Main
Pioneers
of homeopathy
by Dr Thomas
Lindsey Bradford
Presented by Dr Robert SérorJohann
Wilhelm Wahle (1794-1853)
Photo
not available
Dr. JOHANN WILHELM WAHLE. (1794-1853)
(Allg.
hom. Zeit., Vol. XLV, p. 369.)
On the fourth of April,
1853,
died in Rome, after a six months illness, Dr. Johann Wilhelm Wahle, a true friend and protector of the
Homoeopathic method of healing ; the immediate cause of death being
repeated strokes of apoplexy.While we are inclined to attribute his death (which occurred far too
early for the interest of science) to the fact that his stout build of
body could not acclimatize itself in Rome,
we are not disposed in any way to doubt the assertion of the family who
believe his death caused by persecution.It is well known that Wahle,
I believe about the year 1848,
in the time of the disturbances in Italy,
was arrested and imprisoned for several days, during which time he was
more than elsewhere exposed to the influence of the Italian climate.The consciousness of his innocence, which, indeed, was also soon
satisfactorily established, sustained him, and although the most just and
honorable satisfaction was given him, he could not in his acknowledged
uprightness get over his grief for the bitterness of his disgrace, since
he thought that his moral standing had been injured.His family think that ever since that time they have perceived in him
traces of illness which, manifesting themselves more distinctly every
year, caused an ever more eager wish to be delivered from it by returning
to his German fatherland.Whatever the cause the fact is undeniable, and we survivors can only
lament Wahle’s death without criticising the wise
rulings of Providence.Wahle
was born in
the year 1794, in Radisleben near Ballenstaedt, a little town in the Duchy of Anhalt-Bernburg.His father, who was at the same time shoemaker and farmer, had no other
intention than to bring up his son to tire same occupation.But the talents of the boy showed themselves so prominently that the
pastor of the place himself took the trouble of instructing him in the
Latin language.This had at least the effect that
Wahle
on his confirmation, when he had to choose his future career, did not
enter his father’s workshop, but went as an apprentice in Ballenstaedt, with a barber, and after serving
his apprenticeship carne in his journeyings, then customary with
journeymen, to the city of Leipsic.When he had made himself well acquainted with the state of affairs
there, being eager to enlarge his knowledge, he attended medical lectures
from1819 to 1823.
Much of what he heard may not have suited him ; at least we may think
so from the fact that he desired to makeHahnemann’s acquaintance.
This occurred just at the time when owing to the death of
Prince Schwartzenherg, under his treatment, the public
judgment was not so favorable, and a beginner in medicine would easily
have been excused if he had kept far from Hahnemann.
Nevertheless the impulse in
Wahle
to learn something better than his calling at that time was so strong,
that in the year 1820 he made himself better acquainted with Hahnemann’s system, soon after made his personal
acquaintance, and faithfully supported him in his provings of medicines.But this intercourse did not last long, for
Hahnemann soon accepted a call to Coethen and left Leipsic.
After this
Wahle joined some of the few beginners in
Homoeopathy who lived in a closely united circle (in ecclesia pressa), and
he sought to continually enlarge his knowledge of this new doctrine, using
all the leisure time at his disposal especially for the proving of
medicines.By this he acquired such a remarkable gift of observation that few
could excel him therein, and his practiced eye together with his skillful
use of Homoeopathic medicines gave him the supereminence over many who
mockingly looked down on limn because they had regularly learned by rote
the old conventional formulas of medicine.Despite of this they could not deprive him of the reputation of a very
skillful practitioner.
In time his position
became even more difficult, his successful cures bordered on the fabulous
and gained for him an ever increasing fame among patients far and near, as
being a most successful healer.He therefore entirely gave up his former occupation and married. With
the increase of his fame the attention of the medical police was also more
pointedly drawn to him, for the authorities had in no way ceased in the
fury of their persecution of Homoeopathy.They were indeed no more able to lay any impediments in the way of this
new doctrine, and only indirectly sought to be rid of its adherents by an
ever renewed edict against their dispensing their own medicines, raising
thus as their breastwork the apothecary’s privilege.Still they did not despise any smaller aids in order to neutralize more
and more the courage of Homoeopathic physicians.To avoid the frequent oppressive measures on the part of the
authorities, Wahle had gladly accepted the proposition
of his friend Dr. Haubold to treat the more difficult cases
which would excite the attention of the public, under his protection, as
his assistant. In this way quiet action seemed for a tune secured to him,
but a new law expressly passed to affect the Homoeopathic physicians soon
destroyed this modus
vivendi, for they were forbidden to employ an
assistant who had not studied in Leipsic,
who had not made clinical visits and passed the baccalaureate examination.With the Homoeopaths this law was strictly enforced while other
physicians, who were in a like case, received all manner of indulgences.Fortunately our friend Wahle
had already received a doctor’s diploma from Allentown in America, and his voluntary determination to
leave Leipsic received a distinct direction
through the mediation of the Royal Counsellor, Dr. Wolff, in Dresden.This physician had been asked by Dr. Braun
whether he could recommend to him a good practicing Homoeopathic physician
for Rome, and he recommended Dr. Wahle, of Leipsic,
as a man in every way desirable.Thus Wahle, in the year 1840, emigrated to Rome,
and his removal was lamented by many whom he had restored to life and
