THE PROGRESS OF HOMEOPATHY IN THE UNITED BY D. DYCE BROWN, M.A., M.D., CONSULTING PHYSICIAN TO THE LONDON I have, in the first place, to thank you for the honor you have done me in asking me to write this paper, an invitation which I have much pleasure in acceding to. This account takes cognizance only of the progress of homoeopathy in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland since 1900, the date of the last International Homœopathic Congress at Paris. Up to the commencement of this quinquennial period the progress of homoeopathy in this country was rather of the laissez-faire type. A hard struggle had long been fought for homoeopathy, in spite of violent opposition and virulent abuse on the part of the old school, and with such signal success that the tactics of the old school had changed. They ceased their abuse and marked opposition to the new school, and adopted the tactics of silence, while, at the same time, largely adopting the use of homoeopathic medicines, and absorbing Hahnemann's views in many important points. It was, we surmise, hoped that by these means the homoeopathic school would thereby be gradually absorbed, and homoeopathy introduced by them under another name, and with the assurance to the public that they had been practising the new treatment for long. This "conspiracy of silence" not unnaturally gave relief to the homoeopathic body, they acquiesced in the absence of the former old school tactics, and lay on their oars, allowing things to drift quietly on, and disliking unnecessary warfare. Of course, it is now seen that such easy-going precedure was far from being conductive to the progress of homoeopathy. In fact, when no actual progress is made, the reverse, retrogression, follows as a natural consequence. This was beginning to be perceived, and a general feeling of unrest and reaction was noticeable in our ranks, while the desire for a forward movement was more or less general, and the danger of these drifting, laissez-faire tactics was becoming obvious. The first tentative suggestion came from Dr. Edwin A. Neatby, in an able article written by him in the Monthly Homœopathic Review of July, 1901. We say "tentative," as it really was: Dr. Neatby in some prefatory remarks says, "if only the need of a forward movement is at all generally realized. If it meets with a practical approval I shall be greatly encouraged; if it meets with a thorough rousing criticism, I shall feel there are still hopes for homoeopathy; if it elicits neither praise nor blame, I shall conclude that, either my mental vision is seriously distorted, or that the day of homoeopathy's demise is nearer than I imagined." In this article Dr. Neatby sketches out what he would suggest to be done, but added that without money adequate funds it cannot be accomplished. Almost directly after this article appeared in print, but of course, *Presented to the International Homœopathic Congress at Atlantic City, on Sept 11. 1906. well thought out long before, Dr. George Burford delivered his address, as President of the British Homœopathic Society, in October, 1901. An abler, more spirit-stirring or more carefully thought out address has seldom been delivered before the Society. He brought the general feeling to boiling point, the address was received with enthusiasm, and in place of the usual vote of thanks for the address, a resolution was moved and seconded that the scheme he proposed be started at once, and that the Council of the Society be requested to form a committee, composed of laymen as well as of medical men, to take the matter in hand without delay. This was carried unanimously, and with acclamation. Dr. Burford in sketching the progress of homœopathy, pointed out the absence of the forward movement which had formerly characterized it, and how things were allowed to go on in a quiet, unobtrusive non-militant style, which meant, not standing still, which was really impossible, but necessarily retrogression. He pointed out that the old schools were ready to take advantage of this inaction, and that, unless we adopted other tactics, they would, by making use of homoeopathy under another guise, gradually absorb us without a word of indebtedness to Hahnemann or to homoeopaths. He maintained that now was the time to strike while the iron was hot, to take a new lease of activity, to push our doctrines and practice, and to bring them prominently before the public, so as to interest them, in what so much concerns their own welfare as well as the welfare of the greatest law of medical practice that has ever been brought to the knowledge and view of the world. He maintained that the admirable clinical material of the London Homoeopathic Hospital should be more utilized, that systematic courses of lectures in the homoeopathic materia medica, and in homœopathic therapeutics, should be resumed, in London, and in the larger provincial cities, that an authoritative statement of our tenets and mode of practice should be drawn up and widely circulated, that original investigations and re-provings of drugs should be instituted, and in fact, every possible mode of advancing homœopathy should be set in motion. This scheme, so carefully thought out, was followed up by articles written by various authors and published in the Monthly Homœopathic