THE ORIGINS OF THE LIGA MEDICORUM HOMEOPATHICA INTERNATIONALIS: CARROLL DUNHAM, A.M., M.D., AND THE WORLD'S HOMEOPATHIC CONVENTION OF 1876

By Sandra Chase, M.D.

May 29 through June 2, 1997, are the dates for the 52nd Congress of the Liga Medicorum Homeopathica Internationalis. The International Homeopathic Medical League is a worldwide association of homeopathic medical physicians, dentists, veterinarians, pharmacists and members of allied contributing professions which was established officially in 1925 under Swiss law. But its roots extend as deeply into the American Homeopathic soil as the United States of 1866.

As I indicated in my paper, The Southern Homeopathic Medical Association: 1885-1892 (Journal of the American Institute of Homeopathy, Vol. 88, No. 4, Winter 1995-96), presented at the 49th Congress of LMHI 03/95 in New Delhi, homeopathic medicine was first practiced in the USA in New York City by Dr. Hans Burch Gram in 1825, having brought it back from Copenhagen where he had been a student of Dr. Hans Christian Lund from 1821(1). By the end of "the first epoch of homeopathy" (1825-1835) in the US, homeopathic practice was limited to the states of New York and Pennsylvania where there were German-speaking physicians who could read the German homeopathic texts which were all that were available until 1836 (1)."1 It is hardly surprising, then, that New York City was the site of the founding of the American Institute of Homeopathy in 1844 at the end of the second epoch of homeopathy in the USA(1).

Twenty-two years later, the Nineteenth Session of the American Institute of Homeopathy was held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, June 6 and 7, 1866. The pertinent event at that congregation of the members of the AIH was a Resolution offered by Dr. T. S. Verdi of Washington, D.C.

Resolved, That the American Institute of Homeopathy invites the homeopathic physicians of Europe to form, in each respective country a national institute similar to the American Institute; and that these institutes may communicate with each other, and exchange, as far as possible, homeopathic publications.
Also that once in five or ten years, these various Institutes shall assemble by delegates in some large city, to hold a general congress to promote the interests of homeopathy.
In support of this, Dr. Verdi said, 'This resolution, gentlemen, if carried according to my intent, will be of great value to our profession.
'The forces which these institutes would concentrate at the General Homeopathic Institute would radiate again far and wide; and would, in one mode or another, impart to every member of the profession, however remote, whether in a hamlet or in a metropolis, that moral strength and courage, that fearfulness and self-respect, which would render him respectable and respected even by that great majority, the autocratic members of the old school.
'It would disseminate knowledge quickly. "The publications would be constantly interchanged among the several institutes, each of which should have a committee of courses, to whom these works would be referred for approval or condemnation. This interchange of publications would not necessitate expenses; for every author would willingly present a number of copies of his work for distributions among the various institutes. Useful extracts from books, pamphlets, or magazines, could be recommended to the medical press for publication. In this way, the physicians of the remotest village would be put in contact with the best medical literature in the world. In this way also a great deal of medical chaff would be winnowed out, the better authors protected, and the student supplied with works that could discipline his mind, and add to his usefulness. Each institute might even publish a journal with advantage to itself and the profession.
'The idea of holding a general congress every five or ten years, to be composed of the ablest physicians of America, England, France, Italy, Germany, Russia, etc., is so grand that it requires no advocacy. 'What an amount of information we should gain! The ambition of eminent physicians would be stimulated by the honor which every one would concede to the delegates to the great congress. Thus can we elevate our science and our profession beyond derision, cavil, or contempt. In such ways we must aim to make the institute useful, and trust to success to give the homeopath that prestige which venerable institutions of past centuries have long made the monopoly of that which glories in the name of the 'old school' (2)."

The resolution was adopted, and all necessary correspondence on this subject was referred to the General Secretary.2
Apparently, nothing concrete came of this Resolution for the next twelve months, for, when we review the Proceedings of the Twentieth Session of the American Institute of Homeopathy which was held in New York City in June 4, 5, 6, and 7, 1867, we find the following entry.

T. S. Verdi, M.D., of Washington moved that the subject of establishing institutes in other countries similar to, and to be in correspondence with, the American Institute, which was presented at the last session, be referred to a special committee. The motion was carried, and Drs. Carroll Dunham, T. S. Verdi, I. T. Talbot, and B. De Gersdorff were appointed as the committee (3).

Who were these men who were instrumental in initiating the effort which achieved the successful mounting of the first World's Congress of Homeopathy in Philadelphia, 1876, and culminated, ultimately, in the establishment of the Liga Medicorum Homeopathica Internationalis, 1925?

Tullio Suzzara Verdi, M.D., was practicing in Washington, D.C., at the time that he offered his resolution in 1866 at the Nineteenth Session of the American Institute of Homeopathy. A native of Italy, he was born in 1829 in Mantua. Having been educated at the Mantuan Gymnasium of Science and Literature, he joined the Sardinian Army in 1848. At that time, King Charles Albert was advancing into Lombardy against the Austrians. However, in 1849, the Italian army suffered a disastrous defeat at Novara and T. S. Verdi fled to Switzerland and then to France to avoid imprisonment. From there he was forced to go on to England as the President of the French Republic Louis Napoleon would not allow political exiles asylum. Throughout this journey of escape, vigilance of the Austrian government precluded any communication with his family (4).

Having resolved to become an American citizen from the writings of his countryman Botta, he paid his passage out of his last thirty dollars and sailed for New York with five dollars in his pocket. After arriving in the US, he met Garibaldi in 1850 who gave him letters of introduction to George Washington Green, Professor of Modern Languages at Brown University in Rhode Island. Thus, he was received well in Providence, there supporting himself by the teaching of French and Italian, learning English along the way.

After only two years, he had learned English well enough to lecture on the Italian revolution. In 1853, Professor Greene, having resigned, Verdi was offered the post which made him comfortable enough to send for his two exiled brothers. Throughout his professorship, he studied medicine in his leisure hours under Dr. Okie, an eminent Providence homeopath. In 1854, he attended medical lectures in Philadelphia from which he received diplomas from both the allopathic and the homeopathic schools. While he practiced successfully first in Newport, R. I., in 1857, he moved to Washington, D.C., to seek a larger stage. In 1860, he married Miss Dewey of Pittsburgh, the granddaughter of Major Ebenezer Dewey of General Washington's staff and the grand-niece of the Honorable Judge Williams, who had served as Secretary of War, Minister to Russia, and Judge of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania (4). Dr. Verdi's office was located at 14th and H Streets (6). Dr. T. S. Verdi was elected to the staff of the National Homeopathic Hospital after it was created in 1881 (7). As well as being a member of the American Institute of Homeopathy and of the American Union Academy of Literature, Science and Art, in March, 1871, he was given a Presidential appointment as a member of the first and only Board of Health of the District of Columbia created by Congress. That Board elected him Secretary, Health Officer of the District and Chairman of the Sanitary Commission. It was his energy that led to the obtaining from Congress of the Charter for the Washington Homeopathic Medical Society, for which he served two years as president, which granted it all of the rights and privileges of the older societies, plus the unique power to grant licenses (6). He also orchestrated the dismissal of Dr. Van Aernam from the office of Pension Surgeon and the admission of homeopathic physicians as examining surgeons for pensions. He was Mr. Seward's physician in April, 1865 (4).

Historic papers from a collection maintained by Julia M. Green, M.D., Historian of the Washington Homeopathic Medical Society, describe Dr. Verdi as a "bright man, energetic, hardworking, had a large practice, but more of a politician than a doctor; he would steal patients."(5) He was said to be always out of money. The statement also is made that he "became a morphine fiend."(5) He returned to Italy: "He did not practice much after that."(5)

Carroll Dunham, A.M., M.D., was born on the 29th of October 1828, in New York City, the youngest of four sons of Edward Wood Dunham and Maria Smyth Parker. Both parents having come from old, prominent families of New Brunswick, New Jersey, Edward Dunham moved his young family to New York from New Brunswick in 1820 (8). Mr. Dunham was a highly regarded and prosperous merchant of strictest integrity and most exact business methods, a man of learning and culture who provided for his son a complete education (9). He retired from business in 1853 having honorably acquired an ample fortune, afterward becoming president of the Corn Exchange Bank which post he held until death (8). Mrs. Dunham, a lady of gentleness combined with prudence and firmness, died in a cholera epidemic (1832 (8) or 1834 (9)) when Carroll was a young boy (4 years old (8) or 6 years old (9). He almost died then, as well (9). Shortly thereafter, the family moved to Brooklyn and, at an appropriate age, Carroll was sent to boarding school (9). In 1843, he entered Columbia College (8) at the age of fifteen (9). In 1847, he graduated from that institution with honors (9).

Carroll Dunham was studious even as a boy, preferring reading to play, especially if the latter were boisterous, but he was naturally and always cheerful and friendly (9). He inherited the gentleness, firmness and prudence of his mother and the business aptitude, energy and uprightness of his father (8).

In 1847, as were his and his father's wishes, young Dunham began the study of medicine under Dr. Whittaker, an "old school" physician of much repute in the training of medical students (9). While pursuing his medical studies, he was cured of a serious illness by a homeopathic physician after eminent "regular" practitioners had failed to help him, which event deeply impressed the senior Dunham and himself. He then took up the study of homeopathic medicine, comparing the two schools (8). He received his medical degree in 1850 from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of New York at Crosby Street (8). whose courses and clinics he had faithfully attended all the while (8). While he was there, his prior mental training and innate ability permitted him to outperform his fellow students but he would assist those with difficulties and he took to explaining the lecturers of each day to a select group drawn to him in their need for aid (8).

After graduation, young Dr. Dunham traveled to Philadelphia to meet Dr. Constantine Hering, recognized as one of the most learned physicians of the new school. He not only gained valuable teaching and indispensable advice, he said, "I gained the most helpful, generous, and genial friend I have ever made (8)."

In that same year, he left for Europe to amplify his medical education. He was an "interne" at Dublin's Lying-in-Hospital and studied the Stoker treatment of fevers at Meath Hospital. While in Dublin, he suffered a life-threatening dissecting wound and, when the resident physician had given up on him, he turned to homeopathy, curing himself with Lachesis (8).

Next he went to Paris where he studied under Bouillard, Velpeau, Trousseau, Ricord, Simon, Heurteloup, among others, all the while visiting the Homeopathic Hospital headed by Tessier (8). Continuing his studies, he went briefly to Berlin and then on to Vienna where he remained for several months attending hospital clinics of Wurmb and the lecturers of Kaspar on Materia Medica.
From there, he went to Münster and became the devoted pupil of Dr. Von Benninghausen who learned to appreciate his tireless industry and active intelligence (8). He presented himself daily at Benninghausen's practice, taking meticulous notes of cases seen and results achieved (8).

