Cleave’s
Biographical Cyclopædia of
Homœopathic Physicians and Surgeons
By Egbert Cleave
Presented by Sylvain Cazalet
PRINGSTEED,
DAVID, M. D., of Albany, N. Y., was born in the town of Bethlehem,
Albany county, N. Y., on January 17th, 1808. His father, William
Springsteed, was a substantial farmer. At that day educational
advantages in country districts were not of the highest order. The
subject of this sketch attended a school in the town, and though the
course of instruction was rather limited, he managed by diligent study
in and out of school, to acquire an excellent knowledge of the
fundamental branches of learning. Selecting the profession of medicine,
he entered the office of Platt Williams, M. D., of Albany, and attended
lectures at the Medical College, New Haven, Conn., also at the Duane
Street Medical College, New York. The latter college was founded by four
of the old Professors of the University, Drs. Hoosick, Francis, McNeven,
and Mott, who had associated with them Drs. Griscomb, and Bush. They
were promised â charter from the Legislature, but failed to receive
one ; consequently they could not grant degrees that were legal,
and Dr. Springsteed did not graduate. He, however, passed an examination
by the State Censors and received from them a diploma in 1830. For
fifteen years thereafter he practiced allopathy. In 1843, his uncle, Dr.
Reynolds, of Monroe county, N. Y., sent him some homœopathic books and
medicines, with a request that he should make a trial of the remedies.
Like most physicians unacquainted with the system, he was indisposed to
change his practice, and but for an illness in his own family he might
have indefinitely postponed a trial of homœopathy. His son, a child
about three years of age, was seized with inflammation of the lungs, and
in spite of the combined care of himself and his father-in-law, also a
physician, the boy grew worse, and seemed likely to die. As a last
resort, having the remedies at hand, Dr. Springsteed prescribed
homœopathically, and to his utter astonishment and great relief, the
formidable symptoms soon disappeared, and his son rapidly recovered.
Thereupon, without stopping to inquire what his “old school”
friends might say, or what course his patrons would pursue, he felt it
his duty to investigate and ascertain from further observation what
virtue there was in homœopathy. By diligent and careful study he soon
found it provided a more speedy and certain method of cure for his
patients. When it was first ascertained that he had gone over to the new
school, many of his old patients forsook him, but they soon returned,
and his practice steadily increased, while he gained in public esteem
through his conscientiousness. In 1850, he removed to Albany, where he
soon acquired a strong position. In the same year he was elected a
member of the American Institute of Homœopathy. In 1851, he was
appointed County physician, this being the first appointment of a
homœopath to any such position in the United States. He accepted the
appointment, not for any pecuniary gain, but for the advancement of the
cause. His treatment proved so successful, not a patient being lost,
that in 1852 he was re-appointed, defeating a great number of allopathic
competitors, one of whom was a member of the board which made the
appointment. In 1854, the Faculty of the Homœopathic Medical College of
Pennsylvania, conferred on him the degree of Doctor of Medicine. He was
President of the Albany County Homœopathic Medical Society in 1862-’63.
He was elected State Censor in 1864.Dr. Springsteed in
appearance is tall and slim ; and very active and energetic. He is
a gentleman of the old school, polished in manner, and of very pleasant
address. He holds a high position socially and professionally ; has
a large practice and extensive acquaintance. He is still engaged
actively in the duties of his profession.Source
: Cleave’s Biographical Cyclopædia of Homœopathic Physicians and
Surgeons By Egbert Cleave