HOMOEOPATHY AND MEDICAL EDUCATION IN HUNGARY by
J Ó Z S E F
H O M O E O P A T H Y
A N T A L L
A N D
H A H N E M A N N
he r i g h t d i r e c t i o n of scientific progress i n medical science could not prevent the spread o f new " r e v o l u t i o n a r y " therapeutical methods. T h e stormy years of the F r e n c h Revolution and the Napoleonic Wars created a favourable climate for t h e m . A m o n g t h e m homoeopathy, the method of treatment used b y Samuel Ch. F. Hahnemann (1755—1843) had the greatest influence o n the contemporaries. Hahnemann continued his studies at L e i p z i g , Vienna and Erlangen. F o r a while he stayed i n Transylvania as the private physician o f B a r o n Bruckenthal. R e t u r n i n g to Germany he continued his practice there w h i l e he carried o n chemical research and experiments testified b y a relatively wide p u b l i s h i n g activity. D u r i n g his experiments he tested the effect of q u i n q u i n a bark o n himself. H e found that w h i l e i n a large dose i t caused malaria, a small q u a n t i t y o f i t cured that. F r o m this he deduced that medicines w h i c h i n a large dose cause symptoms similar to some illness i n small dose can serve for c u r i n g the same. H e published his discovery i n 1790 i n the j o u r n a l of H u f e l a n d . C o n t i n u i n g his research he b u i l t u p a whole system f r o m his observations and i n 1810 published his m a i n work " O r g a n o n der rationallen H e i l k u n d e " i n Dresden, w h i c h was followed by "Reine A r z n e i m i t t e l l e h r e " i n the following year. T h e cure called homoeopathy quickly spread, p a r t l y due to its novelty, p a r t l y o w i n g to the coarseness o f contemporaneous practices like the application of emetics, purgatives, sudation, venesection and so f o r t h . A c c o r d i n g to the conception o f Hahnemann illness is caused b y the depression of mental v i g o u r . "All illnesses (not only those related to surgery) are nothing else but a strange alteration of our vigour in strength, feelings, and capacities, which introduces itself by perceptibly noticeable symptoms." (Organon, paragraph 24). Recovery can be brought about b y an effect similar to the original malady b u t stronger, or b y a similar b u t artificial process. These can be reached only b y such medicines w h i c h can originate a similar pathological state on healthy persons. T h e m a x i m of his medicating a c t i v i t y : " s i m i l i a similibus c u r a n t u r " and the name given to the practice by Hahnemann himself, homoeopathy, refers to that. T h u s he discarded the traditional approach w h i c h dated back to Galenos ; "contraria contrariis c u r a n t u r " . F o r the o l d , contempted c u r i n g practice he invented the name " a l l o p a t h y " thus launching " t h e struggle o f homoeopathy and allopathy" i n medical science.
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T h e next theorem o f the homoeopathic school is that the smaller dose is used the stronger the effect w i l l be. T h a t is w h y the constant increase o f d i l u t i o n is advised. D r u g s w o r k mostly not b y their substance, b u t by the i m m a t e r i a l forces hidden i n t h e m . A c c o r d i n g to Hahnemann two drops o f the medicine (fresh sap or p r i m a r y tincture) must be m i x e d w i t h 98 drops of alcohol (first d i l u t i o n ) . T w o drops o f the result must be m i x e d w i t h another 98 drops o f alcohol and that must be continued u n t i l t h i r t y . There were over-zelous ones, who d i d not stop u n t i l sixty, while the more "sane" d i d not go further t h a n ten. Hahnemann w r o t e on the d i l u t i o n o f his drugs: "The bodies multiplied in such a way are so much changed physically and chemically, that even the bodies insoluble both in alcohol and in water become soluble after such a transformation . . . / am the first to show the world an entirely new discovery... . Medicines are not common lifeless bodies, their true substance is rather dinamically spiritual, rather pure power." T h e phantasy o f the homoeopaths was boundless w h e n they put u p a case for the dosing of d i l u t e d drugs. B u t they more often b o r r o w e d their comparisons rather from contemporary inventions t h a n f r o m the testimony o f medical experience. Döme Argenti, the best k n o w n H u n g a r i a n homoeopath, for instance took the example o f the power o f steam, the steamship and the locomotive. "Well, you believe the amazing power of the railway locomotive! You believe, don't you ? because you see it. You will similarly see the inconceivable power of the homoeopathical remedies!" B u t the great physicians of the age commented u p o n the m u l t i p l y i n g effect o f d i l u t i o n w i t h deadly irony. Rudolf Virchow (1821—1902), the famous G e r m a n scientist once t o l d his audience: " / / / pour a glass of beer in the River Spree in Berlin, what will become of that beer in the water at the mouth of the river near Spandau? These who deal with homoeopathy among you are not worthy of sitting in this room." B u t his w a r n i n g failed to convince his opponents. I t is always difficult to convince by c o m m o n sense those people, groups, schools, w h o h o l d perverted views. Rather they get c o n f i r m e d i n t h e i r belief and when forced into the periphery o f their v i e w p o i n t they even increase their hopeless struggle. Some homoeopaths—far surpassing the teachings o f their master—treated itchiness w i t h " p o t e n t i a t e d " pus from itchy persons, and hepatopathia and tubercolosis w i t h f l u i d f r o m those affected organs ( " h e p a t i n " , "pulmonal"). T h e homoeopaths p u t more emphasis o n the diet o f the patient t h a n was customary—though themselves protested against that being the o n l y secret o f their success. T h e y forbade the treated patient to consume "seasoned, a r o m a t i c , hot and too sour food like strong vinegar, pepper, horseradish, s a f f r o n " and "smoked meat, too salty and fat meet indlcuding goose, duck and pork which are hard to digest" (Argenti). T h e y empasized cleanliness as well, the f r e q u e n t changing of bedcloth and underwear. I t was the pecularity of the homoeopathic medicines that they were prepared b y the doctors themselves. Homoeopathic therapy and pharmacy are inseparable. T h e y used the same medicines for the most different ailments as they n a t u r a l l y knew nothing about their w o r k i n g b u t decided on their use on an e m p i r i c a l w a y , or better to say on the basis o f imaginary experience. One of t h e i r m o s t
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popular medication, "belladonna" was equally advised " f o r the s p i r i t " against depression, spleen, anger, rage o n the one hand and against "great merriness, naughtiness" o n the other. " F o r the b o d y " they found i t good o n practically everything: erysipelas ,cancer, jaundice, stroke, double seeing, p a r o t i d gland, toothache, constipation, hepatitis and menstruation pains. T h e same Argenti recommended p l a t i n u m against sorrow, inclination for weeping, fear o f death. H e f o u n d i t equally good on p r u r i g i t u s , a f i t of ague, a sore throat, indigestion, constipation, puerperal fever, d r y cough, and legweakness. T h e r e is hardly any d r u g w h i c h is not good against most ailments and for most parts of the b o d y . I n accordance w i t h their principles the homoeo paths gave sulphur o n skin diseases, iodine o n nasal catarrh, strychine on tetanus, Spanish-fly powder o n n e p h r i t i s . T h a t is medicines w h i c h cause symptoms o f the mentioned diseases o n healthy persons. I n spite of its obvious errors homoeo pathy drew many supporters f r o m the nonprofessional p u b l i c . M e d i c i n e chests, private medicine-collections, popular advisers and remedies a l l had their part i n its success. M a n ' s inclination to drug-collecting and self-curing found a wide outlet.
