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A
M. E. M. O I R.
OF
FREDERICK HERVEY FOSTER QUIN, M.D.
- ; : *,
j f ) | - *y ! ;
BY
EDWARD HAMILTON, M.D.
1879.
P RE F A C E.
THE following memoir was read before the British
Homoeopathic Society at their annual assembly in
June of this year, and was ordered to be published
in the Annals of the Society. As executor of the
late Dr. Quin I became possessed of a large mass of
papers and correspondence, from which, aided by the
fact of my having been his pupil and living in his
house from 1834 to 1839, I was enabled to compile
a history of his early life which it would have been
difficult for others to accomplish, most of his old
friends of that day having passed away.
I have entered as little as possible into his social
life, but have confined myself principally to the
chief object of his long and successful career—his
mission. Even this has been done but shortly, as it
was difficult during the busy months of an active
practice thoroughly to look through many hundred
letters and a great quantity of other papers. Dr.
Quin’s life was a most eventful one in every sense,
and I propose, should I be able to get in order the
immense correspondence he has left, to publish a
more extended history.
I am well aware that what I have done is but
iv - : Preface.
inadequately accomplished, and I can only offer my
apologies for all shortcomings. -
In writing this memoir I have had the melancholy
pleasure of recalling to my memory many events
of past times, and recollecting many and varied
kindnesses of an affectionate, friendship of nearly
half a century. :
E. H.
MEMOIR OF DR, QUIN.
A MEMOIR of Dr. Quin embraces, in a great measure, the
history of the introduction into this country of that system
of Therapeutics founded by Samuel Hahnemann.
The interesting correspondence and notes which he has
left throw a great light upon his life and its guiding
principles. This life was in all respects a remarkable one;
a distinguished career for which his abilities eminently
fitted him lay open before him immediately on his taking
his degree. His wonderful facility for acquiring languages,
his great powers of concentration, and his earnestness, added
to a most thorough knowledge of his profession, would have
raised him to its highest honours had he remained constant
to the theories and practice he had been taught at the
University; but when once convinced that he was not follow-
ing the right path, he was too honest to continue in what he
considered the wrong ; he gave up his brilliant prospects
for the study of a new doctrine, uprooting all his precon-
ceived ideas of treating the sick—a doctrine at that time
under a ban of prejudice which might well have deterred
any one from investigating or putting its principles to the
test; yet by severe and personal trial, not shirking
obloquy, and even risking his own life, he proved the sincerity
of his belief by his conscientious determination to give up all
for its sake, and by thus acting he persuaded many to inquire
l
2 Memoir of Dr. Quin.
into its merits, whilst all who came into communication with
him treated him with the greatest courtesy and respect.
It would be impossible that the cause he defended could
have had a better advocate for its introduction into England.
He had made himself thoroughly master of its principles
and treatment previous to his settling to practice in London.
The manner with which he placed his facts in the clearest
and plainest language before those who sought information
was in itself half convincing, and when combined with
great knowledge, extraordinary memory, perfect command
of words and temper, with a peculiar earnestness in his
argument for the cause he had at heart, few of the
many who came to inquire but went away perfectly convinced
of his homesty of purpose, if not of the truth of the doc-
trine he had placed so lucidly before them.
It has been stated that Dr. Quin had no religious belief.
The reverse is the fact. He believed and carried out through
his life the great principles of true Christianity—perfect
faith, great hope, and much charity. He was kind and
benevolent. It was not his wit and fun but his goodness
of heart and sympathetic disposition to all in joy or in
sorrow that won for him an attachment, of friends, seldom
surpassed. A short time before his death he wrote to a
friend : “I have committed many faults, but I have perfect
faith and trust in the goodness and justice of the Almighty.”
In the fly-leaf of his Bible, which had been given to him
by his mother in 1817, when he went to the University of
Edinburgh, and which he always kept by him, are some
very touching verses; three stanzas of which only are
given :
“A Gift FROM A MoTHER. To HER SoN.
“Remember, love, who gave thee this,
When other days shall come ;
When she, who had thy earliest kiss,
Sleeps in her narrow home.
Remember, 'twas a mother gave
The gift to one she’d die to save.
Memoir of Dr. Quin. 3
“And bade him the gift—that when
The parting hour should come,
They might have hope to meet again
In an eternal home.
She said his faith in it would be
Sweet incense to her memory.
“A parent’s blessing on her son
Goes with this holy thing;
The love that would retain the one
Must to the other cling.
Remember, 'tis no idle toy—
A mother's gift. Remember, boy.”
FREDERIC HERVEY Fost ER QUIN was born in London on
February 12th, 1799. His early years were passed at a school
at Putney, conducted by Mr. Trimmer, the son of the well-
known authoress. In 1815, immediately after the Battle of
Waterloo, Quin was sent to Paris, where he remained for
fifteen months at a French tutor’s. Hence his remarkable
proficiency in the French language, both in writing and
speaking.”
In 1817 he was sent to Edinburgh University, and matricu-
lated the same year as Frederic Quin, of London, No. 1002 in
the Register, and attended the classes on chemistry. In the
next session he is No. 1065 on the Register as Frederic Quin,
of London, and attended the classes of Practice of Medicine,
Obstetrics, and Botany. In the third session he is No.
385 on the Register, and now, for the first time, as Frederic
H. F. Quin, of London, and attended the classes of Anatomy,
Materia Medica, and Clinical Medicine.
* Mr. Uwins, in writing to his brother in 1827, says: “I wish your boys
could be at a French school; since I have been on the Continent I have seen
the importance of acquiring that language early. Quin was at a French
school, and in consequence talks and writes French better than English, and
this power is a fortune to him. The bungling in which mous attires indulge,
who learnt it late, is a miserable substitute for the mastery and power over
the language, which Quin's early education has given him.
4. Memoir of Dr. Quin.
He graduated as M.D. in August, 1820. His diploma
is dated August 1st, and signed by—
Thos. Ch. Hope, Professor of Chemistry.
James Home, Professor of Medicine.
G. P. Alison, Professor of the Theory of Medicine.
Robert Jameson, Regius Professor of Natural
History.
Alexander Munro, Professor of Anatomy and
Surgery. | |
Robert Graham, Professor of Botany.
Andrew Duncan, Professor of Materia Medica.
Joannes Leslie, Professor of Physics.
Andrew Brown, Professor of Rhetoric and Elegant
Literature.
Jacob Pillans, Professor of Humanity.
David Ritchie, Professor of Logic.
George Dunbar, Professor of Greek.
William Wallace, Professor of Mathematics and
Astronomy.
Andrew Coventry, Rei Rustica Professoreus.
Names of considerable renown at that time; all, like the
recipient of the degree, have passed away.
On his return to London he was appointed physician
in attendance on the exiled Emperor Napoleon at
St. Helena ; before he could embark, however, the
news arrived of the Emperor's death, and of necessity
the appointment was cancelled. Quin was in delicate
health, at that early age symptoms of weakness of the
respiratory organs had shown themselves, his friends
were anxious for him to go abroad, and an opportunity
offered in December, 1820, to travel with the Duchess of
Devonshire, who was going to Rome, as her medical atten-
dant. He received the two following certificates as to his
proficiency :
“I certify that I have long been acquainted with Doctor
Frederick Quin, that he is a gentleman of good abilities
and a liberal education, that few have enjoyed such oppor-
tunities of acquiring, both a theoretical and practical know-
ledge of his profession, that few have embraced such
Memoir of Dr. Quin. 5
opportunities with more eagerness, and there are few who
have profited so much by them.
“ Edin., Dec. 12th, 1820. “John BARCLAY, M.D.”
“College of Edinburgh.
“I, Andrew Duncan, M.D., Professor of Materia Medica,
and Secretary to the University of Edinburgh, hereby certify
that Frederic H. F. Quin, a native of England, obtained
from this University, the degree of Doctor of Medicine,
on the 1st day of August, 1820, after having gone through
the required course of academical study, having passed the
usual examinations, and publicly defended his printed dis-
sertation ‘De Arsenico.’
“Signed ANDREW DUNCAN, Sec.”
His passport is dated December, 1820, and signed Fred.
H. F. Quin, in the bold, firm handwriting so familiar to us
all. He was in Paris on the 26th December, and remained
there a month ; left with the Duchess on the 27th of
January, and travelled by way of Geneva, Milan, Piacenza,
Parma, Bologna, Pisa, and Fiorence, and arrives with his
charge at Rome on the 7th of March. He remains at
Rome in attendance on the Duchess till July, 1821, when,
her Grace no longer requiring his constant attendance, he
determined to settle and practice at Naples, but under an
agreement to come to her whenever she required him to do
so. He rapidly got into a very extensive practice, and made
many friends, as Sir W. Hamilton, Sir Wm. Gell, Sir Henry
Drummond and many others.
In 1822, the Duchess of Devonshire goes to reside at
Castel-a-Mare, and there is a correspondence with her
Grace as to how and when he is to be with her, considering
his large and increasing practice at Naples. She writes,
“I hope Castel-a-Mare will strengthen you against your
headaches, which must be terrible in your profession. One
should say, ‘Doctor, cure yourself.’ I am, however, quite
convinced that you will cure many others.”
On the Duchess leaving again for Rome in 1823, he
again settles at Naples. Sir W. Gell, on Quin’s return
6 Memoir of Dr. Quin.
from Castel-a-Mare, offers to lend him his house. “My
dear doctor Quin, I am going to Rome, where I dare say I
shall stay three months, and perhaps more; if you do not
go with her Grace you will be in want of a lodging, and I
will lend you my house, which may be a convenience and
saving to you. If I were to let it I should have to pack
up, whereas with you I could leave even my books as they
are. If it will do you any service let me see you; if not
let me know. Ever yours, my dear doctor, William Gell.”
The Duchess always evinces a great interest in his wel-
fare. “I write these few lines to thank you for all your
expressions of attachment and regard, and I sincerely hope
you have a fair prospect before you, which I trust may be
realized.”
In July, 1823, he had an offer from Lord Byron to
accompany him to Greece as his physician. Sir William
Drummond and his other friends urge him to accept it.
Sir. W. Drummond writes—
“The salary which you require in consequence of giving
up your practice here (i. e. Naples) does not appear to me too
much. You must expect to meet some difficulties and endure
some privations if you go to Greece; still there is some-
thing very attractive in making it with a man of such
extraordinary talents and genius as Lord Byron.”
The Duchess of Devonshire writes:
“RomE ; August 22nd, 1823.
“I shall be anxious to know what your decision is
about Lord Byron’s offer, and what Sir W. Drummond and
Sir William Gell advise you.
“I came from Rome the day before the pope (Pius VII)
died ; the change was sudden, for we had great hopes of
preserving him, and I believe he might have been so had
the proper medicines been given in time. The excellent
cardinal (Gonsalvi) is in a state of great affliction for the
loss of a tried friend, during twenty-two years, in the person
of his sovereign. He never left him, and sat up the last
three mights till quite exhausted he nearly fainted at the
Memoir of Dr. Quin. 7
bedside ; since that he has had some good sleep and is much
better. The ceremonies are very fine and awful. g
I am delighted that Lord Byron is going to Greece, and
with some success perhaps. The best succour is his noble
and inspiring genius, which, when it may be wanted, will
reanimate their exertions.”
Quin was evidently extremely anxious to go, but he was
in very delicate health ; already he had had an attack on the
lungs, with slight haemoptysis, and it was finally decided
that it would be too hazardous to undertake such a journey
and responsibility.
He communicated his decision to the Duchess, and
informs her of his determination to remain at Naples.
In answer she writes, “God bless you, my dear sir;
may your success be equal to my good wishes, and I
have no doubt of it. There are always some difficulties to
beginners, but you will soon get over all these.” He soon
became a universal favourite at Naples, and his practice in-
creased in proportion. “Quin,” writes a friend, “ does all
that is worth doing, and the dirty work is actively swept
up by a certain Mr. R., who is something between an
apothecary and a doctor.”
At the commencement of the year 1824 Quin was brutally
assaulted by a Neapolitan coachman, and nearly lost his life
(vide letter, p. 60). The Duchess of Devonshire on hearing
of it writes:
“RoME, Jan. 8th, 1824.
“My DEAR SIR,--I was very glad to hear from yourself
that you was so much recovered; the accident was a frightful
one and you must be cautious not to engage in a quarrel
with Neapolitan coachmen, who are known to be a danger-
ous set of men.
“Adieu, my dear Sir, I hope you will be well before
your mother hears of the accident.
“Believe me, with very great regard,
& C E. D.”
Shortly after the Duchess was attacked by her last illness,
8 Memoir of Dr. Quin.
and Dr. Quin was summoned to Rome by a letter from
the Duke, her stepson. “The Duchess is very ill, I
want you to come with me to see her. Dr. Clark is now
attending her, and I would like you to be with him.” The
Duchess died in March of the year 1824, and Dr. Quin
offered to accompany the remains to England. The Duke
writes :
“My DEAR SIR,--I feel extremely touched by your kind
and amiable offer, which, however, upon reflection I decline
accepting. Without the excellent Jacquerin and Solon it
would be a different case, but their tried fidelity and attach-
ment leave me without any scruple in entrusting the valuable
remains to their care.
“Believe me, my dear Sir, with regard,
- “Your sincere and faithful servant,
“ DEVONSHIRE.”
In another letter the Duke says:
“I am truly gratified by the assurance that the ring which
I selected was not unknown to you ; you may like to possess
the exact words of the legacy, which are—“To Dr. Quin, a
little memorandum of me—ring, seal, or something; and
the codicil in which this occurs is dated April 24th, 1822,
Geneva.” In the Duchess he lost a sincere and most
attached friend, and he returns to Naples to resume his
practice. His friend, Sir W. Gell, was a martyr to gout,
he was then consulting Dr. Neckar, a disciple of Hahne-
mann's (this is the first notice of homoeopathy); and in a
letter from Rome says, “My medicine is come to an end,
and that brute of a Doctor Neckar will not send me any
more, and I am for the present reduced to his Ledum
palustre, and suppose, in consequence, have the gout in
both my elbows. Dr. Clark (who had settled in Rome as
Quin had at Naples) seems to be going on with great
success.” In a previous letter Sir William gives an account
of his condition on arriving at Rome.
“ Rom E ; Jan. 1st.
“I arrived here notwithstanding my malady, and
Memoir of Dr. Quin. 9
all the prophecies that I should not set out, somewhat better
in health than when you saw me, though I was carried in
and out of the carriage and have not till lately been out
without my arms round the necks of two servants. In a
few days I hope to be able to waddle a little. If you know
or see Lady Mary Deerhurst tell her I hope she is coming
soon, and that there are a great many families here besides
her aunt Lady Caroline, and that the world is very gay in-
deed. Lady I saw on the stairs yesterday; she was
dressed in a shroud of white satin, with a great deal of
blond lace, having bled herself with leeches till her face
was all of the same colour. We have at present a sort of
melting snow here, but not so melting but that all my walks
are white, all my lemons frozen to death, and all my geraniums
retired into the next world. I fear much my lemon trees
will follow the fruit, and I have positively got out my skates
this morning ; that if the ice bears, as it will if it freezes
again, in the Villa Borghese, I may lend them to somebody
who will show the Romans what skating—skaeting or skate-
ing is. I hope we have not all the bad weather to ourselves,
and that you have had all the frost and snow necessary to
make you as unhappy as we are. At Florence everybody
died long ago of cold.
“Most truly yours, my dear doctor,
“ W. G.E.LL.”
“RomE ; July.
“My DEAR DocTOR,--I don’t know whether your com-
pliments on the flourishing state of my health was the
signal for the Devil to recommence his torments, for I was,
after reading your epistle, seized with a slow deliberate fit,
which began by being nothing at all, and is now arrived
in both knees, both feet, and an elbow, not to mention the
fatal consequences produced by an ass ride of seven hours
in the sun, in the shape of a great boil, so that I can neither
walk, stand, sit, nor lie down, and it requires no small
share of genius how to proceed under so many untoward
circumstances. Nothing can exceed the beauty of our climate
just now, as they have put off May this year till J uly ; but
10 Memoir of Dr. Quân.
Craven, who writes from the banks of a little lake called
Wallen See, says there is hard frost every evening, and snow
yet reaching down to the lake ; even the elder not in flower,
and the apple yet in bloom, and all this, he says, two days
after he had been eating over-ripe cherries and roasting
himself in Italy. Oh ! the delights of a German climate.