Throughout his European stay, he had written daily to his father with whom he had an unusual degree of affection and confidence. Thus, he became a clear and concise writer which stood him in good stead for articles, as well as for correspondence, the latter of which he maintained lifelong with many eminent homeopaths from around the world with whom he easily had become friends (8).

In 1851, he returned to the U.S.A. thoroughly convinced of the veracity of homeopathic medicine and possessed of a predigious knowledge of its materia medica for which he had a special aptitude, as well as a marvellous understanding of the drug action in the human being (9). He established a practice in Brooklyn. He did not need the financial rewards of practice for his own support nor did his less than robust health lend itself to the rigors of private practice, yet he pursued it out of humane motives and generous enthusiasm to bring benefit to the sick and the suffering through the application of the considerable theoretical knowledge that he had attained (9). His success in Brooklyn was so great that Dr. P. P. Wells, who had been the Dunham family physician for many years, said, "He was always my friend, never my pupil (8)."

In February, 1854, he married Miss Harriet E. Kellogg, daughter of Edward and Esther F. Kellogg, a woman of remarkable beauty and exceptional mind. They were so close that they warned their children that the death of one would be followed closely by that of the other, which was born out by hers less than a year after his, during which time she collected his writings for publication (8).

In 1855 or 56, he traveled to Europe again for health reasons after 5 or 6 years of successful practice in Brooklyn punctuated by spells of illness, one lasting several months. He spent several weeks in Münster with Benninghausen, renewing his studies there, spending the better part of each day at his office. He traveled to Italy for the winter where he learned Italian and brushed up on anatomy (9).

In 1857, he returned to Brooklyn but he suffered a tendency to a disease of the throat (9) which prompted him to move to Newburgh, N.Y. in 1858. There, he had not intended to practice, but had such remarkable success in a few cases pressed on him by urgency that he soon built up a busy professional practice (8). However, in 1863 (9) or 64 (8) he again became ill, traveling to the West Indies and other places seeking health and relief. He developed cardiac rheumatism and returned to New York City. Leading specialists of the old school whose advice was sought pronounced him not long for this world. He then consulted Dr. Constantine Hering who, after meticulous examination of the symptoms prescribed the single remedy, Lithium carbonicum which promptly cured him (8). Soon after, he moved to Irvington-on-Hudson (8) described as a picturesque, beautiful village wherein he resided until his death (9). But he maintained an office and a consulting practice in New York City on certain days of the week (8).

In 1871, Dr. Dunham first broached the possibility at an American Institute of Homeopathy meeting of an international congress of homeopaths on the occasion of the American centennial in 1876 which idea was received enthusiastically and a committee was appointed with him as the chairman (9). But, his health failed him again and, in the fall of 1874, he left for Europe, this time accompanied by his family. He was so doubtful of his quest that he resigned all of his positions of responsibility before leaving. Nevertheless, while in Europe, he courted the European homeopaths on behalf of the concept of the World's Congress (9).

In 1875, he returned to the U.S.A. finding himself so unexpectedly improved in his health, strength, and spirits that he took up his previous occupations (9). That year, he was honored with his election to the Presidency of the American Institute for 1876 so as to be so in the year of the World's Congress (8). On April 27, 1876, he wrote to a professional friend about that Congress saying, "The responses of our friends from abroad are very gratifying. Two years ago I had not much confidence; but when I found that the thing was to be, I determined that it should be a success." This letter contained a list taking up 1,456 pages of large paper of foreign communications in a half dozen languages. More communications came in May and in early June (8). He performed or personally supervised the translating, abridging, correcting, proofing of this voluminous material into a published work. In addition, he managed the general arrangements of the convention in Philadelphia.8 He wrote at the time, "Of course, I have convention on the brain. I eat, sleep and live it; and have put some of my best blood into it; but hope to have some left, when all is over (8)." Ironic words, as it turned out.

During the sessions, held at the end of June, 1876, the heat was frequently 100°F in the shade, but he stuck to his post, conscientiously performing all of his duties though in danger of prostration daily (8). Afterwards, he left Philadelphia for the Upper Lakes, exhausted by his efforts. He returned much improved but immediately contracted diphtheria from which his convalescence was slow. He resumed his responsibilities too early, but found it impossible not to do so in the face of unfulfilled duties (8). His strength, never recovered, waxed and waned, until he took to his bed for the last time on December 2, 1876. He was cared for by his family and by Dr. P. P. Wells and Dr. Joslin until February 18, 1877, when he died in his sleep. Both physicians laid his demise at the feet of no disease but the exhaustion produced by the excessive labors related to the World's Congress (8).

Dr. Dunham was editor of the "American Homeopathic Review" from 1860-63. In 1865, he was made Professor of Materia Medica at New York Homeopathic Medical College and later became its Dean, reorganizing it and establishing it permanently and prosperously. He was an original incorporator of the New York State Homeopathic Asylum for the Insane, the first institution of its kind in the world. He was President of the New York County Homeopathic Medical Society, always attending meetings with small scientific papers in his pockets case of "no-shows (9)."

The American Institute of Homeopathy initial Committee on Foreign Correspondence named in 1867 included the aforementioned T. S. Verdi, who originally made the proposal, and Carroll Dunham, as well as I. T. Talbot of Boston, M.D., and B. De Gersdorff, Salem, MA. Their report was made to the Twenty-First Session of the AIH, St. Louis, June 2-5, 1868. It indicated that soon after the close of the previous year's session, they had devised a circular letter to be sent to officers of homeopathic societies and individual homeopathic physicians around the world. This circular letter was translated into French and into German, as well. Dr. T. S. Verdi was to write to the French and Italian associations and physicians; Dr. B. De Gersdorff was to correspond with the German ones and Drs. I. T. Talbot and Carroll Dunham were to address those in Great Britain, Spain, South America, Australia, and the West Indies. Dunham and Talbot reported sending the circular letter to the Homeopathic Society of Brazil, Dr. Muralles, Secretary; to 24 physicians at Valparaiso, Buenos Aires, Pernambuco, Bahia, Santiago, Montevideo, Maranham, Rio Grande, and Rio De Janeiro; to the homeopathic society at Madrid, Dr. Nuñez, President, and to 43 physicians in Spain; to 13 physicians is the Spanish and the British West Indies, 3 physicians in Australia, 1 physician at Cape of Good Hope; and to 7 homeopathic societies and 178 physicians in Great Britain. Replies were received only from England in the form of letters from several physicians acknowledging the circular letter and extending expressions of good will and sympathy for the cause. Several of the British journals republished the circular with their approval and willingness to cooperate. Dr. Moore of Liverpool who was dispatched as a delegate to this Institute meeting brings the charge of the Liverpool Society to unite with the American Institute, but express doubt that there is sufficient strength now to form a national association in the U.K (10).

Dr. T. S. Verdi received a lengthy letter from a Dr. Guiseppe Bruni of Milan enthusiastically detailing the institution of a plan beginning in Milan, then Venice, then Turin, Genoa, and Florence, as well as Rome, to organize Italian homeopathic physicians in associations in the manner delineated in the circular letter. It seemed to spark a renewal for a dormant homeopathy at the time in Italy. They named the Rivista Omiopathica published by Dr. Pompili as the official publication of their societies and Rome as the seat of their "National Institute (10)."

In those same Transactions, appears a Report offered by Bushrod W. James, M.D., who had been sent as a delegate of the AIH to the International Homeopathic Medical Congress in Paris, August, 1867. That Congress which convened in 9 August had delegates from various sections of France, as well as from Spain, Italy, Germany, Austria, Russia, England, and the USA. The main topic of discussion upon which no consensus was derived was that of dose. He donated a copy of the Proceedings to the AIH. He also called for another International Homeopathic Medical Congress to be held in a large U.S. city to which representatives from all of the places around the world where homeopathy existed would be invited at which time standards of homeopathic medical education could be discussed, among other points, to advance the homeopathic science and profession (10). Let us remember, that at the time, the highest level of homeopathic medical education was in the U.S.A. - the Homeopathic Medical College in Philadelphia had expanded to a three year program which the students were encouraged to take.

The Committee on Foreign Correspondence gave reports at each of the subsequent Annual Sessions of the American Institute of Homeopathy from 1869 (22nd) through 1875 (28th), except for 1823 (26th) and 1874 (27th). Initially, they received few responses and things did not look encouraging, but they did begin to get more and more responses and, subsequent to the receipt of the AIH circular letter in foreign lands, the pot began to be stirred. In 1867-1868 had come correspondence from the British and the Italians, the latter of whom did organize themselves in the manner of the American Institute (10). In 1869, they reported on communications received from the British, as well as an official response from the Homeopathy Medical Society of France. Dr. Gersdorff was able to speak of the state of homeopathy in Germany where, despite the distractions of German politics, the Exposition in Paris and the Medical Congress, the Central-Verein attempted to conform itself more to a working institute with bureaus in the manner of the AIH (11). At the 23rd Session (1870), having received letters from England, France Porto Rico (sic), and Calcutta, the Committee had the individuals designated AIH corresponding members. They also had heard from a Senor Don Dr. Pablo Fuentes y Herrara detailing the new "Mexican Homeopathic Institute," enclosing its constitution and a list of Officers (12). But Dr. John Moore wrote revealing the proposed creation of a British Homeopathic Institute later that year (12). Finally, from Prague, Bohemia came a lengthy letter from Professor Dr. Kafka describing the status of homeopathy in that part of the world, not what it was in the U.S. The 1871 (24th Session) Report by the Committee on Foreign Correspondence included news of the publication of a Pharmacopeia in the UK and an overview of their hospitals, including London Homeopathic, already 21 years old (13).

In that same Philadelphia session, Dr. Pemberton Dudley rose to propose a resolution that a committee be appointed to consider the subject of a proposed International Homeopathic Congress to be held on the serendipitous occasion of the American Centennial Celebration in Philadelphia in 1876. This resolution was signed by Constantine Hering, M.D., Philadelphia, Carroll Dunham, M.D., New York; Robert J. McClatchey, M.D., Philadelphia; William Tod Helmuth, M.D., New York; Bushrod W. James, M.D., Philadelphia; I. T. Talbot, M.D., Boston; W. M. Williamson, M.D., Philadelphia; Timothy F. Allen, M.D., New York; Tullio S. Verdi, M.D., Washington, D.C.; R. Ludlam, M.D., Chicago; Pemberton Dudley, M.D., Philadelphia; E. M. Kellogg, M,D., New York; Henry N. Guernsey, M.D., Philadelphia; Henry N. Smith, M.D., New York; Seth R. Beckwith, M.D., Cincinnati; and T. C. Duncan, M.D., Chicago. This resolution was adopted and its signers made the Committee (13).

