Lesson 4, EXTRA8 - History - Dr. Constantine Hering, M.D. Bio & Info
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Lesson 4, EXTRA8 - History - Dr. Constantine Hering, M.D. Bio & Info
http://www.wholehealthnow.com/homeopathy_pro/constantine_hering.html
Dr. Constantine Hering, M.D.
(1800 - 1880)
Dr. Hering is aptly called the 'Father of Homoeopathy' in America. His conversion to Homoeopathy is very interesting. At the age of 17 Dr. Hering became interested in medicine and joined the University of Leipzig, where he was the favorite pupil of the eminent Surgeon, Dr. Henrich Robbi.
At this time, Hahnemann was an eyesore to the stalwarts of orthodox medicine, because 'Organon' was a challenge to their system of medicine. Dr. Robbi was a critic of Hahnemann, and like other physicians ridiculed homoeopathy and Hahnemann.
In 1821, when the campaign against Hahnemann was at its worst, C. Baumgartner, the founder of a publishing house in Leipzig, wanted a book written against Homoeopathy, a book which would quite finish the system. Robbi was asked to write it, but he declined for want of time and recommended his young assistant Hering. Hering set about the work and nearly finished it in the winter of 1822.
But going through Hahnemann's works for the sake of making quotations, he came across the famous 'nota bene for my reviewers' in the preface to the third volume of 'Materia Medica Pura', which said, among other things, "The doctrine appeals not only chiefly, but solely to the verdict of experience - 'repeat the experiments', it cries aloud, repeat them carefully and accurately and you will find the doctrine confirmed at every step' - and it does what no medical doctrine, no system of physic, no so-called therapeutics ever did or could do, it insists upon being judged by the result."
Hering decided to accept the challenge. The first step was to repeat the cinchona experiment. The result was what Hahnemann had predicted. Hering began to see the truth in homoeopathy. Further study of the homoeopathic 'Materia Medica' convinced him about Hahnemann's conclusions. The book against Homoeopathy thus never saw the light of day.
In the winter of 1824, Hering's right forefinger was cut while making a dissection on a dead body. The wound rapidly became gangrenous. In those days such wounds were mostly fatal. The routine orthodox medicines had no effect. Luckily for Hering and for homoeopathy, a disciple of Hahnemann named Kummer persuaded him to take homoeopathic treatment and gave him Arsenicum album. After a few doses he felt better and the gangrene healed completely. Hering was surprised and his interest in homoeopathy knew no bounds. He contacted Hahnemann for further instruction.
Hering received the degree of M.D. from the University of Wuerzburg with highest honors. The theme of his thesis was "De Medicine Future" (The Medicine of Future). Hering arrived in Philadelphia in January 1833. He established a Homoeopathic School at Allentown, Pennsylvania (Allentown Academy). He became a member of the Academy of Natural Sciences, and presented to it his large and valuable zoological collections, including the original Lachesis mutus from South America, the snake with whose poison he had made the first provings of Lachesis.
Hering wrote many articles, monographs and books. He was the Chief Editor of the 'North American Homoeopathic Journal', 'The Homoeopathic News', 'The American Journal of Homoeopathic Materia Medica', and the Journal of the Allentown Academy. He wrote the 'Domestic Physician', and the 'Guiding Symptoms', a monumental work of 10 volumes.
It is in the sphere of drug provings, however, that Hering's effort shines at its best. It has been remarked by Nash and others that if Hering had done nothing else for medicine but the proving of the single drug Lachesis, the world would owe him an everlasting debt of gratitude; that alone would immortalize him.
Dr. Hering proved 72 drugs, out of which the following are the most important: Cantharis, Colchicum, Iodum, Mezereum, Sabadilla, Sabina, Psorinum, Nux moschata, Lachesis, Crotalus, Apis, Hydrophobinum, Phytolacca, Platina, Glonoin, Gelsemium, Kalmia, Ferrum-met, Fluoric acid, and Phosphoric acid
*******
Hering's Conversion.......
http://www.homeoint.org/books4/bradford/chapter31.htm
Hering�s conversion
Dr. J. H. Robbi, Hering's preceptor, was asked to write the book but refused and - recommended his student, Hering, at that time twenty years of age. The contract was made and the book, written during the winter of 1821-22, was nearly completed, when, for the sake of making quotations, Hering was provided with Hahnemann's works.
In the third volume of the "Materia Medica Pura " he discovered this " Nota Bene for My Critics." It induced him to make experiments.
