PRINCIPLES OF HOMOEOPATHY. 
21 
may be done without rousing the angry feelings on either 
side, for surely sufficient time has been allowed for excite- 
ment to cool down. 
In the first place, I know nothing of infinitesimal doses, or 
of the sniffings, about which the originator of the system 
spoke so confidently. I believe, moreover, that the living 
followers of the doctrine have discarded the last, and are 
somewhat divided concerning the first. But, as regards the 
essential principle of the practice, or that i( Like cures Like ” 
I can bear something approaching to direct testimony. I 
was led into the means of doing this by the lamentable want 
in recognised medicine of anything resembling a theory. I 
found when in difficulty — when I most needed help — there 
was nothing better, or sounder, than conjecture, to be obtained 
from the various works on practice. I turned to books on 
human medicine, and found the same want to prevail even to 
a greater extent than in our own. I read that, in extreme 
cases, I might do so and so ; or I might do exactly the 
reverse; that Mr. So-and-so had done such a thing with the 
very best effects ; but that Mr. Such-a-one had tried this last 
method without any result. In fact I read and read only to 
grow confused. I became worse 'than helpless. The little 
confidence I once had was entirely destroyed by the various 
measures suggested, or the different practices sanctioned. 
I longed for something decisive which in my perplexity I 
could fall back upon. 
Now, homoeopathy does possess a theory. It may not yet 
stand every test, but we must in fairness make some allow- 
ance for the ignorance of those who apply it. Hereafter, 
when the animosity created by opposite interests shall have 
tamed down, probably the theory of the homceopathist may 
be more candidly investigated, and more temperately judged. 
At present, however, this class of medical practitioners have 
effected something. It was by them, and by them only, that 
aconite and arnica were forced upon the recognition of the 
regular practitioner. I could readily quote other instances, 
but I must confine myself to facts, with which intention I 
originally commenced this paper. 
Everybody remembers when the news reached us from 
America of the wonderful effects of ether. I, like many of 
our profession, began to experiment with it upon dogs. It 
makes these animals emit strange cries, have convulsive 
movements, pass their faeces and urine involuntarily, and 
ultimately to lie quite motionless. All accustomed to dogs, 
must in the above description recognise the likeness to the 
ordinary fit. The similarity at once occurred to me. I had 