In his Report to the Twenty-Fifth Session of the American Institute of Homeopathy, held in Washington, D.C., May 21, 22, 23, and 24, 1872, Dr. Dunham mentioned the status of homeopathic physicians in Cuba. Civil War there had driven Dr. José J. Navarro, a graduate of the New York Homeopathic College to Jamaica and a Dr. Houard who claimed U. S. citizenship but had long resided in Cuba was freed from a long, harsh incarceration in Havanna (11) after U.S. government intervention(14). Dr. Dunham went on to review the improved state of organization for homeopathy that had occurred in the several countries subsequent to the mailing of the circular letter of 1867: National Associations had been established in Italy and Switzerland and revived in Britain, France, and Germany (14).

The Committee on a World's Convention of Homeopathic Physician's also presented its report at the Twenty-Fifth Session (1872) of the American Institute. The Chairman Dr. Constantine Hering, not being present, the report was made by Dr. Carroll Dunham. In short, the Committee endorsed the concept hoping thereby to initiate action leading to a "COMPLETE MATERIA MEDICA and an Organon adapted to the actual state of natural science . . . " as well as to resolve certain questions on which there is not yet agreement(14). The Report concluded with a Resolution calling for the American Institute of Homeopathy to mount this Congress and a Resolution calling for a Committee of Arrangements to be named containing one member from each State represented in the membership of the Institute to which number that committee may name another member from each State represented and that the President should appoint from the city of Philadelphia seven more members to serve as an Executive Committee to attend to local details under the direction of the Committee of Arrangements. A full report was to be forthcoming at each meeting of the Institute(14). This Report was accepted and the resolutions were adopted unanimously(14). It was moved and agreed that AIH President I. T. Talbot be made the representative from Massachusetts(14).

The 1872 Committee on Foreign Correspondence had no members present at the Twenty-Sixth Session of the American Institute held in Cleveland, Ohio, June 3, 4, 5, and 6; 1873 and no Report had been submitted. It was moved to continue the Committee for another year(15).
Dr. Pemberton Dudley, Secretary of the Committee on the World's Homeopathic Convention presented their report. Therein it was learned by the members of the Institute that the Committee's Chairman Dr. Carroll Dunham had submitted his resignation as a member and as chairman due to ill health and travel to Europe. The committee decided to table Dr. Dunham's resignation and create the office of vice-chairman to which position they named Dr. I. T. Talbot of Boston. Dr. O. S. Wood of Omaha, Nebraska, was appointed to the committee in place of Dr. W. H. H. Sisson, deceased, and Dr. E. C. Franklin, St. Louis, instead of Dr. T. G. Comstock who declined on account of being away from home. Additional appointments were made as follows, J. H. Jones, M.D., Bradford, VT; George W. Swazey, M. D. Springfield, MA; Henry D. Paine, M.D., New York; G. W. Pope, M. D., Washington, D.C.; J. H. Way, M.D.; Nebraska City, Nebraska; I. Lukens, M.D., Newport, DE; E. J. Frazer, M.D., San Francisco, CA; J. M. Schley, M.D. ,11 Savannah, GA; and A. E. Higbee, M.D., Redwing, MN. Two additions to the Executive Committee were requested and granted, Drs. A. R. Thomas and Thomas Moore. A liaison committee was appointed: Drs. Talbot, McClatchey, and Dudley to deal with the Centennial Commission(15).

The Committee had received correspondence from the British Homeopathic Association naming two of their number, Drs. William Bayer and Richard Hughes, to confer with the AIH Committee on the Convention(15).

There were no members of the Committee on Foreign Correspondence present at the Twenty-Seventh Session of the Institute held at Niagara Falls, NY on June 9, 10, 11, and 12, 1874, so the President called on Dr. Carroll Dunham to share some correspondence form Italy. Dr. Dunham presented two letters from Dr. Tomasso Cigliano dated March 1st and May 14th, 1874, in which the writer announced that his journal Il Dinamico would be the official publication for the Neopolitan Homeopathic Medical Society, one of several such societies formed in Italy after the receipt of the circular letter of 1867 from the AIH, and also expressed his gratitude for being made a corresponding member of the American Institute of Homeopathy(16).

Dr. Dunham, as the Chairman, gave the Report of the Committee on the World's Homeopathic Convention. They recommended that the bureaus and committees appointed in 1875 give their reports in 1877 and in 1876 the time be devoted to discussions from essayists and debaters from the U.S. and foreign countries to be appointed by the Committee of Arrangements. They further recommended that Transactions of the World's Convention be published as a handsomely bound volume and be made available to the members of the Institute and the foreign guests all at the expense of the Institute. These recommendations were accepted (16).

At the Twenty-Eighth Session of the American Institute of Homeopathy (1875), Dr. Dunham gave the Report of the Committee on Foreign Correspondence which was composed of a letter from Dr. Tomasso Cigliano of Naples, Italy and a report on the Mexican Homeopathic Society and its publication, El Faro Homeopathico. Then the 1877 Committee on Foreign Correspondence was duly constituted (17).

Dr. S. R. Beckwith proposed an amendment to the Bylaws to increase the initiation fee to $5.00 and that $2.50 be charged in addition to the annual $5.00 fee to cover the cost of the bound edition of the Proceedings of the World's Homeopathic Convention. After lengthy discussion, A. E. Small, M.D., Chicago, proposed a substitute motion which was unanimously approved, to wit, that two dollars and fifty cents be assessed for the next year on each member of the American Institute of Homeopathy, including seniors and juniors, towards defraying the expenses of the World's Homeopathic Convention of 1876 (17).

The Report of the Committee on Arrangements of the World's Homeopathic Convention was presented by Carroll Dunham, M.D., its chairman. The members of that committee had corresponded with doctors in foreign countries and in each of the represented states in the U.S.A. requesting delegates and historical and statistical reports and scientific papers. Those who had been assigned the task in each U. S. State would be replaced if their reports were not forthcoming by mid summer.

The 1875 officers of the American Institute of Homeopathy would be the officers of the Convention, except that foreign guests might be elected to honorary offices. Foreign papers were to be translated and printed ahead of time to facilitate discussion. Expenditures for the Convention were limited to printing of the papers and Transactions, the fee for the hall and justifiable meeting expenses. Members of the Institute were urged to pay their dues before January 1st rather than waiting until June 1st or longer. The Committee of Arrangements with the Treasurer was to be made into a finance committee to solicit the requisite money, notifying each state representative of his per capita apportionment. The Committee directed that the convention be held June 26, 1876 in Philadelphia (17).

The Transactions of the World's Homeopathic Convention of 1876 is a two volume set, each of which volumes is nearly 3 inches thick. Volume I is the Minutes, Essays, Discussions. Volume II is the History of Homeopathy, both volumes were ultimately edited by Joseph C. Guernsey, M.D., who had to assume this responsibility after Dr. Carroll Dunham's death and R. J. Clatchey's health completely failed (18). Dr. McClatchey was the General Secretary of the American Institute of Homeopathy at the time of the World's Homeopathic Convention (18).

The first part of Volume I comprises the Proceedings of the Twenty-Ninth Session of the American Institute of Homeopathy, but the bulk of the volume is devoted to the World's Homeopathic Convention (18).

The Bureau of Registration kept meticulous records, reporting not only the total numbers registered (788) and the totals for each day, but the actual names and addresses of each registrant. There were representatives from 30 states and the District of Columbia, as well as Ontario, Canada; Brighton, Liverpool, and Northampton, England; Chemnitz and Leipzig, Saxony; Montivideo, Brazil; and Calcutta, India (18).

In his Opening Address, Dr. Dunham compared the innovations in theories of government and society found in the American Declaration of Independence to the reform in medical science promulgated by Samuel Hahnemann, going on to credit the demands of the people of the U.S. for homeopathy permitting its flourishing state in this land where the government dictated neither education nor profession. He went on to refer to the letters received by the Convention, most particularly mentioning the gift of a bronzed bust of Hahnemann cast from the marble one sculpted by David D'Auger from Madame Hahnemann, and autographed letters of Hahenmann from Neopolitan Dr. Rubussi. He announced the further good news that homeopaths in the United States of Columbia had revived their organization after receiving the 1867 AIH Circular letter. There were discussions on Materia Medica, Clinical Medicine, Surgery and Obstetrics and Gynecology. Ironically, the "Department of Clinical Medicine devoted itself to the discussions of epidemic diseases Varicella, Scarlet fever, Measles, Diphtheria, Croup, etc.

Volume II, The History of Homeopathy, contains contributions both foreign and domestic. Appropriately enough, the first section is a 90 page history of homeopathy in Germany 1794-1875, including statistics about certain hospitals and dispensaries, written by Drs. Gustav Puhlman and Clotar Mueller. This is followed by an historical and statistical report on homeopathy in the United Kingdom, specifically Great Britain and Ireland, each section written by a different member of the British Homeopathic Society: Drs. C. B. Kerr, Herbert Nankiveli, Richard Hughes, Alfred C. Pope and William Bayes. The following French contribution was composed by Drs. Rafinesque, Degerman, and Claude and Messrs. Catellan Bros., Part I; Drs. Molis, Chainpeaux, Fredault, Crétin, Gounard, and Guérin-Meneville, Part II; Mons. H. Becker, Part III. Drs. Edward Huber, M. L. Mueller, and Gerstel wrote the statistical and historical report from Austria. Homeopathy in Switzerland was written by Dr. Th. Brueckner. Russia's report was written by Drs. Bojames and W. Dericker. On behalf of the Homeopathic Medical Society of Flanders at Ghent, Drs. T. F. Stockman and Schepear wrote the history of homeopathy in Belgium. The statistical and historical report on homeopathy in Spain and its colonies was prepared under the auspices of the Homeopathic Medical Society of Madrid but no action is listed. Dr. P. J. Liedbeck of Stockholm wrote the history of homeopathy in Sweden and Norway. Cuba and Jamaica are covered by Dr. Jose J. Navarro. Dr. C. W. Kitching of Cape Town submitted the report on that topic in Cape of Good Hope. Homeopathy in Mexico was written by Dr. Pablo Fuentes y Herrera. Dr. J. Christiano D. Korth wrote a letter encapsulating homeopathy in Montevideo. Again, from New Brunswick, Canada, came a letter from Dr. Henry C. Preston. The final international report came from Dr. Alexander Jose de Mello Moraes on Brazil (19). More than half of Volume II is devoted to homeopathy in the United States. It is divided into three Sections: The largest section is Section I, which contains statistical and historic reports on each of twenty-nine states and the District of Columbia with an Introduction written by Drs. R. J. Clatchey and Joseph C. Guernsey. Section II covered the homeopathic institutions with articles in Chapter I on most of the extant homeopathic colleges, as well as a history of the Allentown Academy. Chapter II treated of homeopathic societies, Chapter III covered hospitals, dispensaries, asylums, homes, and pharmacies. Section III discusses the pertinent legislations in certain states. In the Appendix, appears a report from Italy on homeopathy there written by Dr. Bernardino Dadea of Turin. The concluding section is a report from the AIH Bureau of Organization, Registration and Statistics, dated June 1880 (19).