He says neither peas nor salad yet exist at Munich, and that
in consequence of the change of atmosphere he has got
every sort of cough, cold, and consumption possible, and
longs for a box of your celebrated Leake’s patent pills. I
scrambled all over the country on jackasses while I was
well in a very agreeable manner. We went in a party to
somebody’s over-grown feudal palace, which the people very
kindly lent us, and Lady Mary Deerhurst became the hostess
of the castle, while we passed our days in exploring the
country. I have long ventured the opinion that wherever
there was an ancient town some traces of its walls or build-
ings will be found if any one would take the pains to search,
but I only spoke of Greece, whereas I think the same may
be said of Italy, and I should not despair of finding out
in time all the towns which Romulus and the Tarquins
took. We have found in the Via Appia that by turning
three miles to the right at about the eighth milestone from
Rome, and making for the highest of the eminences towards
the sea, there is an ancient city, the walls of which are quite
perfect as far as two, three, four, or five courses all around.
The stones are great square masses of tufa, and have all
the appearance of an ancient Greek city. It is about half
a mile round, and in the form of a parallelogram, or nearly
so. It is quite singular that the Roman antiquaries always
stick to the great modern carriage road, as if they had the
gout like me.
“Truly yours, my dear Doctor,
“ WILLIAM G.E.LL.'”
Again he writes:—“I am now well in health and yester-
day had a little appetite. I suppose you know that the
ancient and respectable tumbled-down Basilica of San Paolo
fuori della Mura is burnt down, for which I should grieve
Memoir of Dr. Quin. 11
but little if with the embers of the roof they had not con-
trived to calcine all, or nearly all the beautiful columns which,
if decently arranged, would have been quite invaluable.”
Quin’s health being somewhat better he makes a hurried
visit to England in 1824. His passport is dated 19th July,
1824, signed Sir W. Hamilton for Monsieur Quinn allant
a Londres. He leaves Paris on the 4th of August, and
Calais for Dover on the 7th.
In October he is staying at 44, Montagu Square, and
receives a letter from Lord Robert Grosvenor. “I was a
good deal surprised,” writes Lord Robert, “hearing from B.
Greville that you were in England, as you did not think of
quitting Naples so soon when I last saw you. I expect to
hear magnificent accounts of your great success there, and I
wish you every success you can desire.” He also brings a
letter of introduction from Sir W. Gell to the Countess
Dowager Manvers. “I send you with this letter, Dr.
Quin the medical gentleman who came out with the poor
Duchess of Devonshire, and was with her at her death. He
will give you all the news of Italy. . . . . You
will find Dr. Quin a very agreeable person, and not one
who sits still and says nothing.”
During his short sojourn in England he goes to see his
friends in Edinburgh, as a letter from Dr. John Turner, who
is travelling with Lord and Lady Holland informs us, and
who writes to him concerning the health of Lord Holland’s
son, who is a patient of Quin’s. This letter is dated 13th
December, 1825, and addressed to M. le Docteur Quin,
Médicin Anglais, Naples.
“I had not,” he writes, “the pleasure of being personally
acquainted with you whilst you were a student at the
University ; you may, perhaps, remember that we were
introduced to each other one morning that we breakfasted
together at Dr. Thomson's during your late visit to Edin-
burgh.” In this year he also makes the acquaintance which
ends in a life-long friendship with Mr. Thomas U wins, the
well-known artist, afterwards R.A. On his return to
Naples, after his visit to England, he is summoned to
Rome to visit a patient, the brother of his great friend
12 Memoir of Dr. Quin.
Sir Richard Acton, Uwins is about to return to England
without seeing Naples, when Quin offers to take him
there and put him up. Uwins writes to his brother,
Dr. Uwins —“I was brought from Rome to this place by
a young physician, Dr. Quin, in two and twenty hours, a
journey which the Vetturini take five days. The tedious-
mess of vetturino travelling knocks me up much more than
the day and might work of a doctor’s travelling. Quin
came out with the late Duchess of Devonshire, and like all
the rest, is only tarrying here till his beard is grown that
he may start in London with all proper decorum. He is a
very gentlemanly fellow, and a great favourite with those
who know him.”
In another letter Uwins says: “I fell ill with fever, Dr.
Quin attended me like a brother, and my confinement was
not long.”
They became very much attached to each other, and
Uwins appreciated thoroughly his sterling qualities. In
a letter addressed to Mr. Severn, now our Consul
at Rome, dated October 4th, 1825, Uwins, in writing
of Quin, says: “People who see him ill society
mistake his gaiety for thoughtlessness, but I have found
him possessed of a solid and serious mind, and one of
no ordinary powers. I hardly know whether I most love
or admire him.”
It was in the year 1825 that Quin first began seriously
to think of the new doctrine. He had seen some wonderful
cures effected by Dr. Neckar. He got Neckar to lend
him all the works he could procure touching upon Hahne-
mann's system, and after most careful consideration, and
from a firm and honest conviction that he ought thoroughly
to investigate this new system—the effects of which had
been so forcibly brought to his motice—he determines to
give up his practice for a while and to seek information at
headquarters; with this determination he sets out, travelling
by way of Venice, Trieste, and Vienna, he reaches Leipsic,
and his first letter to his friend Uwins, whom he had left
at his house in Naples, is of extreme interest.
Memoir of Dr. Quin. 13
LEIPsic; 20th July, 1826.
“My DEAR MR. Uwins,—Few travellers have so much
on their hands as I have had since I saw you. A new
system to explore, and an old one to get information about.
Before, however, attempting to give you a description of
what I have learnt and seen, I have a favour to beg of you,
viz. that my letter may rest entirely confidential between
you and me. My reason for this is, as I mean to open my
mind fully to you on all that regards this wonderful new
system, a great deal may be contained in my letters, a pre-
mature disclosure of which might both do harm to the
system and to my professional character. I do not wish to
appear before the world either as a disciple or opponent to
Hahnemann until I feel myself fully competent to do
justice to the side which I may ultimately be conscientiously
induced to take. Although my principal object has been
to get acquainted with Hahnemann’s opinions and practice,
I have not neglected to get all the information I possibly
could of the state of medicine and the hospitals in Germany.
I have worked most laboriously, and can really say that I
have picked up a great deal of valuable information in my
profession, laying aside altogether the new system, so that
whatever it may turn out to be I have managed so as never
to allow myself to regret having come to Germany. I have
several times been very much disheartened, and very doubtful
of the propriety of my undertaking, owing to conversations
with the different professors, who laughed at the very idea
of an English physician thinking of studying such a system.
Their remarks at the time, made considerable impression on
me, as they were all men of talent, information, and reputa-
tion in their profession ; but on pushing my questions fur-
ther I found that some had never read the books of Hab-
nemann, and that not one had put the system to the test,
not one had tried the effect of the medicines as ordered to
be prepared by Hahnemann, not one had proved the truth
or fallacy of the system by experiments. Very little reflec-
tion convinced me that no weight was to be given to
opinions which rested upon prejudices arising from their pre-
vious education. I therefore determined to persevere and
14 Memoir of Dr. Quin.
judge for myself. At Vienna, however, I met with one
man whose opinion to me is worth all that I have yet heard
—the Chevalier Lichtenfelz ; he has now practised homoe-
pathy three years with the greatest success. He stood very
high in his profession, had distinguished himself at the
University by gaining several prizes, and in consequence of
his talent he was named surgeon to the hospital at Prague,
and having paid great attention to diseases of the eyes he
was also named oculist to the whole of Bohemia. Cases of
ophthalmia arising in scrofulous persons baffled all his
attempts to cure them ; in vain he consulted his brother
medical men; in vain he read foreign books of medicines,
he never could succeed in these cases. At last Hahne-
mann’s works fell into his hands; he was struck by the
reasons and by the cures promised to those who followed the
precepts; he determined to try the system on scrofulous
ophthalmia. Judge of his astonishment; hardly one case
resisted a treatment of nine days. He could not believe it,
but repeated experiments convinced him of the great efficacy
of the system. He applied it to other cases, and almost
always with success. There is a very severe edict by the
Austrian Government against those who practise this
system, obtained by the Faculty of Medicine. He gave up
his place and his practice at Prague, went to Vienna, and
demanded an audience of the emperor, without any intro-
duction or presentation. He stated to him that he had
practised medicine for several years with considerable success,
and that he had the honour of being employed under his
Majesty's Government, but that he had thrown up his place
because he could not practise according to the dictates of
his conscience, which forbade him to allow his patients to
linger in pain when he had certain means of relieving them,
but which he was not allowed to make use of, and he boldly
put it to the emperor whether he as a sovereign, who had
the happiness of his people at heart, could allow such an
edict to exist after the declaration he had just made. The
emperor eventually, at the second audience, told him that
he should not be molested.”
And he goes on to say :
Memoir of Dr. Quin. 15
“He interested me very much, and I gained much prac-
tical information from him at Prague and Dresden. I also
saw some men who practised this method, and they all spoke
with enthusiasm of the success they had in numbers of dis-
eases which they could make nothing with before. At
Berlin I saw nobody who followed Hahnemann, but here
there are a number. I am already acquainted with five, all
of them men of marked talent and great information. I
have been received by them with the greatest cordiality,
‘I may even say delight, and they have promised to unite in
giving all the information they can during my stay. They
seem quite proud at having an English physician as a dis-
ciple. Hahnemann resides at Coethen, thirty-six miles
from here, and I intend going to see him. I have had so
much fatigue, both mental and bodily, that it is not sur-
prising that I have suffered a little, from the time I left
Naples till my arrival in this place I don’t suppose I have
been more than twelve nights in bed, as my object was only
to be gained in capitals and large towns; to gain time I
always got over as much of the intermediate ground as I
could by night.”
The day he despatched this letter to Uwins he was
taken seriously ill with inflammation of the lungs, and
nearly lost his life. His next letter to his friend is dated
August 10th.
“I fell ill on the 20th July. I sent off a letter to you
that very day; I had not been very well for two or three
days, when I was seized with most violent pains in the
chest, great oppression of breath, violent cough, expectora-
tion of bloody mucus and blood, great anxiety, and fear of
suffocation, so much so as to make me and my physician
think that I could not recover. A great disappointment;
I am obliged to renounce all study, &c., for at least three
weeks. I myself, however, am a living proof of the effi-
cacy of the new system. I have had in my life three in-
flammatory attacks on the lungs, all of them sufficiently
violent, but none more dangerous nor equal to this ; indeed,
I never saw one with more dangerous symptoms, I used
16 Memoir of Dr. Quin.
to be purged, sweated, blistered, and bled, the latter enor-
mously; in my last illness of this kind, at Naples, it was
thought necessary to take as much as one hundred and twenty-
five ounces of blood. In this illness I have not taken a single
Purge, no sudorifics, no blisters, and have not lost one drop
of blood. I was only really dangerously ill for three days,
and everything that my physician told me as to the probable
effect of the different medicines they gave me came to pass.
I only took five small powders, which had no other taste
but that of sugar, and they tell me that I shall only have
to take two more. What annoys me most is my not being
allowed to pursue my studies; this preys on my mind
sadly. However, it is no use fretting, and I must be
resigned.”
In another letter he says:
“LEIPSIC, July, 1826.
“From my letters I have received from England it is
possible that I may return there instead of going to Naples.
If I do go to England, I shall remain here till February to
get as well grounded as possible in the new system ; but
pray do not mention this to any one, as it might do me
great harm in my practice.” And he congratulates himself
on the rapidity of the post from England, only taking seven
days.
A letter to Uwins, dated September 6th, 1826, we find
him still at Leipsic. He says, “I am now almost recovered,
with the exception of a short dry cough, I believe I shall
not get rid of it till my return to Naples. I have much
need of an Italian climate to put me to rights; six long
and valuable weeks was I forced to abstain from studying ;
this was in itself enough to bring me into a nervous fever.
I am now fagging away at a most prodigious rate—nine hours’
a day hard reading. The homoeopathic system I hope to
be completely master of before I leave Leipsic, that is to
say, all I can learn from others; what remains I must do for
myself, that is, I must rigidly put to the test of experiment all
that I have learnt. My bad health has been a great drawback
upon me; it has prevented me trying some of the medicines
Memoir of Dr. Quin. | 7
on myself; I am not prepared at present to talk of the
comparative merits of the opposing systems, but I have
gained a vast deal of most valuable and practical informa-
tion, entirely new and original, and quite unknown to the
profession ; so that, notwithstanding my illness and suffer-
ing, I am still more than satisfied that I have prosecuted
my investigations in this system. I hope to get from here
in the middle of next month, then to go to Naumburg to
see Dr. Stapf, editor of the Homoeopathic Journal, from
thence to Coethen to see Hahnemann, with whom I shall
probably remain a week or ten days, and then go direct to
Naples.”
He returns to Naples, much impressed with all he has
learnt, and yet does not practise exclusively the new
doctrine. Uwins writes to his brother, Dr. Uwins, who
afterwards became a convert to homoeopathy :
“When I first came here (Naples) all the world was
running after a course of violent purgatives; to this suc-
ceeded the system of Hahnemann, which was practised here
by one of his pupils, of the name of Neckar. Neckar’s
practice, or rather Hahnemann’s, occasioned so much talk
here, that Dr. Quin found it necessary last summer to go
into Germany to study it. Quin has come back, if not a
convert to the doctrine, at least so impressed with its im-
portance as to continue its study with much perseverance
and ardour, and Quin is anything but a trifler. All the
medical men here, except Quin, are loud against it and your
friend R—, who, by the way, has a good deal of the old
woman about him, gets red in the face, and almost foams
at the mouth whenever it is made a matter of conversation.
They all predicted it would ruin my little friend, and they
were already shouting triumph over his fallen reputation ;
so far from its being the case, Quim’s popularity has greatly
increased, and he is doing more than all the rest put
together.”
On his way from Leipsic to Naples he stopped at Rome,
there was introduced to His Royal Highness Prince
fº
18 Memoir of Dr. Quin.
Leopold, of Saxe Coburg, and shortly after became attached
to his household as resident physician. Uwins, writing to
his brother, May 3, 1827, “You will soon have Quin in
London, and I shall soon follow him, for Naples will lose
more than half its charms when it is no longer embellished
with his cheerful countenance. Society will be robbed of
its principal ornament, and for me his absence will create
a blank in my existence which nothing can fill up. But
much as we all suffer from losing him, who is there amongst
all his friends that does not rejoice at the occasion of his
going? After a season of the greatest success, in which he
has practised almost exclusively in families of the highest
rank, he has been invited by Prince Coburg to become his
physician, and he is now attached to the royal household
with a handsome salary, to which no conditions are annexed
but the necessity of living at Marlborough House, dining at
the Prince’s table, and travelling with his suite whenever he
wishes to visit the CGntinent. The Prince has behaved in
the most noble manner to him, he lays no restrictions on his
practice, and puts no bounds to his opportunity of study ; on
the contrary, promises to do all he can to increase his repu-
tation and encourage his pursuits. For a young physician
of six-and-twenty this is a piece of no ordinary good for-
tune, but it must be recollected that Quin is no ordinary
man; and I can assure you the Prince is as much congra-
tulated here on his acquisition, on his taste and judg-
ment in selecting such a counsellor and companion, as Quin
is in having obtained so honorable an appointment. You
will see Quin I daresay very soon after his return, he says
he shall be able to make you stay in the room whilst he ex-
plains to you Hahnemann's system. Quin is no enthusiast,
nor is he easily won by extraordinary or out-of-the-way
things; he laughed as much and as long as any one about
this subject, till it was forced on his observation in a way
that made him determine on investigating it, and he has
now seen enough to convince him that his laughter was out
of place. He learnt German and went to Germany, became
acquainted with all the professors who practise it, so that he
has a right to talk about it.”
Memoir of Dr. Quin. 19
In June, 1827, he returns to England with the Prince,
he is congratulated by all his friends on his appointment,
although he feels a pang at parting from his practice at
Naples, where he had made so many friends and where he
was so much esteemed.
Uwins, his constant correspondent, writes to his brother :
“Quin writes me that you have been very kind to him in
attending to his requests; you do not know how grateful I
feel to you for this attention; Dr. Quin has been such a
friend as I never met before, indeed, such a one as few are
happy enough to meet with in this passage through life; I
owe to him everything I have done here.”
One of his friends writes to him :
“The once gay and fashionable Naples is now become
a desert ; your going seems to have been the signal of
universal flight; Roskelly has everything to himself, Milne
has put his house in order, new furnished his wardrobe with
medical-looking waistcoats, and is prepared to take the field
with unusual activity.”
In October, 1827, he is on leave of absence, and is
visiting his friends in Edinburgh; he writes to his friend
Uwins:
“CHARLOTTE SQUARE ; Oct. 10th, 1827.
“MY DEAR UWINs,—Our journey from Naples was a
very prosperous one. A few days after our arrival in
London the whole establishment was removed to Claremont.
The Prince’s health was so much improved that in setting
out for Ramsgate, where I recommended him to go for sea
bathing, he told me he should not require my attendance,
and I might have as much time as I liked to go and visit
my friends; so I came on here. I am quite happy with
the Prince, and have never had the slightest cause to regret
my having attached myself to him. Nothing can be kinder
and more flattering than his conduct to me; the different
gentlemen of the household who looked upon me at first
with a jealous eye are now, I have every reason to believe,
quite reconciled to me, and glad of my being one of them ;
they treat me with the greatest cordiality and friendship.
