Lincoln telegraph., 1842-02-17

of our readers
Letter from Mr.. Becker.
uAMBURGH, GERMANY.
We present our friends with the following let
ter, communicated for this journal, through Dr.
Vanderbu rgh, very complete refatation of
the common rumor among Allopathsts, that HON.
npathia is exploded or rapidly declining in Ger
many. The writer Mr. Becker and his
plished lady, are citizens of New York. They are
perfectly conveIsant with the German language
and literature, and in all respects quite competent
to enquire into the state of the'system in Germany
where they have already spent some nthsand
intend to remain year or two.
GENTLEMEN
You have doubt many able and well inform
ed professional correspondents in Europe ,on med
lca subjects and thus receive the best intelligence
on the state of Homeopathic science here, but as
the old school physicians in the United States are
constantly trying to prejudice the public against
those communications, by asserting that they
come from physicians of the new school, who. as
directly interested parties, do not deserve much
credit beg leave to transmit to you few facts
which. since my arrival in Europe, | have with
considerable pains and caution gathered from the
most authentic and unprGudiced sources, and
which hope may gain additional credence with
the cautious believers, from the fact Of my not be-
longing 20 the medical profession ataN
The weapon resorted 10 of late by the enemies
of Homeopathic in the United States, has been,
that in Germany, the cradle of that science, its
adherents are fast diminishing IN number, and
that the beliefin its efficacy and principles is fast
losing ground Nothing can be more untrue, as
hope to prove by the following facts.
The governments of Austria, Saxony and Prus-
sia, who for several years had been opposing the
erection of Homeopathic hospitals. and not much
countenancing the practice of Homeopathic ply
scians have ofiate years given way to the over
whemng force of public feeling, in consequence
of which there are now Homeopathic hospitals
in Vienna, Prague, Brunswick, Dresden, Leipsic
ana within the last two months, one has started
in Berlin 1t is true there is less talk on the sub
iect the papers and pnblic lectures between
the two schools is over, the outcry has ceased and
)
way by its own merits, as it requires abler adj
voca tes. The success in Europe is really prodig
ious, Sthe number ofIIomnopathic physicians and
patients constantly increasing rapidly in all coun-
tries the former from the ranks of most eminent
and independent A lopathists. and the latter most
" amongst the higher and more educated classes
of society, who are less liable 10 be blindly inlu-
enc ed by the opinion of others, but take the
pains of thoroughly investigating subject be-
fore they decide upon it either way.
1t is an incontestbc fact that the families in
this place who employ Homeopathic physician,
are universally acknowledged to rank amongst
the most enlightened and educated in the COM
munity, (and for instance, Syndcus Sievking y
while on the other hand it is true, that Hompopa-
tha has made less progress here than in any other
part ofthe German empire. This is easily account
ed for by those acquainted with this place. Ham
burg is a commercial city, great proportion of
the inhabitants of which are Jews, who are the
last to give attention to science. OF the remain
der, most are matter-offact commercial people,
very much given to think and act as their grand
fathers did, not troubling themselves much about
improvements, very shy in admitting innovations,
and consequently much behind the rest of Ger
many in all arts and sciences thus, for instance
with all its commerce and wealth, Hamburg has
not one railroad yet, not steamer Of its own that
ventures on the open sea, no museum otany kind
: and no public library
People here are so engrossed in their CONNER
cial pursuits, that very few have either time or
de sire for information on scientific subjects, and
Allopathic physicians taking advantage ofthis to
keep them in their ignorance about the advanta-
ges of homeopathic, the latter meets with too
many obstacles to make its way rapidly, or
nearly so, as in other parts of Germany, where
the state of society is different, and the stand
ard Of education so much higher.
The main obstacle Homeopathic met with in the
beginning in Austria, ,Saxony, and Prussia, the
refusal Of the governments to permit physicians
to dispense medicine, (dispensr- freheit.) This
was subseq equently removed by the erection of H.
censed homeopathic medicine shops, serving up
on prescriptions and since then the science
spread rapidly in practice, not only in Germany,
and France but in Sweden, Italy, Sicily and even
Russia, where, as likewise in Warsaw, ,severalmil-
itary Homeopathic hospitals successful and