The circular letter sent out by the Committee on Foreign Correspondence wrought international changes in Europe and in Latin American and touched individual physicians as close as Puerto Rico and as far away as India. The World's Homeopathic Convention was a monumental undertaking which produced an incredible amount of information at the time about homeopathy historically, medically and statistically around the globe. I do not think that we have seen the like since.

Selected Bibliography

(1). Chase, Sandra M., M.D., "the Southern Homeopathic Medical Association: 1885-1892," Journal of the American Institute of Homeopathy, Vol. 88, No. 4, Winter 1995-96, pp. 182-202.
(2). Proceedings of the Nineteenth Session of the American Institute of Homeopathy. Held in Pittsburgh, PA, June 6 and 7, 1866, pp. 25-27. Boston: Press of Geo. C. Rand & Avery, No. 3, Cornhill. 1867.
(3). Section I Proceedings and Miscellaneous Papers of the Twentieth Session of the American Institute of Homeopathy.
Article I. - Proceedings of Twentieth Session, p. 85.
Transactions of the Twentieth Session of the American Institute of Homeopathy, held in New York, June 4, 5, 6 and 7, 1867, Vol. I. new Series.
(4). Cleave's Biographical Cyclopedia of Homeopathic Physicians and Surgeons, Boericke & Tafel, 1011 Arch Street. Philadelphia: Galaxy Publishing Company.
(5). Privatre Papers Historical and Necrology Notes by Julia M. Green.
(6). Private papers, "A Brief History of Homeopathy in the District of Columbia." by G. C. Birdsall, M.D., p.l.
(7). Private papers, "The National Homeopathic Hospital," by G. C. Birdsall, M.D., p. 1.
(8). Kellogg, E. M., M.D., "Memoir of the Author," in Lectures on Materia Medica, by Carroll Dunham, M.D. Philadelphia: Boericke & Tafel. 1011 Arch Street, pp. vii-xxiii.
(9). King, William Harvey, M.D., LL.D. History of Homeopathy and Its Institutions in America, "Chapter IX, Carroll Dunham, M.D.," New York: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1905, Volume III, pp. 271-274.
(10). Transactions of the Twenty-First Session of the American Institute of Homeopathy. Held in St. Louis, June 2, 3, 4, and 5, 1868. Boston: Alfred Mudge and Son, Printers. 1869, pp. 166, 74-82.
(11). Transactions of the Twenty-Second Session of the American Institute of Homeopathy. Held in Boston, June 8, 9, 10, and 11, 1869. Boston: Alfred Mudge & Son, Printers 1870, pp. 56, 406-413.
(12). Transactions of the Twenty-Third Session of the American Institute of Homeopathy. Held in Chicago, June 7, 8, 9, and 10, 1870. Chicago: Lakeside Press, 1871, pp. 10, 69-70, 85, 150-155.
(13). Transactions of the Twenty-Fourth Session of the American Institute of Homeopathy. Held in Philadelphia, June 6, 7, 8 and 9, 1871. Chicago: Lakeside Press, 1872, pp. 11, 73, 116-121, 69-70.
(14). Transactions of the Twenty-Fifth Session of the American Institute of Homeopathy. Held in Washington, D.C., May 21, 22, 23, and 24, 1872. Philadelphia: Sherman & Co., 1872, pp. 49, 87, 131-133, 134-137.
(15). Transactions of the Twenty-Sixth Session of the American Institute of Homeopathy. Held in Cleveland, O., June 3, 4, 5, and 6, 1873. Philadelphia: Sherman & Co., 1875, pp. 134, 169-170.
(16). Transactions of the Twenty-Third Session of the American Institute of Homeopathy. Held in Chicago, June 7, 8, 9, and 10, 1870. Chicago: Lakeside Press, 1871, pp. 46, 119-121, 62, 100.
(17). Proceedings and Miscellaneous Papers of the Twenty-Eighth Session of the American Institute of Homeopathy. Put-in-Bay, Ohio.
(18). Transactions of the World's Homeopathic Convention of 1876, Volume 1, Papers and Discussions. Philadelphia: Sherman & Co. 1881. 1117
(19). Transactions of the World's Homeopathic Convention of 1876. Volume II, History of Homeopathy. Philadelphia: Sherman & Co. 1880. 1127 pp.

THE SOUTHERN HOMEOPATHIC MEDICAL ASSOCIATION
1885-1892

This paper is prompted by the recent discovery of the original official volume, Minutes of the Southern Homeopathic Medical Association. Within this volume are contained the original documents and documentation of the establishment and early years of the Southern Homeopathic Medical Association (SHMA), much of it in the original handwriting of some of the participants.

The Southern Homeopathic Medical Association was established officially on April 9, 1885, but the idea was proposed some four years before by H. R. Stout, M.D., of Jacksonville, Florida. In 1881, Dr. Stout put forth the idea of an organization of Southern Homeopathic physicians via a letter which was published, apparently, in several homeopathic periodicals of the time. The official volume, Minutes, contains a reprint of the published letter by Dr. Stout as it appeared in The Hahnemannian Monthly, December, 1881. Dr. Stout thought that it would be advisable to establish "an organization similar in character to the Western Academy of Homeopathy, to bring together those of our school in this section." He went on to suggest that the formation of such an association would allow homeopathy to "e be more effectively placed before the public e" and would foster "mutual improvement and encouragement e" among the homeopaths, many of whom " e are completely isolated, and who do not have an opportunity to meet one of their own school from one year's end to the othere" An Editorial was published elsewhere in the same issue of The Hahnemannian Monthly supporting the concept of the founding of an organization in the South, saying "Our System of practice is as yet unpopular in many sections of the Southern States, and numerous and large tracts of territory have never yet known the blessings of our law of cure." "Our long-headed business men unite in the opinion that to the whole South there is opening up the promise of a brilliant, prosperous and powerful future. The growth of homeopathy must keep pace with that of other interests, and her sway should be extended as rapidly as possible, until it embraces every country, and town, and village ..." which "... can be best effected by Southern men, - men who know the land and its people." Such "... an annual, or perhaps semi-annual, exhibition of its strength [the organization's] will do much to inspire and increase public respect for and public confidence in individual practitioners."

These two pieces appear in a circular contained in the official Minutes book because they were reprinted thusly by T. Engelbach, Manager of the New Orleans branch of Boericke and Tafel, established in November 1877 (which he bought out on March 1, 1884), and sent out December 30, 1881, in an effort to promote the idea of the establishment of a southern homeopathic medical organization.
Who, then, is H. R. Stout, M.D., the man who started the ball rolling?
Henry Rice Stout, M.D., "...was born in Westfield, Chautaugua County, New York, March 17th, 1843." He was educated at Kenyon College in Ohio. He served in the Union Army during the last year of the War Between the States. Upon discharge, he returned to his college-age ambition to study medicine. In 1865, he became a pupil of N. F. Cooke, M.D. of Chicago and subsequently took three courses at Hahnemann Medical College of Chicago from which he graduated with distinguished honor in 1868. Soon thereafter, he entered a partnership with Dr. Cooke. In 1880 or 1881, he relocated to Jacksonville, Florida.

Henry Rice Stout, M.D., in his letter quoted above, stated that "So far as my knowledge extends, there are but one or two homeopathic societies of any kind south of Mason and Dixon's line..."

As we all may know, Hans Burch Gram, M.D., a student of Dr. Hans Christian Lund of Copenhagen, who had introduced homeopathy there in 1821, was the pioneer of homeopathy in America, having returned to his native country from Denmark and soon thereafter taking up its practice in New York in 1825. By the end of 1835, which has been termed "the first epoch of homeopathy in the United States," homeopathic practice was limited to New York and Pennsylvania. The significance of that epoch's date beginning date being obvious, the terminal date, 1835, was chosen because it marked the publication of the first magazine in the US, The American Journal of Homeopathia, edited by Drs. John F. Gray and Amos G. Hull. During the years 1835-1844, comprising the so-called second epoch of homeopathy, it was introduced into Virginia, the third state of the USA into which it was brought , that occurring in 1830 by a layman, Kuper. Some time between 1832 and 1838, the brothers Adolph and Edward Caspari, who had attended Allentown Academy, practiced in Norfolk. The Hahnemann Medical Society of the Old Dominion was organized in 1880, its first officers being President, Dr. Joseph V. Hobson (Richmond); Secretary, Dr. James H. Patton (Richmond). Its early history is little known, but it met annually for several years. Therefore, it would have been in existence at the time of Dr. Stout's call for a Southern Homeopathic organization.

The honor for the earliest homeopathic state association or society in the south goes to Kentucky, in which the Kentucky State Homeopathic Society was organized in 1849, according to a letter sent on November 30, 1849, by Dr. E. Huff of Louisville to the Southwestern Journal of Homeopathy announcing the fact. Little is known of that society which was succeeded by the Kentucky State Homeopathic Medical Society, organized May 7, 1873, in Louisville with Dr. Henry W. Kehler of Louisville as President, Dr. W. H. Blakeley of Bellvue as Vice President and Dr. J. W. Kline of Louisville as Secretary. This society, too, possibly would have been extant at the time of Dr. Stout's call, although, after some time, it withered to be reorganized in Lexington, July 14, 1886, which revival may have been occasioned by the creation of the Southern Homeopathic Medical Association in April, 1885.

The Homeopathic Medical Society of Alabama was established in 1850 by Dr. George Lingen of Mobile, Dr. Richard Angell of Huntsville, and Drs. Ulrich, G. Albright and John Hazard Henry of Montgomery, homeopathy having first been introduced to the state as early as 1843 by an unnamed layman. It is unclear as to its status at the time of Dr. Stout's call as it was dissolved at some point to be supplanted by the Homeopathic Medical Association of Alabama in 1889.

