About The
Author and book
Richard Haehl was a German citizen .He went to Philadelphia
to study Homoeopathy at the Hahnemann College .By that time Dr
had published a biography of Hahnemann “Life and Letters of
Samuel Hahnemann was based on Dr.Constantine Hering’s directions
given through an article The essentials for judging Hahnemann
correctly” in 1847.Haehl wished to translate this book into
German - w soon found that many of the were incomplete and
incorrect.
Being ŕn American
Bradford could only do that much. Haehl decided to stop the
translation work, and to write a new one .It took about 25 years
(from 1898 - 1922 ) to collect all the available documents from
German,English and French - all the journals and letters of
Hahnernann, Documents from his disciples,relatives,from private
and public museums .He had referred church registers arid other
official registers to make it more accurate regarding dates and
names. He compiled the whole thing and published by the name
“Samuel Hahnemann Sein Lebon und Shaffen” in German Stuart - son
of Hahnemann's late disciple,Mr.Peter Stpart translated this
work into English with the assistance of Mrs .Marie Wheeler,Mr
.Sydney Grundy, Dr .F .J .Wheeler and Mrs.Strafford - all were
expert linguists.It was edited by Dr.J.H.Clarke and
F.J.Wheeler.The whole thing was under the supervision of Dr .J
.H .Haehl.
The book was
published in 2 volumes.
In volume 1 Dr.Haehl tells the story in his own words.
In volume 2, the original documents - letters of Hahnemann and
others have been. included.
Christian Frederick Samuel Hahnemann was born as the
third child of the artist painter. Christian Gottfried Hahnemann
on the midnight of April 1755 at Meissen. (P—8--l.p)
His grand father Christopher Hahnemaann, his father Christian
Gottfried and one of father's brothers Christian August were all
painters.His father even published small book on water color
painting This shows an unusual artistic talent and a strong
inclination for art in Hahnemann’s family.(P 6)
At the end of his school years in Princess School at Easter in
1775 Hahnemann submitted a dissertation “The Wonderful.
Construction of Human Hand” .This self - chosen work was a
pointer to the field of his interest.He also penetrated deeply
in to Greek arid Latin classics that he could even teach others
the rudiments of it even at-the age of 12 (P 18 ).
After leaving from
school Hahnemann joined in Leipsic University in 1775.
Thereafter he never received any financial aid from his parents,
nor returned to home ever for a single day was obliged to devote
the whole time to the study which he had chosen and to the study
for earning his living .Side by side with his studies he gave
private lessons in French arid German to rich young Greek and
translated English works into German .During his 2 years stay in
Leipsic he translated John Steadmann’s
“Physiological
experiments and observations -with Copper”, Nuganton
Hvdropihia”’Felkoner on mineral water and warm bath” : Balls new
art of healing :- Through this he did both earning a learning.
In Leipsic he had
attended lectures only selectively.Even though Leipsic was one
of the famous Universities in Germany, there was no place for
practial medical science. So Hahnemann left for Vienna. There
was a hospital of the Brothers of Mercy in Leopoldstadt,under
the direction of Dr.Von Quarin physician in ordinary to the
Empress.
Hahnemann joined
the hospital.Dr.Quarin felt great impression of him became
Hahnemann’s teacher as well as a good friend.. He gave him his
attention and took him on his visits to his private
patients,which he did for no other pupils.
After a strenuous term of practical work Hahnemann went to
Herrnanstadt for economic benefit where he worked under the
Governor of Transylvania - Baron von Brukenthal as his book
keeper .Here he studied two more languages - Rumanian and
Magyar.
After that he went
to Erlangen , from where he secured the medical degree in 1779,
August 1Oth . His dissertation was-_ Conspectus
adfectumspasmodicorum aetiologicus et therapeuticus” ( a view of
the causes and treatment of cramps)ram )
Hahnemann began M practice in Hettstedt at the age of 24. It was
the copper mining and he was not able to develop either mentally
or physically. He began to write articles in Kreb ‘s” Medical
Observation’”
After one year he
moved to Dessau. It was the centre of intelligence and at the
same time was near one of the mining districts. So he got an
opportunity for studying mining science, metallurgy and
chemistry along with his practice - came into contact with
Haseler’s pharmacy - became acquainted with Johanna Leopoldstine
Henritte - They decided to marry
In order to
acquire better financial assistance he accepted the post of
medical officer of Health of Gornmern in 1781. Got married in
17th Nov. 1782
He continued his research in Chemistry and came to know about
the French chemist –Demachy. Demachi’ s book The wholes scael-
manufacture of Chemicals ,or the science of preparing chemical
products in factories” was to break the monopoly of Dutch in
chemical industry,who strictly guarded their secrets. Hahnemann
translated this French work into German.It was not in a mere
mechanical way, but he had inserted so many footnotes and
independent references. He made many complicated procedures of
Dęmachy,more easier .This shows Hahnernann’s vast and thorough
knowledge in Chemistry.At the same time he wrote many articles
regarding his actual profession, in Dr.Kreb’s “ Medical
Observations ‘ . Most important among these articles was
Directions for curing old sores and indolent ulcers”in 1784—(29)
In this we find
for the first time, apart from dissatisfaction with his own
medical knowledge and experience arid with medical science in
general,some sharp ruthless criticisms of the latter as well as
of his colleagues.