The book was discontinued ; Hering now endeavored to separate the true from the false that he yet thought must be in this new and peculiar system. Against the advice of friends, patrons, and teachers he continued his investigations. In two years he became convinced of the truth of Hahnemann�s discovery, He now suffered persecutions, want, hunger, and was obliged to postpone his examination for his degree.
In 1825 a younger brother offered to loan him money, and while inquiring at which of Germany's thirty universities he could get his degree the cheapest, he saw some notes taken from the lectures of the celebrated pathologist, Schoenlein, of Wurzburg.
He was so pleased that he took up his bundle and walked into Franconia to sit at the feet of Schoenlein.
He would not deny his allegiance to Hahnemann, and therefore was obliged to pass a most rigorous examination. He defended his thesis -."De Medicina Futura"- in which he acknowledged the Homeopathic doctrines, on March 23, 1826. He had been in correspondence with Hahnemann long before this time.
The following letters written to him by Hahnemann when he was yet a student of medicine, (Some time previous to 1860, Dr. Hering sent to Dr. J. Rutherford Russell, of England, careful copies of thirty-five letters written by Hahnemann to himself and to Dr. Stapf. It was Dr. Russell's intention to publish a life of the master, and Dr. Hering thus assisted him.
The life was not written, but Dr. Russell translated and published the letters in vols. i, ii, iii, iv of the "Annals and Transactions of the British Homoeopathic Society, and of the London Homeopathic Hospital," 1860-66.
He also, used some of them in his "History and Heroes of Medicine." Dr. Dudgeon must have had access to these letters in 1889" as among the fifty-one letters of Hahnemann he translated and published in the Homoeopathic World, the most of these thirty-five are to be found.
The above letters to Hering are among the number letters of Hahnemann he translated and published in the Homeopathic World, the most of these thirty-five are to be found. The above letters to Hering are among the number.) show the kindly regard for the new convert, whom be had never seen.
It may be not amiss to mention that, though Hahnemann and Hering were friends from this time until the death of the former, yet they never met. Hering almost at once after his graduation went to South America and from thence sailed for Philadelphia, Hering did not receive his degree as doctor of medicine from the University of Wurzburg until March 23, 1826, although he had for some years been a believer in the doctrines of Hahnemann.
*******
Letter's to Hering also at website
http://www.homeoint.org/books4/bradford/chapter31.htm
Lesson 4, EXTRA8 - History - Dr. Constantine Hering, M.D. Bio & Info
http://www.wholehealthnow.com/homeopathy_pro/constantine_hering.html
Dr. Constantine Hering, M.D.
(1800 - 1880)
Dr. Hering is aptly called the 'Father of Homoeopathy' in America. His conversion to Homoeopathy is very interesting. At the age of 17 Dr. Hering became interested in medicine and joined the University of Leipzig, where he was the favorite pupil of the eminent Surgeon, Dr. Henrich Robbi.
At this time, Hahnemann was an eyesore to the stalwarts of orthodox medicine, because 'Organon' was a challenge to their system of medicine. Dr. Robbi was a critic of Hahnemann, and like other physicians ridiculed homoeopathy and Hahnemann.
In 1821, when the campaign against Hahnemann was at its worst, C. Baumgartner, the founder of a publishing house in Leipzig, wanted a book written against Homoeopathy, a book which would quite finish the system. Robbi was asked to write it, but he declined for want of time and recommended his young assistant Hering. Hering set about the work and nearly finished it in the winter of 1822.
But going through Hahnemann's works for the sake of making quotations, he came across the famous 'nota bene for my reviewers' in the preface to the third volume of 'Materia Medica Pura', which said, among other things, "The doctrine appeals not only chiefly, but solely to the verdict of experience - 'repeat the experiments', it cries aloud, repeat them carefully and accurately and you will find the doctrine confirmed at every step' - and it does what no medical doctrine, no system of physic, no so-called therapeutics ever did or could do, it insists upon being judged by the result."
Hering decided to accept the challenge. The first step was to repeat the cinchona experiment. The result was what Hahnemann had predicted. Hering began to see the truth in homoeopathy. Further study of the homoeopathic 'Materia Medica' convinced him about Hahnemann's conclusions. The book against Homoeopathy thus never saw the light of day.
In the winter of 1824, Hering's right forefinger was cut while making a dissection on a dead body. The wound rapidly became gangrenous. In those days such wounds were mostly fatal. The routine orthodox medicines had no effect. Luckily for Hering and for homoeopathy, a disciple of Hahnemann named Kummer persuaded him to take homoeopathic treatment and gave him Arsenicum album. After a few doses he felt better and the gangrene healed completely. Hering was surprised and his interest in homoeopathy knew no bounds. He contacted Hahnemann for further instruction.