The Missouri Homeopathic Institute was created in 1876, having been preceded by the Missouri State Homeopathic Society of June 1853 (Dr. Thomas Houghton, President, and Dr. T. G. Comstock, Secretary) and a second organization of the same name established in St. Louis in 1867. Thus, there would have been a state homeopathic medical society in Missouri at the time of Dr. Stout's call for a Southern regional organization. In fact, the Homeopathic Medical College of Missouri in St. Louis was incorporated by act of that state's general assembly November 23, 1857 and remained in existence even well beyond the time of Dr. Stout's call.
The Texas Homeopathic Medical Association was organized on March 18, 1874, in Galveston with Texas homeopathic pioneer, Dr. Henry C. Parker as President, Dr. William M. Mercer of Galveston as Secretary, Dr. James H. Blake of Houston as Treasurer, and Dr. Edward P. Angell of Double Bayone as Essayist and it continued in existence for approximately ten years. Its cooperation in the convention called to consider the formation of a Southern homeopathic association is expressly mentioned in the invitation devised and mailed by the Homeopathic Medical Association of Louisiana, February 1st, 1885.

Last, but not least, we come to the Hahnemann Medical Association in Louisiana which was established in 1880 in New Orleans. This was the organization that hosted the convention which resulted in the formation of the Southern Homeopathic Medical Association. It was on its letterhead that an announcement letter and then an invitation were mailed.

The letter, dated New Orleans, May, 1884, and signed by C. J. Lopez, M.D., Corresponding Secretary, communicated that the Hahnemann Medical Association of Louisiana "... at its meeting of April 10th, 1884, resolved to call a meeting of all Homeopathic Physicians on such a day as might be designated hereafter." It went on to invite physicians to communicate their date preference with the Secretary of the Association, closing by urging participation.

The invitation, dated New Orleans, Feb. 1st, 1885, signed by S. M. Angell, M.D., President; C. J. Lopez, M.D., Corresponding Secretary; and J. M. Foster, M.D., Recording Secretary; requested attendance at a Convention of Homeopathic Practitioners which will be held in the City of New Orleans, in the Music Hall of the Exposition Main Building on the 9th day of April, 1885, at 10 A.M." It went on to define the objects of the meeting as being "to organize a Southern Academy or Institute of Homeopathy and to celebrate Hahnemann's birthday." It enticed the invitees with the promise of interesting medical papers from some of homeopathy's best writers from around the country.

The first day's session having opened at 10 A.M. that morning followed throughout the day by the reading of papers on cholera, pneumonia, and typhoid fever, the evening's program to be dedicated to the consideration of the desirability and the feasibility of establishing "a permanent Southern organization as auxiliary to the American Institute of Homeopathy" was convened at 7PM by S. M. Angell, M.D., President of the Hahnemann Medical Association of Louisiana. Dr. John H. Henry of Montgomery, Alabama, was elected temporary chairman of the convention and Dr. C. G. Fellows of New Orleans, Louisiana, was elected temporary secretary. In order to initiate discussions, it was moved to organize a Southern Homeopathic Medical Association. The discussion was opened by Dr. F. H. Orme of Atlanta, Georgia; followed by Dr. Charles E. Fisher of Austin, Texas; Dr. A. Leight Monroe of Birmingham, Alabama; Dr. W. A. Dobbins of Carlisle, Arkansas; Dr. Joseph Jones of San Antonio, Texas; and Dr. Louis A. Falligant of Savannah, Georgia. The question was carried unanimously.Thereafter, Dr. C. E. Fisher read a proposed Constitution and it was adopted article by article by the convention.

The Constitution of the Southern Homeopathic Medical Association stipulated in Article 1 that the objects of the organization "... shall be, the promotion of the interests of Homeopathy, especially in the Southern States, the advancement of homeopathic therapeutics, and all other departments of medical science."

Article 3 established the officers as a President, a Vice President, a Recording Secretary and a Corresponding Secretary, and a Treasurer. The By-laws in Article 2, Section 2 designated these annually elected individuals as the Executive Committee; By-law Article 4 provided for 5 Censors to be elected annually to examine the credentials of candidates for membership.

By-law Article 5 specified that a candidate for membership had to present to the Board of Censors a certificate signed by three members of the Association attesting to the applicant's worthiness on the following points:

1.) a bona fide graduate of a respectable medical college,
2.) good moral character; and
3.) good professional standing.

Also to be given are the date and origin of the candidate's diploma.
Membership privileges did not include voting except as one might be designated a delegate on the following basis, as stipulated in By-laws Article 5, Section 2, each state or general society, 5 delegates; each county or local society, 1 delegate; each hospital, asylum for insane, and established dispensary, 1 delegate; each published journal, 1 delegate, each college associated with the SHMA, 2 delegates.

By-laws Article 7, Section 1, established the original six bureaus of the SHMA, including the following (1) Materia Medica and Provings; (2) Clinical Medicine, Embracing Diagnosis and General and Special Therapeutics and Pathology; (3) Sanitary Science; (4) Surgery and Obstetrics; (5) Ophthalmology, Otology and Laryngology; (6) Organization, Registration and Statistics. The responsibility of these bureaus was to offer reports at the annual meetings of the SHMA on the interim progress and/or discoveries in the respective field and to present pertinent papers to that end.

Article 7, Section 4, created two committees, one called Legislation and one called Medical Literature. Although Article 7, Section 10, provided for "Transactions," history books state that there were none.

There were twenty-two original signers of the Constitution and page 19 of the Minutes book contains each of their own signatures on a list in their own hand. They were as follows: A. Brown (New Orleans, Louisiana) George St. C. C. Hussey (Brenham, Texas), Walter Bailey, Sr. (New Orleans, Louisiana), J. G. Belden (New Orleans, Louisiana), W. S. Lee (Dallas, Texas), John H. Henry (Montgomery, Alabama), S. M. Angell (New Orleans, Louisiana), F. H. Orme (Atlanta, Georgia), Joseph Jones (San Antonio, Texas), Louis A. Falligant (Savannah, Georgia), J. A. Whitman (Beaufort, South Carolina), D. M. Lines (New Orleans, Louisiana), C. E. Fisher (Austin, Texas), A. B. de Villeneuve (New Orleans, Louisiana), A. L. Monroe (Birmingham, Alabama), Walter Bailey, Jr. (New Orleans, Louisiana), I. W. Buddeke (Memphis, Tennessee), George Fellows (Appleton, Wisconsin), P. D. Berand (Lafayette, Louisiana), C. J. Lopez (New Orleans, Louisiana), H. F. Fisher (Austin, Texas), and C. G. Fellows (New Orleans, Louisiana).

The original membership list found handwritten in the Minutes book contains over one hundred names among which are three women: Dr. Helen M. Cady of Louisville, Kentucky, Dr. Sarah J. Millsop of Bowling Green, Kentucky, and Dr. Annie T. L. Thomas of New Orleans, Louisiana. Dr. Sarah J. Millsop would hold the chair of hygiene and sanitary science at the opening term of the Southwestern Homeopathic Medical College in 1893-94.

Permanent officers were elected by the new Southern Homeopathic Medical Association as follows: Dr. C. E. Fisher of Austin, Texas, President; Dr. John H. Henry of Montgomery, Alabama, First Vice President; Dr. Louis A. Falligant, of Savannah, Georgia, Second Vice President; Dr. A. L. Monroe of Birmingham, Alabama, Recording Secretary; Dr. C. D. Deady of San Antonio, Texas, Corresponding Secretary; Dr. J. G. Belden of New Orleans, Louisiana, Treasurer. Also Drs. Orme, Fisher, Lopez, Bailey, Jr., Hussey, and Buddeke were elected delegates to the American Institute of Homeopathy and Drs. Lee, Orme, Angell, Hussey, and Lopez, censors on membership. These names have no familiarity to us. They are not the Herings, the Lippes, and the Kents of whom we have heard. Who were they and why might they have been placed in the positions that they were?

The newspaper account, albeit unidentified in the Minutes book, gives us one very good reason that Dr. Charles E. Fisher of Austin, Texas, was elected the first president of the SHMA. According to the introduction of him by Dr. Henry, quoted therein, Dr. Fisher was elected "...with the hope that he would soon have wiped out all laws against homeopathy in all States as he has succeeded so well in having done in Texas."

Dr. Charles E. Fisher of Texas (President), a graduate of the Homeopathic Medical College of Detroit, and of Pulte Medical College (1875), became the partner of Dr. Eckhart L. Beaumont in 1875, the latter of whom was a homeopathic pioneer in San Antonio. In subsequent years, Dr. Fisher would serve as President of the American Institute of Homeopathy (1895) and author a textbook, entitled Disease of Children and Their Homeopathic Treatment (1902). He also established a journal for which he continued as editor for several incarnations. It was issued first in 1883 as The Texas Homeopathic Pellet. After two volumes, it was retitled The Southern Homeopathic Pellet for two more volumes until it was published as The Southern Journal of Homeopathy until September, 1897. It was one of the liveliest journals of the school, alert to the needs of the profession, not only in Texas and the South, but nationally.

Dr. John Hazzard Henry (First Vice President) of Montgomery, Alabama, was born January 3, 1829, to an allopathic physician father, Dr. Hugh W. Henry. J. H. Henry, descendant of the American Revolution patriot, Patrick Henry of Virginia, graduated in 1850 from the University of New York, Medical Department, with honors. Though he had previously studied homeopathy, it took his being cured of chronic diarrhea, sore throat, and Asiatic cholera before he turned to it exclusively. Despite his own bitter opposition to his son's choice, his father urged him to attend Hahnemann Medical College of Philadelphia from which he graduated in 1851. A wealthy slaveholder before the war, he was very active in local, state, and national politics as a Republican afterwards. Homeopathically, he made the first extended proving of Gelsemium, and performed provings of Apocynum androsemilfolium, Cinalasis, and Tag alder, the latter said to be the remedy for scrofula, syphilis, and cancer.

Dr. Lewis Alexander Falligant (Second Vice President) born October 25, 1836, in Augusta, Georgia, was educated in Savannah and at Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island. He graduated from the Homeopathic Medical College of Philadelphia in 1858, following which he returned to Savannah to associate himself in the practice of Dr. James M. Schley who first had been introduced to homeopathy by Georgia's homeopathic physician pioneer Dr. James Banks Gilbert and later had studied under Dr. John F. Gray in New York. Being an ardent secessionist, he served in the Confederate States Army in the War Between the States, rising to Captain and Aid de camp to General George P. Harrison. Nevertheless, after the war he strove to reconciliation, even establishing "Colored Conservative Clubs" which spread widely throughout the state. Through his real estate dealings during a medically-related practice hiatus, he established three villages around Savannah.