T H E SPREAD A N D SUCCESS O F
HOMOEOPATHY
T h e new-curing method q u i c k l y spread i n Europe and N o r t h America, b u t never gained as m u c h p o p u l a r i t y among the professionals as a m o n g the gullible general public. B u t i t w o n many h i g h - r a n k i n g supporters and its results were carefully recorded. A c c o r d i n g to one of its professors, Tivadar Bakody, i n the U n i t e d States i n the 1800s there were 1,300 homoeopathical physicians, 20 associations, 6 periodicals, 4 hospitals and t w o medical faculties. H e knows homoeopathical institutions and associations everywhere, f r o m Germany to Russia, and f r o m France to E n g l a n d . Homoeopathical c u r i n g c o u l d nowhere achieve a lasting success. I n 1805 Damas, the famous chemist gave an account o n its "results" before the French Senate. W i t h b i t i n g sarcasm he smashed to pieces the teachings o f Hahnemann b y the light o f scientific research. The homoeopathical " p r i v a t e professors" ("Privatdozent" i n German) at the Vienna and Prague universities could hardly f i n d anyone w h o listened to t h e m . T h e i r hospitals at Leipzig and i n other parts of Germany withered away. A c c o r d i n g to Dumas's report about L o n d o n "the homoeopathical hospital containing 50 beds has been visited; some of the beds were vacant, others had surgical patients in them; after what could be seen this institution appears to lack any serious character". T h e ascendancy of homoeopathy was short-dated i n L a t i n A m e r i c a as w e l l . I t obtained the favour o f the Brasilian E m p e r o r who established a medical faculty for i t . B u t its credit was soon forfeited and the faculty was closed d o w n . I t s influence was lost i n France, too. T h e deepest roots were struck i n the U n i t e d States and—for some decades—in H u n g a r y . T h e spread o f homoeopathical therapy i n H u n g a r y was n o t prevented by the rejecting decision o f the Lieutenancy (Council of Governor-General i n IOI
Buda) i n 1819. I t enlisted m a n y adherents among the n o b i l i t y , especially among the aristocracy. I t was i n t r o d u c e d by József Bakody (1791—1845), w h o practised at G y ő r , later at Pest and fell v i c t i m to an experiment made on himself b y o p i u m and q u i n i n e . Beside h i m we may m e n t i o n György Forgó (1785—1835) and Pál Almási Balogh (1794 —1807) as the more amous homoeopaths o f the Age of Reforms. I n the cholera epidemic o f 1831 they recommended the m e t h o d o f Hahnemann for prevention and to fight the epidemic. D u r i n g his visit to G e r m a n y i n 1825 Almási Balogh called on Goethe and Hahnemann as w e l l and as a result became an adherent and populariser o f homoeopathy i n H u n g a r y . M a n y aristocratic families i n v i t e d h i m to be the family doctor b u t he became the physician of István Széchenyi and of Lajos Kossuth, t o o . H e became a trusted friend o f the latter and treated h i m i n the prison. I n a d d i t i o n to general practising Almási established his name as an u n t i r i n g organizer i n science. As a result he was elected corresponding, later regular member of the H u n g a r i a n Academy. His w o r k was followed b y his son. Tihamér Balogh, himself a homoeopath as well as a p l a y w r i g h t . D u e to its i m p o r t a n t supporters homoeopathical c u r i n g spread i n H u n g a r y . Hahnemann's Organon was published i n H u n g a r i a n i n 1830, i n the same year when Széchenyi's epoch-making Hitel appeared. Its conceptions d i d not o n l y " c u r e " b u t even inspired. Mihály Vörösmarty, the great poet, p u t its principles into verse i n his poem Hahnemann. T h e poet has the r i g h t to accept i n science what he wants, even to believe i n erroneous trends. B u t the physician can be acquitted o f complicity only b y his o w n experience, his f o r m e d c o n v i c t i o n . Soon after the f i r s t successes Mihály (Pest, 1830), Kovács refuted the arguments of Hahnemann i n his Antiorganon and the physicians took u p the fight against homoeopathy, i n its o w n f i e l d , popular literature. Imre Lovász's Mit tartsunk a Homoeopathiáról ? [ W h a t views should we h o l d on homoeopatha? (1838)] admitted some o f its achievements and emphasized the necessity of keeping what was good i n i t , on the whole rejected the new c u r i n g m e t h o d . Its p o p u l a r i t y , however, resulted i n an address b y the t w o Houses of the D i e t i n Pozsony to the Sovereign i n 1844 requesting the inclusing of homoeopathy i n the syllabus and the f u r n i s h i n g o f the equipment necessary. T h e royal answer deferred action b u t the partisans o f homoeopathy d i d not abandon their p l a n . Preceding 1848 homoeopathy succeeded i n enlisting the support o f some physicians o n the medical faculty and i n certain hospitals, mostly outside the capital. I n 1840 they obtained permission of the H u n g a r i a n Chancellary i n Vienna for the free sale o f t h e i r medications. B y that they acquired an exceptional position over physicians using t r a d i t i o n a l methods, as o n l y qualified pharmacists were authorized to sale the medicines o f physicians u s i n g traditional methods. I n connection w i t h the reform of the university f o l l o w i n g the victory o f the revolution (1848) and the f o r m a t i o n of the B a t t h y á n y - g o v e r n m e n t they managed to have homoeopathy i n c l u d e d i n the syllabus, w i t h the appointment o f a professor i f there is a suitable applicant, and even the establishment of a hospital was promised. T h e war o f independence and especially its suppression w i t h h e l d the cause of homoeopathy, too, i n H u n g a r y .
Hahnemann : O r g a n o n (Hungarian edition)
Homoeopathical c u r i n g was affected mostly by the tragical historical c i r c u m stances. Its most eminent representative, Pál Almási Balogh found himself i n an extremely dangerous position after the surrender at Világos, d u r i n g the terror of Haynau i n consequence o f his contacts to Széchenyi (it was h i m who accompanied " t h e greatest of H u n g a r i a n s " into the D ö b l i n g sanatorium) and to Kossuth, and his p o l i t i c a l views. H i s wife was called " m o t h e r o f the honvéds" (territorial volunteers) for her idefatigable work as chief-nurse o f the h o n v é d a r m y hospitals i n alleviating the fate o f the w o u n d e d soldiers. After the collapse o f the fight M r s . Almási Balogh helped the threatened politicians to escape for w h i c h she was eventually i m p r i s o n e d . I t ' s a tragic fate when the name of a great scientist, a distinguished person, w h o together w e i t h his whole family fought for political and scientific progress, is overshadowed b y the service o f an erroneous theory, a b l i n d alley i n medical h i s t o r y .
