The whole urge and drift of the address a singularly fine production was for all to continually strive for a perfected Homoeopathy on Hahnemannian lines.
LEAGUE REPORTS.
Now followed the presentation of Reports by the Vice- presidential delegates specifying the status and progress of Homoeopathy in the following countries:-.
Austria
Belgium
Brazil
Gt. Britain
France
Germany
Holland
Hungary
India
Italy
Mexico
Poland
Russia
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
United States.
Some of the reports were necessarily brief and scant, e.g. those from Austria and Russia.
Others were highly encouraging, e.g. those from Great Britain, the United States, France. But the Brazil report, presented by Dr. Nelson de Vasconcellos, took the audience by surprise. “In Rio alone,”said Dr. Vasconcellos, “there is a Homoeopathic Hospital with 200 beds; also a school of medicine which grants diplomas of equal validity with them of the Old School; and carries through a constant interchange of students with those other institutions, having approximately 500 students on its books during the year.”.
From this hour the session was reserved for Fellows and Members only.
The Secretary, Dr. H. F. Woods, read the minutes of the last meeting in Rome: and the Treasurer, Dr. Jaccard, presented the financial Report.
The Senior Vice-President now presented a review of “The evolution of the International Homoeopathic League, its history and organisation.” Some suggestions for reorganisation having already been mooted, it was necessary to envisage clearly the continuity of League development.
It was shown throughout the history of the League and its predecessors that these had charged themselves with the increasing development of the International Idea in Homoeopathy; that in the later years of Hahnemann, Paris was the focus of Homoeopathic light and leading;
that following Hahnemanns demise, the maintenance of Homoeopathy devolved upon disciples scattered over the world;
that this splendid isolation was supplanted by the first International in 1872;
that the next evolutionary stage was in 1911, at the London Congress, when the Annual International Council was instituted;
that the next stage was initiated at Rotterdam in 1922 when the International Council was transformed into the International Homoeopathic League;
that the next development must include central establishment and financial endowment.
Next Dr. Tuinzing, of Rotterdam, presented a paper on “The publication of the work of the League.” Also “on an alternative form of membership for non-attendants.” (These matters fall to be considered by the Executive Council).
The followed a paper by Dr. Allendy (Paris), “Les substitutions morbides et l’Homoeopathie,” and a contribution by Dr. E. A. Neatby (London) dealing with “Tropical Diseases.”
(Dr. Neatbys volume on Tropical Diseases and their treatment, mainly written for missionaries, gives him special authority to speak on this all-important subject, concerning but little Homoeopathic experience has been published hitherto).
Next a paper by Dr. Aebly (Zurich) with the title “Das Hahnemannische Ahnlichkeitsgesetz, seine geschichte, und die modernen experimentellen Bestatigungen,” Next a paper by Dr. Barishac (Paris), “Notions de Pharmacopee Homoeopathique.” But the event of the later part of the day was the Public Address by Dr. John Weir (London), “The Confirmation of Hahnemanns doctrine in the Treatment of Diseases.”.
This was in various respects the most important contribution to the Congress proceedings. Like the Presidential Address, it was delivered in open assembly, and its main purport was the emphatic affirmation of the Hahnemannian doctrines of the treatment of Disease, as worked out by Dr. J.T. Kent. This was an opportune, plainly expressed and emphatic deliverance of especial value to those whose progress in Homoeopathy had not been considerable.
It would have been a material uplift in point of interest and value to the Congress proceedings if a sufficient time could have been allotted to Dr. Le-Hunte Coopers most interesting and important discovery of the toxicity of aluminium, particularly in the form of metal containers for cooking and potable purposes.
Most unfortunately, the programme had been made up to overflowing some time before Dr. Coopers application for time, and it was generally felt that the quarter of an hour allotted to him for the full description and demonstration of his most valuable research was nothing like sufficient for its suitable explanation.
None felt this disparity more acutely than the Officers of the Congress.
AUGUST 4TH.
The first paper was scheduled to begin at 8.30 a.m. by Dr. Brissaud of Nice on “Pourquoi des semblables guerissent-ils?” Next by Dr. Burford, London, describing “New Worlds to Conquer in Homoeopathy: in particular the dominant powers of Remedies in Surgical Cases.”.
This paper will be published later in the year in full detail.