health, and who regretted the future loss of his services.Our friend Wahle left Leipsic to his own advantage, for with all his industry and all
the acknowledgment of his worth he would never at Leipsic have acquired so extensive a circle of
usefulness as he found in Rome,
where his extraordinary practical talents introduced him into the most
cultivated circles in which he had access to the highest personages and
received their confidence.Love for Homoeopathy with him always advanced with equal steps with the
love of diseased humanity, and the latter continually incited him to new
investigations, whereby he was often enabled to make possible what had
formerly seemed impossible, and more and more to prove the sufficiency of
Homoeopathy.His reputation as an author is just as well established in
Homoeopathy as his fame as a successful practitioner has spread throughout
the whole of Europe.With respect to this his articles on encephalitis and on croup should
he mentioned, where the truth is given in a faithful and unvarnished
planner.We have, indeed, no independent works from his hands, but the
Archiv and the Allgem. hom. Zeitung contain many observations and relations of experience
from his pen, among which the provings of Kreosote and Cimex
lectularius deserve especial mention.Many other provings made on himself and on other, with great
circumspection and exactness were written out completely by hint and only
awaited the critical file to prepare them for the press, when death called
him away from the completion of his work.As a man, equally as n father of a numerous family, he stood worthy of
honor.The great sympathy manifested when his death became known confirms the
esteem, love and intense devotion which he enjoyed and which are the
fairest laurelwreath on his call too early grave.He is reaping the reward of the harvest cultivated with so much
assiduity, and many tears of sadness and mourning on the part of his poor,
now forsaken parents, flow at his departure from this life.(Signed H.) (Hartmann)
De
Veit Meyer says : (Hom. Vierteljahrschrift, Vol. IV., p. 239.)
Again one of the disciples of
Hahnemann has gone to the eternal home.
On April 9 of this year (
1853) Dr. Wahle died in Rome
where he had practiced his noble profession for the past ten years.His name and work are well known to all Homoeopathists. He passed
through the severe struggle which Homoeopathy had to endure in its
infancy.He came out of the conflict as a conqueror.
After he had endured innumerable and varied discords and attacks in his
native land, he repaired toRome
where he kindled a new torch, as a genuine Apostle of our doctrine.Here also he waged a new warfare and achieved a new victory. Here he
diligently sowed the new seed and reaped a delightful and rich harvest.
With the same honesty of belief and with the same zeal he had formerly
shown, he labored here in the seven hilled city.His fame spread abroad and hundreds sought his help, which he
distributed in unstinted measure but, alas, for only a short span of life.There now weep and mourn for him those whose sufferings filled his mind
with tears and his heart with sorrow.We plainly saw what love and confidence he enjoyed. Actuated by a
feeling of gratitude toHahnemann
he came to Leipsic to participate in the erection of a monument to
his memory.The report of his presence there was scarcely noised about when a great
multitude 0f his former patients flocked to him for consultation. It was
wonderful to see how he led back backsliders to Homoeopathy by some
significant word, or by reminding them of what he had done for them.He departed from
Leipsic as reluctantly as from a place to
which he would never return.He had scarcely arrived again at
Rome
when he was attacked by a disease which soon proved fatal.We mourn in him a valiant colleague, a profound thinker, a shrewd
observer and a true friend.Would that it may be permitted us to rear an everlasting memorial to
him by the publication of his highly important literary remains.And may we right soon be enabled to inscribe in the annals of
Homoeopathy a record of this stirring and fruitful life whose dissolution
has afflicted us so grieviously.Farewell, dear friend, thou who didst present us with thy favor and
love for a few moments of acquaintanceship !Rest from thy weary pilgrimage ! Rest, yea, rest in peace ! May the
grave give to thee that peace of which so many of the sons of earth sought
to deprive thee !Leipsic, April, 1853.
In the
American
Homoeopathic Review for January, 1860, is an article by Dr. Carroll Dunham upon Mezereum, in which he says :
The late
Dr. Wahle, of Rome, one of the most distinguished of Hahnemann’s own pupils, and well known by his acquirements
en the science of Materia Medica, considered the provings of Mezereum, which were first published en the fourth volume
of the Archiv, to be both erroneous and
defective.It is no very uncommon thing to find a Homoeopath who considers a
portion or the whole of our Materia Medica defective.But the peculiarity which distinguished
Wahle was this : whenever he saw an error or a defect, he
thought et his duty rather to go to work and correct the error or supply
the defect than simply to expose them and denounce the Materia Medica,
taking credit meanwhile for his own acuteness.Accordingly he instituted a new proving of
Mezereum.
Kleinert
says : (Geschichte der Homöopathie.)
Wahle
was an
indefatigable Homoeopathic worker, prover and exceedingly skillful
connoisseur of remedies who began his career as a common barber, and died
a renowned physician, in Rome,
at a very early age.He published no books, but was an extensive writer for the Homoeopathic
magazines.Hughes
says of him (Chronic Diseases, p. 328) in a foot note to Arsenicum :
The remainder (of symptoms) are
Hahnemann’s, obtained en his later manner, and Wahle’s (eighteen en all), a prover unnoticed in the
preface, but whose name frequently occurs among the second series of the
Master’s followers.
This biography is extracted from the book of Doctor Thomas Lindsley
Bradford (1847 – 1918) : ” The Pioneers of Homeopathy” 678 pages,
Boericke Tafel (Philadelphia, 1897).Pages 128 to 133.
Numérisation,
vérification, mise en page,