EÖTVÖS A N D T H E E S T A B L I S H M E N T OF T H E CHAIR IN HOMOEOPATHY N o t only p o l i t i c a l life, but the homoeopaths, too, recovered f r o m the paralysis o f absolutism i n the 1860s. A l r e a d y i n 1863 the nine homoeopaths practising i n the capital began to group together and i n 1865 they organized the H u n g a r i a n Homoeopathical M e d i c a l Association. Pál Almási Balogh was elected president and his son, T i h a m é r , secretary. János Garay, a homoeopath i n Pest, applied for the title " p r i v a t e professor" at the university, b u t his request was turned d o w n . After the death of Balogh Döme Argenti (1809 — 1893), the most prolific homoeopathical w r i t e r was elected president. F r o m the b e g i n n i n g Argenti was the most active and most enthusiastic fighter for the acceptence and spreading o f homoeopathy. H e described his methods i n numerous w o r k s , popularizing books and advisory booklets. T h o u g h he lived at V á c , nearly t h i r t y miles f r o m Pest, most o f his clientele was i n the capital, where he had a consulting r o o m i n the City, inside an apothecary shop, w i t h w h i c h he maintained a close contact: i t kept the drugs prescribed by h i m . One of the customers was Ferenc Deák, the maker o f the Compromise w i t h Austria, who was called "the wise m a n of the c o u n t r y " . N o t w i t h o u t reason : for instance he h a d two doctors, the homoeopath Argenti and the anti-homoeo path Endre Kovács Sebestény. Argenti also published a t w o - v o l u m e " H o m o e o pathical T h e r a p y a n d Pharmacology". His works represented the most profound and most w i d e l y read treatment o f homoeopathy. After the C o m p r o m i s e of 1867, when the portfolio of minister o f public education was again held by József Eötvös, the homoeopaths intensified their struggle. Döme Argenti set forth his views i n the Homoeopathical Papers. A petition was submitted to the government requesting the reform of medical education, the establishment o f a chair of homoeopathy. T h e request was t u r n e d d o w n b y Eötvös "as I do not regard it justified and compatible with the standing of the university of sciences". T h e i r failure d i d not discourage the homoeopaths and they carried o n the fight i n the press. T h e y t r i e d to gain influence i n various
T i t l e - p a g e of Argenti's B o o k
Portable homoeopathic medicine chest from the m i d d l e of 1 9 ( S e m m e l w e i s M e d i c a l Historical M u s e u m )
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organizations, b u t mostly i n influential circles. T h e y managed to w i n the s u p p o r t of some m u n i c i p a l authorities. T h e question o f homoeopathy even came before Parliament on 31st Jan., 1870. I n the name o f freedom of t h o u g h t and free scientific research Károly P. Szaihmàry proposed "That the House shall decide to have a chair of homoeopathy established at the royal Hungarian university in Pest in this year and it shall instruct the minister of religion and public education to enforce this decision." T h e proposition was discussed i n the following m o n t h d u r i n g the general debate o n education. After another address by Szathmáry Eötvös answered. I n a detailed and expert speech he analyzed homoeopathy and dismissed the contentions o f t h e . sponsor. He a d m i t t e d w i t h tactful i r o n y that t r a d i t i o n a l medical method indeed was "lacking principles" since "it always changed its system and methods according to the new discoveries made in chemistry, physics, and physiology". So i t w o u l d be inexpedient to establish an independent chair for homoeopathy, w h i c h is not an independent science, o n l y a trend, a m e t h o d w i t h i n medical science. I f the request were granted " t h e Hegelian, K a n t i a n or Cartesian" schools o f philosophy c o u l d equally demand independent chairs. B u t the well-organized chorus o f the homoeopathy-supporting members was not satisfied w i t h Eötvös's answer, w h i c h w o u l d have even made a good lecture.
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Cloaked under the cover o f h u m a n rights and h u m a n i s m one followed the o t h e r : M. Ürményi, G. Várady, V. Bogdán, L . Sálamon, E. Zsedényi, L . Kovách, L . Tisza, F. Podmaniczky, and P. Királyi. A member, w h o had emigrated to t h e U n i t e d States after the defeat o f the war o f independence described the results o f Hahnemann's school there i n v i v i d colours and m o v i n g w o r d s . József Szabó, a physician, was the first to oppose t h e m . H i s speech against homoeopathy was b o t h well-judged and passionate. H e emphasized that the House was n o t competent to decide over scientific debates. Gergely Patrubány, w h o later became m u n i c i p a l health officer, w i t t i l y commented o n t h e i r curing methods. A certain n u m b e r of the patients recover, he remarked, u n d e r any treatment. I t happens even w i t h the Samoyedic medicineman w h o dances around his patient. W e do n o t , however, consider establishing a faculty o n the Pest university for the teaching of Samoyedic methods. B u t i n spite o f these arguments the vast majority of the assembly voted for Szathmáry's motion. T h e decision created a b i g uproar among the physicians, especially o n the faculty o f medicine. I n M a r c h the Budapest M e d i c a l Association came together and denounced the idea of the homoeopathical faculty. Frigyes Korányi compared i t w i t h setting u p a chair i n atheism on one o f the theological faculties. T h e pharmaceutical associations o f the countryside took a similar v i e w . I t was clear h o w little support homoeopathy had i n professional circles. A report was pre pared b y Jenő Jendrassik o n behalf of the N a t i o n a l H e a l t h C o u n c i l . T h e y rejected the p l a n of the chair i n the sharpest words and cited the situation o f homoeopathy i n the w o r l d , the obvious proofs o f its decline. B u t i t d i d n o t decline i n H u n g a r i a n aristocratic circles, Countess Melanie Zichy announced the setting u p of a homoeopathic hospital, so there was n o d o u b t that the U p p e r House w o u l d also vote for the resolution. I t was backed b y Counts György Károlyi and György Apponyi. Eötvös once more expounded his views, i n the resigned spirit of the acquiescence of the w i s e : "The future of homoeopathy as a science—if it is a science—will not rest with the decision of this House. My fullest conviction is that science needs no patronage. The so called omnipotence of the legislation comes to nothing before science. Science creates and produces itself without the help of the legislation and even against it. Like the correctness of the circulation of the blood, in fact any great discovery made by the scientists of any age was not assisted by any legislation, anywhere, so if homoeopathy really needs only some support to have a future, I don't predict a long future. Because science is such a power that not only does not need patronage but can even well endure persecution." Eötvös's speech d i d not make a great impression on the assembled peers. T h e resolution was passed and homoeopathy t r i u m p h e d by the help of i g n o rance. Eötvös—unwillingly—started the official procedure to set u p the homoeo pathical department and f i l l its chair. B u t death spared h i m f r o m effectuating the appointments. Homoeopathical therapy and treatment had t w o professors. Ferenc Hausmann (1811 — 1876) was appointed i n 1872 and Tivadar Bakody (1825 — 1911), the son of the introducer, i n 1874. T h e faculty of medicine itself received the resolu t i o n of the House w i t h i n d i g n a t i o n and refused to receive the homoeopaths