Q() Memoir of Dr. Quin.
I have met with several of my old friends amongst the
nobility, who all seem pleased to see me and gratified at my
being where I am.”
On his return from Scotland he went to Sir Richard
Acton, and from there to London, and he says:
“I shall remain a couple of days before going to Clare-
mont. I have not seen the Prince for upwards of two
months; he is travelling about in most perfect health,
shooting from ten in the morning till five in the evening;
everybody says they never saw him looking so well. For
some time after his arrival in England he was low both in
mental and bodily vigour, I recommended him sea bathing.
He had never been in the sea in his life, and was afraid of
the effect it might have upon him. His old medico, Baron
Stockmar, was against it, I, however, held firm. A con-
sultation was therefore determined upon, and the result was
against my opinion. I was obstinate, and would not give
in, and actually urged him to try it. Whilst in Scotland
I received a very kind letter from Baron Stockmar, in
which he made a very candid and generous confession that
he was in the wrong.”
“MY DEAR QUIN,-You were right and I was wrong.
The Prince has bathed in the sea four times a week with
the happiest effects. He never was so well, nor never
looked better than he does now. Whenever he complains
again send him to the sea, and if ever I venture to oppose
your opinion send me there too, and have me properly
ducked. I think it but justice to you to add that the
Prince is in high spirits at your knowing more about his
constitution than I, who have been so long with him, and
is constantly grigging me about it.”
He remains with the Prince during the years 1827, 28, and
29. Is with him at Coburg, October, 1828. In a letter
addressed to one of his friends dated Coburg, Sept., 1828,
he says:–“ Of my employment in London I have little
room to speak. I occupied myself more in improving
Memoir of Dr. Quin. 2]
myself in my profession than in reaping profit from the
practice of it, and I am more content than if my pocket
had been filled. I have pursued my homoeopathic studies
also, and have no reason as yet to regret the time I have
devoted to them.” It will be recollected that the Prince
gave him full liberty to have private practice whilst with
him, and it was no doubt at this time that he treated
some patients in London on the homoeopathic system. He
again visits Naples with the Prince in 1829. “Poor
Havell, writes a friend Feb. 10th, 1829, has been laid
up and very ill, but Quin has set him on his legs again.”
In May he is in England again, and the Prince having com-
pletely recovered his health, no longer requires a resident
physician, and Dr. Quin is relieved of his duties. The
official letter acquainting him with this is dated May, 1829,
and is as follows :
“SIR,--In acquainting you by command of H.R.H. the
Prince Leopold that he is pleased to relieve you from your
present duties, I have to add that it is only from the
motive of having no longer occasion for a resident medical
man in his family. As H.R.H.. thinks it might be agree-
able to you, your name will be continued amongst the
Physicians in Ordinary of the Prince, and you are at
liberty to wear the uniform of his household. I remain,
with many regards,
“Sir, your obedient, humble servant,
“W. F. DE STOCKMAR,”
After he leaves the Prince he is undecided where to com-
mence the practice of his profession. The English climate
is against his health ; he longs for Italy again, and has half
made up his mind to return to the sunny South ; however,
he passes the summer in visiting his friends. In October
he is staying with Sir Richard Acton, at Aldenham,
in Shropshire; a great friend of his writes: “I hope,
my dear Frederick, you will not go back to Naples again; if
you are to leave this country go no further than Paris, but
I think it would be much better if you could possibly stay
in London.” .
22 Memoir of Dr. Quin.
The time, however, had not arrived when he could hope
with any success to prosecute the system of Hahnemann in
this country. He found all opinions against him, so he
made up his mind to try his fortune in Paris, where he
goes in the beginning of 1830. He is again for a time in-
capacitated by illness—another attack on his lungs. His
friend, Sir Robert Gardiner, in a letter dated Feb. 24,
1830, alludes to his (Quin’s) severe illness. He commenced
to practise chiefly, but not entirely, on the principles of
Hahnemann; but, finding his success in this system
increasing, and that he was able to cure diseases which
previously had baffled him, he devotes himself almost
exclusively to it, yet is open to any good in the old practice.
Uwins, in writing to his brother, the doctor, says: “Quin
I find is getting quite fashionable at Paris; and, if his own
health were strong, I doubt not he would soon be in a
thriving way as to fortune.”
Quin was so convinced of the power and efficacy of the
new doctrine that he wrote to his friends in the old school of
practice, urging them to inquire into its theory and practice.
An eminent physician, who had just been appointed Physician
to St. George's Dispensary with a salary of £200 a year,
wrote to him for information.
“ DEAR QUIN,-I wrote to you some six or eight weeks
ago by your Italian Homoeopathic friends, and requested
you to send me some homoeopathic medicine and a list of
books you consider most deserving of looking into. I am
desirous, very desirous that you would do this as soon as
possible, because at this moment I feel disposed to give
some of the remedies a trial in my Infirmary, and in a short
time I shall be, perhaps, too much occupied with one thing
or another to give the matter that close attention which it
would require. I confess that, in looking into some of the
doctrines on the similia similibus principle, I have been
struck with the apparent explanation which it affords to
some practical facts that I had treasured up in my mind,
and which puzzled me not a little before. I beg you not
to lose an occasion of sending me the medicine chest and
Memoir of Dr. Quin. 23
the information I wish so much, and if an occasion does not
soon present, Ballière will take charge of it, I have no
doubt. You must also send me a bottle of Sugar of milk if
such a thing is to be met with in Paris. I shall be glad to
hear that you continue to prosper, and the late occurrences
in Paris [alluding to the Revolution] have not diminished
your clientèlle.
“The difficulty, insurmountable in private practice, in
this country presents itself to the mode which you homoeo-
pathists administer your drugs : no man’s reputation
could stand it a month. The contraries would soon floor
the similias. They are preparing to publish a Cyclopaedia
of Practical Medicine in this country. I have nothing to do
with it further than writing one or two articles for it ; I
will send you a prospectus as soon as I can get one.
“Yours very truly,
“JAMES CLARK,
“LoNDON ; October 19th, 1830.”
A further correspondence ensues upon this between the
two friends, as the following letter, written by Dr. Quin, is
evidently a reply in which he states his determination to
practise exclusively on the homoeopathic principle :
“MY DEAR CLARK, Many thanks for your kind and
prompt answer. I perceive, although you do not speak out,
that you think my resolution an imprudent one. But as
you do not advance one difficulty that has not been staring
me in the face for some time (in fact, since I first began to
believe in homoeopathy), your letter instead of damping my
spirits, rather has had the contrary effect; as for my being
considered an apothecary by the profession, that is the least
possible evil I can expect; I am prepared to hear myself
called and treated as quack, charlatan, visionary, and heaven
knows what besides by your liberal confrères in London.
Whether either the College or the worshipful Body may
think me worthy of their motice I know not, but I shall not
be taken by surprise if they do prosecute me, as I shall go
to England prepared for all these ills, the absence of any
24. Memoir of Dr. Quin.
one of them will be an agreeable surprise to me. How-
ever, I think Apothecaries' Hall would find it difficult to
lay legal hold of me, as I shall not dispense medicines
according to their acceptation of the term. My position
will be a very simple one, and I do not think either body
would gain themselves much credit by attacking me. No
one can deny my right to the rank of physician, and ac-
cording to my present views of the advantages attending
the practice of homoeopathy, I think it my conscientious
duty to see my medicines prepared myself. I give them to
my patients and do not sell them. I may be wrong, but I
am determined to try the venture. Indeed, I cannot in
honour and honesty do otherwise than avow myself the
disciple of Hahnemann, believing as I do in his doctrines.
In thus acknowledging myself an administrator of atoms,
I do not mean to give up the privilege of prescribing in
cart-loads if I have reason to suppose my patient will
receive more of benefit from the latter than from the
former.
“I know that a mere charlatan is tolerated and over-
looked, whilst a regular bred physician must of necessity be
put down by those who possess the monopoly of the present
practice, most of whom I believe to be too bigoted to learn
or to tolerate the new method. I am speaking of the
College, strictly so called, in which there is a power invested
which certainly ought not to exist, and, therefore, may be
employed against me. If homoeopathy possesses all the merits
which my experience of its effects induces me to attribute
to it, no attempts to put it down will or can succeed, how-
ever powerful they may be. Like every man who has the
courage to introduce useful innovations I must make up my
mind to struggle with great difficulties, and it is the con-
viction that I shall have the same difficulties to encounter
ten or twenty years hence as much as to-day, that has in a
great measure induced me to listem to the suggestion of my
friends to establish myself sooner in London than it was
originally my intention. In justice to these advisers I
must add that, although I agree entirely with you about
the facility of getting counsel from thoughtless people upon
Memoir of Dr. Quin, 25
subjects on which they are totally ignorant, they do not
deserve to be considered as having unadvisedly counselled
me. They are patients who from an out-and-out disbelief in
the system have become most fervent in their advocacy for
it, in consequence of the relief they have obtained from it in
diseases which they have despaired in getting rid of after
having consulted most of the medical men in London.
These people have recommended others to me, the same
happy result has followed the homoeopathic treatment.
Some of these patients have returned to London, there they
have induced some of their friends to submit their cases to
me in writing ; I have prescribed for them on the strength
of their description, and I receive congratulatory letters on
the effects I have been able to produce, and entreaties to
come to London, where I have had since the Revolution
here, strange as it may appear, more patients than in Paris.
Here then is a nucleus of a clientèlle anxious for the
advancement of a system of medicine from which they have
seen and derived the greatest benefit, and interested in the
success of the physician who, through its practice, cured
them. I have been combating for the last six months their
wishes by the same objections contained in your last, and
many others which at different times presented themselves
to me, and I should have continued to do so had not other
circumstances occurred which have changed my opinion
upon the matter. Some of these people are of high rank,
and in high estimation from their natural and acquired
talents; these would never make a bad cause triumph,
but they are sufficient in my opinion to support what I
consider a good one. You say, my dear Clark, that you
do not place the same confidence in homoeopathy that I do.
It would, indeed, be wonderful if you did. You have not
yet tried it. There is no man to whom I would more
willingly apply than to you were I in difficulty about the
treatment of a patient according to the present practice, but
till you have fairly tried the new system, and not till then
can I admit your opinion on it as a valid one ; and permit
me to observe, in order to give it a fair trial you must do it
à la lettre of the instructions of those who have put it to
26 Memoir of Dr. Quin.
the test before you, and not with modifications founded upon
& priori reasoning. However, I will willingly compound in
any way to induce you to try it even as circumstances will
allow. I can well imagine all the ménagement you will be
obliged to take in your infirmary, I hope you will not lose
heart, but give it a fair trial. . . . God bless you, my
dear Clark, receive again my acknowledgments for your
kind and speedy compliance with my wishes,
“Kindest regards.
“Ever yours truly,
“F. F. QUIN.”
It is not surprising that Dr. Clark did not go on with
his experiments. No man’s reputation could stand it a
month, as he said, viz. the administering the drugs. The
contrarias would soon floor the similias. Many of Quin’s
friends urged him to commence his practice in England at
once, but he was anxious that the system should be a
little more known, and was not afraid that his place might
be occupied. His friend, Lord Ponsonby, writes: October
6th, 1830. “Are you so very well founded in believing your-
self free from the danger of having your place pre-occupied in
London 2 I particularly esteem it right you should be in
London as soon as may be after if not at the meeting of Par-
liament. It is the moment for introduction. My only scruple
heretofore about giving you the most open and strong advice
was derived from the state of your fortune; now that I know
it will suffice you for eight or ten years as it is, I have no
hesitation to say stoutly go to London ; try your luck, or
rather show your science ; if you fail, what then, you can
only fail by the failure of homoeopathy; you know that to be
true, and that it cannot fail; but if it should prove false
you are too honest a man not to be amongst the first to
declare it to be so, and too acute not to find out its fallacy
as soon as any other man whatever. You can then fall
back to where you have been, and I think with advantage.”
However, circumstances occurred which prevented the im-
mediate advent of Dr. Quin to London, and Lord Ponsonby
writes later : “I think in my last I said enough on the sub-
Memoir of Dr. Quin. 27
ject of your removal from Paris. I will now only add
that it may be imprudent to move under the present cir-
cumstances of London and England, and do say now wait
a little, if I see light I will tell you of it.”
This circumstance was the trial of St. John Long, a
notorious person whose profession as an artist had failed
and who proclaimed that by a secret remedy he could cure
all kinds of diseases. -
Lord Ponsonby writes on November 2nd, 1830: “My dear
Doctor Quin, I think the late trial of St. John Long will
be, absurd as it is, a disadvantage to you at this moment,
and should you come to London, but a little time will force
you from Paris; should I see an opening here I will imme-
diately write to you. I am anxious to speak to Lord Angle-
sey, and have not yet seen him.”
One of the objections urged to his practice in London
was, as we have seen, supplying his own medicines, and
which Dr. Clark had stated no reputation could stand.
Quin urges this on Lord Ponsonby, who answers him
thus:–“I do not sympathise in your objections to the
infra dig. of vending your own medicines, if by so doing
you can avoid the moxious provisions of a foolish statute.
There is no descending when the end and object is to
advance science and promote human welfare. Everybody
may be made to know why you assume the status of
apothecary, and to what point you limit the exercise of your
profession ; you will be in fact what you are—M.D. Don’t
sacrifice things to mere words.”
We have seen in his answer to Dr. Clark how he
intended to act as regards dispensing the medicine. From
the unsettled state of France at that time he was undecided
whether to remain in Paris. Lord P− writes, August, 1830:
“Your letter shows that you are far from the proper degree
of confidence in the permanent tranquillity of Paris. I
think you will have your throat cut in 1832, about Mid-
summer.” I see Seneca Dupin has been successfully lec-
* In June, 1832, occurred the serious émerite after the funeral of General
La Marque, which lasted some days,
28 Memoir of Dr. Quin.
turing the young Sovereign ; he had better turm his thoughts
to the comfortable reward his predecessor received for his
wise counsels.” Again he writes:
“I cannot tell you how much pleasure it gives me to
hear from you ; the statements of facts you furnish me with
are very interesting, and certainly your views of the state
of affairs are equally so. I consider the game to be only
now at the beginning ; I will hope, if you please, that the
trumps may continue in the same hands to the finale of the
party, but I cannot expect it. Similar causes, it is said,
and philosophy is a la mode, always produce similar effects;
I think I see clearly that those causes now exist and
operate in France which I have always seen, followed by
disastrous consequences everywhere. I am delighted to
hear of the prosperity of homeo ; I am surprised when-
ever I find truth in vogue. Mr. seems to be in high
spirits, and he tells me that his general health is miracu-
lously good, which he attributes to homoeopathie . I
spent some hours with Lord — yesterday; he is here for
change of air, and quite in exstacies about France ; how
little I value the judgment of violent party men, be they
Whig or Tory. I recommend to you the article in the July
Edinburgh Review concerning Jefferson, merely to see what
He, and Washington, and Adams, and Hamilton thought of
the American Constitution, it is curious.”
Dr. Clark was in constant correspondence with him, and
there was an idea of Quin’s writing a pamphlet on the
doctrines of Hahnemann in the Cyclopædia of Medicine.
However, Clark writes in November, 1830: “I shall say
nothing about an article in the Cyclopædia, as I do not
think the editors would insert it. Your book will come out
best by itself, let it stand on its own legs if you can give it
good legs to stand upon.
“I am, dear Quin, yours truly,
“JAMES CLARK.”
Again he writes:
“My DEAR QUIN,-With this I beg to introduce to you
my friend Dr. de Rabatta, a disciple of Hahnemann who
Memoir of Dr. Quin. 29
has been living for some time with Lord Shrewsbury, and
is now on his return to Italy; he is desirous of making
your acquaintance, and I have much pleasure in procuring
him this advantage, as you will find him a good honest
man. . . . In medical matters I do not know any-
thing worth writing you. We are interested by constant
reports respecting the Cholera. What says Hahnemann 7
I fear it is a disease that will not wait for the operation
of your atomic doses, and seems even little disposed to bend
to the heroic method.”
Quin was soon able to prove that his friend's surmises were
not founded on fact or experience. His friend Westmacott
writes: “I am delighted at the news you send about your-
self; you have indeed alighted on your legs, and I trust you
will have your health to make the most of it. From what you
say about publishing a work on homoeopathy, I suppose you
are practising on that system, tant mieuw, if it answers your
expectations, but you will be abused right and left by one and
all—physicians, apothecaries, chemists, druggists, et id genus
omne, who live by three draughts per diem, will devote you to
the infernal gods; of course, medically, I can give no opinion,
but I foresee you will have interest and prejudice harder
than brick walls to contend against. I am sorry to hear
of your attacks of illness. How is this 2 I am afraid
you overwork your physique.” And this was the case;
always delicate, his mind and energy were too much for
his body, and he was repeatedly laid up with cough and
congestion ; indeed, at one time it was doubted whether it
were possible for him to continue to live except in the South
of Europe. However, his indomitable energy prevailed, he
had set his whole heart on bringing this system to the notice
of the profession and the public, and would do so even
unto death.