There followed:
Dr. Le Tellier (Paris): “Une prouesse de Ferrum Phosphoricum.”
Dr. Fortier-Bernoville (Paris): “L’Homoeopathie en medicine infantile.”
Then came an agreeable break in procedure in the afternoon.
Visite de la ville en auto-car: Les places principales de Geneve: visite au monument de la Reformation; University; le Theatre; la haute ville; la Cathedrale; l Hotel de Ville; les quartiers medicaux (hopitaux et cliniques); lArve et le Rhone; le Palais des Nations; le Bureau international du Travail: lObservatoire; le Musee des arts (tableaux principaux expliques par le Conservateur du musee).
SUITE DES TRAVAUX SCIENTIFIQUES.
Drs. Lancelot et Duhamel (Paris): L’Homoeopathie a la puberle et a la menopause.
Dr. Pahud (Lausanne): Observations pratiques sur la valeur des hautes dilutions.
Dr. Rouy et M. Turenne (Paris): Detections des remedes homoeopathiques.
Dr. Madaus (Dresden): Phyto-Analyse el homoeopathie.
Dr. Duprat (Geneve): Quelle est la valeur des critiques et condamnations couramment formulees contre l’homoeopathie?
Dr. Yves Edrom (Bordeaux): Lallopathie et l’homoeopathie dans leur methode.
Dr. Hernandes (Madrid): Les etapes de ma vie homoeopathique.
Dr. Nebel (Lausanne): Sur le traitement isopathique des affections malignes. (Avec projections).
Official Reception by the States-Council of Geneva at Palais Eynard, 4 rue de la Croix-Rouge. Ladies invited. Musical entertainment.
AUGUST 5TH.
Departure by steamer for Ouchy-Lausanne. (Ladies took part in the excursion). Steamer left from the Jardin Anglaise.
Scientific session:
Dr. Bonino Fulvio (Turin): Langine de poitrine et son traitement.
Dr. Gagliardi (Rome): Les raisons dume prescription homoeopathique.
Dr. P. Schmidt (Suisse): Documents inedits Hahnemann. Experimentation pure des Hepar-sulphuratum-natronatum (S Na.).
Dr. Vinyals (Barcelona): Historique de l’homoeopathie en Espagne.
Lunch a l Hotel Beau-Rivage-Palace a Ouchy. Offert par la Societe Suisse des medecins homoeopathes, sous la presidence du Dr. Nebel, de Lausanne. Vin dhonneur offert par la municipalite de Lausanne.
Depart en bateau pour Evian.
Banquet de cloture au Palais Eynard. Scene de la vie alpestre suisse en costumes originaux, jodleurs, lutteurs suisses et gymnastes laureats des jeux olympiques. Orchestre.
Difficult indeed would it be to rank too highly the value to Homoeopathy of the Geneva meeting of the International Homoeopathic League.
Here was made clear that to the concept of scientists meeting with one mind the Council had been added the concept of scientists meeting with one purpose the League. To see the truth clearly, and to make it prevail this was the double-sided unity we call the League.
It was obvious that the Assembly was charged with the enthusiasm of Homoeopathy. There had been added to this the new dynamic of Internationalism. All great causes are great in proportion as they have become Internationalised. President Schmidt evoked the ringing response of the representatives of the nationalities present Great Britain and France, Belgium and Holland, Spain and Italy, Germany and the New World, when he gave a moral drive to the search after truth in medicine, and the endeavour to make it prevail.
With such an impetus does PRESIDENT LE TELLIER TAKE up the duties of office. With him, as with his predecessor, the order of the day is “Floreat Homoeopathia!”.
Dr. Schmidt was introduced to the results of homeopathic treatment during the 1918 flu epidemic while living in London. There he met both J. H. Clarke and John Weir.
In 1922 he came to the United States and began his studies with Alonzo Austin and Frederica Gladwin, who had been a pupil of Kent's. He became the first graduate of the American Foundation for Homeopathy course for doctors. Returning to his native land he set up practice in Geneva, Switzerland. He was responsible for reintroducing classical homeopathy into Europe, teaching several generations of physicians, including Elizabeth Wright Hubbard.
Dr. Schmidt helped edit the "Final General Repertory" of Kent, and translated the Organon into French. In 1925, he was one of the main founders of the Liga Medicorum Homoeopathic Internationalis (LIGA).