i n t o the faculty. I n 1874 the Rector, professor i n surgery József Kovács, attacked them i n a speech and raised the question: "Has the Hungarian state accumulated so much money that it can finance experiments costing many thousands, fust to resolve the doubts provoked by ignorance and the folly of subjectivity? or perhaps it wants to reward from public money dubious services rendered to some?" Homoeopathy thus w o n a momentary v i c t o r y , but Hausmann and Bakody were not o n l y its first, b u t also last techers i n Hungary. T h e fiascos o f the method manifested themselves all the more obviously u n t i l homoeopathy started to decline and finally disappeared together w i t h its adherents. After the early death of Hausmann Tivadar Bakody gave lectures u n t i l the academic year 1903/4, b u t i n the following year he retired after a year's absence on leave. T h e B o a r d of Professors o f the medical faculty on N o v e m b e r 22,1904 came to the conclusion that the department had never had any justification for its existence and i t was set up against the protests of the U n i v e r s i t y . For decades i t had no students or just one or two i n a t e r m . Consequently w i t h the leave o f Bakody the F a c u l t y requested its abolition, w h i c h was granted b y the Sovereign after asking the government's advice. I n 1906 the unneeded department was transformed i n t o a department i n odontology and the chair was given to József Árkövy, the founder of modern dentistry i n H u n g a r y . I t is o d d enough b u t the popularity o f homoeopathy i n H u n g a r y is p a r t l y based on the fact that i t was regarded as a k i n d of "persecuted" trend and m a n y politicians o f the opposition defended i t i n the name o f political and scientific freedom just because established o p i n i o n rejected i t . Characteristically Ignác Helfy, one o f the closest adherents of Kossuth i n H u n g a r y , i n the election o f 1875 spoke of József Egei (the ophthalmologist of Táncsics, see Communicationes etc. N o . 44., V o l u m e 1968) as the representative of firmness bacause he w o u l d not give u p his homoeopathical c o n v i c t i o n for any medical post. T h a t shows that after the period o f l o n g oppression oppositionary behaviour can assume a deformed position, a caricature of itself, i n defending certain viewpoints. T h o u g h even i n 1935 H u n g a r y and Budapest was selected as the venue o f the international congress o f homoeopaths a n d H u n g a r y was one of the countries where i t had the greatest impact, to-day we can speak o n l y of its h i s t o r y i n H u n g a r y . B u t i t d i d n o t disappear everywhere even i n the 20th century and sometimes appears where i t had already discredited itself. I n the 19th century, w h e n the way the pharmaceutical products w o r k was still u n k n o w n , one can f i n d excuses for the existence of homoeopathy preaching the e m p i r i c a l method. Biology and the natural sciences o n the whole are too complicated to set up universal principles, to apply patterns for the therapeutical process. T h e r e are cases where the p r i n c i p l e " s i m i l i a s i m i l i b u s " m i g h t be valid - f o r various reasons —but r i g i d generalization can never lead to t r u t h . T h e m a n o f the m o d e r n age, of the 18th and 19th centuries, i n the p e r i o d o f innumerable discoveries, inventions, scientific t h i n k i n g and s y s t é m a t i s a t i o n often walked into the trap of quick and false generalization. There is no greater mistake i n scientific research than to d r a w general conclusions from not s u f f i c i ently checked i n d i v i d u a l or collective cases. T h e n science becomes the prisoner of itself and often blocks correct perception.
I n the 19th century, which was so rich in results, many disciplines were characterized by generalizations based on fragmentary truth. That is why the methods of our age which scrutinize, analyse and watch everything exhaustively, could easily sweep aside so many conclusions of the past. But this does not annihilate their historical value. I f one scientist of the past achieved at least as much as to invite now a statement opposite to his views—we may say with some malice—then his life-work was not in vain. Although the homoeopaths had some results in finding some elements of truth, they contributed to the observation of the process of natural recovery, called attention to the importance of the diet, raised interest in experiments carried out on animals, their real merit is only the impetus they gave to the development of correct treatments by their opposite, erroneous trend. That is their share in the birth of modern medical science. Works
consulted
S. Hahnemann: Organona a gyógyművészségnek. Pest, 1830. M. Kovács : Antiorganon. Pest, 1830. I . Lovász : Mit tartsunk a homeopathiáról ? Pest, 1838. y. Garay : Értekezés a homeopathikus gyógy- és gyógyszertanról és adagokról. D. Argenti: Hasonszenvi útitárs rögtön támadt betegségek elhárítására. Pest, 1 8 6 3 . D. Argenti: Hasonszenvi gyógymód és gyógyszertan. Pest, 1864. T. Balogh : Párhuzam a homeopathia és allopathia közt. Pest, 1865. Gy. Oláh: A hasonszenvészet értéke. Pozsony, 1867. J . Eötvös: Beszédek I — I I I . Budapest, 1905. A homeopathia és az orvosi tudomány. Az Országos Egészségügyi Tanácsnak, a M . K. Egyetem orvostanári karának és Dumas vegytanár . . . véleményes jelentései . . . Pest, 1870. T. Bakody : Almási Balogh Pál felett tartott emlékbeszéd. (In 1876 on the Hungarian Academy of Sciences). Budapest, 1876. T. Balogh : Első segedelem akut betegségekben baleseteknél a homeopaták eljárása szerint. Budapest, 1904. B. Fialovszky : Almási Balogh Pál élete és jellemrajza. Budapest, 1933. T. Győry : A hasonszenvészeti tanszék felállítása a budapesti egyetemen. Gyógy szerészeti Közlöny. 1934. Nos. 15, 16, 17. T. Győry: Az Orvostudományi Kar története. Budapest, 1936. Kossuth levelei orvosához, Almási Balogh Pál akadémikushoz. Közli: Sáfrán Györgyi. Magyar Tudomány. 1960. 5 ( 6 7 ) , 1 0 . G. Borsa: Argenti Döme. Communicationes. 3 0 ( 1 9 6 4 ) . pp. 1 3 7 — 1 5 0 . J . Antall: A homeopátia tegnap és ma. Természettudományi Közlöny. 1964. No. 11. G. Ferencz : Ujabb dokumentumok Almási Balogh Pálnak, Kossuth Lajos és Széchenyi István orvosának működéséről. Communicationes. 1968. No. 45. pp. 99—112.
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sszefoglalás
A tudományos fejlődés helyes iránya a medicinában nem tudta megakadá lyozni az új, forradalminak hirdetett gyógymódok terjedését. A francia forradalom és a napóleoni háborúk viharos esztendei kedvező talajt biztosítottak számukra.