In 1831, Lord Ponsonby writes: “ People here still
cast up the lip with the supercilious expression of conceited
ignorance when homoeo is mentioned. The medical men
affect to understand it, but are as ignorant of it as the
laity, or more ; but I believe there are some in England
30 Memoir of Dr. Quin.
who have cast off enough of their bigotry and folly to be
willing to look at it. Truth in science will at last make
its way, I wish you were here to practise the new system.”
Lord Minto, who had been under his care in Paris,
writes, in answer to Quin’s inquiries about the Cholera
in England :
“August 22nd, 1831.
“MY DEAR SIR,-As you are in pursuit of information
respecting Cholera, it occurs to me that it might be worth
your while, in the first instance, to pass a week or two in
London. Government has taken a good deal of pains in
investigating the character of the complaint, and I have
no doubt that a great deal of useful knowledge may be
obtained from the reports of its medical agents. As far
as my information goes, this complaint is the genuine Indian
Cholera, differing, as of course you know, in very essential
characters from the Cholera of Europe, and though there
are of course varieties of opinion and systems for its treat-
ment, one extremely intelligent practitioner told me that
he had very early in his experience been induced to aban-
don the established treatment by opium, calomel, and
bleeding, and resort to a different plan, which proved
extremely successful. . . . If it be true that extremes
meet, you will soon have all the London doctors with you,
for they have but one system for all complaints. Calomel
measured by the bushel, bleeding by the gallon, and a con-
tinual stream of tomics and restoratives for the few remain-
ing days of life.”
In September, 1831, previous to his departure for
Germany, Lord Ponsonby writes: “I am sorry to hear of
your illness and that you have suffered so much ; I wish
you were established in London. I think the great Baby-
lon the only fit place for your career, and that it is pre-
pared for you ; however, you are the best judge of this.
I find many of the heretofore most incredulous people
holding a language of inexpressed belief. I expect to see
the current of opinion set in with violence for the true
doctrine.”
Memoir of Dr. Quin. 31
Cholera was at this time the prevailing theme, and
creating much anxiety in the medical profession. It was
gradually advancing westward, and every imaginable variety
of treatment was recommended. Quin was alive to all
that might be made of it, if the system he had adopted
was capable of producing a specific remedy, as it was
known that a very small percentage were cured under the
usual system. He heard of its breaking out in Germany;
he at once gave up his practice and started to consult with
Hahnemann as to the best means to be adopted. We all
know with what energy he set himself to work. He at
once volunteered to go to Tischnowitz in Moravia, where
the disease was raging most fearfully; how he was attacked
himself, and yet with indomitable energy, as soon as he was
able to crawl out he was at work again, and remained till
the disease had entirely disappeared.
The official recognition of his services speaks for itself.
“To Monsieur Quin, Doctor of Medicine.
“When the doctor arrived at this place to investigate
the cholera epidemic, it had reached its highest pitch in the
town and surrounding village of Varkcloster, both as re-
gards the number of victims and the violence of the
symptoms, so that often death ensued in a few hours. It
happened just at this time the three medical men, Dr.
Gerstel, Hamesh and Linhart were all ill; although you
yourself were struck down immediately on your arrival,
you undertook as soon as convalescent the treatment of the
sick, with the greatest readiness and benevolence during
the days when Dr. Gerstel was obliged to keep his bed, and
with such great success that from that time no patient
died. The local authorities consider it their duty to tender
their warmest thanks for your generosity accompanied with
so much help. “Signed by the Mayor.
“Tischnowitz, 30th November, 1831.”
Just before leaving Paris he is about to be consulted in
Lord Anglesey’s case; Lord Ponsonby writes to him —“I
have written to Lord Anglesey saying that I heard he had an
:
:
.
3.
:
:
.
:
:
32 Memoir of Dr. Quin.
inclination for homoeopathy and Dr. Quim, that I knew the
said Homo would do anything Lord A– would desire.
That Dr. Quin intended to visit Germany, for the very good
purpose of dying of the cholera morbus in order to gain a
knowledge of the best mode of curing that disorder. I
strongly set forth that homoeopathy was a branch of science
which required most careful application and most delicate
attention to the facts on which it was founded in order to
secure the patient the benefit of its wonderful powers, that
it was easy to have a slight knowledge of it, therefore the
finest thing in the world for quacks, except the want of the
means of killing patients, which this system did not afford.”
He was, however, consulted by letter concerning Lord
Anglesey, who was greatly benefited by his treatment, and
henceforth became one of his staunchest friends and one
of the chief supporters of the system in England.
In January, 1832, he now seriously contemplates esta-
blishing himself in London, a letter from Mr. Westmacott,
March 19, 1832 —“Report and our wishes fix upon Easter
as your time for arrival here, don’t disappoint us. By the
way, your prescription for Cholera has appeared in the
papers.” He had been treating this disease most success-
fully in Paris.
“I want to know how you have succeeded in cholera,
whether you have lost any one patient to whose assistance
you were summoned at the commencement of the disorder.
The Duke of Cleveland told me that his son Lord H. Vane
had been saved by you.” He is consulted and called in
consultation by those holding different opinions.
“Your letter,” Lord Ponsonby writes, “ shows how fairly
you appreciate the knowledge and talents of other physi-
cians, and it gives me pleasure to manifest your superiority
to the spirit which so commonly animates the partisans
of an opposed system. Dr. Quin and homoeo will stand
the test of the eagerimentum crucis, and the essence of
each is most valued by those who have the most knowledge
of it.”
In another letter he gives him advice about his cholera
:
.
;
:
:
:
:
3.
:
;
Memoir of Dr. Quin. 33
pamphlet. “Be excessively careful to avoid all conjectural
reasoning, and the statement of any general principles what-
ever. You should, I think, reserve such matter for another
work, and say that you do so. A dry but authenticated
statement of facts will reduce your enemies to great straits.
They will be forced to demy things which you can prove to
be true, and when hereafter you may have to explain or set
forth the principles of your new science you will have the
advantage of being able to show the fallacies of your
opponents and their want of candour.”
Quin’s success in cholera brought a number of inquirers,
and amongst others a physician practising at Bordeaux, who
seems to have worried him with questions, when far from
well ; and he complaims of this constant drain on his time
and health interfering much with his convalescence
and practice. Lord Ponsonby again urges him to come
to England. “Get well’’ (he writes), “ send your
Bordeaux bore to the devil, prepare your book, and be ready
to start for London, for you are asked for very often and
expected by many.”
Hahnemann appears to have sent some empty packets of
papers instead of medicine to Quin. Lord P− says, “I hope
Hahnemann nor his boy neither are given to putting the label
on the wrong bottle.” When Sidmouth, the “Doctor,” as he
was called, sent Moira, an Irishman, to command in Scotland,
and Cathcart, a Scotchman, to command in Ireland, Hare,
in reply to somebody who remarked the fact, said, “Oh, the
doctor’s boy put the label on the wrong phials.” “I see
again,” he writes, “a great breach made in the prejudice and
obstinacy of this country. Come over here as soon as you
can if you hear of any increase of cholera.”
In January, 1832, he has not recovered—is still far
from well. Lord Ponsonby says:—“I am exceeding sorry
to find that you still continue to be so unwell. Take care of
your own health ; recollect you will be not either agreeable
or useful when you are dead, and that homoeo will suffer
a severe loss.”
Again he writes:
34 Memoir of Dr. Quin.
“Your mame has made its way everywhere, in every
society, and to be talked about is a great thing gained. I
think there is great curiosity about the new system, and
that you are almost identified with it; the truth of that
system, and your ability will do the rest, in spite of the
vehement opposition you will have to encounter. Where is
your book º’ His success in Germany was received with
the greatest incredulity in England. Lord P− says:
“Your success seems to me delightful; I have spoken
of it, but meet with nothing except the most insulting
incredulity, accompanied with the finest specimens of the
abuse of logic. I have talked to great men, and found
them as great ganders on the subject as the least would
be : no matter, truth will prevail.
“Cholera is advancing upon us; my counsel is that you
should devote all your time to a preparation of a detail of
your practice in cholera, and publish the cases and cures.
You must be prepared for several kinds of violent and
formidable opposition—all the physicians, all the apothe-
caries, all those who already swear by any given doctor,
and this last will be the most formidable of them all.
“There is a good foundation for you here, but it wants
deepening. You had better wait in Paris a short time and
take the step I recommend previous to your appearance
here.” *
Lord G– was a violent opponent to homoeopathy, and
spoke everywhere against it, and Lord Ponsonby endeavoured
to convince him of his error. He says, “His Lordship is very
obstinate, but he is too clever not to yield to reason at last
if plainly and clearly set before him. Tell me many things
which I may in my own way state to him. I met Niemen,
the Austrian diplomate, and Esterhazy, at dinner. They both,
I think, were afraid of saying all they knew and believed
about homoeopathy; nevertheless, they supported me, and
Niemen spoke of you in the highest terms. I told G–,
before all the world, that he was talking of things he did not
understand, and challenged him to the discussion of the
question, when I should lay facts before him. I told him
the truth, and I fear him not.
Memoir of Dr. Quin. 35
“You do well to publish in Paris and in the French tongue;
your work can be translated and will be more likely, as a
translation, to attract attention than in English. We are
always foolish enough to value exotics.” His friends were
very anxious about him at this time—he was constantly
ill.
“What, most amiable, ill again?” writes a friend, Feb. 16,
1832. “Why, how can you expect your friends to be well
and happy : I wonder if you got my letter after you com-
menced your journey north-east in search of the cholera
morbus. Many told me of your exertions, but be it per-
mitted to friendship to say that I never, in the history of
the heroic actions of great men, ever read or heard related a
more heroic, a more truly brave and greater display of cool
courage and perseverance than the account Mr. T. Smith
gave me of your career at Tischnowitz a few days ago.
Well, my dear fellow, all I know about you since your
return is that you are very ill. One man says that ‘ his
ribs are stove in ;’ another, ‘Oh, he has not recovered from
the cholera;’ a third—and that’s the sort of man I like—
* Oh, never mind his being ill, except for his friends' sake; it
will give repose to his active mind, and fit him the better
for the great exertion he has to encounter as soon as he
is sufficiently recovered to work.’”
In April, 1832, Dr. Belluomini arrived in London.
Lord Ponsonby writes to Quin on the subject:-" Dr. Bel-
luomini is arrived here, and has brought recommendatory
letters to many persons. I am told he has mot had personal
experience of cholera, but says camphor is the proper
remedy. Send me your memoire.”
In May, 1832, Quin publishes his pamphlet on the
cholera, dedicates it by permission to King Louis Philippe.
He at first thought of dedicating it to the Board of Health
in London, but was dissuaded from this by Lord Ponsonby,
who writes:—“I am not certain of the advantage to be
derived from addressing your pamphlet to the Board of
Health. I do not imagine that a work on such a subject as
cholera, and which exhibits to the world a new method of
cure for that complaint, and which has been proved by
36 Memoir of Dr. Quin.
experience to be at least in numerous cases effectual, will
stand in need of anything beyond its own intrinsic impor-
tance to make it an object of universal attention of all
manner of men.”
In publishing his pamphlet Quin seems to have un-
intentionally given some offence to an English physician,
as appears from the following letter :
“My DEAR SIR,--I commence by disclaiming in the
most positive manner the remotest intention of reflecting
upon you disadvantageously in my pamphlet. In mention-
ing the case of Henri Thuillier I had no pretension to
censure you, nor wish to expose you to censure, and I
maintain (after an attentive perusal of the case since the
receipt of your mote of this morning) that there is nothing
in my book that can by any ingenuity be construed into an
accusation of want of humanity on your part ; and that so
far from there being a reflection upon your medical know-
ledge, the manner in which you are alluded to must give
quite another impression of the author’s opinion of you.
My sole object in publishing the case was to prove the effi-
cacy of a means which I conscientiously have tried in
numerous cases, and I chose it in preference to others
because, as I have stated, “le diagnostic et le prognostic
avaient été tiré avant que je n'ai vu le malade par un méde-
cin distingué qui l’est beaucoup occupé de cholera,” thereby
to prevent people saying it was not cholera.
“Where you find in this phrase or in what follows
matter for the imputation that I have been wanting in
candour and in justice towards you I am at a loss to dis-
COWer.
“Allow me again to repeat that I had not the slightest
intention of doing anything hurtful to you, either as a man
or as a physician. Allow me also, again, to deny that any-
thing that I have stated has that tendency. I trust that
you will be satisfied by the above explanation, as I should
feel real sorrow in quitting Paris, as I do in a few days, did
I leave it having in the fulfilment of what I consider to be
a conscientious duty given offence to any one.
Memoir of Dr. Quin. 37
“You will oblige me by informing me if Dr. Millingen,
of Bordeaux, has your authority for stating that Dr. Mac-
loughlin tried homoeopathy in cholera under Dr. Quin’s
directions, and that it failed. In a letter which I have
received from Mr. Scott, the British Consul at Bordeaux,
he informs me that Dr. M-, on his return from Paris,
made that statement to him.
“ Believe me, my dear Doctor,
“Yours very truly,
“ (Copy.) ** F. F. QUIN.”
“PARIs ; May 21st, 1832.
Westmacott writes to urge him to come to London. “If
great folks are to be at all trusted, there are lots of
influential people who seem disposed to be your friends and
back your talent. Come along them.”
His friend Uwins writes to him on the subject of coming
to London. Quin had seen Wilkie, who had spoken most
approvingly of Uwins’ work. Uwins says, “Wilkie is a
giant, he can well afford to pat a dwarf on the back and
say kind words to him. He has now under hand a picture
which will go as far beyond everything he has yet done as
he has gone beyond others of his age and generation. It
is John Knox preaching at the old Church at St. Andrews.
There is no word in the language strong enough to express
my admiration of this work, which is as original in concep-
tion as it is powerful in execution.”
He leaves Paris finally in June, 1832, as I find from a
letter from Count Chabot.
“The book has been presented by me to the king, who
returns you his thanks for the same. I called at your
hotel yesterday, and found you had left Paris, and now
forward this letter through our mutual friend Lord Pon-
sonby. “ Believe me,
“Yours very truly,
“ CHABOT,”
In July he is settled in London, No. 19, King Street,
38 Memoir of Dr. Quin.
St. James's, as I find from a letter from Count D'Orsay.
“Address—The Doctor Quin, King Street. July —.
“ Ungrateful Homoeopath, is it because your doses are so
reduced, that the result is your visits are to be on the same
method 2
“An admirer of the system through its Apostle Quin.
“ A. D’O.”
He soon got into extensive practice, as he had been
long expected. On arriving at his lodgings in King
Street, he found a large number of letters, making
professional appointments for the next day.
Amongst others he made a convert of Sir Francis
Burdett by curing his servant. Lord P−, writing from
Paris, says: “I am much pleased at what you tell me of
Burdett’s servant. B– is a man whose tongue will be of
great use, and when he takes up a new and controverted
doctrine he is likely to be active in its promulgation.”
Sir Francis Burdett writes:
“DEAR DR. QUIN,-I am going on so satisfactorily that
although I ask’d your opinion of Buxton waters, baths, &c.,
I should not think it now necessary to go there or to interfere
with my present method of going on. I suppose it will be
advisable for me to continue the treatment after all gouty
feelings and affections shall have ceased if I wish to confirm
the lasting or long-continued effect ; at the same time, it is
not fit that I should so long defer a handsome remunera-
tion. It is but just that as the physician takes care of the
patient the patient should take care of the physician.
“Yours sincerely,
“ F. BURDETT.”
His practice increased with such rapidity, that by some of the
medical journals he was denounced as a quack, an impostor,
an ignorant charlatan. And the following correspondence
ensued as to his legality in practising in London or within
seven miles thereof.
“We, the Censors of the Royal College of Physicians,
London, having received information that you are practis-
Memoir of Dr. Quin. 39
ing physic within the City of London and seven miles of
the same, do hereby admonish you to desist from so doing,
until you shall have been duly examined and licensed
thereto under the Common Seal of the said College, other-
wise it will be the duty of the said College to proceed
against you for the recovery of the penalties thereby
incurred. -
“ (Signed) THos. HERVIE.
WM. MACMICHAEL.
H. H. SouTHEY.
H. Holla ND.
“College of Physicians, Pall Mall, East;
“January 4th, 1833.
“The Board for examining persons who have the requisite
qualifications is holden at the College on the first Friday
in every month.
