MODERN METHODS OF MEDICAL SCIENCE 29 



the methods of observation and experiment, investigation was 

 banished from the clinic and laboratory and found its place at the 

 writing-desk. Hartmann says that one reason why the Natur-philoso- 

 phie found such ready acceptance was the ease with which it was 

 possible by its aid to become famous as a writer. The young phy- 

 sician found it no longer necessary to become acquainted with the 

 material for study by toilsome investigation; he only needed the 

 philosophic forms of expression . and could apply these to what he 

 knew or did not know of medicine. Many systems of medicine were 

 founded which purported to give a complete explanation of all the 

 phenomena of disease. Of all these systems, the one which has 

 endured the longest was almost the most fantastic in its structure. 

 The success of the system of Hahnemann or homeopathy is, in the 

 first place, due to the fact that under it the treatment of disease 

 represented a great advance as compared with treatment under the 

 systems of Brown and Rasori. However zealous the exponents of a 

 system may be, it will find its condemnation from those who suffer 

 most from it. The system as presented by Hahnemann was com- 

 plete; it offered names and seeming explanations for all conditions. 

 The practice of the medical art under the system was easy and 

 involved no toilsome investigations. It was put forth at an early 

 period of the Natur-philosophie and was carried upward on the 

 tidal wave which swept through Germany. It at once found great 

 favor with the people and was taken up by great numbers of phy- 

 sicians. In the course of time the adherents of the system have 

 become divided into three camps. In one its principles have been 

 extended far beyond the conception of Hahnemann, in that the 

 products of disease have been used as remedial agents; a second 

 have remained true to the principles of the founder; and a third, 

 comprising a large number of intelligent physicians, hold only to the 

 name. Under the Natur-philosophie, combinations between religion 

 and medicine arose and a system, which represented a return to 

 medieval mysticism, was formed by Windischmann and Ringseis. 

 In this it was taught that the causes of disease are immaterial and 

 not to be sought for, since disease merely represents discord between 

 body and soul. 



Such a remarkable phenomenon as the dominance of the specula- 

 tion which was a part of the Natur-philosophie must be regarded 

 as a part of the romantic movement which swept through Germany 

 and found its chief expression in poetry. All barriers to idealism 

 and speculation were cast aside. The movement was a part of the 

 awakening of Germany to a new national life. The great questions 

 of the time involving political liberty and even national existence 

 were absorbing. Under such circumstances only a few could turn 

 from the pressure of such large questions to the narrow field of 