A legnagyobb hatással Hahnemann g y ó g y m ó d j a , a h o m e o p á t i a , v o l t a k o r t á r sakra. K í s é r l e t e z é s k ö z b e n ö n m a g á n vizsgálta a c h i n a k é r e g h a t á s á t . A z t tapasztalta, hogy nagy adagban váltólázat i d é z elő, m í g kis adagban m e g g y ó g y í t j a a v á l t ó lázban s z e n v e d ő beteget. E b b ő l arra k ö v e t k e z t e t e t t , hogy azok a gyógyszerek, amelyek e g é s z s é g e s e m b e r n é l nagy adagban valamilyen b e t e g s é g h e z h a s o n l ó t ü n e t e k e t v á l t a n a k k i , kis adagban m e g g y ó g y í t j á k az ahhoz h a s o n l ó b e t e g s é g b e n s z e n v e d ő e m b e r t . Felfedezését 1790-ben tette közzé Hufeland l a p j á b a n , m a j d folytatva k u t a t á s a i t , valóságos rendszert dolgozott k i , amelyet 1810-ben m e g jelent k ö n y v é b e n (Organon stb.) foglalt ö s s z e . A homeopata gyógyászati m ó d s z e r alapelve a „similis similibus c u r a n t u r " , m e g f o r d í t v a a Galenosig v i s s z a n y ú l ó gyógyítási alapelvet, amely k i m o n d t a , hogy „ c o n t r a r i a contrariis c u r a n t u r " . A homeopata gyógyászat k ö v e t k e z ő a l a p t é t e l e , hogy a g y ó g y s z e r e k hatása a n n á l e r ő s e b b , m i n é l kisebb d ó z i s b a n adjuk a beteg nek. E z é r t tanácsolja a hígítás á l l a n d ó fokozását. A gyógyszerek e l s ő s o r b a n n e m anyaguk által hatnak, hanem a b e n n ü k rejlő immaterialis e r ő k k ö v e t k e z t é b e n . A homeopata orvosok képzelőereje s z á r n y a k a t kapott, a m i k o r a g y ó g y s z e r e k hígított a d a g o l á s a mellett t ö r e k l á n d z s á t . P é l d á i k a t azonban gyakrabban v e t t é k a kor v a l ó b a n csodálatos technikai t a l á l m á n y a i n a k i s m e r t e t é s é b ő l , ö s s z e h a s o n l í tásából, m i n t az orvosi tapasztalat b i z o n y í t ó a n y a g á b ó l . Argenti Döme, a l e g ismertebb magyar homeopata egyenesen a g ő z b e n rejlő e r ő t , a gőzhajót és a g ő z m o z d o n y t hozta fel p é l d á u l . „ H i s z e n , hiszik m á r a v a s p á l y á i m o z d o n y b á m u l a t r a gerjesztő erejét! H i s z i k nemde? m e r t látják. L á t n i fogják a hasonszenvi szerek meg n e m fogható erejét i s . " A kor nagy orvosai azonban gyilkos g ú n n y a l nyilatkoztak a hígítás h a t v á n y o z ó erejéről. Rudolf Virchow (1821 —1902), a h í r e s n é m e t o r v o s t u d ó s m o n d o t t a : ,,Ha Berlinben egy korsó sört öntök a Spree folyóba, mi lesz ebből a sörből a vízben a folyónak Spandau mellett levő torkolatánál? Nem méltó arra, hogy ebben a teremben üljön az, aki Önök közül homoeopathiával foglalkozik." F i g y e l m e z t e t é s e azonban n e m g y ő z t e meg ellenfeleit. A homeopata orvosok — b á r maguk tiltakoztak az ellen, hogy ez lenne s i k e r ü k egyetlen t i t k a — a k o r á b b i o r v o s l á s n á l nagyobb s ú l y t helyeztek a betegek é t r e n d jére, a d i é t á r a , A kezelés alatt álló betegnek m e g t i l t o t t á k „a fűszeres, illatos, csípős eledelek, így az erős eczet, bors, paprika, erős torma, sáfrán", és igen savanyú valamint „a nehéz emésztésű füstölt, igen sós és kövér húsok, hová tartoznak a lúd-, kacsa- és sertés-hús is", fogyasztását (Argenti). Ugyancsak nagy s ú l y t h e lyeztek a t i s z t a s á g r a , az á g y n e m ű , a f e h é r n e m ű s ű r ű v á l t o g a t á s á r a . A homeopata g y ó g y m ó d gyorsan elterjedt E u r ó p á b a n és É s z a k - A m e r i k á b a n . A szakemberek között azonban sohasem v á l t olyan n é p s z e r ű v é , m i n t a h i s z é k e n y n a g y t ö m e g e l ő t t . Sok helyen magas p á r t f o g ó k m e g n y e r é s é v e l értek el nagy befolyást. S z á m o n t a r t o t t á k e r e d m é n y e i k e t . A h o m e o p á t i a k é s ő b b i t a n á r á n a k , Bakody Tivadarnak az adatai szerint az A m e r i k a i E g y e s ü l t Á l l a m o k b a n 1300 hasonszenvi orvos m ű k ö d ö t t , 20 egyesület, 0 újság, 4 k ó r h á z és 2 orvosi kar állt fenn a m ú l t század hatvanas é v e i b e n . D e N é m e t o r s z á g t ó l a c á r i O r o s z o r s z á g i g , F r a n c i a o r s z á g t ó l Angliáig sorolja fel a homeopata i n t é z m é n y e k e t , e g y e s ü l e t e k e t . D e m a r a d a n d ó sikert sehol sem t u d o t t felmutatni a homeopata g y ó g y á s z a t . 1805-ben Dumas, a h í r e s v e g y é s z s z á m o l t be a francia s z e n á t u s előtt a hasonszenvi g y ó g y m ó d „eredményeiről". M a r ó gúnnyal, a tudományos kutatások fényénél,
no
Zúzta szét Hahnemann t a n í t á s a i t . A bécsi és a p r á g a i egyetemen m ű k ö d ő homeo pata m a g á n t a n á r o k m á r alig találtak h a l l g a t ó k r a . Elsorvadtak L i p c s é b e n és N é m e t o r s z á g m á s r é s z e i b e n is felállított k ó r h á z a i k . Dumas j e l e n t é s e szerint L o n d o n b a n , ahol „meglátogattatott a homoeopathikus kórház, mely 50 ágyat tartal maz, ezek közül néhány üres volt, másokba sebészi kóresetek voltak befektetve; azok után mik láthatók voltak, ezen intézet semmi komoly jellemmel nem bír". A homeopata g y ó g y m ó d t e r j e d é s é t nem a k a d á l y o z t a meg a b u d a i H e l y t a r t ó t a n á c s 1819-ben kelt visszautasító h a t á r o z a t a sem. I g e n sok h í v e t szerzett m a g á nak a n e m e s s é g , k ü l ö n ö s e n pedig az arisztokrácia k ö r é b e n . M e g h o n o s í t ó j a Bakody József (1791—1845) volt, aki k o r