“To DR. QUIN.”
On the 1st of February another letter was written to
him :
“SIR,--I am desired by the Censors of the Royal College
of Physicians to express their surprise that they have
received no answer to their letter of January 4th, admonish-
ing you to desist from practising physic until you have been
duly examined. The Censor’s Board meets for the purpose
of examinations on the first Friday in every month.
“I am, Sir, your obedient servant,
** FRANCIS HAWKINs.
“ Dr. QUIN. “Registrar.”
To this Quin returns the following answer :
“KING STREET, ST. JAMEs’s ; Feb. 3rd, 1833.
“SIR,-Your letter of the 1st inst. was only delivered to
me yesterday, and I hasten to beg that you will lay before
the Censors of the Royal College of Physicians that it was
out of no disrespect to them that I did not answer their
communication of January 4th ult., because I did not con-
ceive that a document of the mature sent to me required an
40 Memoir of Dr. Quin.
answer. I have now the honour to acknowledge the receipt as
well as that of your letter containing a repetition of the
information conveyed to me in their communication.
“I have the honour to be, Sir,
“Your very obedient humble servant,
“ FREDERIC F. QUIN.”
Of these communications he was advised to take no
further notice. He followed this advice, and from that
time he heard no more of the College or their obsolete laws.
With his friend and colleague, Dr. Belluomini, he was in
constant consultation. In January, 1833, Belluomini lived
in Beak Street, and writes to Quim asking him to see some
patients for him as he is obliged to go to Alton Towers to
see Lord Shrewsbury, and will not be back for four or five
days. In July, 1833, Quin was first consulted by the
Duke of Beaufort, with whom he afterwards became very
intimate.
“The Duke of Beaufort presents his compliments to Dr.
Quin, and begs to know if it would be convenient to him
to meet Dr. Belluomini at his house in Grosvenor Square
at one o’clock to-morrow.”
In this year he had removed to 13, Stratford Place, from
King Street, and was hard at work bringing out his editions
of the Fragmenta and the Pharmacopoeia. He was also in
constant correspondence with his friends and colleagues on the
Continent—Hahnemann, at Coethen ; Dufrêne, at Geneva;
Schmidt, at Leipsic; Gerstel, at Prague; and many others.
In all this busy time he did not forget his old University,
and sent to it a most splendid present of the Musée Bor-
bonico.
Professor Pillams, December 27th, 1833, writes :
“When I mentioned to my class this most splendid
donation I took the liberty of stating, as the wish of the
donor, that the inspection and consultation of these precious
volumes should not be open to all, but received as the
reward of superior proficiency and good conduct. I am
desirous of having a deliverance under your own hand as to
Memoir of Dr. Quin. 4l
the disposal of the gift, the more so in consequence of some
claims which have been lately put forward by the Town
Council to the property of all that is used by any professor
within the walls of the College for illustrating his lectures.
I think you will best consult the interests of the youths
and the integrity of the work by constituting me custodian
during the term of my natural life, I engaging to leave it as
your donation to the Humanity Class Library.''
On the 21st of September, 1833, he received the fol-
lowing letter from Dr. Peschier, a well-known and highly
esteemed physician practising at Geneva-introducing Dr.
Dunsford-who became, through Quin's interest, Resident
Physician to the Marquis of Anglesea, and who remained at
Uxbridge House until 1836, when marrying and commencing
private practice, his place was taken by Mr. Cameron, who
had become a convert to homœopathy, and who never
swerved in his constant and affectionate friendship with
Dr. Quin.
* GENÈvE, 2l Sbre, 1877.
* MoNSIEUR ET TRÈs HoNoRÉ coNFRÈRE,—J'ai l'honneur
de vous addresser et recommander le Dr, Dunsford, qui se
rend à Londres, pour vous aider à faire prévaloir l'homœo-
pathie parmi vos compatriotes.
* Après son arrivée, vous allez être trois ou tres faciunt
Collegium ; je vous exhorte donc fortement à vous entendre
ensemble pour jeter les fondemens d'une Société homœo-
pathique Anglaise ou Britannique, qui puisse correspondre
avec la Société homœopathique Allemande ou avec la Gallicane
dont je suis le Sécrétaire, et dont vous verrez les Règlemens
dans la Bibliothèque homœopathique que très probablement
vous lisez.
* Vos travaux sur le Choléra m'ont inspiré le désir de
marcher quoique de loin sur vos traces, et dans l'incapacité
où je suis encore de donner des travaux origimaux dignes de
mériter l'attention des praticiens je commence à publier une
série de traductions qui seront, j'espère, un premier ache-
minement pour nos amis les Anglais, qui volontiers lisent
plus facilement le français que l'allemand ; c'est dans ce but
42 Memoir of Dr. Quin.
que je viens de publier la première livraison de l'Exposition
| Systématique de WEBER, que vous avez surement reçu de
Baillière, libraire, Regent Street, 219 ; je ne serai point
fâché d'avoir votre avis sur ce genre de travail; et vous
m'obligerez si vous voulez joindre vos efforts à ceux que je
sollicite de M. Belluomini, pour le faire annoncer dans les
journaux de la Grande Bretagne.
* Vous pouvez être assuré que dans une année, l'homœo-
pathie aura fait de grands progrès, soit en France, soit en
Angleterre, sa marche sera exactement celle du choléra ;
on la verra venir de loin sans y faire grande attention ;
puis elle germera doucement, puis elle eclatera comme une
bombe qui couvre tout autour d'elle ; ses eclats feront dis-
paraitre l'anciemme médecine et ses formules ridicule-
ment compliquées ; et bientôt l'humamité souffrante elevera
des autels à notre maître Hahnemann.
* Si Dieu nous prête vie, vous et moi, Monsieur, mous
verrons cela.
* J'aspire au moment où mes affaires me permettront
d'aller vous serrer la main à Londres, je me désespère pas
de rencontrer une opportunité favorable qui me permette
de visiter avec votre aide la Capitale du Monde.
* Adieu, Monsieur, je suis bien parfaitement,
* Votre très affectionné,
* CH. G. PESCHIER.'?
In May, 1834, he published the Pharmacopœia Homœo-
pathica, dedicated to the King of the Belgians. He had some
correspondence with Pillans as regards this dedication.
** Had the Belgians ever a king before ? if mot, I would
delete the comma after Primo that it might be joined with
Regi.'' In August in this year he published the Frag-
menta de Viribus of Hahmemamn, and dedicated it to Sir
Henry Halford. The following letter from Sir Henry
acknowledges the dedication :
* SIR,—I am sincerely obliged to you for the civil and
respectful terms in which you address me in your note,
and most especially for the caution you use to prevent your
Memoir of Dr. Quin. 43
dedication from subjecting me to any possible misconstruc-
tion as to approbation of your practice. Undoubtedly
we all have in view the same object, that of benefitting
ourselves by doing as much good as we are permitted to
do by administering to the sick, and I care not whether the
remedy comes from the east or from the west, or the north,
or the south, provided it be a remedy for human suffering. If
I entertain any feeling towards you than I entertain towards
others engaged in the same occupation with myself, it is,
indeed, one of no hostility, but of deep regret that you
fail to do what the law requires, and to give us all the
opportunity of associating with you and of comparing views
with you by personal intercourse at the bedside of the
sick. If you came to the College of Physicians and
showed what I am quite sure you would to your credit,
those qualifications which we expect from a physician, we
could then consult with you, and avail ourselves of those
further resources of our art which opportunity has dis-
closed to you. This would be equally advantageous to
mankind, and liberal on your part, and I beg you to allow
me, in the true spirit of kindness, to press this counsel upon
you. It would become you, and be creditable to the profession,
instead of subjecting yourself, as you do now, to a suspicion
of conduct unworthy of the character of physician. With
an assurance of my sincere good will,
“I remain, sir,
“Much your faithful servant,
“ HENRY HALFORD.
“July 24, 1834, Curzon Street.”
Quin personally told Sir Henry that he had no ob-
jection to submit to an examination if an honorable
promise was given to him that his particular mode of
practice would not stand in his way. To this he got
no reply, and heard no more from the College or its
Censors. At this time he wrote out a series of axioms for
his guidance.
“The patient who is in the greatest danger, or in the most
44 Memoir of Dr. Quin.
acute suffering, has a privilege over all others, whatever be
their station or condition in society.
The voice of the poor who has been saved speaks louder
and in more thrilling tones than that of the rich.
Seldom can the faults of a physician be punished by a
tribunal. There is no subterfuge, no palliative—nothing can
absolve him.
Neither his own case, nor any personal consideration,
should lead him to neglect his duties—adequate punishment
is sure to be meeted out to him.
Every physician has vowed to do nothing which may
shorten the life of a fellow-creature.
The life of a patient may not only be shortened by the
acts but by the words of a physician.
Fear, anxiety, or fright are noxious poisons, and para-
lyse the vital powers.
Confidence in the physician inspires hope and courage,
which often surpass all medicines in their vivifying powers.
If you ask the most eminent physicians they will tell
you that they have often used more skill and pains in cases
which have terminated fatally than in some of their most
successful cases.—Unshaken Probity.
Disseminate by writing and by conversation sound
ideas and correct notions respecting the preservation of
health and the treatment of disease. Combat prejudices
and promote institutions ameliorative of the general state of
health.
He must act cautiously and prudently in attacking the
deeply-rooted prejudices of the public. Discrimination of
what is essential in art for what is merely accessory to
practical art, and the power of both generalises or indi-
vidualises, according as the one or the other is required—
a knowledge of the remedies and their specific modes of
action.”
In the latter part of 1834 he began the translation into
English of Hahnemann’s Materia Medica Pura, and for
the next six months he worked at this at every leisure
moment.
Notwithstanding the violent opposition he encountered,
Memoir of Dr. Quin. 45
his fame and success induced many intelligent medical men
to inquire into the new system, whilst others without
believing thoroughly his theory had a firm faith in his
honesty and singleness of purpose. Amongst the first
were Kingdon, Uwins, Granville, Headland, and amongst
the second, Sir Charles Clarke, Sir James Clark, Dr. Locock,
Dr. Williams, of Nottingham, Mr. Liston, and many others.
Quin did not rest satisfied with merely introducing homoe-
opathy into this country, and remaining its sole exponent;
he did all in his power to propagate it through the medical
practitioners as well as through the public, he talked about
it, he wrote about it, he opened his house for those inclined
to investigate it, and he supplied them with the medicines
for experiments.
Dr. Granville consulted him about some of his cases.
“25th April, 1838.
“DEAR SIR,--I have to deal with two obstinate and
chronic cases of metritis with ovarian irritation. The usual
remedies and external applications have been had recourse
to with ambiguous and at all events tedious good effect. I
read in Gerard, Naas, Neckar, and other Hahnemannians,
wonderful cures performed in similar instances by Strych-
nine, 3°; or Sulphur, 6; or, Platina, 6; or Acid phosph. 9;
or Conium 30, or Pulsatilla, 30. The questions arising in my
mind on reading these varied agents to combat one and the
same disorder, and which (as I am willing to give every
medical alleged improvement a fair trial) I would submit to
you for information and guidance are these.”
He then puts some questions as to which of the agents
he had found most useful, what degree of dilution, and
where Dr. G– could procure the medicines necessary for a
homoeopathic experiment, and ends his letter—
“At your leisure I shall esteem it a favour to receive a
reply to my present communication, which I the less scruple
to address you, as I feel convinced of your sincerity in
46 Memoir of Dr. Quin.
working in the field of science of which we are fellow-
labourers. I remain, dear Sir,
“Your obedient Servant,
“A. B. GRANVILLE, M.D.”
T}r. QUIN, Stratford Place.
Dr. Quin wrote fully to Dr. Granville, who thus answers
him—
“DEAR SIR,--I am unwilling to suffer more than a night
to elapse without thanking you most sincerely for the very
full and elaborate manner in which you have replied to my
queries respecting a very troublesome, and I may say often
a rebellious, class of female disorders. You have extended
your readiness in complying to my wishes for information
respecting homoeopathic agents to the favouring me with
the agents themselves already prepared and ready for
administration, and for the additional mark of your atten-
tion, as well as for the present of your edition of Hahne-
mann’s Fragmenta, I tender you my sincere acknowledge-
ments. Thus instructed and thus supplied with means, I
shall certainly feel tempted to enter into a course of experi-
ments in the species of disorder above alluded to, and I
will think it my duty to acquaint you with the result.
Sir Charles Clarke was another above the prejudices of
the generality of medical men who knew only one groove of
practice, and could only run in that. The following is a letter
from Lord Anglesey, who was then a thorough convert, and
whose family physician was Dr. Dunsford, inviting Quin to
dimmer.
“DEAR DR. QUIN,-I saw Sir Charles Clarke to-day, he
talked most liberally of you and of the good the homoeopathic
system had effected both for Lady Anglesey and me. I
proposed to him to meet you at dinner on Friday next, and
I hope you will give us your company. I think we shall
have some pretty good fun, for Drs. Locock and Dunsford
will also be of the party. I shall stand in the character
of umpire and bottle holder. We will dine punctually at
Memoir of Dr. Quin. 47
half-past six in order that we may have plenty of time for
disputation. “I remain, faithfully yours,
ANGLESEY.”
Dunsford was always for fierce and serious disputation.
Quin just as strong in faith, kept his antagonist in good
humour, thereby making many friends—Locock among the
number—and they were always great personal friends through
their professional life. Many a letter passed between them
on professional subjects, and now and them a little banter.
Here is one from amongst a great many :
“MY DEAR QUIN,-I saw Miss —— this afternoon, I can
make out no real local disease. When such a case falls
into bad hands, it has to go through the various atrocities
of speculum, caustic, and other irritating and mischievous
drugs. Horrible things in such a case as this
Keep her health up, her nerves calm, her sensitiveness
soothed with any plans your sugar plums can effect, and
that is all I should advise. We benighted individuals of
the extinct school should probably use lotions of Belladonna
and acetate of lead.”
In this year there had been some kind of misunderstanding,
or rather difference, with Hahnemann and some of his fol.
lowers in Germany. Quin makes up his mind to rum over
to Leipsic and try and put matters on a friendly footing
again. The following letter determined him on this project :
“MY DEAR FRIEND,--I thank you for your book, and for
your friendly remembrance. Tr. Dunsford gives me news
of you. We rejoice that you will come to Leipsic. Horn-
burg is dead. Homoeopathy flourishes in spite of our-
selves being divided into two inimical parties through
Hahnemann’s barbarism My wife salutes you. I have
lost my bet with you ; we will speak of it in Leipsic,
“I’ver yours,
MoRITZ MüLLER.”
His passport is dated 9th September, 1835.
In 1836 Mr. Kingdon, the well-known surgeon of Bauk
Buildings, having heard of the new doctrine, at once went
to the fountain head for information, and a voluminous
48 Memoir of Dr. Quin.
correspondence is commenced and kept up accompanied with
personal interviews for some three years.
Quin gave him various medicines to experiment with, and
presented him with the Fragmenta. In answer Kingdon
writes :
“DEAR SIR,--I find myself very stupid on again going to
school, and trust you will bear with me a little time.
Homoeopathic patients, I presume, are not subjected to the
horrible symptoms set down in the Fragmenta, or I should
get condemned here in the city without judge or jury.”
[Quin had advised him to let the medicine act and not repeat,
but to give sugar of milk powders.] He goes on to say “I
am desirous not to do injury undeserved to your system, and
feel that, in case I have not sufficient pliability of mind
left to acquire the tact necessary to its practice, I shall not
the less appreciate the politeness and liberality of an almost
stranger. “I am, dear Sir,
“Very faithfully,
“WM. KING DON.”
He is, however, most anxious to know more.
“I want more conversation, but having something of a
conscience I desire that my intrusion on your time might be
made convenient to you as circumstances will permit . . .
Mr. Leaf has a French book, with a list of symptoms
referring to corresponding remedies. I cannot make any-
thing useful out of Leaf, at least, so I suspect from a
short conversation with him ; and indeed, as you have kindly
undertaken to be my teacher in this system, I mean to
acknowledge no other master, if (excuse the if) this system
be of a mature to prove so extensively beneficial as is sup-
posed, I presume it must be based, as to treatment, on
correct pathology, though it may occasionally happen to
prove useful under a common-sense observation of symptoms
only.
“The subject was introduced at the Medical Society, when
I chose to speak of it as requiring much scientific know-
ledge ; but a physician, professing to know a great deal
Memoir of Dr. Quin. 49
about it and about its promoters in this country, said it
required no science, since the observation of symptoms was
all that was requisite, according to their own showing; that
it was all deceit, perhaps some self-deceit, humbug and
quackery. The latter term I obliged him to withdraw. More
when we meet.”
Again he writes :
“Your new system is making a more extensive stir than
the stirrers choose to acknowledge, and we must be prepared
for the expiring effort of deadly hate and prejudice.
