addition to these courses there were offered during the winter, evening course for beginners and advanced students in homoeopathy for which there were also teachers who had not taken their professional position as homoeopathists.
In Leipzig a homoeopathic clinic has stood for nearly a hundred years. It is now under the direction of Dr.Wapler. Here also numerous guests come every year to study for a shorter or a longer time. In addition there is in Leipzig the large library of the German Central Association of Homoeopathic Physicians.
Munich has also a homoeopathic hospital, directed by Dr.Boeck, with a surgical division directed by Dr.Erhardt. The hospital has 20 beds, but no opportunity for study. We may not go into details here of the history of the homoeopathic hospitals in Stuttgart. The present building has been in existence since 1921 and is considered as a provisional hospital until the opening of the large new homoeopathic hospital, the building of when was to have been begun in 1914. A private house was built over for this purpose.
It has seventy-three beds, a fine surgical room, Z-ray apparatus, violet-ray, electrical bath and electric treatments, and three times a week, polyclinic consultation hours. Dr.Stigele is the director of the building. Dr.Heinrich Meng had the direction of the womens division. There are also a chief physician and there assistant physicians. Each year hospital is visited by a large number of volunteers and also by guests from foreign countries. They come of study homoeopathy through observation of the consultation hours, the regular instruction and the lectures. Very often medical experiments are made on well people.
The applications from physicians exceed the capacity. The homoeopathic hospital is over filled with sick people and the need for the erection of the new hospital that has been planned become more urgent from day to day. Thanks to an important friend of homoeopathy, the plan for the erection of an institution of 100 to 150 beds will doubtless become a reality within the next few years. This hospital will be built on a beautifully situated hill very near the city of Stuttgart.
In addition to these opportunities for study, since 1926 Dr.Heinrich Meng has organized every two years an international course of instruction at the Stuttgart Homoeopathic Hospital. The first course lasted 12 days. Nineteen physicians and teachers of the most opposing views gave readings and lectures before 150 participants, also of the most different viewpoints, from many lands, In August, 1928, 22 teachers gave lectures. In the foreground of these lectures, in addition to homoeopathic problems stood the subjects of X-ray diagnosis, X-ray therapy and internal secretions. The school was held in connection with the meeting of the International League in Stuttgart, and the meeting of the German Zentrla Organization of Homoeopathic Physicians.
Stuttgart has great advantage of possessing Dr.R.Haehl;s Hahnemann Museum. It is housed in Dr. Haehls house and testifies to Haehls devotion as a collector for thirty years.
The homoeopathic physicians are organized in a German Central Union of Homoeopathic Physicians. At this time there are about 300 members, but many colleagues have not joined the union. The entire number of physicians should be between 400 and 500. Dr.A.Stiegele is the executive of the Union, Dr.Heinrich Meng second executive. In the local unions there is everywhere a great deal of activity. They are interested first of all in increasing the knowledge of the members.
They have regular lectures and demonstrations. There are local unions in all the larger places. they unite in districts, to which also individual members of the Central Union belong. The districts are united in the Central Union which holds its chief gathering each year in different cities, 1927 in Lucerne, 1928 in Stuttgart. In the last years outside guests were more often received than formerly in the homoeopathic union. Homoeopathic physicians had various invitations to speak at congresses before their opponents and to give lectures and courses to explain homoeopathy.
There is no lack of lay organizations or friends of homoeopathy in Germany. Unfortunately there are no signs of a speedy union between the larger and smaller unions. More than 50,000 lay people are probably members of these different organizations. As an example of the powerful south German organization in the provinces of Baden and Wurttemberg, we mention the membership of nearly 20,000. The relationship between the lay organization and the homoeopathic physicians is excellent in south Germany, thanks to the sure and clear guidance of the leaders. Quackery is not admitted to any of the unions.
Lectures and conventions of all kinds are held, in which the physicians take part, and their endeavours to further homoeopathy and to bring about a practical realization of their ideals have been already of great service to homoeopathy. Popular articles which are read before the unions, or are published, have already been spoken of. The provision of homoeopathic pharmacies and medicines was for many years rather unsatisfactory. Several towns had no places where homoeopathic medicines could be bought. The country was either not at all, or very poorly, provided for.
On account of this unreliable situation and the questionable reliability of the pharmacists, the physician who could furnish his own medicine was more than ever necessary. Since the war these conditions have become much improved in many places, especially in the trustworthiness of the preparations. In this respect the original preparations of several firms rendered great service because they could only be given out in sealed packages. In regard to others both physician and patient insisted on supplies from reliable firms, so that gradually the reliability of the medicines that could be secured increased.
In almost all towns, even in every very small places and in villages, there are places where homoeopathic medicines may be obtained. Many allopathic pharmacists who had striven for a long time against it, finally arranged for a homoeopathic department in their pharmacy, but on many occasions there is still room for doubt as to their genuineness. In places that have a great need for homoeopathic treatment and where there are many homoeopathic physicians there are pharmacists who deal only in homoeopathy, or there are departments in allopathic pharmacies which are entirely separate from the rest of the business and attend only to the preparation of homoeopathic medicine.
