Constantine Hering
Encyclopedia
Constantine Hering was an early pioneer of homeopathy
in the United States.
, Saxony
, and studied medicine at the University of Leipzig
where his conversion to homeopathy occurred. He had been engaged to write a book confuting homeopathy, but upon reading Samuel Hahnemann
's works, became a convert, sought out the author, and became his personal friend. They began corresponding in 1824. Later, Hering was treated for a dissecting wound with the homeopathic remedy Arsenic and the finger was saved, further provoking his interest.
He was for a time instructor in mathematics
and natural science
in Blochmann's Institute, Dresden
. Following his graduation from the University of Würzburg
in 1826 he received a commission from the King of Saxony to travel to Surinam
on a natural history expedition. He settled there for a number of years and commenced practice before emigrating to Pennsylvania
in January 1833.
He was one of the pioneers of homeopathy in the United States of America and helped to disseminate homeopathy there. He founded a homeopathic school, the first of its kind in any country. From 1845 until 1869 he filled the chairs of institutes of medicine and materia medica in the Philadelphia College of Homeopathy. He devoted much study to cures for the bites of venomous serpents and for hydrophobia
, and developed many of Hahnemann's theories.
He introduced a number of homeopathic remedies to the materia medica
, including Lachesis, Psorinum and Glonoine.
.
Homeopathy
Homeopathy is a form of alternative medicine in which practitioners claim to treat patients using highly diluted preparations that are believed to cause healthy people to exhibit symptoms that are similar to those exhibited by the patient...
in the United States.
Biography
Hering was born in OschatzOschatz
Oschatz is a town in the district Nordsachsen, in the Free State of Saxony, Germany. It is located 60 km east of Leipzig and 60 km west of Dresden.- Site and Climate :...
, Saxony
Saxony
The Free State of Saxony is a landlocked state of Germany, contingent with Brandenburg, Saxony Anhalt, Thuringia, Bavaria, the Czech Republic and Poland. It is the tenth-largest German state in area, with of Germany's sixteen states....
, and studied medicine at the University of Leipzig
University of Leipzig
The University of Leipzig , located in Leipzig in the Free State of Saxony, Germany, is one of the oldest universities in the world and the second-oldest university in Germany...
where his conversion to homeopathy occurred. He had been engaged to write a book confuting homeopathy, but upon reading Samuel Hahnemann
Samuel Hahnemann
Christian Friedrich Samuel Hahnemann was a German physician, known for creating an alternative form of medicine called homeopathy.- Early life :Christian Friedrich Samuel Hahnemann was born in Meissen, Saxony near Dresden...
's works, became a convert, sought out the author, and became his personal friend. They began corresponding in 1824. Later, Hering was treated for a dissecting wound with the homeopathic remedy Arsenic and the finger was saved, further provoking his interest.
He was for a time instructor in mathematics
Mathematics
Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
and natural science
Natural science
The natural sciences are branches of science that seek to elucidate the rules that govern the natural world by using empirical and scientific methods...
in Blochmann's Institute, Dresden
Dresden
Dresden is the capital city of the Free State of Saxony in Germany. It is situated in a valley on the River Elbe, near the Czech border. The Dresden conurbation is part of the Saxon Triangle metropolitan area....
. Following his graduation from the University of Würzburg
University of Würzburg
The University of Würzburg is a university in Würzburg, Germany, founded in 1402. The university is a member of the distinguished Coimbra Group.-Name:...
in 1826 he received a commission from the King of Saxony to travel to Surinam
Suriname
Suriname , officially the Republic of Suriname , is a country in northern South America. It borders French Guiana to the east, Guyana to the west, Brazil to the south, and on the north by the Atlantic Ocean. Suriname was a former colony of the British and of the Dutch, and was previously known as...
on a natural history expedition. He settled there for a number of years and commenced practice before emigrating to Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
in January 1833.
He was one of the pioneers of homeopathy in the United States of America and helped to disseminate homeopathy there. He founded a homeopathic school, the first of its kind in any country. From 1845 until 1869 he filled the chairs of institutes of medicine and materia medica in the Philadelphia College of Homeopathy. He devoted much study to cures for the bites of venomous serpents and for hydrophobia
Hydrophobia
Hydrophobia or hydrophobe may refer to:* Rabies, especially a set of symptoms of the later stages of an infection, in which the victim has difficulty swallowing, shows panic when presented with liquids to drink, and cannot quench his or her thirst....
, and developed many of Hahnemann's theories.
He introduced a number of homeopathic remedies to the materia medica
Homeopathic Materia Medica
Homeopathic Materia Medica are encyclopedia of materials which may be used to prepare homeopathic medicines. They list the materials along with details of the provings which establish the symptoms and conditions for which they are claimed to be suitable...
, including Lachesis, Psorinum and Glonoine.
Works
He was the author of a number of important homeopathic works, including the 10 volume Guiding Symptoms, which he did not live to complete. He was joint editor of the Medical Correspondent (Allentown, 1835-1836), of the Miscellanies of Homeopathy (Philadelphia, 1839), of the North American Homœopathic Quarterly (New York, 1851-1852), and of the Homœopathic News (1854), and founded and edited the American Journal of Homœopathic Materia Medica. He published many books in both German and English, including:- Rise and Progress of Homoeopathy (Philadelphia, 1834), which was translated into several languages
- The homoeopathist (1835-1838)
- Condensed Materia Medica (1837)
- Effects of Snake Poison (1837)
- Guiding Symptoms and Analytical Therapeutics
- Domestic Physician (1851)
- American Drug Provings (vol. i., Leipsic, 1853)
Family
His father was the German composer Carl Gottlieb Hering. His nephew was the physiologist Ewald HeringEwald Hering
Karl Ewald Konstantin Hering was a German physiologist who did much research into color vision and spatial perception...
.