“Ere this you will have read my little playful paper in the
Lancet, and I know not whether you forgive the liberties I
have taken with your name or whether you forgive my having
thrown so many of your pearls before swine. They have,
however, turned to rend one, though they know not how.”
Again (November 16th, 1836), “I desire to know more of
your new system of medicine, the charm of which to me is
the infinitesimal dose impressing in some way or other the
nervous system, and I have an internal conviction, spite of
my many failures, that it is calculated to effect immense
good, and moreover, and of equal consequence, prevent
immense harm. When am I to have my box 2 I am a
perfect recruiting officer among my professional younger
brethren, and on the next evening you can give me, mean
to bring a couple with me.” -
Mr. Leaf, mentioned above, was an early and ardent friend
of the system and of Dr. Quin. He introduced Dr. Curie
into England.
Notwithstanding the dead set made against him by the
medical journals, Quim, nothing daunted, went on making
converts and increasing his practice, becoming not only the
medical adviser but the friend of many in the higher circles
as well as the intimate of the best men in literature and art.
The Bulwers, Tom Moore, Samuel Lover, Albany Fon-
blanque, John Forster, Charles Dickens, W. M. Thackeray,
Macready, Landseer, C. Mathews, and a host of others.
All were his friends, many believed in his system, all
believed in him.
4.
50 Memoir of Dr. Quin.
His friendship with Charles Dickens was from the first
most cordial, and this is shown by the familiarity of their
correspondence. The first time Dickens dimed in Stratford
Place was in 1835 or 6. The party consisted of the two
Bulwers, afterwards Lord Lytton and Lord Dalling, Albany
Fonblanque, John Forster, Baron Réhausen, Samuel Lover,
C. Dickens, Geoffry Nightingale, E. Hamilton, and the Host.
Dickens was then as his friend Maclise painted him. They
constantly dined together, and wrote to each other in terms
of great familiarity.
The following letters” in answer to Quin’s invitations are
inserted by permission of the family:
“DEvoNSHIRE TERRACE.
“MY DEAR QUIN,-You know as I am of a convivial turn,
and should be delighted to dine with you on Friday, but I
have a cold in my head, a new babby in the house, six
chancery suits on my hands, and my next number unborn
and unbegotten.
“Distractedly yours,
“REBECCA.”
“TAvisTock Hous E ;
“ 17th Feb., 1853.
“My DEAR QUIN,-I am truly sorry that I am engaged to
a christening dinner at Chiswick on Saturday, where I shall
appropriately appear after your invitation (in accordance
with the catechism) as an outward and visible sign of an
inward and spiritual grief.
“Ever faithfully yours,
“ CHARLEs DICKENs.”
Quin invites Dickens to dinner, and this is his answer :
“TAvisTock HousB ;
“ 2nd November, 1854.
“My DEAR QUIN,--I am vexed ; but the devil insists
* These letters and those that follow from some of his literary friends are
inserted as shewing the intimate friendship which existed between Quin and
the writers, although many of them of later date.
Memoir of Dr. Quin. 51
upon it. I am engaged on Tuesday, weekly business engage-
ments that must come off. My only other engaged day
next week is Thursday. But don’t put off the Dr. ... I
will try to get away early on Tuesday, and come to you
over what an American I knew in Virginia used to call ‘the
wine cup.’ He came to me one morning (with his collars
turned down) and said “Waal, sir; a number of our smartest
citizens located in this town desire to jine in crushing a
friendly wine-cup with you this present sun-down, and in
heering you give utterance to any sentiments that you may
think calc’lated toe gratify Columbia’s sons.”
“Ever yours,
« C. D.”
Quin then forgetting his engaged day, invites him for that
very Thursday, and gets the following in reply:
“What ARE you a doin’ on ? Didn’t I tell you in my
note yes'day that Thursday was my only other engaged day.
Blow'd if you an’t enough to make a cove go and knock
his ed agen the wall with aggerarvation you are.
“Bow STREET STATION Hous E ;
“Friday Morning.”
John Forster, the well-known writer and at one time
Editor of the Evaminer, was an old and faithfully attached
friend. He writes:
“55, LIN colN’s INN FIELDs ;
“8th May, 1841.
“MY DEAR QUIN,-I wish you saw the heaps of imaginary
hair that lie at this instant like mats over my floor; all
have been torn from my head, and if you happen to hear
any distant sounds of screaming just now, it’s me. My
dear friend, I cannot dine with you on Monday. Bitter is
the thought to me; alas, and alack-a-day ! But to Rachel
I must go, I am bound to say something about her; and she
does not play again in sufficient time to enable me to do so
for next week, unless I go on Monday. Do you see? do
you sympathise? shall you regret me 2 I hope you will say
a friendly word for me to Allan and his pretty niece; I’ll
certainly be owing her a visit the next time she comes,
52 Memoir of Dr. Quin.
“Even now, however, I don’t know that I should not be
able to come A PAUL PRYING Round THE CORNER after Andro-
mache has shed all her tears. If I can be with you at any
decent hour, be sure I will. I scarcely ever regretted ab-
sence at any dinner table more than I shall do this from
yours on Monday. “Always, my dear Quin,
“Yours affectionately,
“ JoHN ForsTER.”
And some years later Forster writes to him the following
letter :
“42, MonTAGUE SQUARE ;
“9th Dec., 1853.
“MY DEAR QUIN,-I write this note to leave, in the event
of my again failing to find you at home this evening. I say
nothing of what I wanted to talk to you about myself; but
I do want to talk to you, more than you will be apt to think
from the time I have suffered to pass without calling.
When I see you I heartily hope to find you all your old self.
How much pleasure that fancy brings to my mind. The
special business I wished to name to you this morning was
to prepare you for a call to-morrow morming from Macready’s
eldest daughter (you remember Katie, the eldest of only two
now left—pretty little Lily, a charming girl of sixteen,
and such a handsome likeness of her mother, died in the
summer of scarlet fever), who has come up to stay with us
until Christmas, who is far from well, and who wishes greatly
to consult you. Poor girl she has had great suffering ever
since her sister’s death from the death of her aunt,
Macready’s sister, who of course you well remember. It is
a sad story this real tragedy of Macready's life following on
all we know; and the saddest of all I fear is impending, his
eldest son having just been obliged to leave Ceylon for
Madeira. But I have wandered from the matter to which
I should have confined myself. I propose to drop Miss Katie
at your door to-morrow morning at eleven as I pass to
Whitehall. “Always, my dear Quin,
“Yours, &c.,
“JoHN FoRSTER.”
Memoir of Dr. Quin. 53
Quin receives the following letter from him in answer
to one he wrote :
“PALACE GATE House, KENSINGTON, W.;
“New Year's Day, 1874.
“MY DEAR QUIN,-If you could have seen the pleasure
your letter gave me, you would not be sorry to have written
it. I don’t know that any thing has touched me more for
a long time. Many things may be replaced in the world, or
substitutes found for them that may do nearly as well; but
not old friends, new ones don’t even resemble them : for a
precious part of ourselves forms part of them, which never,
never comes back to us in any other shape. Well, then, my
dear Quin, thanking you heartily for your letter, let me
lose no time in sending back its heartiest wishes. May
there yet be many years in store for you, happy as your
own invincible spirits of enjoyment can make them. Hear-
ing of you still from time to time, I am fain to hope that
you paint your own condition as much too darkly as Quain
has much too brightly pictured mine. God grant, at any
rate, that this suffering may become lighter to you, the
thought of it would be some alleviation to my own.
“Ah, yes—how our friends have fallen around us, not in
single files, but in battalions ! I am pleased to think that the
book you spoke of gave you any pleasure. You shall have
the third volume when it is complete. But though near
completion, the sadness of it is very terrible to me, and I
shrink nervously from the last chapters. If you do not come
to see me before the spring days come again, I will go and
see you then. -- - - - -
“Ever, my dear Quin,
“Your attached old friend,
* JoHN FoRSTER.”
On the 19th of October, 1874, one more letter is written :
“SEAFORTH LODGE, SEATON, AxMINSTER ;
19th October, 1874.
“MY DEAR QUIN,-I hear that you have again called upon
your old friend, who greatly regrets that he has not seen you,
54, Memoir of Dr. Quin.
and cannot refrain from telling you so. I am here in a
pretty house by the sea, lent me by Lady Ashburton, pur-
suing what I fear is quite a vain quest, after the health that is
gone from me—gone with all the other friends whom you
and I remember. I told my present doctor (Quain separated
only by a letter) that I would some day get you to come and
meet him at a little dinner at my house, and when I go back
I shall try and keep that promise. Meanwhile, God and all
good things be with you. My dear Quin,
“Ever your attached,
“ JoHN ForsTER.”
With the Bulwers, particularly with Sir Edward Bulwer
Lytton, he was always on very intimate terms, and was
consulted by him on subjects not connected with his health,
as he had great confidence in Quin’s judgment and discre-
tion. There is one letter in connection with his health
which is interesting as giving his ideas of the water cure.
He writes thus :
“I have much to say dispassionately on the water cure,
judiciously combined with homoeopathy. I apprehend that
its effects would be much more certain and speedy, slow
as they are now in acute cases, but tedious in local chronic
diseases, and requiring time, patience, and courage, which
will always render hydropathy (unless aided) confined to
a comparative few, despairing of all other remedies; idle ones
to spare the leisure, and bold ones to resist all the terrors of
the commencement. The wet sheet is almost miraculous in
feverish complaints. In bad hands, however, the whole thing
is dangerous.
Everybody liked to dine with Quin, or to have him at their
table. Albany Fonblanque writes:
“48, CoNNAUGHT TERRACE ; Feb. 14.
My DEAR QUIN,-I have just discovered that there has
been a most provoking mistake as to you, an invitation
having been sent to you for the evening of this day which
should have been for dinner at 7, and I have been wondering
at not having an answer, and at your bad manners. If you
Memoir of Dr. Quin. 55
have a particle of generosity you will retrieve this error by
coming duly at 7, for if you do not my luckless daughter
will have to bear all the weight of an outraged father’s dis-
pleasure, and it is impossible to say to what length my wrath
may not carry me. “Yours faithfully,
“A. Fon BLANQUE.”
Charles James Mathews was a very old friend of Quin’s,
They had met at Naples in 1823, and Mathews in his
autobiography says:
“Out of the many distinguished people it was my good
fortune to be associated with, there were three who were my
especial favourites,” and with whom I kept up constant com-
panionship. The ever genial Dr. Quin, who up to this day—
more than fifty years (but what is fifty years to either of us? #)
—has preserved his faculty of imparting cheerfulness to all
his friends by his inexhaustible flow of fun and good humour,
while by his skill and science he has alleviated their bodily
sufferings.”
Quin was always ready to help his old friend, medically
and otherwise, and in later years there was constant com-
munication between them.
“LYcEUM, July 30, 1851.
“MY DEAR QUIN,-Did you ever hear the story of the
dog who broke his leg, the surgeon who set it, the other dog
who did the same, and who was brought by the first dog to
have his leg set too? I am that first dog, you are that
surgeon, the other dog is poor Bouffé. Do pray try and do
something for him. He is in a dreadful state of hypochondria
and complicated nervous complaints. Bouffé is a great man,
and ought not to be left to little men who will play the deuce
with him. We have raved homoeopathy at him, and he has
consented to try it patiently if you, and you only, will
attend and look after him. I have ventured to promise that
if it is in your power to-morrow you will give him a call.
Do, doo, du, duooetry and get to him for the sake of your
grateful first dog, “ C. J. MATHEws.”
* The other friends were Dr. Madden and Sir William Gell, both old
Naples' friends.
f Mathews died a few months before his old friend.
56 Memoir of Dr. Quin.
“LoNDON, May 2nd.
“Now YoU YouNG QUIN,-Put down your little bottles,
and concentrate the whole of your incapacity upon the con-
tents of this letter, so that what homoeopathic portion of
intellect you may possess may be enlightened. I have
referred to the female department, and it appears frightfully
clear that you, the body corporate, should accompany the
‘ benedetto cusetore to the Lyceum this might. There are,
it seems, hollows in your back and monticules in your waist
utterly unprovided for as yet, no existing callipers having
been found sufficiently large to take you in at one sitting,
your vaunted capacity evidently lying midway between your
head and your heels; but the proper instruments having been
constructed, an attempt will be made to surround and take
your measure this evening. Mrs. M. is now cramming over
the subject ; she has purchased Sir James Eyre's book of
the Stomach and its difficulties, and trusts to be equal to the
magnitude of your case by the time you arrive. Let the
bearer know at what time you and your executioner will
arrive at the theatre to-night, that we may have the scaffold
solidly erected, and all the requisite functionaries on the
spot. Meantime, believe me in a fever of anxiety for the
alarming result.
“Your admiring friend,
“ C. J. M.”
Quin was at this time attending Mrs. Mathews, better
known as Madame Vestris, who died in 1856.
“GoRE Lodge ;
“April 23, 1854.
“My DEAR QUIN,--I hope you are coming to-day as you
lead me to hope, and am therefore justified in hoping that
the hope may be realised. Mrs. M. is very anxious to have
some serious conversation with you, but that she would like
to do or to have (with your permission) to-morrow. The
little allopath dines with us to-day, so that the discussion
will be confined to the costume for the fancy ball, and I
despatch this to ask if you can name any time at which you
would see her at your own house to-morrow and she would
Memoir of Dr. Quin. 57
come to you. What do you think of a fancy dress to repre-
sent two great men, or rather the two halves of them—the
front view of Esculapius and the back view of Hahnemann?
Wouldn’t that be original and symbolical of Esculapius having
come before Hahnemann’ Or suppose you put Esculapius
at the back and Hahnemann in front, to show that he had
left Esculapius behind.
“There’s an idea. “Faithfully yours,
‘‘ C. J. MATHEws.”
“GoRE LoDoE ;
‘‘ December 8.
“My DEAR QUIN,-Will you try and break through your
rule and look at two ankles in their own house on a Sunday ?
Mrs. M. is the sufferer and would come to you but is afraid
of catching cold. Two red rheumatic spots have kept her
awake all might. They have appeared on the outer ankle bones
shiny and painful. Now this wont do, and you must exor-
cise these fiery spirits, not with the old Pil. Vij, xviij, Mist.
acq. dis Plum. xxv, klzh, xij, Vj, x2gph—cvij, Sum. haust.
No. 1. No. 2. No. 3
coch. iij; but with H== | E! heh.
presto, pass. We will not keep you a minute, but come you
must, as the leading tragedy actress of the day cannot be
permitted to lay up with such a stupid, common-place thing
as rheumatizm, though it may be difficult to spell. Please
let the bearer know at what time we may be likely to see
you, and in the mean time
“Believe me ever,
“C. J. MATHEws.
“P.S.—eeee uuu ZZZZ hlih. I send you a few stray letters
in case I should not have put the right number in the word
rrhheuuummatizZsm.”
“LYCEUM.
“MY DEAR QUIN,-Are you going out to dinner to-day ?
If so, at what time? This is rather an impertinent proceed-
ing, but the meaning is this—the carriage is waiting at the
door in hopes that you may be persuaded to trust your neck
in it as far as the Lyceum to listen to a beautiful contralto
cough, Having applauded that, said carriage will deposit
58 Memoir of Dr. Quin.
you wherever you are going to dine, within thirty miles of
the place where Hick’s Hall formerly stood.
“In great haste,
“Yours,
“C. J. MATHEws.
“P.S.—If not able to come a powder for incipient
bronchitis and cough might be your poor substitute.”
He had written on two different sheets of paper, and there
is a second postscript :
“I find I have sent you a pair of sheets ; you may keep
them in exchange for your counter-pain. Hem ’’
“BROMPTON.
“MY DEAR QUIN,-Do, Quim, if you can Quin, come Quin,
to-day, Quin, Mrs. M. is by no means well, and I want to read
you twelve lines of a document which, I think, will interest
you; at all events it does me. It certainly is more your busi-
ness than mine, and, therefore, after all the trouble I have
taken in the matter, if you don’t come you may just take the
consequence. So no more at present from
“Your everlasting,
“ C. J. MATTHEWs.”
He was very intimate at Gore House. The following is a
letter from Lady Blessington :
“GoRE House ; Saturday.
“My DEAR DR. QUIN,-M. Pipelet (D’Orsay) requests
that you will send him the letter about Mr. you
promised he should have. I suppose it is vain to tell you
we are going to the opera to-night. Of course you have
999 impatient patients who must see you every five minutes
throughout the course of the day and night, and as many
more friends who expect you to dinner. However, en passant,
I venture to hint that we go with Mdme. Calabrella, so if
you manage to kill off the malades and put the friends
under the table in turn, we shall be delighted to see you
ready and waiting, as Homer says in the 5th book of the
Iliad, line 49. Farewell, may you be happy whilst I ——
sobs, choke my utterance, Adieu.”
