American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1858-02-19

~ ~ y A'-OttOVP VP"thtoio, III
l8a9, for the treatment of cholera.
OF seven cases treated, all died.
The percentage Of mortality in the
Homeopathic Hospital ofSt. Peters
burg, in 1888 and 81, was 16l.
The Majority Committee states
that, notwithstanding the claims of the
Homeopathists of the favor with which
their system is received, it had but sew
en- hospitals, in which it was practiccd,
on the entire Continent Of Europe, and
within the last year several of these
had been closed, among which was tho
great Homeopathic Hospital of Vienna.
Tho Homeopathic Hospital at Leipsic
ceased with the death Of Hahncmann,
and the London Homeopathic Hospi-
tai, too, had recently closed it's doors.
In viewof these facts, therefore, the
Majority Committee state, they cannot
but conclude that it would be both UNI
wise and inexpedient to change the
medical government of Bellevue Hos
pital, or place any portion of it in
charge of a Board Of Homeopathic prac.
titioners for the purpose Of experiment.
ing with that system upon the inmates.
The Minority Committee state that
Homeopathy is no longer an expert
ment; that each succeeding year during
the past half century has more fully
demonstrated it as a true reform in
medicine. 1t had passed through the
stages Of raiilery, ridicule and abuse,
and would soon reach the stage Of
general adoption. That though It was
llaughed at at first, as having no vir,
tue whatever, yet latterly it had been
objected to as permanently injuring the
patient, though apparently cured for a
time.
The minority Committee also hold
that the well. known fact that much
less medicine is now given by the AL
lopaths than was formerly necessary to
effect a cure was il great measure ow-
ing to the success of the Homeopaths.
tThe minority contend that there is but
one way to fairly investigate this sub
ject, and that is by receiving the facts
of Homeopathy from those who have
solicited them, and whose testimony
and judgment cannot be denied
Homeopathic practitioners were to be
found in every part of this civilized
world; Homeopathic journals were pub.
lished in almost every language; Hon
eopathic hospitals and dispcnsaries
were In active operation, not onlv in
foreign countries, but in our own bor.
ders, and these facts had been entire
lily ignored by the majority report. =
The majority had cast their eyes back
more than twenty years, and not no.
tlcing the fact that during those twcn-
ty years Homeopathy had spread at a
rate unparalIed in the history Of mcdi-
cine. The practitioners in the United
States were numbered by thousands;
while in this city and suburbs there
were one hundred and fifty, most of
whom had formerly practiced Allo-
pathy. In some Of the States, Homeo-
pathy had been sanctioned and cncour-
aged by special legislative enactments.
Homeopathic county societies were in
Icorporated in this State, and there
were two hourishing Homeopathic col.
leges in this country.
The Mississippi State Hospital at
Matches, and very recently the Chicago
City Hospital, had been placed under
the charge of Homeopathic physicians,
while in our own city, several private
charities, among which was mentioned
the Protestant Half. Orphan Asylum
showing a wonderful Improvement in
the health Of their inmates since they
had come under the Homeopathic treat
ment.
The minority Committe contend that
among the higher classes of citizens
nearly oDe-holf are Homeopathic, while
at the same time the numbers of the
/ sick poor who apply at the private dis
pensaries for relief were steadily in
creasing.
The minority state that the MAORI
| ty report omitted to mention that of
the Investigating Commission oftwelve
athicphysicians, appointed in 18-
70 by the King Of Naples, in addition
to the report of the majority of that
Commission, that Homeopathic treat
mcnt was of no effect; that Drs. Mar
chessani and Allossi, two Of the Com
mission, were thereby converted to
Homeopathy, and published o pam.
lphlet in its defence; and second, they
had omitted to mention that State pa
per was issued by the Government,
censuring the Commissioners for re-
porting in accordance with their pref
udices, and not in accordance with the
clin'cal results; and third that the Gov,
eminent dccreed bcncoforth physicians
should be left free to choose what
method oftroatmeht they should adopt.