He writes “we
treat cicatrizing old ulcers after many fruitless
application o salves ,by causing several artificial sores,wh
only means ‘exchanging one old wound for several. The majority
of the physician refused to treat and leaved it to the barber
surgeon, to shepherds and to hangmen. Veterinary surgeons are
usually more succesful in treating wounds than the most learned
professors and. members of the academies Almost all our
knowledge of the healing properties of the simple and natural as
well as of the artificial products, is largely derived from the
crude and automatic applications of the ordinary man, and that
the physicians frequently draw important deductions from the
consequences of the effects of the so called household
remedies.” Hahnemann strongly criticised the use of alcohol and
coffee, - the internal use of corrosive sublimate and also the c
application of lead .asters and lead ointments. Above all, he
demanded cleanliness. re scraped the diseased bone clean,
separated out the unhealthy portion, bandaged it with alcohol
and waited for the result. He recommended fresh air, exercise,
cheerful conversation, application of water, warm and cold
baths. At the same time he said nothing against blood letting
for woman at menopause and for fever.
In spite of his
ruthless criticism his suggestions were favorably accepted. by
medical men. Hahneman then moved to Dessau, got acquainted with
the Medical Officer of Health, Dr.Wagner.Here he got an
opportunity to work in Forensic Medicine. He relinquished his
medical practice and completely concentrated in translation
works and in writng new articles. He translated few more books
of Demachy, wrote an essay “The signs of the purity and
adulteration of drugs.’ in association with B .V .D .Sande .He
introduced few tests to detect impurities of medicines in this
essay. Thus irk 1785 to 1789 he published more than 2, 200
printed papers. He also wrote an essay Arsenic poisoning” in
which he described various methods for forensic detection of
arsenic, and raised his voice against “fever powders’ and mad€;
detailed suggestions for the prescribing of poisons in general
.These were accepted by the authorities.
To improve his
literary works Hahnemann again moved to Leipsic . Here also he
avoided medical practice. Translated many books from
English,French and one from Italian - Grigg “Precautit: measures
for female sex’, Monro‘s” Materia Medica” & Cullens” Treatise on
Materia Medica’. Almost all of his works were in relation with
chemistry and medicine. In the translation Cullen’s Materia
medica he fought for the first time against__blood letting and
purging . Many works like ‘Friend of health” has been started in
Leipsic.
While translating
Cullen s” Materia Medica” Hahnemann came across the opinion of
Cullen about the efficacy of Cinchona bark in curing
intermittent fever . Cullen defended the old opinion through its
“tonic effect on the stomach” . Hahnemann opposed this argument
. He stated that by combining the strongest bitters and the
strongest astringents we can obtain a compound, which in small
doses, possesses much more of these properties than the bark and
yet no fever specifics can be made from such a compound.
He took for
several days as an experiment ,four drams of good china twice
daily. It produced a number o symptoms which he felt similar to
that of intermittent fever because he had already suffered from
an attack of intermittent fever while in Transylvania .From that
he deduced partly by intuition and partly by logical reasoning,
that ‘substances which produce a sort of fever resolve the types
of intermittent fever. (very strong coffee, pepper, arnica,
ignatia— bean, arsenic)
It was followed by several arguments for & against Hahnemann
We can conclude his developments up to Leipsic period as
follows:
Due to the unreliability and insufficiency of the medical
science and a never ending enthusiasm for knowledge and for his
daily livelihood,Hahnemann started translating books, learning
adjuvant sciences like chemistry & even metallurgy along with
his practice . While working as a Forensic expert Hahnemann came
across cases of arsenic poisoning and this made him to know
about the hazards of fever mixtures- which was purely arsenic
which was misused by he quacks. While doing the translator works
he did not merely translate but added original information each
time. , by personally working through the material. That led him
to test the effect of medicines on himself and thereby to the
subsequent formulation of the Law of similars
March 31st 1792
through an article published in a paper - Anziger” which
appeared in Gotha Hahnernann criticised very roughly the manner
in which Kaiser Leopold 11 of Austria was managed during an
attack of fever. Repeated blood letting was done & which caused
the death of the Emperor. This article against the Medical
bulletin was followed by heated discussions. Many were in
support of Hahnemann & many were against him.