Dr. Andrew Leight Monroe (Recording Secretary), born April 4, 1856 in Louisville, Kentucky, attended one medical course at Louisville University and graduated from the Hahnemann Medical College of Pennsylvania in 1879. Having begun practice in Danville, Kentucky, in 1879, in 1882 he located in Birmingham, Alabama, writing as a reminiscence, in Birmingham, in 1883,

I had hardly begun to make permanent arrangements towards living and practicing here when the following information caused my heart to strike my fifth rib with a dull thud: By the law of Alabama 'Mr. Homeopath' must pass an examination before an allopathic board of examiners in anatomy, physiology, chemistry and the mechanism of labor. In spite of the fact, since discovered, that they used every effort to keep me out, the ordeal was safely passed. I have since doubted whether the men who so impressively asked me the difference between the 'corpus luteum of pregnancy and menstruation,' and 'the difference between an isomorphous and an isomeric body,' and 'mechanism of labor in a posterior lateral position, if spontaneous version were relied upon' (which it never is) knew the answers themselves. It is really a delightful experience to pass this examination and turning this allopathic weapon back upon themselves enter practice with their forced endorsement.

In 1883, Dr. Monroe returned to Louisville permanently. He held the materia medica chair at Pulte Medical College in Cincinnati, Ohio, for three sessions, starting in 1890.
On April 14, 1892, Dr. Monroe, then located in Louisville, Kentucky, attended a meeting at which a charter was drafted for a homeopathic medical college patterned after the New York and Philadelphia colleges. At the first session of the Southwestern Homeopathic College and Hospital of Louisville in 1893-94, he served as chair of gynecology. In the early 1900's, he became Dean. He also served as consulting rectal surgeon and gynecologist on the city hospital staff.

Dr. James Gridley Belden (Treasurer), born September 22, 1822 in Moscow, New York, attended Harvard Medical School, studied for one year with Dr. Winslow Lewis of Boston, two years with Dr. Taft of Hartford, Connecticut, and graduated in March, 1846, from the College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York. His interest in homeopathy having been piqued by cases of friends, he settled in Mobile, Alabama, in the fall of 1846 to practice it there. He was the pioneer homeopathic physician in that city. After a year there, he relocated to New Orleans.

Dr. Francis Hodgson Orme (opening discussant of the proposal to establish SHMA), born January 6, 1834 in Dauphin, Pennsylvania, in 1850 studied first in the office of Dr. James Banks Gilbert of Savannah, the pioneer of homeopathy in Georgia. He completed his studies at the University of New York, Medical Department, graduating in 1854. He returned to Savannah to join Dr. W. H. Banks the former partner of the late Dr. Gilbert. He alone of five homeopathic physicians in Savannah was able to practice almost throughout the 1855 yellow fever epidemic in the South, which claimed one thousand lives, before contracting it himself. Four years later, he contracted it again in a second epidemic and moved to Atlanta where, after a temporary retirement, he resumed his practice. In 1878, he served on the Homeopathic Yellow Fever Commission. Dr. Orme would be elected President of the American Institute of Homeopathy for 1887.

Dr. Samuel Minter Angell (President of Hahnemann Association of Louisiana, the host of the convention) was the son of Dr. Richard Angell, an Englishman born and trained in allopathic medicine there and in the U.S. before he became a homeopath. Born in Mississippi August 2, 1833, he studied medicine with his father in Huntsville, Alabama, attended lectures at the Cincinnati Eclectic Medical Institute in 1854-55, followed by a year at the Medical School of Louisiana (Tulane University) before he attended the Homeopathic Medical College of Pennsylvania, graduating in 1857. He graduated also from an allopathic college in Louisville, Kentucky. He practiced in New Orleans from 1858 onward, twenty of those years with his father, with whom he ran the Orphan's Home. His reputation was enhanced by his success in the yellow fever epidemic of 1878.

Second Annual Meeting of the Southern Homeopathic Medical Association
Tulane Hall, University of Louisiana
New Orleans, Louisiana
Wednesday and Thursday March 10 and 11, 1886

Andrew Leight Monroe, M.D., of Birmingham, Alabama, Recording Secretary, prepared a very complete circular dated June 1, 1885, which was sent out to homeopathic physicians prior to the Second Annual Meeting. It included an impassioned plea for participation in the Southern Homeopathic Medical Association. He called for the need for fairness in medical legislation, for better knowledge of homeopathic treatment of Southern diseases, for the establishment of colleges, hospitals, and dispensaries. He gave particulars regarding the identity of the Officers, the Board of Censors, the General Legislative Committee, and the Bureau Chairmen. In regard to the General Legislative Committee, each Southern State, including Georgia, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee, Arkansas, Texas, and Mississippi, had one whose responsibility it was to keep abreast of such matters in his state and influence it when he might.

At the morning session on March 11, the Bylaws were amended to replace the Bureau of Sanitary Science with the Bureau of Diseases of Women and Children.

On March 12, 1886 new officers were elected as follows. President: Dr. A. Leight Monroe, Louisville, Kentucky; First Vice President: Dr. W. E. Green, Little Rock, Arkansas; Second Vice President: Dr. W. Bailey, Jr., New Orleans, Louisiana; Recording Secretary: Dr. C. G. Fellows, New Orleans, Louisiana; Corresponding Secretary: Dr. Charles Deady, San Antonio, Texas; Treasurer: Dr. J. G. Belden, New Orleans, Louisiana.

Of Drs. Monroe and Belden, we have already heard. Dr. William E. Green (First Vice President) began to practice in Little Rock, Arkansas, in 1873, some fourteen years after the Arkansas homeopathic physicians pioneer Dr. E. Darwin Ayers had come to that state in 1859, settling in Little Rock. Dr. Green would become the President of the Arkansas State Homeopathic Medical Association when it was organized in 1903 in Little Rock.

Dr. Walter Bailey, Jr.'s (Second Vice President) father had been one of the early physicians in New Orleans, Louisiana, having converted to homeopathy and begun practicing it in 1857.

In 1886, at the time of the Second Annual Meeting when Dr. Monroe so eloquently urged the establishment of homeopathic colleges in the Southern States, there were none. There were in the border state of Missouri, also considered a western state at the time, two institutions. The Homeopathic Medical College of Missouri in St. Louis was incorporated on November 23, 1857, by act of the Missouri General Assembly. The Kansas City Hospital College of Medicine in Missouri was established in 1882, graduating its first class in 1883. Otherwise, men who wished to acquire homeopathic medical college training had to travel to a northern state. They could choose from the oldest, Hahnemann Medical College of Pennsylvania/Philadelphia (1848), in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Hahnemann Medical College of Chicago (1855) in Illinois, Western Homeopathic Medical College in Cleveland, Ohio (established as Cleveland Homeopathic Medical College, 1849) (1855), New York Homeopathic Medical College (1860) in New York City, New York, or Pulte Medical College (1872) in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Women could attend the Boston University Medical School, founded independently as the Boston Female Medical School in 1848, becoming the New England Female Medical College in 1852 and merging with Boston University in 1873, or they could attend the New York Medical College and Hospital for Women (1863) in New York City, New York. Hahnemann Medical College of Philadelphia announced women would be admitted in 1871, but no lectures were given. Hahnemann Medical College of Chicago had female graduates as early as 1871. Pulte is said to have admitted women soon after its establishment, but the earliest female graduate alumna listed is 1882.

Frequently, admission to regular medical schools to obtain a medical education varied from difficult to not possible. In those days prospective medical students frequently precepted with a physician before applying for admission to a formal medical college.

In 1846 a national convention of allopathic physicians was assembled, and in 1848 resolved itself into the American Medical Association, which in the latter year declared that existing schools must not accept medical students on the certificate of physicians other than of the so-called regular profession, and the followers of Hahnemann were held to be decidedly irregular.

Although it is impossible to ascertain the numbers in attendance at the Second Annual Meeting of the Southern Homeopathic Medical Association at which the various Bureaus of the Southern, including that of Materia Medica, Surgery, and Obstetrics made reports and gave papers, the newspaper account in the Minutes Book informs us that there were delegates from Austin and San Antonio, Texas; Mobile and Montgomery, Alabama; New Orleans, Louisiana; Natchez and Jackson, Mississippi; Jacksonville, Florida; Louisville, Kentucky; Little Rock and Ozark, Arkansas; Atlanta, Georgia; Memphis, Tennessee; and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

The unidentified newspaper account of the Second Annual Meeting also summarized the annual address of SHMA President, Dr. C. E. Fisher. Therein, Dr. Fisher remarked upon "...the cordial endorsement by the American Institute of Homeopathy at its last session in St. Louis" of the Southern Homeopathic Medical Association. (June 2, 1885, St. Louis, Timothy Field Allen, President (New York)) In his presentation and in the report on the Committee for Medical Legislation read by Secretary Monroe were expressed the deep concern for the creation of license-issuing boards of examination and state house legislation and their effects on the standing of homeopathic physicians within the Southern States. Louisiana's law was held up as a model for other states to emulate.

The keynote speaker at the Second Annual Meeting of the SHMA was Pemberton Dudley, M.D., L.L.D., of Hahnemann Medical College of Philadelphia. Dr. Dudley, born October 17, 1837, in Pennsylvania, precepted under a David Jones, M.D., for two years before entering Jefferson Medical College of Philadelphia for a period of time and then graduating from the Homeopathic Medical College of Pennsylvania on March 1, 1861. He participated in the founding of the Homeopathic Medical Society of Pennsylvania in 1866 which he joined in 1867, joining the American Institute of Homeopathy in 1869. His editorship of the Hahnemannian Monthly 1880 to 1887 may have prompted his invitation to speak at the Second Annual Session as his journal was one of those in which Dr. Stout's initial call for the formation of the Southern regional association had been published. He served on the visiting staff of the Children's Homeopathic Hospital in Philadelphia for several years following its establishment in 1876. In 1868, he was made professor of chemistry and toxicology at the Homeopathic Medical College of Pennsylvania, participated in its merger with Hahnemann Medical College of Philadelphia, effected in 1869, and, in 1878, was made professor of physiology and microanatomy in the consolidated institution.

Third Annual Meeting of the Southern Homeopathic Medical Association
Tulane Hall, University of Louisiana
New Orleans, Louisiana
Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, December 8, 9, 10, 1886

A preliminary circular dated October 1st, 1886, over the signatures of A. L. Monroe, M.D., President, Louisville, Kentucky, and C. G. Fellows, M.D., Recording Secretary, New Orleans, Louisiana, announcing the intention of the Southern Homeopathic Medical Association to hold its 3rd Annual Meeting Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, December 8, 9, 10, 1886, included the information that "of twelve thousand (12,000) practicing Homeopathic Physicians in the United States, there are only about four hundred (400) in the fourteen Southern States, and that of the twelve million (12,000,000) patrons of Homeopathy, only a small percentage dwell on Southern soil."

