SKINNER, DAVIS N. – Biographies – History of Homeopathy

KINNER, DAVIS N., M. D., of Auburn, Me., was born in Lewiston, Me., on November 17th, 1841. After
receiving all the benefits of a common school education, he prepared for college at the Maine State Seminary. At au early age, he manifested decided
literary tastes, and gradually developed a strong love for literary pursuits. He devoted much of his time to composition, and a number of his essays
were published in the Boston papers. His parents being by no means wealthy, he was early taught to be self-reliant, and he had to depend solely upon his
own exertions for the means to defray the expenses of his education. At the age of seventeen, he began teaching school, devoting all his spare time to
study and literary pursuits. In 1864, he began the study of medicine with Alonzo Garcelon, M. D., of Lewiston, an eminent allopathic physician and
surgeon. After a due course of study and attendance upon lectures, he graduated from the Medical College of Maine, in 1867, with all the honors of the
institution. Thereupon, he at once commenced the practice of medicine in Lewiston. At the expiration of a twelvemonth, he bought a practice in a
neighboring town, and entered upon a large and flourishing business. About this time, he married Miss Fannie Foss, a young lady of much culture and
sterling worth. Having practiced allopathy for some three years, he was led to investigate the theory of homœopathy, and through the kindness and
sympathy of Dr. H. C. Bradford, of Lewiston, who gave him much encouragement, he was induced to make an impartial trial of its merits. The result was a
full and unconditional surrender of the old system, and the hearty adoption of that originated and formulated by Hahnemann. Shortly subsequent to this
change in his medical faith, he sold out his practice and removed to Portsmouth, N. H., where he at once got into a flourishing and profitable practice,
achieving under homœopathy successes such as he had never been able to achieve with allopathy. One year subsequently, however, he was compelled by
sickness to leave Portsmouth, when he removed to Auburn, where he has since resided.

     Dr. Skinner is a young man of large attainments, not only within the line of his profession but in
other branches of study. He is a skilful physician and devoted to his patients. Having realized by comparison the superior merits of homœopathy, he is
a very warm advocate of its principles, and is doing much to promote its advance in his section of the country.

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