After studying for
several years , of diseases of the most lingering and hopeless
nature in general and of venereal disorder ,cachexia ,hypochondriasis
& insanity in particular Hahnemann planned to set up a unique
convalescent home in Georgenthal near Gohat with the assistance
of the Duke. .The Duke gave his hunting castle Georgenthal at
Hahnemanns disposal. Then came a psychiatric’ patient called
Klockenbring Hahnemann took a different attitude towards mental
patients. He watched him for a week without giving medicine. He
never allowed any be punished by blows or other painful
procedures. He kept him alone without being disturbed by anyone
even his wife. He considered that the effect produced by the
personality of the physician himself is of great importance with
friendliness & humanity,try to win the respect & confidence of
the patient.These principles established by Hahnemann were
entirely new to the psychiatry of that time Klockenbring was
cured completely.
Hahnemann gave
more importance for accessory measure, even early has this time
Hahnemann had abandoned the usual method of prescribing large
quantities of drugs.
After Klockenbring
was cured there were no more mental patients forthcoming and
Hahnemann was obliged to give up his institution.
Hahnemann offered to take such cases afterwards up to 1800,
howewer Hahnemann did not treat any mental patients for any
length of time and in the last case he undertook- that of the
author Wezel- he found by experience that home treatment is not
suitable for all cases of insanity Hahnemann also treated
several patients through letters. His prescription constituted
chiefly of advice in regard to their mode of life ,diet,etc.
After the closing
of Georgenthal house Hahnemann started changing his stay in a
rapid succession that within a span of ten years he covered 11
places from Georgenthal up to Torg in 1805 .This was truly the
most destitute and stormy period in his life.
All the details should be collected by questioning the patient
and those near him.
Regarding the knowledge of remedies he says that the
remedies should be tested on healthy persons
- should be taken in unmixed form and the developments should be
carefully recorded and discard all the auxiliary factors of
influence
- Palliative employment of medicines is necessary only in a few
cases —in the case of diseases that suddenly arises ,with almost
immediate danger
- Medicine should be administered in the sma1le possible dose
- Single medicine at a time
POISONS
All which are injurious and destructive to body are termed
poisons.
--Medicine can become poison if injudiciously administered - in
large doses and frequent repetitions If these substances are
used in minute doses , are very beneficial to body .
Thus it is the mode of administration which makes a substance
poison or medicine.
--Sapere Aude - Dare to be wise is at first coined here (taken
from Horace) and he adopted it in later editions of Organon as
motto .
--1807-- ‘Indications of Homoeopathic employment of medicines in
ordinary practice “ published in Hufeland s journal formed the
basis of the “Introduction’ to the Organon and was prefaced to
second and third edition
- Study the symptomatology in every case and select a remedy it
should be administered in minimum dose because we do not require
its complete disease produ cing but only the tendency in that
direction.
--1808- ‘On the value of the Speculative systems of medicine
especially in connection with the various systems of practice”
--All the existing systems are injurious to health.
“A candidate for the degree of M .D” - It was written after
reading some notes of therapeutics of a famous professor which
were passed onto him
1809 - ‘Ailgern Anz der Deutschen”- described patients as
quackery.
--“On the prevailing fever”- sharp criticism of customary
practice.
--“Essay on a new principle for ascertaining the curative power
of drugs
- “Fragmenta Deviribus Medica mentorum
--“Medicine of experience
ORGANON OF RATIONAL MEDICINE
In this he
summarised all the works so far done by him .
In the title page he wrote “Gellert’s verse
“Truth for which all the e world is fain,
Which makes us happy lies for ever more,
Not buried deep but lightly covered,O ver
By the wise Hand that destined it for men”
In the later editions, he commenced with the motto
“Aude Sapere”--and altered the title as Organon of the Healing
Art’.
Introduction to
Organon:
In order to cure gently ,quickly and lastingly, choose in
every case of illines a remedy which can itself arouse a similar
malady to that which it is to cure - Similia similibus.
--Hitherto nobody has taught this method of healing, but traces
of its influence can be seen from the very ancient times. In
“The localities of mankind’ which he ascribes a student’s of
Hippocrates it is written as Illness arises by similar things
and by similar things can the sick be made well. Vomiting can be
made to cease by means of emetics, similarly cough and fever” -
but nobody has taught or carried it out.
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