á b b a n G y ő r ö t t , majd Pesten folytatott orvosi gyakorlatot. Ö n m a g á n — ó p i u m m a l és chininnel — v é g z e t t kísérlet á l d o z a t a lett. Mellette m é g Forgó Györgyöt (1787—1835) és Almási Balogh Pált (1794 —18G7) e m l í t h e t j ü k meg, m i n t a reformkor l e g h í r e s e b b homeopata orvosait. A z 1831. évi kolera idején Hahnemann m ó d s z e r é t ajánlották a j á r v á n y l e k ü z d é s é r e és a p r e v e n c i ó b i z t o s í t á s á r a . Almási Balogh 1825-ben bejárta N é m e t o r s z á g o t . F e l kereste Goethét és Hahnemannt is. H í v é v é s z e g ő d ö t t és egyike lett a homeopata g y ó g y á s z a t m a g y a r o r s z á g i n é p s z e r ű s í t ő i n e k . S z á m o s magyar arisztokrata család h í v t a meg o r v o s á n a k . Ö volt Széchenyi István és Kossuth Lajos h á z i o r v o s a is. Bizalmas b a r á t s á g s z ö v ő d ö t t k ö z t ü k . A hasonszenvi gyógyászat a t e k i n t é l y e s k ö r ö k b e n szerzett t á m o g a t ó k segít ségével, m é g i n k á b b terjedt. 1830-ban, Széchenyi H i t e l - é n e k m e g j e l e n é s e é v é b e n , k i a d t á k Pesten magyarul is Hahnemann O r g a n o n j á t . A kezdeti sikerek u t á n nem sokkal, Kovács Mihály „ A n t i o r g a n o n " (Pest, 1830) c. m ű v é b e n s z é t z ú z t a Hahnemann érveit, majd saját eszközeikkel, a n é p s z e r ű s í t ő szakirodalommal veszik fel a harcot az orvosok a h o m e o p á t i á v a l szemben. Lovász Imre „ M i t tartsunk a H o m o e o p a t h i á r ó l ? " (1838) c í m ű m u n k á j á b a n , b á r elismerve n é h á n y e r e d m é n y t , h a n g s ú l y o z v a a jó m e g t a r t á s á n a k s z ü k s é g e s s é g é t , l é n y e g é b e n elvetette az új g y ó g y m ó d o t . A laikusok t á m o g a t á s á v a l mégis e l é r t é k , hogy 1844-ben a pozsonyi országgyűlés k é t táblája feliratot i n t é z e t t az u r a l k o d ó h o z , amelyben a h o m e o p á t i a felvételét k é r t é k az egyetemi t a n u l m á n y o k s o r á b a , valamint a szükséges gyakorlati eszközök biztosítását. A k i r á l y válasza ugyan elodázta a hasonszenvi o k t a t á s b e v e z e t é s é t , h í v e i nem m o n d t a k le t e r v ü k megvalósításáról. M á r 1848 előtt voltak hívei a h o m e o p á t i á n a k az orvosi karon, s ő t egyes v i d é k i k ó r h á z a k b a n is m ű k ö d t e k g y ó g y m ó d j u k a t k ö v e t ő orvosok. K i v í v t á k a Magyar K a n c e l l á r i a k e d v e z ő d ö n t é s é t a homeopata gyógyszerek szabad á r u s í t á s á r a (1840). Ezzel olyan kivételes helyzetet teremtettek maguknak, a m i nem illette meg a h a g y o m á n y o s g y ó g y m ó d o t folytató orvosokat sem, hiszen csak okleveles g y ó g y szerészek á r u s í t h a t t á k o r v o s s á g a i k a t . A forradalom g y ő z e l m e (1848) és a Bat t h y á n y - k o r m á n y m e g a l a k u l á s a u t á n , az egyetemi r e f o r m m a l kapcsolatban, sike r ü l t elérniök, hogy a hasonszenvi gyógyászat o k t a t á s á t b e v e t t é k az orvoskari tantervekbe is. M e g f e l e l ő s z e m é l y jelentkezése e s e t é n professzor k i n e v e z é s é t és k ó r h á z felállítását is kilátásba h e l y e z t é k . A s z a b a d s á g h a r c , és m é g i n k á b b b u k á s a , h o s s z ú é v e k r e elaltatta a h o m e o p á t i a ü g y é t M a g y a r o r s z á g o n . A z ö n k é n y u r a l o m b é n u l t s á g á b ó l nemcsak a p o l i t i k a i élet t é r t m a g á h o z a hat vanas é v e k b e n , hanem a hasonszenvi orvosok is. M á r 18G3-ban szervezkedni
kezdett a fővárosban m ű k ö d ő kilenc homeopata orvos, és 1865-ben l é t r e h o z t á k a Magyar Hasonszenvi O r v o s e g y e s ü l e t e t . E l n ö k k é Almási Balogh Pált, t i t k á r r á pedig fiát, Tihamért v á l a s z t o t t á k . Garay János pesti homeopata orvos pedig m a g á n t a n á r i h a b i l i t á c i ó é r t folyamodott a pesti egyetemen, azonban e l u t a s í t o t t á k . Balogh Pál halála u t á n a m a g y a r o r s z á g i h o m e o p á t i a l e g t e r m é k e n y e b b szak íróját, Argenti Dömét (1809—1893) választották e l n ö k k é . Argenti m á r k e z d e t t ő l fogva az e g y e s ü l e t egyik l e g t e v é k e n y e b b , leglelkesebb tagjaként harcolt a hasonszenvi g y ó g y m ó d elfogadtatásáért és t e r j e s z t é s é é r t . S z á m o s m u n k á b a n ismertette eljárását. T ö b b n é p s z e r ű s í t ő könyv, t a n á c s a d ó fűződik n e v é h e z . B á r V á c o t t lakott, betegeinek nagy r é s z e Pesten volt. R e n d e l ő j e a mai Veres P á l n é u t c á b a n (volt Zöldfa utca) levő Jármay Gusztáv „Oroszlán" g y ó g y s z e r t á r b a n v o l t . Argenti szoros kapcsolatban állt az e m l í t e t t p a t i k á v a l , m e g b í z á s á b ó l kézi g y ó g y s z e r t á r a t állítottak össze. Deák Ferenc homeopata „ h á z i p a t i k á j a " k é s ő b b v i s s z a k e r ü l t s z e m é l y e s t u l a j d o n á b a . ( D e á k Ferenc, az 1867-es kiegyezést m e g k ö t ő egyik államférfi n e m ok nélkül kapta a „ h a z a b ö l c s e " el n e v e z é s t , orvosban is kétfélét t a r t o t t : a homeopata Argentit és a homeopata ellenes Kovács-Sebestény Endrét.) „ H a s o n s z e n v i g y ó g y m ó d és g y ó g y s z e r t a n " c í m e n k é t k ö t e t e s m u n k á t adott k i . M ű v e i a h a s o n s z e n v é s z e t legalaposabb fel es legolvasottabb feldolgozását j e l e n t e t t é k . A z 1867-es kiegyezés u t á n , amikor i s m é t Eötvös József k e r ü l t a k ö z o k t a t á s ü g y i miniszteri s z é k b e , a h o m e o p a t á k fokozták k ü z d e l m ü k e t . Argenti Döme a Hasonszenvi L a p o k b a n fejtette k i n é z e t e i t . K é r v é n y t n y ú j t o t t a k be a k o r m á n y hoz az „ o r v o s i t a n ü g y " reformja, homeopata tanszék felállítása ü g y é b e n . Eötvös azonban elutasítja b e a d v á n y u k a t , „mivel alaposnak és a tudományegyetem állásá nem tartom". K u d a r c u k azonban nem k e d v e t l e n í t e t t e el val megegyeztethetőnek őket, és folytatták harcukat a s a j t ó b a n . Igyekeztek befolyást szerezni a k ü l ö n b ö z ő szervezetekben, de l e g i n k á b b a magas k ö r ö k b e n . S i k e r ü l t elérniök, hogy n é h á n y t ö r v é n y h a t ó s á g m e l l e t t ü k foglalt állást. 