The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1868-03-18
Spread Of Specific Homeopathy.

Some fifteen wears ago, DR.. Humphreys,
then Professor of Theory and Practice In
the Homeopathic Medical College at Phils
delphia, and occupying an eminent position
as a practitioner OF that school, made a most
important discovery. 1t was, that by com
bining certain classes of Homeopathic med
icines, he could form specifies for the cure OF
certain diseases. Simple rs the announce
ment seems 10 be, and universally as il had
been accepted by the old school, it had al
WAYS been denied by the Homeopathic
They held that the one only medicine must
be chosen, and that in accordance with its
mptoms, and any deviation from this opin-
ion was beresy. 1t was in vain that DR..
Humphreys showed them that the one bnsi-
ness of the physician was to cure the sick.
That he was not created for the rise or fall
OF Samuel Hahnemnnn, or any other ssvsu
dead or living. That the prevalence of this
or that system was Of far less Importance
than the prevalence of truth, and that he
demonstrated in a thousand instances the
prompt cure of old and serious diseases by
his specihcs. That if the cases of specifics
which he put up and sold differed from those
which had been made and sold BY Homeo-
pathic physicians from the beginning, j,
was chiefly in their simplicity, freedom from
technicality, and perfect adaptation to popu.
lar use. All these incontrovertible positions
availed but little. He was voted hereto
and left to the uncovenanted mercies OF the
faithless.
But the Doctor was not made OF that KIND
of stuff that willis at a rebuke, or CONSIDERS
the opinions of medical men the end of con-
troversy. He simply took an appeal to the
court of highest jurisdiction--the people
Acting upon the axiom that It Is the duty OF
everv man to do all the good he can, and OF
every physician to cure whatever OF disease,
relieve whatever of pain, and prolong what
ever of life he may, he sought the means
whereby he could place the avails OF his
knowledre and skill before the people In the
manner hest calculated to reach the largest
| number and accomplish the greatest amount
of GOOD. To this end be prepared his ser.
les of Homeopathic Specifics, some thirty
odd in number, and accompanying them
| with simple directions for use, placed them
before the public. But it was not all plain
sailing. Not every patent medicine Is Q
success-not one in fffy. And though the
curative powers Of the Specific was unques-
toned. vet the people had to be convinced,
and the loud-mouthed opposition OF silent
sneer of the physician to be overcome. And
30 with varying success tue oa'ue went on,
and at times had it not been for the personal
| assiduity aud professional ability of the Doc
tor, the cause would have failed, and his
| Specifics have proved an abortion. But as
truth must ultimately prevail, and every
good find its level, so these Specifics gradu.
ally grew in favor from year to year, as theil
value became known, and their use extended
until at this time they are probably the mos
| extensively used medicines in this country
For the last ten years the Doctor has oc
cupied his well known premises on Broad
way, near Prince street. an the entire build