While homeopathic physicians in the Northern States had their struggles against "the old school" from the very beginning of Dr. Hans Burch Gram's introduction of homeopathy to the USA in New York in 1825, they, at least, had a headstart over their Southern compatriots. When Gram brought homeopathy to America in 1825, Arkansas (1836), Florida (1845), and Texas (1845) were not even states and would not be for several years. Missouri (1821) had been a state for only four years; Alabama (1819) for six years and Mississippi (1817) for eight years.

Moreover, the economies of the two regions were quite different, the North's being industrial and more populous with larger cities and the South's being agrarian and more rural with fewer cities of any size. As mentioned earlier, in homeopathy's first epoch in the United States, 1825-1835, it existed primarily in New York and Pennsylvania. It entered the South as early as five years after Gram (Virginia) and as late as 34 years after Gram (Arkansas). Not to be dismissed, either, is "the scant infusion of the German element in the population." The courses of instruction in the first homeopathic school in the world, the North American Academy of the Homeopathic Healing Art (Allentown Academy) were given in German. It was not until the latter part of 1836 that Hahnemann's Organon and Jahr's Manual were translated into English and published. A German layman, Kuper, brought it to the third state in which it was introduced, Virginia. Another relatively early introduction came in Maryland (1836) where a German pastor, Rev. Mr. Jacob Geiger, had brought it to his eight congregations in Carroll County, having had contact with the teachers at the Allentown Academy, and had produced nine descendants who graduated from homeopathic colleges since 1851.

Then, of course, there was the War Between the States, 1861-1865, which decimated the South's economy during and for some time thereafter. These various factors, then, contributed to the most difficult struggles that homeopathy faced in the Southern States. We have discussed already the lack of homeopathic medical schools in the South which also contributed to its weakness in that region. Of course, the greatest challenge that homeopathic physicians faced was the opposition of the allopathic physicians who had "gotten there first" and often held sway over the state legislatures.

The American Institute of Homeopathy did what it could do to strengthen the position of its "Southern Auxiliary," which, as mentioned above, it had endorsed officially prior to the Second Annual Meeting. Then it elected F. H. Orme, M.D., a charter member of the Southern Homeopathic Medical Association, its President for 1887. The Meeting Pamphlet for the Third Annual Meeting proudly included the statement "F. H. Orme, M.D., President of the American Institute of Homeopathy, will be present at this meeting."

The Minutes of the Third Annual Meeting of the Southern Homeopathic Medical Association state that at its convening 11 AM December 8, 1886, there were over twenty members and ten visitors present.

During the course of the meeting, Dr. J. P. Dake, Nashville, Tennessee, introduced two resolutions both of which were passed by the body politic and of which certified copies were dispatched to the appropriate parties. The first resolution protested the withdrawal by the U. S. Congress of the appropriations needed by the National Board of Health to discharge its duties and the transfer of those duties to surgeons of the army and the navy who were less familiar with the local populace and the particular health needs of the localities. The second resolution commended Dr. Joseph Holt and the Louisiana State Board of Health for their prompt and efficient handling of a yellow fever epidemic the previous summer.

Although these are worthy resolutions, one might wonder why the body politic would have been persuaded by Dr. Jabez P. Dake.

Jabez P. Dake, M.D., was born in Johnstown, Fulton County, New York, April 22, 1827, son of Dr. Faber Dake, an allopathic physician who converted to homeopathy in 1843. Young Dr. Dake graduated from Union College in Schenectady, New York, in 1849 and from the Homeopathic Medical College of Pennsylvania in 1851 where he was professor of materia medica and therapeutics 1855 to 1857 and of pathology and principles and practice 1876-77.

"I have been an earnest advocate, by pen and tongue, of the rights of our school of practice, as against unfair legislation instigated by members of the old school. And more - I have been unalterably opposed to State censorship as to the modes and means of healing, denying the right of civil power to dictate in the premises," stated Dr. Dake in this autobiography.

On his graduation in 1851, he associated himself in practice with Dr. Gustavus Reichelm of Pittsburgh (Allentown Academy). In 1852, he became one of the editors of the Philadelphia Journal of Homeopathy and in 1860 he assisted in the editorship of the United States Journal of Homeopathy in which he wrote a masterful volume on the universality of homeopathic law. In 1863, he became one of the editors of the North American Journal of Homeopathy. In 1855 in Philadelphia he delivered an oration on the "Philosophy of Homeopathy" on the centennial celebration of Hahnemann's birthday. In 1857, he was elected President of the American Institute of Homeopathy. In 1860, he published a small domestic book "Acute Diseases" which he revised, enlarged, and republished in 1871 in Nashville. He also served as American editor of the Cyclopædia of Drug Pathogenesy being published by the American Institute and the British Homeopathic Association at the time of this meeting.He had relocated in Nashville in 1869 due to his wife's ill health.

Another homeopathic senior and ex-President of the American Institute of Homeopathy (1875) who was present at this meeting and who entertained the participants in his home Wednesday evening was William Henry Holcombe, M.D. He had been termed the Hering of Southern homeopathy as author, poet, and humanitarian. Born on May 29, 1825 in Lynchburg, Virginia, to an allopathic physician father, he graduated from Washington College (now Washington and Lee University), Lexington, Virginia, and then studied medicine under his father. He graduated from the medical department of the University of Pennsylvania in April, 1847. He practiced allopathy until he was converted to Swedenborgianism and homeopathy while living in Cincinnati, Ohio 1850-1852, having observed homeopathic efficacy in Asiatic cholera. In 1852, he moved to Natchez, Mississippi, for health reasons and in 1864, he permanently relocated to New Orleans. He published "The Scientific Basis of Homeopathy" in 1852 which proved to be valuable for the profession. He served as co-editor of the North American Journal of Homeopathy for many years to which he contributed numerous elaborate articles and several instructive papers translated from French. He authored several reports of various epidemics of yellow fever in which the measureless superiority of homeopathy was incontrovertibly demonstrated. In 1853, Drs. Davis and Holcombe were elected physicians and surgeons to the Mississippi State Hospital. "When the trustees were summoned by the legislature to explain their reasons for changing the practice in the hospital, they replied that homeopathy had proved, by its successful treatment of the great scourge of the South, its claim to universal acceptance."

Dr. Holcombe also wrote and published poetry in 1860 and 1872, the latter entitled "Southern Voices." In addition, he published four volumes explaining Swedenborgian theories of Spirit and Matter, some of which were reprinted in England and translated into German. The manuscript of his last book "The Truth about Homeopathy" was found in his desk after his death November 28, 1893.

Another interesting item to be found in the Minutes of the Third Annual Meeting is the report of the Committee on Registration and Statistics which is found on the following two pages, the first being the preprinted copy and the second being a hand
edited version of the same, the latter of which was done, apparently, at the time of the actual meeting.

Report of Committee on Registration & Statistics made by Dr. W. Bailey, Jr.
3rd Annual Meeting, December 8, 1886

Introduced in America by Dr. Gram, in 1825, a stranger in a strange land, with a strange system of medicine. In sixty-one (61) years it has grown as follows in the United States:

Practitioners	10,000
Medical Colleges	13
Matriculates Annually	1200
Graduates Annually	400
Hospitals (with 4000 beds)	13
Insane Asylums	3
Dispensaries	43
Societies	143
Journals	22
Pharmacies	33
College of Specialities	1
33 dispensaries report for one year, 1885, 136,660 patients provided for with 334,978 prescriptions.

The oldest national medical association in this country is homeopathic-the American Institute of Homeopathy.
Homeopathy is employed chiefly by the more cultivated portions of communities.
Homeopathists can procure lower rates of life insurance, on account of the lower rate of mortality among them, as proved by statistics.

Alumni Homeopathic Colleges, 7,345.
First Homeopathic College, 1848.
No authentic report for 1886 yet at hand. As could be gathered, two new hospitals, one college, with several State institutions, prisons, hospitals, and insane asylums taken from under Allopathic supervision to that of Homeopathy.

Statistics from public records:

From Boston, 3 years; New York, 2 years; Philadelphia, 1 year (1872, epidemic of small-pox); Newark, 2 years and Brooklyn, 2 years, general average of mortality, Allopathic, 17.88, Homeopathic, 10.02. Homeopathic hospitals of New York City, 5 years, mortality 7.03; Allopathic, same period, 14.36.

Hand Edited Report of Committee on Registration & Statistics made by Dr. W. Bailey, Jr.
3rd Annual Meeting, December 8, 1886

Introduced in America by Dr. Gram, in 1825, a stranger in a strange land, with a strange system of medicine. In sixty-one (61) years it has grown as follows in the United States:

Practitioners	10,000
Medical Colleges	14
Matriculates Annually	1200
Graduates Annually	400
Hospitals (with 4000 beds)	26
Insane Asylums	3
Dispensaries	43
Societies	143
Journals	22
Pharmacies	33
College of Specialities	1
33 dispensaries report for one year, 1885, 136,660 patients provided for with 334,978 prescriptions.

The oldest national medical association in this country is homeopathic-the American Institute of Homeopathy.
Homeopathy is employed chiefly by the more cultivated portions of communities.Homeopathists can procure lower rates of life insurance, on account of the lower rate of mortality among them, as proved by statistics.

Alumni Homeopathic Colleges, 7,345.
First Homeopathic College, 1848.
No authentic report for 1886 yet at hand. As could be gathered, two new hospitals, one college, with several State institutions, prisons, hospitals, and insane asylums taken from under Allopathic supervision to that of Homeopathy.

Statistics from public records:

From Boston, 3 years; New York, 2 years; Philadelphia, 1 year (1872, epidemic of small-pox); Newark, 2 years and Brooklyn, 2 years, general average of mortality, Allopathic, 17.88, Homeopathic, 10.02. Homeopathic hospitals of New York City, 5 years, mortality 7.03; Allopathic, same period, 14.36.

It is of interest to note that Dr. J. H. Henry presented a paper entitled "The truth of Homeopathy depends not on small or large doses, low or high potencies, combined Homeopathic remedies, but the law of similia," indicating that arguments among homeopaths today have very old roots.

Various votes of thanks were taken throughout the Third Annual Meeting, such as the following: to the AIH for the honor conferred on the SHMA by the election of F. H. Orme to the American Institute presidency, to the railroads for reduced rates, to the Times-Democrat, the press of the city, for their courtesy in publishing the proceedings.

In a newspaper clipping contained in the Minutes book, presumably from the Times-Democrat, are summarized the remarks of President Dr. A. Leight Monroe of Louisville, Kentucky, and of the Chairman of the Legislation Committee, D. F. H. Orme of Atlanta, Georgia.