Memoir of Dr. Quin. 59
Dr. R. Madden, was another friend of those early days at
Naples.
He writes, in 1832 :
“My DEAR QUIN,-I endeavoured to see you before leaving
town, but failed in the attempt. I have the misfortune of
fancying that old friends are always happy to see each other's
faces, and not unfrequently finish by finding myself a fool
in so fancying. I will not, however, make any application
of my moral. If I thought you did not care to see me I
would not, you well know, scrawl one line to you to purchase
King Otho's crown. So much for a little virtuous chatter,
now for a little palaver about the crown. Know you, my
quondam friend, that Otho and the robbers who are descended
from Leonidas have taken possession of my soul, and that
my intentions are bound for Greece, for the which country I
embark ere many weeks. I have been persecuting my friends
to obtain for me a small consulate in the Levant or a medical
appointment. If you are still the same old Quin of former,
and perhaps more joyous days you will try to serve me.
Touching these matters, as you are a gentleman, answer me
with the pen of a ready writer by three or four return of posts.
Will you come down and spend a week with me at St.
Leonard's? there is a beautiful four-poster of mine at your
service, and a knife and fork, moreover, and pratees and
smuggled brandy, and no whiskey at all to wash down the
Cead mille failtha, which is sure to be your portion in this
world so long as you have a leg to put under the mahogany
of “MISTHER MADDEN.”
“7, PANTON SQUARE, HAYMARKET,
“ 1st July, 1854.
“Ah, signore Dottore Quin, in times of old, when George
the Third was king. Amico mio, have you quite forgotten
those days when we were young, and you were anything but
a grave doctor, and I was a very firm, loving friend of yours.
Misther sergeant Madden, at your service, the patron of W.
Thady Thornton the Irish tutor, who used to hammer the
parts of speech into the Duchess of Eboli, and do you forget
the symposia, where I was wont to regale your honor and
60 Memoir of Dr. Quin.
big Mahon, and that thundering Irishman, Thady Thornton,
on punch and potatoes and red herrings (and merrier refec-
tions were never enjoyed by gods or mem)? You must have
forgotten all those pleasant things or you would not have for-
gotten to answer a note of mine about two months ago. Take
that rap on your knuckles for your forgetfulness. I al-
most repent I used to take care of you, with Roskelly, and the
bauld surgeon of Her Majesty’s navy, Charles O’Reilly, when
you lay on the broad of your back with your ribs broken,
and an emphysema, like a turtle taking a siesta on the buz-
Zom of the deep, and I am half sorry, so I am, I made
any efforts at all to keep your diaphragm quiet and your
pectoral muscles in tranquillity, and your broken ribs from
moving, and your sides from shaking, and to stop your
laughing, and God knows a troublesome task it was to do
that at any time, and you can’t deny it, so you can’t, though
you are a great London docthur now, and very grave and
solemn, when you are sitting in your chay, where I saw
you the other day, and when I said to myself, ‘ Och, blood
and turnips, can that be my own Ould friend Quin, of Naples,
who looks now as solemn as if he had the care of killing
half the auld women of quality of London, on his shoulders ?’
‘Can that be he,” said I, ‘ who lived, ate, drank, and cured
the sick, and kept the sound hale and hearty, laughing
continually? C'est trente ans depuis. Aye, very true, doc-
thur, vous avez bien raison, it was I who forgot that it was
thirty years ago since you were the merriest of men, and I
the young Chirurgo Inglese in Capo la Mola, a fun-loving
kind of fellow too, and a friend of yours in the bargain. All
this means to say, you did not answer my note, and why
did not you, and why don’t you do what I asked you. Get
me some letters of D’Orsay’s and Lord B–, now or never,
and now and ever I will be in a great dudgeon with you if you
don’t.
“Yours, my dear Quin, ever faithfully,
“R. R. MADDEN.”
Madden dedicates a book to Quin, who neglects to answer
or write to him. The following two letters passed :
Memoir of Dr. Quin. 61
“MY DEAR QUIN,--I take it for granted that you are
exceedingly vexed that I dedicated my book to you, for if
you had been at all gratified you would have condescended
to write two words to me. Ah, docthur, I will be revenged
of you. I will write your life, so I will, when you die,
mind that ; so you had better live as long as ever you can
non abstant.
“Your auld friend,
“ MADDEN.”
To which Quin answered :
“Most magnanimous and magniloquent Madden, it is
very wrong indeed of a moral man like you to surround
yourself by a bevy of young ladies, to wit: Miss-Conception,
Miss-Judgment, Miss-Apprehension, Miss-Construction, and
Miss-Interpretation, who all conspire to lead you into
error with respect to my sentiments about your dedication
and opinion of your book. A classical and wise Athenian
like you ought to avoid the allurements and blandishments
of those deceitful syrens, and acknowledge no other love
than The-Miss-Toccles, to whom your beloved Attica owed
her preservation. The same as your now much beloved
Hibernia has in you found a bold and courageous defender.
But badinage apart, je suis comme de raison très flatté de votre
dédicace; and much gratified and flattered by the kind and
eulogistic terms you make use of in your notice of me. I
would have written this to you after I had got possession
of your book, but I wished to read it before writing to you,
and you know how little time to spare a poor wight has, who,
like me, is condemned to the treadmill of a London practice
during the season. I have nearly got through the three
volumes, and have been much interested in their perusal.
There is a great mass of interesting matter, and I par-
ticularly admire the ability, tact, judgment, and deli-
cacy which you have shown in the treatment of points
requiring the greatest caution and prudence even to ap-
proach.” --
Notwithstanding his popularity in society, he did not forget
his mission; he was doing all he could to make his system
62 Memoir of Dr. Quin.
known, and working night and day, to hurry on the transla-
tion of the Materia Medica Pura.
With all his overflowing spirits, his great repartee, and his
sparkling wit, which made him such an excellent companion,
there was another and deeper current of sound sense and
discrimination which inspired confidence and faith in his
judgment. His old medical friends and fellow students at
the University keep up their friendship with him.
Dr. John C. Williams, at Nottingham, writes:
“My DEAR QUIN,- , , , . The last I heard of you
was from Dr. Bland, of Grantham. . . . . I have a
double motive for wishing to make homoeopathic experiments
—the medical reputation of a friend and satisfaction to my
own mind. Be sure nothing will prevent my open advocacy
when I am myself convinced.
“How sorry I am you have been ill, my dear friend. You
are a ‘Heretic Doctor’ in London. I trust you have many
real medical friends, but never forget that there is one in
Nottingham who would post up to Town day or night if in
sickness or in trouble you wished for one you could depend
upon.”
As Lord Ponsonby predicted, homoeopathy, if successful,
would bring a host of charlatans. He is written to by Lord
Charleville : “Do you know a Doctor de Graves, a homoeo-
path, who has put forth an awful advertisement in Dublin as
Aurist to the Czar, Oculist to the Circassian Emperor, and
Disciple of Hahnemann. He professes to cure deafness in
the most surprising manner.” Dr. Simpson, who had been
converted to Homoeopathy, and translated the Organon,
seems to have come under Hahnemann’s displeasure, who
writes the following letter to Quin :
“Je désavoue pour mom sectateur le Dr. Simpson, qui
n’est pas un Homoeopath puisqu’il mête les moyens qu’
emploie l’ancienne médecine, a la pratique de l’Homoeopathie
et m'administre que des doses fortes de medicamens, ce qui
Memoir of Dr. Quin. 63
compose un système bātard dont l’application est excessive-
ment nuisible aux malades.
“à Paris,
“23 Septembre, 1836.
“SAMUEL HAHNEMANN.”
Sir W. Ellis, Medical Superintendent of the County
Lunatic Asylum, was another of those anxious to know more
about this new system, and applied to Quin its untiring
advocate :
“Sir William Ellis presents his compliments to Dr. Quin,
and regrets he had not the opportunity of calling upon him
yesterday, as he fully intended. Sir Wm. has lately heard of
the system of Homoeopathy, which he understands Dr. Quin
is acquainted with, and conceiving that it may be useful
amongst the patients of this Institution, Sir Wm. is desirous
of hearing something more of it. Dr. Dunsford and Dr.
Curie have been so obliging as to accept an invitation to a
family dinner, and it would be a great additional pleasure if
Dr. Quin would accompany them. Dr. Dunsford will be so
kind as to arrange the time if next Friday is inconvenient.
“County Lumatic Asylum,
‘‘ Hanwell.”
He had now three colleagues to assist him in his labours
—Dr. Belluomini, Dr. Dunsford, and Dr. Curie. Mr.
Cameron was also attached to the household of Lord
Anglesey as resident physician. But this year a circum-
stance happened which for a time created an unusual amount
of animosity against the system and its professors.
On the 23rd of September, 1836, Madame Malibran died
at Manchester, and the fact that she believed in homoeopathy
and that her medical attendant in London was Dr. Belluomini,
was sufficient to raise a storm and set a current of opposition
difficult to withstand and encounter. The medical journals were
up in arms; the system was denounced. Belluomini was to be
brought before the proper tribunals as a murderer, a valuable
life sacrificed to a quackery of the worst description. The
affair was the talk of the town, and even when it was proved
64 Memoir of Dr. Qolin.
that her death was, in all probability, owing to the mistake
in supposing it a case of impending miscarriage, yet the
public would not be assuaged, and poor Dr. Belluomini,
who was only called in at the last moment, had to stand
the shower of malice and mis-statements which nearly
overwhelmed him.
A leading article in the Lancet, Nov. 12, 1836, although
moderate compared to all the other medical journals which
had lighted the flame, condemns not the system, but the practi-
tioners of it. “The subject of homoeopathy is not our object
to discuss; we are bound to state that mine tenths of the
propagators of that doctrine are a set of speculating quacks,
and homoeopathy, notwithstanding the anomalies and
absurdities in which it abounds, embraces more of sound
truth than its silly disciples have the capacity to understand.
And although we are incapable of entertaining a favorable
opinion of the abilities of Dr. Belluomini, still that physician
is entitled to be treated with due regard to the demands of
justice, he ought not to be put down by falsehood or
slandered by misrepresentation, and yet the conclusions we
come to are exceedingly unfavorable to him.”
The other journals were not so fair as the Lancet, and
they abused homoeopathy and the practitioners in un-
measured terms. Mr. Kingdon had read a paper on
October 10th before the London Medical Society, and the
report of the meeting is extracted from the Lancet.
“Mr. Kingdon read a paper on Homoeopathy. Mr. King-
dom stated to the members he appeared before the Society
with this paper because, as they had been informed, he had
employed minute doses of medicine. He sought an intro-
duction to Dr. Quin for the purpose of making inquiry into
the matter. He found this gentleman a most honorable
and well-educated man, and ascertained from him that
almost inconceivably small doses of medicine were em-
ployed.
“Mr. Kingdon then detailed several cases of cure. He was
not a homoeopath, but he was sure that the employment of
aconite would save, in many cases, the use of the lancet. He
Memoir of Dr. Quin. 65
was answered by Dr. Johnson, who said that the facts he had
heard could scarcely be exceeded in wonder by the resurrec-
tion of the dead; they were contrary to all human reason and
experience, and were, therefore, miracles. One thought had
struck him regarding the similia similibus curantur doctrine,
that was, as one remedy was said to cause various diseases,
so it ought to cure them. Would phosphoric acid produce
forgetfulness?—it was said to cure it. He should like to
know how forgetfulness was produced, except by sleep and
opiates.
“Dr. Uwins, although not a declared homoeopathist, was
disappointed with Mr. Kingdon’s paper. He said that Dr.
Belluomini had not been treated with common courtesy as
a foreigner. He had been treated like a blackguard by the
press.
“‘No, no,” from Dr. Johnson, ‘treated as he should be.’
“He felt convinced that in ten years the present Materia
Medica and Pharmacologia would be regarded as obsolete
and bygone matters. He contended that Hahnemann was
worthy of the thanks of the profession for his unwearied
industry in ascertaining the properties of medicine, and his
plan would not be put down by derision.
“Mr. Headland considered that as infinitesimal portions of
matter would produce hydrophobia, syphilis, &c., it was just
as reasonable to consider that infinitesimal doses of medicine
might be effective in counteracting disease. He was not
a convert to homoeopathy, but he would assert that a know-
ledge of it had given him a power over disease which he did
not before possess.
“He considered the doctrines of Hahnemann to be worthy
of calm deliberation by the Society, and he thought that
silly and trashy remarks, like some which appeared in a
medical periodical, were very contemptible. The articles in
question throughout consisted of mere assertions. Facts
only would weigh with men of science. Malibran had been
said to have fallen a victim to homoeopathy, yet one anti-
homoeopathist said she died of delirium tremens; another,
of inflammation of the lungs.”
A number of medical men of standing were quietly in-
5
66 Memoir of Dr. Quin.
vestigating the facts brought before them by the unflinching
advocate of the new system — a man whose probity and
honour they could thoroughly trust, who advocated his cause
with extreme bonhommie and earnestness, never allowing an
unkind or harsh expression towards the old school to escape
him, taking all the badinage of the one set who ridiculed,
and the abuse and foul language of the other who condemned
it with unmitigated severity, both in complete ignorance of
its theory and power, with universal good humour; and, as
a rule, he generally got the best of the argument. Quin had
always before him “truth will prevail.” He knew this as
regards the system he advocated, and he willingly, and
with great patience and consummate judgment, ‘bided his
time.”
That the doctrine of homoeopathy was an engrossing subject
and attracting very serious attention in the medical world,
we have only to look back to the records of the times to see.
Dr. Sigmond, in his lectures on Materia Medica and Thera-
peutics—he is lecturing on Belladonna in scarlet fever—says:
“But previous to this I must introduce you to a system of
which you have heard much, that of homoeopathy, for to the
founder of that sect we owe whatever knowledge we possess
of the peculiar effects of this herb upon that epidemic.
Besides which in the Materia Medica of the believers of that
creed, Belladonna bears the first character. I shall not
hesitate to quote the language of one of their most intelli-
gent writers on this subject, and an enthusiast of no ordinary
character, Dr. Peschier.” And afterwards he thus speaks of
Hahnemann.
“I have to speak to you of a man of high intellectual
attainments, of great sagacity, of inflexible courage, and
unwearied industry, who, amid difficulties of no common
kind, has laid the foundation of a system which, whilst it
cannot but create a few smiles at its singularity, is the work of
great erudition, much toil, and striking ingenuity. The great
acquirements of Hahnemann, the boldness in which he has
promulgated his doctrine, the skill and fierceness with which
he has carried on his arduous controversies, mark him as a
man of no ordinary stamp.
Memoir of Dr. Quin. 67
“Whilst preparing his medicaments Hahnemann made a
discovery of a very singular nature, and of the truth of
which there appears to be no doubt, namely, that during the
bruising of solid substances and the agitation of liquids the
energy of their therapeutic power is developed in a still
higher degree—that by long trituration and manipulation a
single grain will acquire the activity possessed by ten times
that quantity.”
He goes on to say :
“It is a disgrace on the character of our humane and
liberal science, that her votaries should so often, in their zeal
for their cause, forget that which is due even to the mistaken
labourers in the arduous paths we have to pursue. Ignorance,
superstition, and bigotry, have their foul excuse for the
persecution of Copernicus, of Galileo, and of Servetus, but
gentle science must blush when Harvey or Newton are
assailed by the malignant jealousies of the learned, or
assailants, such as Hahnemann, when they incur sorrow,
poverty, and exile, instead of calm inquiry.”
Dr. Uwins, the brother of Quin’s old friend, Thos. Uwins,
the R. A., had become an ardent inquirer if not a complete
convert. He read a paper at the Medical Society of London,
and published a pamphlet entitled Homoeopathy and Allo-
pathy, or, Large, Small, and Atomic Doses. On the title
page are these lines from Cowper—
“I know the warning voice is rais'd in vain,
That few will hear and fewer heed the strain.”
In this pamphlet he gives some most startling cases
of cure by the minute doses, and at the end he speaks
of Dr. Quin in the following terms:–“ One word more
respecting my friend Dr. Quin. I verily believe that
had the gentleman just named one tithe as much quackery
in his composition as he has of high principle and stern
rectitude, he might by this time have realised a splendid
fortune by an empirical and concealed employment of his
new facilities as has been done by others. But what is his con-
68 Memoir of Dr. Quin.
duct immediately upon his arrival in London? he publishes
the whole of the medicinal processes openly and without
restriction, amid in an elegant Latin dedication to the highest
medical authority of the country, Sir Henry Halford, obeys
the command of conscience, and employs the language of a
gentleman. If sic omnes could be predicated this pamphlet
had not been issued, but both medical men and the public
ought to be on their guard against the empirical and furtive
employment of homoeopathic materials. Medical men, because
unless they bestir themselves, they will lose the profits of
their legitimate and earnest endeavours to lessen the sum of
sickness, and the public since the new instruments, if mis-
applied will prove anything but harmless. My late friend,
Dr. Reid, used to call the lancet a minute instrument of
mighty mischief, but in the atoms of homoeopathy, if they
are misapplied, may lurk still more minute instruments of still
more mighty mischief. Mem who have no character to lose can
afford to be reckless of consequences provided they fill their
purses, but it is scarcely necessary to say that a misapplica-
tion of large power may, while it aims to crush disorder,
crush and lay prostrate the very principle of life itself.
