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having been tested by practice. This is the reason why the general
views which have been expressed just now did not prevent him from
admitting as chief anti-psorics, borax and ammonium carbonicum,
anacardium and clematis.
Why, it may be asked, has a great number of homopathic
physicians, neither recognised Hahnemann's theory of psora, nor the
specific character of the anti-psoric remedies ? Why have some even
gone so far as to set the theory sneeringly aside, and to decry the
anti-psorics as less trustworthy than the other remedies ?
For the same reason that the astronomical discoveries of our
Herschel are doubted by people who have no faith in the discoverer,
and are, not able to verify his discoveries. To do this, knowledge,
instruments, talent, care, perseverance, opportunities, and many other
things are required. Not one of all these requisites can be found with
those who are mere dabblers in practice, scribbling authors opposing
their own opinions and imaginations to facts and observation.
- Or, for the same reason that Ehrenberg's discoveries cannot be
appreciated by those who have either no microscope ; or who have
one which is not good, or who, have a microscope without
understanding the difficult art of using it ; or else who know how to
use it, but do not use it with same exactness and carefulness as
Ehrenberg, who discovered in the chalk dust of visiting cards the
shells of new species of animals, by simply making the cards
transparent by means of the oil of turpentine.
- Or lastly, for the simple reason that physicians find it more easy
to write something for print, than to observe nature ; that is more easy
to impress upon people than to cure the sick, and because the greater
number of physicians is affected with the delusion that things which
they do not see do not exist.
If such physicians succeed in effecting a cure they are at once
ready to boast of their exploits, whereas the cure was due to
Hahnemann's doctrine, to the remedies which he has discovered, to
the researches of other physicians, to their instructions or example, or
to so-called chance. But if they do not succeed they impute their
failure to anything but themselves : it is homopathy, that is
deficient ; this or that rule is not correct ; the materia medica is at
fault ; or if something in Hahnemann's system does not suit them, they
are prone to say that they have never seen this or that, that they cannot
agree with it. And in talking in this way, they really imagine they
have said something against the matter itself.
Upon the same ground that Hahnemann carefully distinguished
from the disease the symptoms which owed their existence to dietetic
transgressions, or to medicinal aggravations ; upon the same grounds
that he acknowledged as standing and independent diseases the acute
miasms, known as purpura, measles, scarlatina, small pox, whooping
his life was on the point of breaking. Many of us, seeing those who
are dearest to us engaged in the death-struggle, would exclaim why
should'st thou suffer so much ! So too exclaimed Hahnemann's
consort : "Why should'st thou who hast alleviated so much suffering
suffer in thy last hour ? This is unjust. Providence should have
allotted to thee a painless death."
Then he raised his voice as he had often done when he exhorted
his disciples to hold fast to the great principles of homopathy. "Why
should I have been thus extinguished ? Each of us should here attend
to the duties which God has imposed upon him. Although men may
distinguish a more or less, yet no one has any merit. God owes
nothing to me, I to him all."
With these words he took leave of the world, of his friends, and his
foes. And here we take leave of you, reader, whether our friend or our
opponent.
To him who believes that there may yet be truths which he does
not know and which he desires to know, will be pointed out such
paths as will lead him to the light he needs. If he who has sincere
benevolence and wishes to work for the benefit of all be considered
by Providence a fit instrument for the accomplishment of the divine
will, he will be called upon to fulfil his mission and will be led to
truth evermore.
It is the spirit of Truth that tries to unite us all ; but the father of
Lies keeps us separate and divided.
Constantine Hering
Philadelphia, April 22, 1845
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