CHAPTER VI.

HOMŒOPATHY, 120

Brief notice of the founder of Homœopathy. His exalted ideas of his “discovery.” Two principles in his theory. 1. Like cures like. According to Hahneman there are three modes of practice—allopathic, antipathic, homœopathic. The last alone truly successful, according to him. The name allopath wrongly bestowed by Hahneman upon physicians. 2. Minute division, with agitation and trituration, communicates a new power to medicines. Subdivision very minute, and extremely particular directions given by Hahneman for effecting it. Whether such a power is thus communicated to be decided by facts. “Observations” on which the opinion is founded. Character of them illustrated from Jahr’s manual. Their extreme minuteness. Mode of collecting them. Based upon the ridiculous idea that all states of the body are to be referred to the remedy taken. Notices of some particular remedies in illustration. Alleged success of Homœopathy. Apparent success to be attributed to six causes. 1. Mental influence. 2. A strict regard to diet and regimen. 3. Operation of the vis medicatrix naturæ, or curative power of nature. 4. Comparisons made between the results of homœopathic practice and those of over-dosing physicians. 5. An occasional stealthy use of remedies in ordinary doses. 6. The facility with which people are deceived in regard to comparative results. Parallel case of a German clergyman. Empty boasts of homœopathists as to the character of their physicians. Points of resemblance and of difference between Thompsonism and Homœopathy.