Hering received the degree of M.D. from the University of Wuerzburg with highest honors. The theme of his thesis was "De Medicine Future" (The Medicine of Future). Hering arrived in Philadelphia in January 1833. He established a Homoeopathic School at Allentown, Pennsylvania (Allentown Academy). He became a member of the Academy of Natural Sciences, and presented to it his large and valuable zoological collections, including the original Lachesis mutus from South America, the snake with whose poison he had made the first provings of Lachesis.
Hering wrote many articles, monographs and books. He was the Chief Editor of the 'North American Homoeopathic Journal', 'The Homoeopathic News', 'The American Journal of Homoeopathic Materia Medica', and the Journal of the Allentown Academy. He wrote the 'Domestic Physician', and the 'Guiding Symptoms', a monumental work of 10 volumes.
It is in the sphere of drug provings, however, that Hering's effort shines at its best. It has been remarked by Nash and others that if Hering had done nothing else for medicine but the proving of the single drug Lachesis, the world would owe him an everlasting debt of gratitude; that alone would immortalize him.
Dr. Hering proved 72 drugs, out of which the following are the most important: Cantharis, Colchicum, Iodum, Mezereum, Sabadilla, Sabina, Psorinum, Nux moschata, Lachesis, Crotalus, Apis, Hydrophobinum, Phytolacca, Platina, Glonoin, Gelsemium, Kalmia, Ferrum-met, Fluoric acid, and Phosphoric acid
*******
Hering's Conversion.......
http://www.homeoint.org/books4/bradford/chapter31.htm
Hering�s conversion
Dr. J. H. Robbi, Hering's preceptor, was asked to write the book but refused and - recommended his student, Hering, at that time twenty years of age. The contract was made and the book, written during the winter of 1821-22, was nearly completed, when, for the sake of making quotations, Hering was provided with Hahnemann's works.
In the third volume of the "Materia Medica Pura " he discovered this " Nota Bene for My Critics." It induced him to make experiments.
The book was discontinued ; Hering now endeavored to separate the true from the false that he yet thought must be in this new and peculiar system. Against the advice of friends, patrons, and teachers he continued his investigations. In two years he became convinced of the truth of Hahnemann�s discovery, He now suffered persecutions, want, hunger, and was obliged to postpone his examination for his degree.
In 1825 a younger brother offered to loan him money, and while inquiring at which of Germany's thirty universities he could get his degree the cheapest, he saw some notes taken from the lectures of the celebrated pathologist, Schoenlein, of Wurzburg.
He was so pleased that he took up his bundle and walked into Franconia to sit at the feet of Schoenlein.
He would not deny his allegiance to Hahnemann, and therefore was obliged to pass a most rigorous examination. He defended his thesis -."De Medicina Futura"- in which he acknowledged the Homeopathic doctrines, on March 23, 1826. He had been in correspondence with Hahnemann long before this time.
The following letters written to him by Hahnemann when he was yet a student of medicine, (Some time previous to 1860, Dr. Hering sent to Dr. J. Rutherford Russell, of England, careful copies of thirty-five letters written by Hahnemann to himself and to Dr. Stapf. It was Dr. Russell's intention to publish a life of the master, and Dr. Hering thus assisted him.
The life was not written, but Dr. Russell translated and published the letters in vols. i, ii, iii, iv of the "Annals and Transactions of the British Homoeopathic Society, and of the London Homeopathic Hospital," 1860-66.
He also, used some of them in his "History and Heroes of Medicine." Dr. Dudgeon must have had access to these letters in 1889" as among the fifty-one letters of Hahnemann he translated and published in the Homoeopathic World, the most of these thirty-five are to be found.
The above letters to Hering are among the number letters of Hahnemann he translated and published in the Homeopathic World, the most of these thirty-five are to be found. The above letters to Hering are among the number.) show the kindly regard for the new convert, whom be had never seen.
It may be not amiss to mention that, though Hahnemann and Hering were friends from this time until the death of the former, yet they never met. Hering almost at once after his graduation went to South America and from thence sailed for Philadelphia, Hering did not receive his degree as doctor of medicine from the University of Wurzburg until March 23, 1826, although he had for some years been a believer in the doctrines of Hahnemann.
*******
Letter's to Hering also at website
http://www.homeoint.org/books4/bradford/chapter31.htm
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