New-York tribune., 1900-07-10
OBITUARY..
DIR. FREDERICK HUMPHREYS.

Dr. Frederick Humphreys for many years a resi-
dent OF this city, and the manufacturers OF
Humphreys Specifics. died Sunday at Monmouth
Beach in his eighty-hfth year. after a lingering
Illness. DR. Humphreys born In Marcelius,
N Y on March Il. 1916. He received an education
in the public schools and at Auburn Academy. For
two years he a clerk IN a store In Auburn, and
then, at the age Of sixteen, went South with MS
brother Julius and an uncle TO engage in the clock
business which he followed for three years. In
1897 he married Miss CorneHa Palmer, Of Auburn,
who died on June f. 1910, leaving one SON After
teaching school at Chilcothe Ohio for three years
studied for the ministry of the Methodist Church
and for FIVE years itinerant minister, serv-
ing a wear successfully in WorJhington. Ohio, and
at Cayuga Cortlandville, New-HartfOrd and Utica
In 1s45 he was ordained an Elder at Utica In
1s43 he married Frances Maria SperTy, OF Lud-
Iowville N Y In 1874 he settled in Utica and united
with his father. DR.. Erastus Humphreys. in tha
practise of medicine. The winters OF 1913 1919 and
1850 were passed at the Homeopathic Medical Col
lege, in Philadelphia. From 1S4s 10 1852 Dr. Hum
phreys made a careful investigation, the results OF
which he published in the Proving of the Apis
Melifica; or, Poison of the Honey Bee" He en-
ployed his office assistant. George Washburn. IN
catching these insects alive and he extracted lher
poison from them oy inclosing them in a large
mouthed bottle, shaking them until they were en-
ragged, and pouring alcohol over them, thus secur-
Ing the mother tincture of the virus. Armed with
this novel infusion he began series of experiments
by administering the medicine to himself his wife,
devoted himself to careful observation OF the re-
suits Then at a meeting Of the Central New-York
Homeopathic Medical Society, he presented his dis
coveries in address Of great interest The
tincture distributed among the physicians
present, and they co-oPerated with Dr. Humphreys
by sending him their reports Of symptoms and
cures In 1852 he issued the monograph above re-
ferred to- and is credited with having made therein
one Of the important contributions 70 the mater1a
1nedica of the homeopathic school DR.. Constantine
in r1a in
ENLARGED the work by adding the recorded results
Of Bee stngs" and published the whole as an i'm
portant addition to "Americanische Artzneiprufen-
gen"
Dr. Humphreyss original proving afterward
gave the profession of its most valuable
remedies for dropsy. diphtheria angina. malignant
scarlet fever, kidney diseases, ophthalmia and
cerebral and pulmonary congestion He also
brought to the attention Of his profession
preparation of ''nux cum sale as a valuable rem
edy in intermittents. Three years later, with the
aid of his medical class in Philadelphia, he proved
the "Plantago Major" thus adding another proved
remedy to the Materta Medica- This was the
period Of the formation Of public opinion favorable
to the new school of medicine. DR.. Humphreys
was one OF the most prominent in the formation
of the Central New-York Homeopathic Medical
Society and in its reorganization as the New-York
State Homeopathic Medical Society Later he
was elected chairman of the Bureau for the Aug
mentation and Improvement of the Materia Medica
of the American Institute of Homeopathy.
In 1853 Dr. Humphreys removed to New-York City,
and was soon called to the chair of homeopathic
Institutes and practice of medicine at his old COL
lege in Philadelphia. where he served four years.
For some years he had been maturing a plan for
the preparation Of homeopathic medicines for
popular use, and had invented a number of cOnbi-
nations, which he termed his homeopathic Spe-
ciics'' Many of his professional associates misun-
derstood him, and they deserted and denounced
him.
Igious work He organized the Methodist Episco
pal Church IN West Utica, N Y, bought the edt-
fce, made the first payment and secured the pas
tor. He active in the building OF Trinity
Church in Asbury Park. and ett1cient in PLACING
the Church Of the Heavenly Rest, in New-YOrk
City, upon satisfactory basis. He had been
warden there many years
Always fond of Literary work, he deyoted sixteen
preparation Of a genealOgy of the Humphreys
family. For many years he has been constant
contributor TO "Our Animal Friends a paper
founded by Henry Bergh. the phianthrOpist-
DR.. Humphreys leaves two sons, Frederick H
and the Rev T. Landon Humphreys. Dr..
Humphreys home at No. 30 West Thirty
ninth-st. He had, besides. summer home at
Monmouth Beach and winter home in Southern
Georgia.
F. L. Humphreys his son. entered the Lower Bay
yesterday, flying her flag at halfmast on account
of the death OF DR.. Humphreys.