Parliament. At the present time upwards of 70,000 patients have been treated at this hospital, at an annual expense of $4,000. The homœopathic physicians of Great Britain are numbered by hundreds, one hundred and twelve of whom are in London, and many of them are men of great eminence. The system is rapidly spreading in France. The Emperor has favored its adoption into the army, and the Empress Eugenie is among its active supporters. The Spanish Court have adopted the homoeopathic practice. Homœopathy occupies a commanding position in Paris, the city where Hahnemann spent the last years of his life. There are about ninety physicians there, many of them occupying important posts of honor. Thus we see that the homoeopathic system has been progressing steadily in Europe from its inception to the present period, and that it occupies a high position as a system of medical reform. While homœopathy was thus striking its roots deep and broad in all parts of the continent of Europe, the spirit of reform crossed the Atlantic, and its introduction into this country was inaugurated by the late lamented Dr. Gram, of New York, in the year 1826. Soon after his arrival he published a brief but forcible,argument in its favor in a pamphlet entitled "The Spirit of the Homœopathic Doctrines," which no allopathist has attempted to answer. Not long after, Constantine Hering, M. D., located in the city of Philadelphia, and like the Hahnemann of America, he soon gathered around him scores of intelligent disciples, so that in the year 1836 there existed a flourishing society in that city, composed of distinguished men of the profession, who were ardently devoted to the propagation of the sublime doctrines of the great reformer. From this radiating point the true light of medical reform beamed out in every direction, and as early as the year 1837, the indefatigable and accomplished Richhelm crossed the Alleghanies and kindled a fire in the "Iron City" of the West, whose radiant light has pierced the surrounding darkness and filled with glory the broad valley of the Ohio, lit up the Mississippi and the lakes, and whose healing beams reflected from the snow-capped summits of the Rocky Mountains, now descends in beauteous rays along the wild Pacific and accross the golden valley of the Sacramento. In the same year Dr. Pulte planted the standard of homoeopathy in the city of Cincinnati. Homoeopathy, like all true reforms, has gone hand in hand with the enterprising spirit of the age, and to-day, in every important city and town in all the States and territories of the West, the benign blessings of the healing art are dispensed in accordance with the law similia similibus curantur. In Philadelphia there are 150 practitioners, two chartered homœopathic medical colleges, a flourishing hospital, and one or two dispensaries. There is also a chartered homoeopathic medical college at Cleveland, Ohio, one each in New York, Chicago and St. Louis. The Mississippi State Hospital at Natchez, and the Chicago city hospital are by governmental authority under the care of homoeopathic physicians. Nor has the new system been overlooked in the land of the Pilgrim Fathers. In all the New England States it has flourished gloriously for many years. A hospital has been established at Boston. Four of the States have State Societies, and the practitioners of New England are men of sterling talent and ability. Physicians of our school are found in all the Southern States, and in Mexico, Texas, California, South America, Canada and the West India Islands. Indeed, travel in whatever direction you may within the vast continent of America, and you will greet at almost every turn the ardent and enthusiastic supporter of this glorious system of medical reform. But in no portion of the New World has homoeopathy made such rapid strides as in the Empire State. One quarter of the present century had rolled away before the new system could boast of a single convert from the medical profession in America. In the year 1827, the distinguished Dr. John F. Gray, of New York, studied and adopted the system of Hahnemann, and well may we be proud of such a man as the first convert in this country. The conversion and successful practice of Dr. Gray attracted the attention of the medical profession in the great emporium, and soon a number of the leading physicians studied and embraced the new system. In harmony with these, several eminent homœopathic physicians from Europe zealously engaged in diffusing the leaven of reform, and through their influence hundreds and thousands of the intelligent and wealthy of the city of New York became the ardent friends and supporters of homoeopathy. Thirty years ago the system was unknown in this State, beyond the precincts of the city and county of New York; but a system fraught with such blessings to mankind could not be confined within the narrow limits of any city. From this pure and gushing fountain issued the streams of health and happiness, coursing through all the cities and important towns of the Empire State, and leaving upon their green and shady banks, thousands upon thousands to testify of their purifying and healthgiving influence. We have now some seven hundred licensed and graduated physicians, about two hundred of whom are located in the cities of New York and Brooklyn, and not less than five hundred thousand uncompromising adherents to homœopathy. There is also a flourishing State Society. In New York city there are four Dispensaries and the Protestant Half Orphan Asylum, under the care of physicians of our school. Besides, there are upwards of thirty local and county medical societies which have been organized in accordance with the provisions of an act of our State Legislature, passed in 1857, by which is conferred on us all the powers, immunities, and privileges of allopathic medical societies. The Homœopathic Medical Society of this county, whose eleventh annual meeting occurs to-day, was the second county society formed in the State agreeable to the statute above mentioned, and its honorable president was the first pioneer to plant the standard of homoeopathy in the rich and fertile valley of the Genesee. In this investigation we cannot overlook the "American Institute of Homœopathy," a society organized in 1843, and including in its membership some seven hundred leading physicians of the country. To this all the State Societies are auxilliary. The homoeopathic medical profession of this country now number nearly four thousand physicians and surgeons. Thus we see, that the course of homœopathy from its origin has been onward and upward, encroaching at every step upon the domains of allopathy, receding at no point, ever gaining new adherents, and never losing one genuine convert; and that amidst the most bitter and violent opposition in the profession and out of it. It has withstood the irony, the ridicule and false statements of its opponents, and has marched on triumphantly, achieving victory after victory, until it has taken a strong hold on the mind of the civilized world; and to-day, although in our infancy, we can proudly boast of more than eight thousand licensed and graduated physicians and surgeons in our school, while the patrons and supporters of the system are numbered by millions. In conclusion I will state, that homoeopathy is no longer an experiment. More than half a century has rolled away since its first promulgation, and each succeeding year more fully demonstrates that it is a true reform in medicine. It has passed through the first stage of opposition from the profession, that of raillery and ridicule; it is far advanced in the second stage, that of abuse; and ere long it will enter the third and last stage, that of general adoption. Homœopathy has a claim to the confidence of every intelligent community. Its progress, during the brief period of its existence, is unparalleled in the history of medical science. Its physicians are generally men distinguished for learning and ability, most of them converts from the old school; and its patrons are found among the noble and intelligent in every community, in Europe and America. Homœopathy is entitled to the fellowship of the medical profession. It is a system which involves none of the secret elements of quackery. Its treatment is scientific, philosophical and successful beyond a parallel. A word to the Society and friends of homoeopathy. Well may we be proud of our cause, its unequalled progress and the high position it occupies throughout the civilized world. In regard to the future we have everything to hope and nothing to fear, since in the pure principles of our system we see the elements of stability and triumph; and we may cherish the expectation that at no distant day the time-worn and shattered walls of the allopathic edifice will crumble to the dust. The temple of the immortal Hahnemann will continue to rise in magnificent gran deur until it fill the earth, while upon the unfurled banner shall be inscribed, in letters of living light, the immutable law, Similia Similibus Curantur. MADISON COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY. ARTICLE 65.-List of Officers, Delegates, Committees and Members, 67.-Clinical Report. Surgical Cases. By GEO. B. PALMER, M. D., of 68.-Clinical Report. Case of Fistula. By H. F. ADAMS, M. D., of Canastota. 69.-Cerebro Spinal Meningitis. By H. F. ADAMS, M. D., of Canastota. ARTICLE LXV List of Officers, Delegates, Committees and Members. Officers. Drs. E. C. Bass, President. A. A. Lewis, Vice-President. Geo. B. Palmer, Secretary and Treasurer. |