Dr. Monroe hailed the nationwide advancement of homeopathy in the previous year, but he emphasized the antagonism of the allopathic segment of the profession towards homeopathy, particularly in the Southern States. He condemned the enactment of sumptuary or class legislation as means of coercion and proscription in medical affairs being championed by the old school. This had resulted in a comparative monopoly for the allopathic school in Alabama, Mississippi, North Carolina, and Virginia, although in the latter state, the homeopaths had succeeded in securing their rights, while in Alabama and the Carolinas "old school laws are in full force and oppressive in the extreme."

The Legislation Committee, comprising F. H. Orme, Georgia, Chairman; W. J. Murrell, M.D., Alabama; H. R. Stout, M.D., Florida; Joseph Jones, M.D., Texas; J. P. Dake, M.D., Tennessee; J. H. Whitman, South Carolina; J. V. Hobson, M.D., Virginia; W. E. Storm, M.D., North Carolina; A. L. Monroe, M.D., Kentucky; reported of the status of medical legislation in the Southern States. The laws are satisfactory or at least not inimical to homeopathy in Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky, Virginia, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Louisiana, and Texas. Primarily the laws require registration of diplomas from chartered colleges, of any school, as was reported at the Second Annual Meeting of the SHMA in March, 1886. However, in North Carolina, Alabama, and Mississippi, there are boards of examiners which are constituted of practitioners of the old school who, despite arrangements directed at appearing fair, are intrinsically intimidating to applicants so that few homeopaths enter those states.

Dr. J. V. Hobson of Richmond, Virginia, described the laws in that state. The Board of Medical Examiners is composed of three physicians from each congressional district and two for the State at large, recommended by the Medical Society of Virginia and commissioned by the Governor and of five physicians recommended by the Hahnemann Medical Society of the Old Dominion. The candidate for medical license is required to obtain an order for examination from the president of the board at a fee of $5.00, and then has a choice of any three members of the board for the examination. The certificates of three examiners are required to entitle the candidate to practice anywhere in the State which license is obtained for a fee of $1.00 from the clerk of corporation or county in which he wishes to practice.

The members of the Southern Homeopathic Medical Association preferred just the diploma registration law as mentioned above to the mechanism of boards of examiners because some Southern States have no State or local societies to recommend members for a board of examiners, or, should such have existed, they might have dissolved, making the law inoperable for the homeopaths.

The newspaper article went on to assert that the American Medical Association was promulgating a national law by which that school of medicine would control the licensing of practitioners.

The Committee on Legislation concluded its report by reiterating a resolution adopted at the last meeting of the Southern Homeopathic Medical Association in which the SHMA opposed licensing boards as substandard in examining applicants to that performed by medical colleges and subject to abuse and discrimination and supported medical education and graduation from incorporated medical college and registration of a practitioner's diploma as the means for protecting the public interests.

Dr. A. L. Monroe of Louisville, Kentucky, in his President's Address given 8 PM Friday evening, December 10, included in his remarks some evidence (see report on page 24) of the prosperity of the homeopathic profession in the USA. He reiterated the numbers contained in Dr. Bailey's Committee on Registration and Statistics Report
(see pages 20 and 21), mentioning that homeopathic hospital property worth is $5,000,000.00 to which $250,000.00 had been added in the last year. (Dr. Fisher had reported the day before that the Delanos of New York had given $325,000.00 for the establishment of a children's hospital, two Detroit men had donated $255,000.00 for the establishment of a homeopathic college there and friends of homeopathy in Providence, Rhode Island, had donated $250,000.00 plus buildings and grounds for a hospital there.) Dr. Monroe went on to provide further statistical evidence of the therapeutic success of homeopathic treatment of the sick, based on comparative death rates, the first set from an insurance company and the second from institutional sources. (see page 25.)

Officers for the ensuing year were elected as follows: President, Dr. Joseph Jones of San Antonio, Texas; First Vice President, Dr. Walter M. Dake of Nashville, Tennessee; Second Vice President, Dr. E. A. Murphy of New Orleans, Louisiana; Recording Secretary, Dr. C. George Fellows of New Orleans, Louisiana; Corresponding Secretary, Dr. C. R. Mayer of Martinsville, Louisiana; Treasurer, Dr. J. G. Belden of New Orleans, Louisiana.
The Meeting place for the next session was set for New Orleans, Louisiana on the second Wednesday, Thursday and Friday of 1887.

From President's Address of Dr. A. L. Monroe of Louisville, Kentucky, given 8 PM Friday evening, December 10, 1886, at the 3rd Annual Meeting of the Southern Homeopathic Medical Association

The first set I desire to present to your notice was compiled by a reputable life Insurance company in 1874, from the death reports of the cities of Boston for 1870, 1871 and 1872; Philadelphia for 1872, the year of the great epidemic of small-pox there; Newark for 1872 and 1873. The table presents the average death loss to number of patients treated during that time by the representatives of the two great schools of medicine:

	Allopathic Av. Loss	Homeopathic Av. Loss
Boston, 1870, '71 and '72	1735	885
New York, 1870 and '71	1576	848
Philadelphia, '70, '71	1903	1287
New York, '72, '73	2046	1124
Brooklyn, '72, '73	2280	1028
General average	1908	1034

Here also are some hospitals, insane asylums, and almshouse statistics from reliable sources, and gathered from fields where the systems were used side by side:

	Allopathic Loss	Homeopathic Loss
Albany City Hospital year ending Sept. '73	726	533
Brooklyn Hospital, 1883	948	800
New York State Insane Asylum	649	430
Leipsic hospitals	1273	422
St. Margaret's Hospital, Paris, five years	1100	705
Denver (Col.) Almshouse	1003	668

Representing the average results of two years under each form of practice, next comes yellow fever statistics showing average proportion of death losses during yellow fever epidemic of 1878 in Southern United States. These statistics represent the mean average of losses as calculated by a commission of yellow fever experts visiting the infected districts immediately after the epidemic: Allopathic, 15.50 per cent; homeopathic, 6 per cent. Here we have a mass of statistics compiled by careful, conscientious workers, representing in the aggregate at least 1,000,000 prescriptions given 500,000 patients, and the work extending over a term of years of practice of at least 1000 physicians of each school, and what do you think the aggregate average of this great work will showe Why by a simple and easy calculation we find that out of every hundred patients each allopath lost almost twelve and each homeopath little more than seven-an average conclusion because derived from the extended treatment of all the ills that flesh is heir to.

	Allopathic Loss	Homeopathic Loss
Losses after yellow fever epidemic	15.50%	6.0%
Losses out of 100	12	7

Fourth Annual Meeting of the Southern Homeopathic Medical Association at Grunewald Hall
New Orleans, Louisiana
Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, December 14, 15 and 16, 1887

This meeting is described in the Minutes Book as being small, there being few attendees from out of town. In fact, there were listed more letters of regret than there were members present.

Those in attendance decided to publish the proceedings including those of the Fourth Annual Meeting, in part to promote interest in the Association. Mr. T. Engelbach offered to publish them at his expense, which offer was accepted. New officers were elected for the coming year as follows: President, G. M. Ockford, M.D., Lexington, Kentucky; First Vice President, Walter M Dake, M.D., Nashville, Tennessee; Second Vice President, E. A. Guilbert, M.D., Jackson, Mississippi; Recording Secretary, C. Gurnee Fellows, M.D., New Orleans, Louisiana; Corresponding Secretary, C. R. Mayer, M.D., St. Martinsville, Louisiana; Treasurer, Robert A. Bayley, M.D., New Orleans, Louisiana.

Fifth Annual Meeting of the Southern Homeopathic Medical Association
at Elk's Hall, Keene Block
Louisville, Kentucky
Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, October 10, 11, 12, 1888

This fifth session was first to have been held in Nashville, Tennessee, on the same dates, but it was changed to Louisville, Kentucky, to enhance attendance from Chicago, St. Louis, Indianapolis, Cincinnati, and elsewhere.

The election of new members followed hard on the convening of the Opening Session 11 AM Wednesday, October 10, 1888. With those elections of ten members, came the first woman member, Dr. Helen M. Cady of Louisville, Kentucky.

There were few notes and no newspaper accounts in the Minutes book on this, the Fifth Annual Meeting.

The officers elected for the upcoming year included the following: President, W. E. Green, M.D., Little Rock, Arkansas; First Vice President, Walter Bailey, Jr., M.D., New Orleans, Louisiana; Second Vice President, John H. Henry, M.D., Montgomery, Alabama; Recording Secretary, E. Lippincott, M.D., Memphis, Tennessee; Corresponding Secretary, Howard Crutcher, M.D., Chicago, Illinois; Treasurer, Charles W. Taylor, M.D., Louisville, Kentucky.

Sixth Annual Session of the Southern Homeopathic Medical Association
In the Ladies' Ordinary of the Gayoso Hotel, Memphis, Tennessee
Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, November 13, 14 and 15, 1889

If one may draw inferences from the appearance of the meeting program alone, the Sixth, Seventh, Eighth and Ninth Sessions of the Southern Homeopathic Medical Association were much larger than any of those heretofore. Another sign of the anticipated size of the meeting was that, in each instance, reduced railroad rates at full fare one way, one-third fare return, were arranged with presentation of a certificate signed by the SHMA Secretary.

The Sixth Annual Session brochure contains some handwritten notations indicating that certain papers were published subsequently in particular journals, such as the Southern Journal of Homeopathy, which was edited by former SHMA President Charles E. Fisher, M.D. of Austin, Texas, and The Northwestern Journal of Homeopathy (Est. 1889, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Editor Dr. A. C. Cowperthwaite).
At this session several bureaus were represented, each of which contained a number of papers, many more than had been listed at previous meetings.

This was the first meeting at which women physician speakers were listed on the program. They included Sarah J. Millsop, M.D., Bowling Green, Kentucky, "The Hygienic Aspects of Gynecology"; Lucy Waite, M.D., Chicago, Illinois, "The Mechanical Treatment of Uterine Displacement"; M. Ellen Keller, M.D., Ft. Worth, Texas, "Clinical Cases in Gynecology: Their Diagnosis and Treatment"; Clara C. Plimpton, M.D., Nashville, Tennessee, "A Peculiar Case of Abortion"; Julia Holmes Smith, M.D., Chicago, Illinois, "Leucorrhea in Virgins. Some of its Causes. Suggestions as to Treatment."

Dr. Millsop was mentioned earlier in this paper. Dr. Martha Ellen Keller, born September 4, 1845, in Danville, Illinois, graduated from the Hahnemann Medical College of Chicago in 1884. She obtained postgraduate training in obstetrics and gynecology and in diseases of the eye and ear at Hahnemann Medical College of Chicago in 1884, in the former of which she specialized her practice. She invented something called the electro-vitalizer. She practiced in Lafayette, Indiana, 1884-1888;