GUERNSEY, EGBERT – Biographies – History of Homeopathy

UERNSEY, EGBERT, M. D., now of New York city, was born in Litchfield, Conn., July 8th, 1823. His
preparatory course for college was passed at Phillip’s Academy, Andover, Mass. A year was devoted to teaching, followed by a year in the scientific
department of Yale College. A trip to Europe occupied another year. He graduated in the medical department of the University of the City of New York, in
1846. During the last year of his medical studies, wishing to become familiar with the details of pharmacy, he entered a drug store, where he became
thoroughly conversant with pharmaceutical science. The year after his graduation, he had the charge of a large drug establishment. In 1847, with two
others, he commenced the Williamsburg
(now the Brooklyn) Daily Times, the
editorial chair of which he filled for eighteen months. During his connection with the Times, he prepared a school history of the United States, and also a primary history ; both of which have had a
very extensive circulation. Early in 1849, he was appointed City Physician of Williamsburg, now Brooklyn, E. D. His attention was first directed to homœopathy
by the case of a poor woman suffering from intense retching and vomiting. Every means at his disposal under the allopathic system having failed to
afford relief, and completely baffled in every attempt to alleviate her sufferings, fearing the woman would die, he called to his aid physicians of his
school of medicine, who acknowledged themselves unable to afford relief. Determined to save his patient, if she could be saved, he consulted Dr. George
Cox, who had lately become a homœopathist. A few closes of arsenicum gave her prompt and thorough relief, every unpleasant symptom disappearing before
the potency of the medicine. The successful treatment of this case induced a close and thoughtful examination of the system and principles of
homœopathy, which resulted in a thorough conviction of their strict accordance with scientific rules. In December of this year, suffering from impaired
health, he was advised by his brother physicians to move into the country. He accordingly settled at Fishkill Landing, opposite Newburgh, N. Y. Here, in
connection with Dr. Hall of Newburgh, he edited the second edition of “John’s Manual,” in doing which, the large manual, translated by Dr.
Hempel, was carefully condensed, and new editions made in both the Materia Medica, and the Repertory, from the best authorities.

     The Hudson River Railroad was then being opened through the place, and the cholera broke out with great
severity along the line of the road, among the laborers. This was followed by a severe type of dysentery, which spread with wonderful rapidity over all
the country. All the physicians of the neighborhood were kept busy day and night ; and so pressing was the exigency that, during four months of the
continuance of the disease, almost the whole of his sleep was obtained while travelling in his carriage. The value of homœopathy was thoroughly tested
at that time. Its superiority was apparent in the fact that, while under allopathic treatment multitudes died, he did not lose a single patient.

     His health being firmly established, Dr. Guernsey, in 1851, settled in New York. Soon after his
settlement there, he published a valuable work, entitled, “Domestic Practice,” and shortly after gave to the public a little treatise which he
named, “Gentleman’s Handbook of Homœopathy.” Both of these works, valuable in the amount and kind of instruction they give, have had a large
and deserved popularity. He received at this date the appointment of Physician to The Home of the Friendless, which office he filled with great
fidelity, and with acceptance to the directors and the patients, for fourteen years, when he resigned it to younger hands. Dr. Guernsey was for one year
President of the County Medical Society ; one year Professor of Materia Medica, and three years Professor of the Theory and Practice of Medicine in
the Homœopathic Medical College of New York. This latter position he resigned in 1867.

Source : Cleave’s Biographical Cyclopædia of Homœopathic Physicians and Surgeons By
Egbert Cleave