1857 Physician’s Manuscript Lecture Compelling the Medical Profession to Accept Homeopathy as a Viable Alternative to Allopathic Medicine

On offer is a handwritten medical lecture in which a physician passionately argues that allopathic medicine has lost its way and that letting Mother Nature take the lead in curing patients is crucial to 19th century health care. It was written and presented by one of the founders of the Hahnemann Society of Rhode Island at what was likely its inaugural meeting in January, 1857.

The lecture was written and orated by American physician Dr. Absaolm Pride (A.P.) King (1820-1868). Dr. King was a Rhode Island-based medical doctor, who was educated and practiced as an allopathic physician. He took an interest in homeopathy under the guidance of Dr. Abraham Howard (A.H.) Oakie, one of the founders of the Rhode Island Homeopathic Society, which was incorporated in 1850. In 1857, Dr. King was an organizer of a second homeopathic society, named the Hahnemann Society of Rhode Island (the society’s name is an ode to the father of homeopathic medicine, Dr. Samuel Hahnemann). See BIO NOTES after the listing for more on Dr. King. 

Dr. King’s lecture is titled “Vis medicatrix naturae” [The healing power of nature]. An envelope accompanying the lecture indicates that it was “read before the Hahnemann Society…Jan. 9 1857”.

In his lecture, Dr. King attempts to ‘sell’ his fellow physicians on letting nature take the lead in their medical practices. Incorporating elements of Homeopathy, Philosophy, Medicine, Spirituality and Mythology, King passionately and eloquently argues his view that Mother Nature herself is the ultimate healer. He argues that modern medicine has become too commercial, ego-driven and performative, with poor efficacy. He argues that treating patients based on the results of experiments (research) should augment the work of nature, not supersede it. An excerpt follows which gives the flavour of King’s arguments:

“We can only wish [doctors] have been better students of nature –examined her powers, counted her favors, and Prometheus like stolen her fires and revealed the truth to every medical student that nature and waters alone rules supreme in the human organism. It is then the duty of the physician to follow rather than attempt to guide in matters appertaining to therapeutics - never losing sight of Vis medicatrix naturae current by heroic or by gentler means be driven into the path of her duty - whatever abberation [sic] there may be from the normal condition the force of natural medicine immediately attempts by a system of recuperation to overcome and harmonise - her tendency is always restoration - recuperation. Though disease may tend to death nature tends to life…”. 

 King argues that modern medicines of the time given by ‘quack’ mainstream physicians cause more harm than good and are simply given to appease those around the patient:

“...Sarsaparilla, Bandreth’s Pills, Moffitt’s Bitters together with the scientific conglomerate of some learned quack who can boast a diploma and support a gold headed cane - whose white coat is surmounted with an assumed counterfeit look of wisdom all deposited indiscriminately in the stomach resulting in nothing more than a communication to the friends that all that could be was done and that finally he died secundum artem”. 

Dr. King argues that while once it was well-known that cures reside in nature, the need for ego and power in medicine has caused this to be forgotten:

“...either Physicians have deceived themselves and their patients in attributing such wonderful properties to their nostrums or the laws of nature themselves are changed; for many articles that are now cast out of legitimate medicine were once considered the only articles by which disease could be controlled. Plantago major, Pulmonaria officinalis, Viscum album and many other kindred articles seemed to remain an eulogium…” 

Dr. King closes his inspiring speech with a call to action for those in the homeopathic community to elevate this science to the larger community: 

“Let us all then amidst this uncertainty fall back upon fine principles. Study disease as it appears without being twisted…Study the effect of medicines upon the human… and the proper adaptation of remedies to disease and a more glorious day will light-up our heightened Science. Then it will rise like some proud monument lofty towering above all other sciences centring its shadow the wide world over when no setting sun can awaken or idle speculation can obscure its summit”.

This lecture provides an incredible perspective on the state of 19th century health care. It resonates in the 21st century’s competing desires to advance medicine and also go back to basics and live more ‘naturally’. This would make an exceptional basis for a debate in a classroom for students studying medicine, nursing or an allied health profession. It is also a very special piece of history for the naturopathic and homeopathic communities, providing context as part of their origin story. 

The lecture is handwritten on 12 numbered ledger-sized pages. It is in good condition. The first page has been disassembled and repaired with sealing wax and does not obscure the writing. All of the other pages display normal age toning and are in good condition. The handwriting is in black ink with some pencil corrections written in by King himself. The writing is legible. King did not sign this lecture but it is confirmed to be in his hand by a signed document in his hand with which this lecture was found. 

BIO NOTES: Dr. A.P. King was born in Preston, Connecticut to parents Daniel King and Cynthia Pride. In 1845, he graduated from a mainstream medical school, the Berkshire Medical Institute, in Pittsfield, Massachusetts (some sources say he graduated from Harvard Medical School - this is unconfirmed). After graduation, he worked as a physician in Apponaug and Providence, Rhode Island. On Christmas Day, 1845, he married Celia Hendricks in Woonsocket, Rhode Island. The couple remained in Rhode Island. They had four children, though, tragically, only one survived early childhood. Their third child, Eugene Pride King (1854-1921), would grow up to attend Brown University and have a successful medical career. Dr. A.P. King served the United States in the Civil War as Acting Assistant Surgeon, four years before his early death in Rhode Island.