Review in the early months of 1902, in support of the movement. The first general meeting of what was at the commencement called the Twentieth Century Fund was held on April 25, 1902, at Stationers Hall, a fine old hall belonging to the Stationers' Company, through the influential kindness of Sir George W. Truscott. There large and representative meeting, with Earl Cawdor, the Treasurer of the London Homœopathic Hospital, in the chair. Important speeches were delivered by Lord Cawdor, Mr. J. P. Stilwell, chairman of the Board of the London Homœopathic Hospital, and many others, both medical and non-medical supporters of the cause. An association was there and then formed, called the British Homœopathic Association, with the Earl Cawdor as president, the Earl of Dysart and Lord Calthorpe as vice-presidents, and Mr. Joseph Howard, M.P., as treasurer. The scheme was approved in every detail, and as money was absolutely necessary to initiate and carry out such a work, a fund was started and called the Twentieth Century Fund, which, it was intimated, must involve the raising of £10,000 (50,000 dollars). At the meeting the greatest enthusiasm prevailed, and the Secretary was able to announce at its close that nearly £1,000 had been subscribed. Before the year was out the entire sum of £10,000 had been subscribed. The ladies, whose aid in all such circumstances is invaluable for their active energy and determination, formed themselves into a Ladies Committee, resolved to raise a separate fund of their own, amounting to £100 to endow a Travelling Scholarship for the special study of diseases of women and children in well-known continental schools of medicine. This also has been accomplished. An executive General Committee was formed, consisting of both medical and lay members. The details of the work took a considerable time to elaborate, and though this seeming delay was. criticised by some, yet it was felt that a sound basis and scheme could not be arrived at without time, and without very careful discussion and consideration on the part of the General Committee. It is truly a great work, and one that, if nothing else did, would signalize the quinquennium we are dealing with in a manner that would distinguish it in importance from other periods of time in the propagation of the cause of homœopathy. The ultimate aim was the establishment of a complete homoeopathic college, with the power to grant a degree or diploma. At present, however, in an old country like England, with so many vested rights, and so many legal qualifications already in existence-nineteen in all-with the desire in the old school to add no more qualifications to those already existing, and with such a minority as represents homoeopathic practitioners as compared with the allopaths, a complete homoeopathic college is an impossibility. We, therefore, aim at a smaller scheme, for the present, and the following has been now for some time in operation. 1. Systematic lectures on homœopathic materia medica and therapeutics. 2. The proving and re-proving of drugs after the homoeopathic method. Colchicum has been taken up, and the publication of the results will be forthcoming. 3. Scientific research work in connection with homoeopathy, and the recent investigations in science. 4. Post-graduate lectures on various subjects, and separate lectures on various diseases, and their homœopathic treatment. 5. A "Dudgeon Scholarship" for young men, to enable them to go to the United States, investigate and study the style and methods of teaching there, and to permit them to attend courses of lectures and instruction in America, so as to thoroughly ground them in homoeopathic materia medica and therapeutics, before commencing private practice in Great Britain. 46. The "Travelling Scholarship" of the Ladies' Branch of the Association for the study of diseases of women and children in the great continental schools of medicine. 7. The foundation of a special professional chair, to be called "The Compton Burnett Professorship" for the teaching of homœo pathic practice. The raising of the funds required to endow this Chair has been undertaken by Dr. and Mrs. J. H. Clarke, and already a large part of the sum required has been received by them. 8. By no means the least important feature in the Association's work is the academic and practical course of instructions for foreign missionaries and missionary students. This course, which is not intended, of course, to produce medical men and women, aims at giving to missionaries who are at home on leave, or are preparing to go out to foreign fields of missionary labor, a general introduction in elementary medicine and surgery. This knowledge will enable them, when far away from any regular medical help, to treat cases in the first instance, "First Aid," as it were, and so enable them to put their patients in the right path till qualified medical assistance can arrive. In many cases, the knowledge and help rendered possible by this course of instruction will enable missionaries to do all that is necessary for their cases, without sending for any qualified aid. The students at this course also are taught the main features of tropical diseases, and, if necessary, hygiene-a special course of instruction in obstetrics is instituted for women, and a special