1870. j a n u á r 3 1 - é n az o r s z á g g y ű l é s e n is f e l m e r ü l t a h o m e o p á t i a ü g y e . P . Szathmáry Károly a g o n d o l a t s z a b a d s á g és a szabad t u d o m á n y o s k u t a t á s n e v é b e n h a t á r o z a t i javaslatot terjesztett be: „Határozza el a t. képviselőház, hogy a pesti magyar királyi egyetemen még ez év folyamán hasonszenvi tanszék állíttassék, s utasítsa a vallás- és közoktatásügyi minisztert ennek létrehozására." A következő h ó n a p b a n (február 25., 26.), a k ö z o k t a t á s ü g y i tárca á l t a l á n o s vitájában k e r ü l t sor a homeopata t a n s z é k és k ó r h á z felállításával kapcsolatos v i t á r a . Szathmáry újabb t á m o g a t ó felszólalása u t á n Eötvös mondta el v é l e m é n y é t . Alapos és s z a k s z e r ű b e s z é d b e n elemezte a h o m e o p á t i á t , és v i s s z a u t a s í t o t t a a h a t á r o z a t i javaslatot b e n y ú j t ó képviselő állításait. F i n o m g ú n n y a l u t a l t arra, hogy a h a g y o m á n y o s orvosi m ó d s z e r v a l ó b a n „elvtelen", mivel „a szerint, a mint a chemia vagy physika vagy physiologia terén új tanulmányok tétettek, rendszerét és gyógymódját megváltoztatta". C é l s z e r ű t l e n lenne k ü l ö n t a n s z é k felállítása, m i v e l a h a s o n s z e n v é s z e t nem önálló t u d o m á n y , hanem csak az o r v o s t u d o m á n y o n belüli irányzat, módszer. A k é p v i s e l ő h á z ennek ellenére nagy t ö b b s é g g e l elfogadta Szathmáry javas l a t á t . A képviselőházi d ö n t é s nagy felzúdulást okozott az orvosok, k ü l ö n ö s e n az o r v o s t a n á r o k k ö r é b e n . M á r c i u s b a n a budapesti O r v o s e g y e s ü l e t ült össze és meg-
b é l y e g e z t e a tanszék felállításának g o n d o l a t á t . K o r á n y i Frigyes ahhoz h a s o n l í totta, m i n t h a ateista t a n s z é k e t a k a r n á n a k felállítani valamelyik teológiai k a r o n . E g y m á s u t á n foglaltak állást a vidéki g y ó g y s z e r é s z e g y l e t e k is. Világossá v á l t , hogy s z a k k ö r ö k b e n m i l y e n kevés t á m o g a t ó r a t a l á l h a t n a k . Az O r s z á g o s K ö z e g é s z s é g ü g y i T a n á c s r e f e r á t u m á t Jendrassik Jenő professzor készítette el. A leg é l e s e b b e n u t a s í t o t t á k vissza a tanszék felállítására v o n a t k o z ó terveket. I d é z t é k a h o m e o p á t i a helyzetét a v i l á g o n , h a n y a t l á s á n a k nyilvánvaló bizonyítékait. A z a r i s z t o k r á c i a k ö r é b e n azonban v á l t o z a t l a n u l nagy n é p s z e r ű s é g n e k ö r v e n dett a h a s o n s z e n v é s z e t . Zichy Melanie g r ó f n ő homeopata m a g á n k ó r h á z a l a p í tását jelentette be. T e h á t nem volt k é t s é g e s , hogy a m á j u s b a n sorra k e r ü l ő t á r g y a l á s o k o n a f ő r e n d i h á z is megszavazza a k é p v i s e l ő h á z h a t á r o z a t á t . Gróf Károlyi György és Apponyi György szálltak síkra v é d e l m é b e n . Eötvös kissé r e z i g n á l t á n , a b ö l c s ember m e g n y u g v á s á v a l m é g egyszer kifejtette á l l á s p o n t j á t : „A homoeopathiának, mint tudománynak jövője — ha csakugyan tudomány — fog függeni. Teljes meggyőződésem, hogy a szintén nem e magas Ház határozatától tudománynak soha protectiora nincs szüksége. A tudományok előtt a törvényhozás nak úgynevezett omnipotenciája megsemmisül. A tudomány alkotja és teremti önmagát a törvényhozás segedelme nélkül, sőt a segedelme ellen is. Mert valamint a vér forgásának helyességét, és törvényhozás valamint egyetlen nagy igazságot, melyet a tudósok bármely korban feltaláltak, a törvényhozás sehol pártolása alá nem vett : úgy a homoeopathiának, ha csakugyan tisztán pártolásra szorul, hogy jövője legyen, én részemről nagy jövőt nem ígérek. Mert a tudomány oly hatalom, mely nemcsak pártolásra nem szorul, hanem még az üldöztetést is igen könnyen eltűri." Nagy h a t á s s a l nem v o l t Eötvös b e s z é d e az összegyűlt f ő r e n d e k r e . Megszavaz ták, és a h o m e o p á t i a diadalt ü l h e t e t t a h o z z á n e m é r t é s t o r á n . Eötvös — j o b b m e g g y ő z ő d é s e ellenére — m e g i n d í t o t t a a hivatalos eljárást a homeopata t a n s z é k felállítására és annak b e t ö l t é s é r e . A halál azonban m e g v á l t o t t a attól, hogy ő legyen k é n y t e l e n f o g a n a t o s í t t a t n i a k i n e v e z é s e k e t . A h a s o n s z e n v é s z e t i g y ó g y t a n és g y ó g y m ó d előadására két t a n á r t neveztek k i . 