Who is a homoeopathician? : a lecture delivered before the Hahnemannian Institute, Philadelphia, February 17th, 1865 / by Adolph Lippe.

  • Lippe, Adolph von, 1812-1888.
Date:
1865
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Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Who is a homoeopathician? : a lecture delivered before the Hahnemannian Institute, Philadelphia, February 17th, 1865 / by Adolph Lippe. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

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    separate states, have proved often sufficient to prevent the recurrence of the paroxysm of intermittent fever; and that they most certainly do it when combined together . . . And although I should admit that what is frequently alleged on this subject is a frivolous argument, as a different degree of power it does not affect the general question con- cerning the nature of that power. To this passage we find Hahnemann's foot-note on the 110th page of the second volume of his German translation. He says: It is evident by what the author says, that he is sorry not to be able to demolish all the objections of the opponents. His zeal seems to be directed against those who continually speak of the specifie effect of the bark, and who themselves do not understand what they mean by it. Had he contem- plated that much more bitter and astringent substances than Peruvian bark might be composed from the Extract of Quassia and Nut-gall, but yet that such a compound was not capable of curing an intermittent fever of six-months' standing ; had he had any suspicion that the bark possessed a power to cause an antagonistic fever (as some other newly- discovered Cinchonas possess, very likely in a still higher degree and without the tonic power): it is certain that he would not have sustained his declaration so stubbornly. Cullen continues, on page 92 : And whilst it is allowed to be a very safe and powerful remedy, the only questions which remain respecting it are: In what circumstances may it be most properly employed ? Hahnemann solves this question. He knew that Cinchona had cured some cases of intermittent fever, but not other cases; and the o-reat question with him was, how could it be ascertained what cases of intermittent fever were curable by Cinchona ? or, in other words, what were the unfailing indications of the remedy ? Would not the healthy organism when sub- jected to the effects of this drug give an answer? Care- fully preparing, then, an alcoholic tincture of Cinchona officinalis, Hahnemann took it himself, and experienced symptoms resembling those of intermittent fever; they ceased