Genius of Homeopathy

Overview

Treuherz' collection of historical writing highlights the period when Hahnemann attempted to turn the tide of medicine from treatment using opposites and material perspective, to the use of similars and a vitalist approach.

This dynamic collection is taken from historical writings that are powerfully relevant to homeopathy’s current conflict.

Details

Walking into Francis Treuherz’ home in North London is like walking into the long history of homeopathy. Over his lifetime Francis has respectfully collected thousands of homeopathic texts and items that reflect homeopathy’s rich history and profound information.

The question for someone not so acquainted with the history of homeopathy is where to start and where to finish, in appropriately selecting reading materials from classical authors and biographers. Not to worry, Francis has done so in this book!

Francis has chosen to highlight many writings that are most relevant to the current conflict in which homeopathy is embroiled. He highlights the early period when Hahnemann attempted to turn the tide of hundreds of years of medicine using treatments via opposites and material perspective, changing that to the use of similars and a vitalist approach.

This book emphasizes the process by which Hahnemann and followers introduced the core principles of energetic medicine.

As the reader works through the varied biographies, a dramatic picture builds up of Hahnemann’s life where we know the outcome but are shown the different roads along which he travelled.

It is like the story of the blind men and the elephant. Each writer interprets Hahnemann in his own way, but each with such delight and personal and professional fulfillment, and we may learn from them all.

From the Book

HERING’S PREFACE TO HAHNEMANN’S CHRONIC DISEASES

Introduction
Hering was first and foremost Hahnemann’s most ardent follower in America. At the same time, being of independent mind, he was also from time to time critical of Hahnemann and so helped Hahnemann develop his theories. This was all done by correspondence, I do not think that they ever met.

But so much were they closely aligned that Melanie Hahnemann invited Hering to Paris after Hahnemann’s death, to take over his practice, but he declined.

His great preface enhances the theoretical introduction to the Chronic Diseases of 1828, published in 1845 so soon after Hahnemann’s death in 1843 that they must have corresponded about the innovatory rule of the direction of cure.

The following sketch by American physician and historian Dr Thomas Lindsay Bradford (who received his degree from the Homoeopathic Medical College of Pennsylvania (HMCP) in 1869 under the tutelage of Adolphus Lippe) was published in the Hahnemannian Monthly shortly after Hering’s death.

About Dr Constantine Hering (1800-1880)
Suddenly, at half past ten o’clock, on the evening of July 23rd, Dr Constantine Hering departed this life in the eighty-first year of his age. Thus departed one to whom Homoeopathy in America — yea, in the whole world — will ever remain a debtor.

During the past decade the doctor has at times suffered quite severely from asthma, though for several years past the attacks have been less severe, so that he has been enabled to attend almost daily upon a large circle of patients.

East, West, North, and South, Europe and America, have among their busy practitioners many who look toward the home of this truly great man as toward the home of a father.

Hundreds have shared with him the entire wondrous store of knowledge which he possessed. Many came; none were sent empty away. Their capacity to receive, rather than in his willingness to give limited the amount bestowed. Blessings will ever attend name.

Constantine Hering was born at Oschatz, Saxony, on Jan. 1. 1800. From earliest childhood he evinced an extreme desire to investigate all things. Apt as a scholar, he soon mastered the preliminary studies, and was prepared at an early age to enter the Classical School at Zittau.

Here he continued his studies from 1811 to 1817. He completed his medical studies, and received the degree of Doctor of Medicine from the University of Wurzburg, March 23, 1826.

Soon after his graduation he was appointed by the king of Saxony to accompany the Saxon legation to Dutch Guiana, there to make scientific research and prepare a zoological collection for his government.

He continued in this capacity for some years, but his love for the new truth which he had learned impelled him to further study, and finally to the practice of medicine according to Hahnemann’s doctrines.

Such was his success that he gained great favour with the governor of the province, whose daughter he cured of an affection which the resident physicians had declared incurable.

During his residence at Surinam he was an occasional contributor to the Homoeopathic Archives, for which journal he had written as early as 1825, while still a student of medicine. The court physician, learning of this, wrought upon the king sufficiently to cause a notice to be sent Hering, directing him to attend to the duties of his appointment, and let medical matters alone.

Contents

Foreword -- vii
Preface -- ix
About the Author -- xi
Acknowledgements -- xiii
Notes on the Text -- xv
1 Introduction -- 1
2 Examples of Hahnemann’s Communications -- 13
3 The Life Force, Hahnemann’s Method -- 9
4 Hering’s Preface to Hahnemann’s Chronic Diseases -- 55
5 Prefaces to the British and American Editions of the Organon -- 67
6 Homeopathic Reminiscences -- 79
7 Memorial -- 87
8 Ecce Medicus -- 99
9 Hahnemann as a Medical Philosopher -- 139
10 Hahnemann as a Scientist by his Chief Translator -- 165
11 Hahnemann’s -- Work and Results 197
12 Clarke on Revolution -- 221
13 More Commentary from Dudgeon -- 241
14 The Sycosis of Hahnemann -- 259
15 The Clarke Memorial Meeting -- 273
16 The Porcelain Painter’s Son -- 297
Index -- 329

Francis Treuherz

Francis Treuherz has been in private homeopathic practice since 1984 and part time in NHS primary care from 1990-2003.

He is a Fellow of the Society of Homeopaths, former editor of the journal The Homeopath for 10 years, and is currently Board member and Hon Secretary of the Society. He also teaches worldwide and has written many articles, a research report and a book, and helped create specialist software for homeopaths.