1872-ben Hausmann Ferencet (1811 — 1870), 1874-ben pedig Bakody Tivadart (1825—1911), a m e g h o n o s í t ó , Bakody József fiát. A z o r v o s t u d o m á n y i kar m á r a k é p v i s e l ő h á z i h a t á r o z a t i d e j é n nagy f e l h á b o r o d á s s a l u t a s í t o t t a vissza a homeop a t á k b e f o g a d á s á t . 1874-ben Kovács József s e b é s z t a n á r r e k t o r i b e s z é d é b e n t á madta a h o m e o p a t á k a t és feltette a k é r d é s t : „Avagy annyira meggyűlt-e a magyar állam pénze, hogy a tudatlanság, a legdőrébb alanyiság kételyeinek eloszla tására sok ezerbe kerülő kísérleteket scenirozzon? vagy éppen az egyeseknek tett kétes szolgálatokat a közösből jutalmazzon?" A h o m e o p á t i a t e h á t g y ő z ö t t , azonban Hausmann és Bakody nemcsak e l s ő , hanem u t o l s ó t a n á r a i is voltak a h a s o n s z e n v é s z e t n e k M a g y a r o r s z á g o n . I r á n y zatuk egyre n y i l v á n v a l ó b b a n mutatta meg kudarcait, h a n y a t l á s n a k indult és híveivel el is t ű n t . Hausmann korai halála u t á n Bakody Tivadar az 1903/4. t a n é v b e n m é g m ű k ö d ö t t , a k ö v e t k e z ő évtől — egy évi s z a b a d s á g u t á n — azonban nyugalomba v o n u l t . A z orvosi kar professzori t a n á c s a az 1904. november 2 2 - é n tartott ü l é s é n m e g á l l a p í t o t t a , hogy ennek a t a n s z é k n e k eddig sem volt létjogo sultsága, és az egyetem t i l t a k o z á s a ellenére á l l í t o t t á k fel. É v t i z e d e k i g vagy nem 8 Orvostörténeti
Közlemények
volt h a l l g a t ó j a , vagy egy-egy félévben e g y - k e t t ő . E z é r t Bakody távozásával a m e g s z ü n t e t é s é t k é r t e a K a r , a m i t a k o r m á n y állásfoglalása u t á n az u r a l k o d ó elfo gadott, és 1906-ban a feleslegessé vált t a n s z é k e t fogászati t a n s z é k k é alakították át, és k i n e v e z t é k az élére Árkövy Józsefet, a m o d e r n f o g o r v o s t u d o m á n y megterem tőjét M a g y a r o r s z á g o n . Furcsa m ó d o n az is h o z z á j á r u l t a h o m e o p á t i a m a g y a r o r s z á g i n é p s z e r ű s é g é h e z , hogy valamiféle „ ü l d ö z ö t t " i r á n y z a t o t l á t o t t benne sok ellenzéki politikus és a politikai és t u d o m á n y o s s z a b a d s á g n e v é b e n v e t t é k v é d e l m ü k b e . J e l l e m z ő , hogy Kossuth hazai p á r t v e z é r e , Helfy Ignác az 1 8 7 5 - ö s képviselőválasztásokon Egei Józsefről ( T á n c s i c s szemorvosa, Communicationes 44/1968) m i n t a r e n d í t h e t e t lenség k é p v i s e l ő j é r ő l n y i l a t k o z o t t , mert b á r m i l y e n orvosi á l l á s é r t sem a d n á fel homeopata n é z e t e i t . Jól m u t a t j a , hogy a h o s s z ú e l n y o m á s korszaka u t á n n é h a az ellenzékiség m i l y e n visszájára fordulva, k a r i k a t ú r a k é n t is jelentkezhet egyes álláspontok v é d e l m é b e n . Noha egyike voltunk azoknak az o r s z á g o k n a k , ahol a h o m e o p á t i a a legnagyobb hatást tette, ma m á r csak t ö r t é n e t é r ő l b e s z é l h e t ü n k . B á r m é g 1935-ben M a g y a r országot és Budapestet v á l a s z t o t t á k a h o m e o p a t á k n e m z e t k ö z i kongresszusok helyéül. D e n e m t ű n t el m i n d e n ü t t a X X . s z á z a d b a n , sőt n é h a o t t is felbukkan, ahol egyszer m á r lejáratta m a g á t . A X I X . s z á z a d b a n , amikor m é g nem ismer tük a g y ó g y s z e r e k h a t á s m e c h a n i z m u s á t , t a l á l h a t u n k m e n t s é g e t az empirikus m ó d s z e r r e h i v a t k o z ó h o m e o p á t i a f e n n t a r t á s á r a . A biológia és általában a ter m é s z e t t u d o m á n y o k sokkal bonyolultabbak a n n á l , semhogy egységes elveket, k a p t a f a s z a b á l y o k a t m o n d h a t n á n k k i a g y ó g y m ó d o k r a . Vannak kóresetek, a m i kor — n é h a m á s okból — é r v é n y e s a „ s i m i l i a s i m i l i b u s " elv, azonban a merev általánosítás sosem fedi az igazságot. A z ú j k o r embere a m e g s z á m l á l h a t a t l a n felfedezés, t a l á l m á n y k o r á b a n , a t u d o m á n y o s g o n d o l k o d á s és r e n d s z e r e z é s i d e jén, a X V I I I . és X I X . s z á z a d b a n gyakran esett a gyors és e l h i b á z o t t általánosítás csapdájába. N i n c s nagyobb hiba a t u d o m á n y o s k u t a t á s b a n , m i n t amikor n e m eléggé e l l e n ő r z ö t t egyedi vagy csoportos esetek alapján m á r általános t ö r v é n y s z e r ű s é g e k e t állapítanak meg. í g y a t u d o m á n y o k ö n m a g u k foglyaivá v á l n a k , é s gyakran é v t i z e d e k r e a k a d á l y o z z á k a helyes felismerést. A r é s z i g a z s á g o k o n a l a p u l ó általánosítás n e m egy t u d o m á n y b a n jellemezte az: e r e d m é n y e k b e n oly gazdag X I X . s z á z a d o t . K o r u n k m i n d e n t alapos v i z s g á l a t , elemzés é s megfigyelés alá h e l y e z ő m ó d s z e r e ezért d ö n t h e t t e halomra a m ú l t számos m e g á l l a p í t á s á t . B á r r é s z i g a z s á g o k b a n értek el e r e d m é n y e k e t a homeo paták is, elősegítették a b e t e g s é g e k t e r m é s z e t e s ú t o n való g y ó g y u l á s á n a k a m e g figyelését, felhívták a f i g y e l m e t a diéta j e l e n t ő s é g é r e , felkeltették az é r d e k l ő d é s t az á l l a t o k o n végzett k í s é r l e t e k r e — e g é s z é b e n véve i r á n y z a t u k az o r v o s t ö r t é nelemben i d ő r ő l - i d ő r e f e l b u k k a n ó s z e k t á k e g y i k e k é n t csak á t m e n e t i sikerekre számíthatott.