course of nursing is also given to women. This general, superficial, it must be, instruction in the elements of medicine and surgery is given to the missionary students with a training in homoeopathy, its principles and practice. All this enables the missionary to act on the instincts and knowledge he or she possesses, and so to be of immense service when far away from any qualified medical man, and it makes him or her a great center in far-away parts for the spread of homoeopathy, its principles and practice. This course has been much appreciated by those for whom it is intended, the attendance has been large, and the results most satisfactory in every respect. Al 9. The British Homœopathic Association keeps in mind also the necessity of teaching the public in the doctrines of homœopathy by issuing from time to time propagandist literature, explaining the principle of similars, and its practical results. A work of this nature is in progress, and it is to be hoped will be issued soon. ready the Association has printed and circulated among the members of the medical profession of both schools a work entitled "The Permeation of Present Day Medicine by Homœopathy," showing from authoritative writings of the old school, and from these alone, to what an enormous extent homoeopathy is practically adopted in the old school, without acknowledgement, however, of the principle involved, the source of the information given, or of its great founder Samuel Hahnemann. 10. The Association keeps a special eye on the increased development of homoeopathic cottage hospitals and dispensaries, aiding them with funds when there are difficulties present, to enable them to overcome those difficulties when necessary, and so to set to work important fields of labor, which require help in the outset of their life. The above is a large scheme, but all that is done is necessary for the militant progress of homoeopathy; it rouses up, and keeps up the vital interests of homoeopathy in the minds of the profession and of the public, though, for the present, a complete College of Homœopathy is impracticable. The great difficulty at the present time is to get at the student. He is fully occupied with his studies at the recognized schools, and has no time for extra work; he knows that he has to go through his courses of study at these schools, in order to get his legal qualifications; he is afraid, therefore, in case of awkward complications at his examinations, to be seen at a homœopathic hospital, or to seem to have any sympathy with homoeopathy; when he gets his diploma to practice he is naturally anxious to begin to make his living, and so has no time after his five years for further courses of study, while if he once begins to practice he is fixed down by work. All this involves the crux of the whole homoeopathic educational question in Great Britatin and renders such aims as the Association has in view very uphill and difficult. It requires determination and perseverance in the right path to succeed. The British Homœopathic Congresses are held annually in London and in provincial towns, are well attended, and are enjoyed much by those who come to the meetings. The social element, as well as the professional work done, combine to render them a species of gathering which no other form of meeting accomplishes, and which brings together personally men who might not meet each other from year's end to year's end. All the British homœopathic hospitals have in the past quinquennium been making steady and substantial progress. The London Homœopathic Hospital, though not a large one, and prevented from enlarging to the extent provided for, owing to the difficulty of a tradesman who cannot be ejected at present, is, and has been, in a high state of efficiency. Its perfection as a hospital is testified to by all who have visited it, and it is usually looked upon as the finest and most perfect hospital in London. The medical and surgical staff are enthusiastic in doing all they possibly can, in the way of energy and hard work, to keep up its reputation and to make it in every point "up-to-date." The clinical material, both in the wards, and in the out-patient department, is most valuable and teaching for those who attend the hospital and for the resident medical officers. The number of in-patients is, of course, limited to the number of available beds, while the out-patients increase in numbers every year, giving extra hard work to the assistant physicians and surgeons, but showing the appreciation of the benefits of homoeopathic treatment on the part of the patients. Extra expenditure, resulting from the increase of work, and necessarily involving increase in expenses, caused a deficit in the funds of the hospital to the amount of about £14,000, but this, by a great effort, was almost entirely raised last year, and so put the hospital once more in a satisfactory pecuniary state. Means have been taken to add to the annual income and reduce the expenses to the lowest point consistent with efficiency. The whole condition of the hospital is now, therefore, in a highly satisfactory state in every way, and it is an institution of which the whole homœopathic profession in Great Britain is, and may well be, proud. The same, or a similar, satisfactory state of matters is visible |