Dr.Constantine
Hering M.D
Hering M.D
Dr.C.Hering
is aptly called the Father of Homoeopathy in America. His conversion
to Homoeopathy is very interesting. He
was born on the midnight of January 1, 1800 in the town of Oschatz in
Saxony (now in Eastern Germany). He grew up in a religious household.
At
the age of 17, he became interested in medicine and joined the
University of Leipzig, where he was the favorite pupil of the eminent
Surgeon, Dr. Hen rich 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 used to ridicule Homoeopathy and Hahnemann.
University of Leipzig, where he was the favorite pupil of the eminent
Surgeon, Dr. Hen rich 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 used to ridicule 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 tie
and recommended his young assistant Hering. Hering was please with
this mark of confidence and set about the work in right earnest 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 a famous 'notabene for my reviewers' in the preface to the third
volume of the "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 over could
do, it insists upon being judged by the result."
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 tie
and recommended his young assistant Hering. Hering was please with
this mark of confidence and set about the work in right earnest 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 a famous 'notabene for my reviewers' in the preface to the third
volume of the "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 over 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
homoeopathic 'Materia Medica' and his experiments made him more
convinced about Hahnemann's conclusions. The book against
Homoeopathy thus never saw the light of day.
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
homoeopathic 'Materia Medica' and his experiments made him more
convinced about Hahnemann's conclusions. The book against
Homoeopathy thus never saw the light of day.
In
the winter of 1824, an incident occurred which had the effect of
unshakable faith in homoeopathy on Hering. The fore-finger of his
right hand 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 Arsenic
Alb. 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 instructions and
light on Homoeopathy.
the winter of 1824, an incident occurred which had the effect of
unshakable faith in homoeopathy on Hering. The fore-finger of his
right hand 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 Arsenic
Alb. 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 instructions and
light on Homoeopathy.
In
site of great difficulties put before him being a student of
Hahnemannian views, Hering got the degree of M.D. from the University
of Wuerzburg with highest honors. The theme of his thesis was "De
Medicina Futura" (The medicine of future). Hering left
Germany for West Indies and finally arrived at Philadelphia in
January 1833. He established a Homoeopathic School at Allentown,
Pennsylvania, commonly known as 'Allentown Academy.' Soon he became
very popular as a physician. He became a member of the Academy of
Natural Sciences, and presented to it, his large and valuable
zoological collections including the original Lachesis
trigonocephalus from South America, the snake with whose poison
he had made the proving of his Lachesis.
site of great difficulties put before him being a student of
Hahnemannian views, Hering got the degree of M.D. from the University
of Wuerzburg with highest honors. The theme of his thesis was "De
Medicina Futura" (The medicine of future). Hering left
Germany for West Indies and finally arrived at Philadelphia in
January 1833. He established a Homoeopathic School at Allentown,
Pennsylvania, commonly known as 'Allentown Academy.' Soon he became
very popular as a physician. He became a member of the Academy of
Natural Sciences, and presented to it, his large and valuable
zoological collections including the original Lachesis
trigonocephalus from South America, the snake with whose poison
he had made the proving of his Lachesis.
Contributions
Hering
wrote many articles, monographs and books.
wrote many articles, monographs and books.
He
was he Chief Edit of the north American Homoeopathic Journal, ‘The
Homoeopathic News’, ‘The American journal of
Homoeopathic Materia Medica,’ and the Journal of hid own
college.
He
wrote the ‘Domestic Physician’ and the ‘Guilding
Symptoms’. A monumental work of volumes.
A Concise View of
the Rise and Progress of Homoeopathic Medicine, 1833
The Homoeopathist,
or Domestic Physician, 2 volumes, 1835
Hahnemann's Three
Rules Concerning the Rank of Symptoms
Analytical
Therapeutics
The Guiding
Symptoms of Our Materia Medica, 10 volumes, 1879 – 1891
It
is in the sphere of drug proving, however, that Hering’s daring
shows at its best. It has been remarked by Nash and others that if
Hering had done nothing le 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.
is in the sphere of drug proving, however, that Hering’s daring
shows at its best. It has been remarked by Nash and others that if
Hering had done nothing le 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.
He
proved 72 drugs, out of which following are the most important ones:
proved 72 drugs, out of which following are the most important ones:
Cantharis
colchicum
Iodom
Mezerium
Sabadilla
Sabena
Psorinum
Nux-Moschata
Lachesis
Crotalus
Apis
Hydrophobium
Phytolacca
Platina
Glonoine
Gelsimium
Kalmia
Ferrum
met
Fluoric
acid
Phosphoric
acid
etc.,
He
enunciated the “Law of Direction of Cure” known popularly
as Hering’s Law and which points out:
“the cure takes place, from centre to periphery, from head to
extremities and in the reverse directions of the development
symptoms”. Thus Hering took up the word left by his master,
Hahnemann and held the flag of Homoeopathy till the last breath of
his life.
enunciated the “Law of Direction of Cure” known popularly
as Hering’s Law and which points out:
“the cure takes place, from centre to periphery, from head to
extremities and in the reverse directions of the development
symptoms”. Thus Hering took up the word left by his master,
Hahnemann and held the flag of Homoeopathy till the last breath of
his life.