Neither Dr. Quim nor any other person will know of this
tract till it is seen, and should my friend then exclaim, ‘Non
tali auxilio,” I can only say with Jacob Faithful, ‘What’s done
can’t be helped, better luck another time.’”
The two letters from Dr. Uwins to Quin in 1836, pre-
vious to the publishing of the pamphlet quoted above, indi-
cate his care and determination to carry out the investi-
gation he had commenced.
“BEDFord Row;
“June, 1836.
“My DEAR SIR,--You will heartily wish, I fear, that I
had continued in my allopathic course, since I give you such
an immensity of trouble ; but I am emboldened by your
kindness to say that, until my homoeopathic box comes
(which I shall regard as possessed of many more good
things than even Pandora had of evil things), I must
trouble you to send me by the twopenny post a few more
Memoir of Dr. Quin. 69
atomic doses of Aurum of Sulphur, of Stramonium, and
of Hyoscyamus. I now only wish that years ago I had
not been prevented from studying homoeopathy from the
feeling that, like all other systems, it would have its day and
then go by.
“Yours truly, in haste,
“DAVID Uw INs.”
*.
“BEDFORD Row;
“Thursday Morning.
“MY DEAR SIR,--I must again trespass on your kindness
for a few more atoms. I am giving an insane lady an
aurum atom every Friday morning, and I cannot help hoping
she is improving under it. But I have come to an end
of my golden showers, and next Friday he must go without
his fee, unless you interpose your friendly hand. Can I
purchase in the way, I think you told me, Kingdon was
about to do? I almost long for cholera to make its appear-
ance since I have read your pamphlet.
“I dimed with Kingdon the other day, and a patient
came there to me, to whom I ordered small doses of aconite ;
and after we had sat down to dinner, one came to Kingdon,
who, as he passed me, touched me on the shoulder and
showed me an atomic powder. So that you see our scepticism
is slipping away from us.
“On Saturday last, indeed, I sent nineteen prescriptions
to one druggist, all of which were very small doses of
aconite, belladonna, stramonium, &c., &c.; but I am well
aware you will say, ‘This is anything but homoeopathy.’
But of this I am aware, and I am grateful for it, that, but
for these small doses, I should not have done half the good
I have either to my patients or myself.
“One good it has done me, viz. cut me off from an
hebdomadal labour which was becoming irksome. I sent
word to Ryan to say that I felt myself somewhat in a similar
position to that of Lord Spencer's brother, who was very
apt to preach a Protestant sermon and in the mean time
became a Catholic. He replied in ridicule of my new
mania, but agreed with me that it would not do to teach
70 Memoir of Dr. Quin,
homoeopathism, even if I were competent to it, in elemen-
tary lectures for young men.
“I have sent you the three last lectures, in which you
will find an allusion or two to my tendency to a new faith.
“Yours truly,
<< D. UWINs.”
Quin has received a letter from Dr. Peschier urging him
to form a society of those practising homoeopathy in England,
and in this year (1837), he endeavoured to carry out the plan.
On August the 10th, all those practising or favourable to the
system met at his house in Stratford Place, and laws and
regulations for the management and guidance of the society
were read, discussed, and passed (they were almost iden-
tical with those which were passed seven years later to govern
the present British Homoeopathic Society). Those present
were Drs. Quin, Belluomini, Dunsford, Curie, Epps, Uwins,
Mr. Kingdon, Mr. Cameron, Mr. Headland, and Mr. Dendy,
Mr. E. Hamilton the secretary, pro tem.
In this year also he endeavoured to form a dispensary and
issued a prospectus
“ 13, STRATFoRD PLACE, LONDON ;
“ December 29th, 1837.
“My LoRDs, I take the liberty of submitting to your
consideration the following project for forming a Homoeopathic
Dispensary, in the earnest hope that it will be found worthy
of receiving your approval and support.
“I am happy in being able to state that Drs. Belluomini
and Dunsford will co-operate with me in attending upon the
sick poor of the Dispensary.
“The object of the Homoeopathic Dispensary will be two-
fold. 1st. To extend the benefits of Homoeopathy to the
poorer classes, and 2nd, To afford to the Members of the
Medical Profession an opportunity of witnessing the effects
of minute doses of medicines in disease when administered
according to the principle of Similia Similibus.
“lst. The Physicians, in rotation, will give their advice
gratuitously at certain hours every day at the Dispensary,
and the medicines will be administered to the poor gratis.
Memoir of Dr. Quin, - 7I
“ 2nd. Should an acute disease supervene amongst any of
the patients during their treatment at the Dispensary, the
Physicians under whose care such patient may be, will visit
them at their own houses, and will have the right of
demanding a consultation when necessary of their brother
Physicians.
“3rd. It is proposed that the Homoeopathic Dispensary
should be supported by voluntary contributions.
“4th. Every contributor will have the right of sending
patients to the Dispensary in proportion to the amount of
his subscription or donation for the current year, as shall
hereafter be determined upon.
“5th. From among the subscribers will be chosen Gover-
mors and Visitors, in whom will be invested the right of
inquiring into the conduct of the dispensary and the employ-
ment of the funds.
“ 6th. A yearly account will be given to show in what
manner the funds have been expended, and a report of the
number of patients, their diseases and treatment with its
results.
“7th. The funds of the dispensary arising from dona-
tions, yearly subscriptions, &c., will be applied to defray the
expenses of house-rent, taxes, furniture, fuel, candle-light,
the services of a dispenser, who will also be secretary, a
maid servant, and a boy; to the purchase of the necessary
medicines and medicinal utensils, &c.
“8th. Medical gentlemen desirous of witnessing the
treatment of disease and verifying the application of the
principles of Homoeopathy, will be admitted to the Dispen-
sary at the hours of attendance on being introduced to the
Physicians.
“Should you, upon consideration, deem the above project
worthy of your countenance, it will gratify myself and the
gentlemen acting with me, to be made acquainted with your
intentions in aid of the foundation and support of this
Dispensary. “I have the honor to be, my Lord,
“Your Lordship's most obedient
“ and humble servant,
“To THE EARL OF S.” “FREDER1c F. QUIN, M.D,
72 Memoir of Dr. Quin.
But some of his most influential friends declined to help him
and he let the subject drop until better times. The Duke of
Hamilton writes:—“In reference to the plan you have so
obligingly laid before me of forming a Homoeopathic Dis-
pensary and encouraging the principles of poor old Hah-
memann, however I may admire such intentions, I cannot
(excuse me) anticipate any favorable results from them ;
we are much too far behindhand in this country to open our
hearts to the philosophical and psychological discoveries of the
day, it is therefore in vain to enter with any probable chance
of success upon similar speculations with a small subscrip-
tion. Nothing can be expected, and even with a large
voluntary contribution, it should look forward to little
success, unless Government could be induced to lend her
countenance and purse. With these impressions upon my
mind, you will not be surprised at my begging to decline
being a party to the proposed undertaking. With sentiments
of regard and esteem,” &c.
Lord Francis Egerton also decided against the scheme.
“I confess I doubt whether sufficient support can yet be
given to the system to ensure a reasonable probability of
success. I am a firm believer, but I doubt whether, if a
dispensary for poor patients were established, the result
might not throw unfair credit on the practice, as your
patients would probably come from the list of incurables who
have been given up by the regular practice, and any cure would
be ascribed to accident.” He therefore gave the project up,
notwithstanding that Mr. Liston and Mr. Kingdom had both
publicly declared that they would assist him in any
surgical cases. He was in constant correspondence with
Hahnemann, not only about patients, but on the translation
of the Materia Medica. Hahnemann writes, March 8th,
1837: “I congratulate you with all my heart on what you
are doing. This translation of the Materia Medica by you
will deserve the thanks of Homoeopathy and your country for
so doing. But you must take care of your health—never
strong. You ought never to work after 10 o'clock at night,
and go to bed with your head free.” Good advice, but not
such as Quin could follow.
Memoir of Dr. Quin. 73
In another letter Hahnemann says: “Les bon disciples
comme vous et Dunsford et quelques autres, mais du petit
nombre, me consolent des chagrins réels que me causent ces
ingrats.” -
Another, 11 Juin, 1837.
“I compliment you on your laborious work in the
translation of the Materia Medica Pura. You promised to
come to see us at the end of the summer, and I hope you
will keep your word.” He did ; for I see by a passport that
he went to Paris in September in this year.
In October he received a letter from Lord Elgin, intro-
ducing Dr. Scott, of Glasgow.
“DEAR DR, QUIN,-I beg to introduce Dr. Scott, of
Glasgow, to your particular acquaintance. I found him
here an ardent student of Homoeopathy at the Fountain
Head, after having directed much attention to it at home—
prepared, moreover, by a thorough medical education, besides
the advantage of a very clear comprehension and a singular
power of discrimination, I have a very strong impression
that he will prove a valuable acquisition for the support and
promotion of this discovery.” Lord Elgin goes on to say—
“The regiment of Hussars, which has been three years
under this treatment at Fontainbleau, is now come to Paris.
I entertain a good hope that it will serve as a useful and
favorable example. The surgeon-major told Dr. Scott that,
out of 700, he had only two on the sick list.
“I am encouraging Luther in his undertaking in preparing
a work on Homoeopathy applied to the Veterinary Depart-
ment.”
Quin was always ready to assist medical friends of what-
ever way of thinking; his friendship and acquaintance, both
medical and non-medical, gave him many opportunities. He
interested himself in obtaining for Mr. George Gulliver the
Assistant-surgeonship of the Blues, who writes:
“I am incurring a heavy weight of obligation to you, but
it is altogether useless for me to attempt to express how
74 Memoir of Dr. Quin.
deeply I am impressed by your kindness.” He did this for
the sake of his old and valued friend, Robert Liston.
He is also in correspondence with the veteran homoeopath,
Dr. Gerard Hull, of New York, who writes:
“Astor House, NEW York;
“ November 22, 1857.
“MY DEAR Doctor, Allow me to present to your ac-
quaintance Mr. George Butler, of this city, a gentleman in
every respect, and adherent to Homoeopathia, and who desires
your professional attention to a chronic affection of his
throat, &c.
“On my return from Europe I wrote to Dr. Hering,
stating your request to be furnished with all published
American documents of our system. He promised me, in
his return letter, to forward them to me; but, up to this
period, has not done so. They will be forwarded soon as
received.
“Mr. Butler will hand to you four mumbers of a journal,
conducted by my brother-in-law and self, the publication of
which will be resumed at some future day. Under the head
* Homoeopathic Intelligence' of the third number, you will
find a brief allusion to the Homoeopathic Academy, con-
cerning which Dr. Hering will be more explicit when he
obtains leisure to write. At page 118 your work on Cholera
is referred to in our note. At page 131 we have slightly
touched upon a work, y'clept ‘Abracadabra, &c., by
Dr. Wolf—a work that came out upon us with more
vehemence than any other opposition in the country—puffed
by all the papers—and cried up on the ‘housetops’ by the
allopaths. It is already converted into waste paper, and is
forgotten. On the last page of the fourth number you will
observe a ‘preamble' to the constitution and officers of the
New York Homoeopathic Society. At page 155 I would call
your attention to a notice of the Apocynum cannabinum, a
plant indigenous to this country. All the effects I have there
detailed have been confirmed by subsequent experience, of
which there is an abundance in a country like mine, so
perfectly poisoned with allopathic drugs. I take the liberty
Memoir of Dr. Quin. 75
of sending you a small vial of the undiluted tincture, which
you may possibly have occasion for in your practice.
“As soon as my leisure will allow I intend to write a
complete ‘History of the Rise and Progress of Homoeopathia
in America,’ which I shall not fail to forward to you soon as
issued.
“This will be followed by a ‘Treatise on Homoeopathia,”
which will consider the philosophy of the system, and its
applicability to general practice.
“I shall feel highly gratified if your leisure will permit you
to communicate any of the passing events that concern
Homoeopathia.
“Again I would ask your kind services towards Mr. Butler,
any of which will be highly valued by one already your
debtor for your attentions in London. Desirous of hearing
from you,
“I remain, very truly yours,
“A. GERALD HULL.”
In 1838 Quin’s name was up for election at the Athenaeum,
and on the 27th of February he received the following
letter: r
“ 10, PADDINGTON GREEN ;
Tuesday, 27th Feb.
“DEAR QUIN,-A most extraordinary scene took place
last might at the Club. Your name came up on the table as
one to be elected next Monday (I did not know before you
were proposed). Dr. Paris took his stand over against your
paper, and abused you in no measured terms to all present,
calling you quack, impostor, &c., avowing his intention to
blackball you, and urging every one in the club to do the
same. Had I known before of this party to be got up
against you I should perhaps have advised your name being
withdrawn, but it seems to me now quite necessary that you
should establish your respectability by getting all your
friends in the club to sign their names to the recommen-
dation, so that even if the name be withdrawn at last you
may at least “die with harmess on your back.’
“You may suppose that Westmacott and I both put some
76 Memoir of Dr. Quin.
spokes in the wheels of these medical humbugs, but it will be
out of our power to prevent their running you down unless
aided by the backs and shoulders of men of rank and con-
sequence. My name alone stands on your recommendation,
which the circumstances forced me reluctantly to place there,
because without other names of more importance my humble
support will do you more harm than good.
“I should like to know your determination as soon as
possible, because if you stand I shall write to every member
of the club of whom I know anything to go and support you
on the ballot. Humble though I be, I can do something by
my zeal. As this, however, is a most busy week with me, I
do not wish to be involved in so much writing unnecessarily.
“Yours ever,
“THOs, Uw INs.”
To DR, QUIN.
Dr. Paris was then President of the College of Physicians,
and a few days before the ballot was to take place acted as
the above letter states.
Quin immediately went to his friend Lord C––, who
called on Dr. Paris the next day, and he (Paris) was very much
astonished to find that Lord C–– insisted on an ample
apology. Dr. Paris referred Lord C–– to his relative, and
wrote him the following letter :
“My DEAR MR. —— ,—When I stated my objection to
Dr. Quin as a candidate for the Athenaeum I distinctly
stated that I had no knowledge of that gentleman personally;
that my objection was solely to the Professor of Homoeo-
pathy. If I used the word dishonest—which I do not
remember—it did not apply to Dr. Quin’s personal cha-
racter. “Believe me,
“Yours faithfully,
“ (Signed) J. A. PARIs.”
This did not satisfy Lord C––, and so he had another
interview, and Dr. Paris wrote a fuller apology; and thus
Memoir of Dr. Quin. 77
the matter ended as far as Dr. Paris and Dr. Quin were
concerned.
“Letter from Lord C–– to Dr. Paris.
“SIR,-Your letter to Mr. A is not as satisfactory
as your conversation to me. It is perfectly evident to me,
both from Mr A––’s letter to Mr. Westmacott, as well as
your observations to myself, that you had no intention to
wound Dr. Quin’s feelings, or to impute conduct to him
unworthy of a man of honour and a gentleman.
“From your position in the world I am certain that you
will not hesitate to write me such a letter as will entirely
remove any misconception of your language at the Athenaeum
Club, which you assured me was directed at the system and
not at the individual practising it.
“I am, &c.,
“(Signed) C.”
“My LoRD,-My sigmature and vote were asked in sup-
port of Dr. Quin, a candidate for admission to the Athenaeum
Club.
“I stated, perhaps strongly, my reprobation of the homoeo-
pathic system.
“I have no hesitation in assuring your Lordship that my
remarks were solely directed at the theory, not the Pro-
fessor, with whom I have no personal acquaintance, and
whose feelings I had no intention to hurt. I thought
I had made that sufficiently apparent at the time.
I have the honour to be,
“Your Lordship’s obedient servant,
J. A. PARIs.
“THE EARL of C.”
But on the day of election all the members of the College of
Physicians who were also members of the Athenaeum came
down and voted against him, with the necessary result, and
he was blackballed. The Heretic was prevented entering their
club ; that was a crumb of comfort, but they found to
their dismay that he was more popular than ever. He
78 Memoir of Dr. Quin.
was everywhere. They could not go to a party amongst
their higher patients, or amongst their literary friends,
without finding Quin’s name in everybody’s mouth.
Lord Anglesey wrote :
“DEAR QUIN,-I congratulateyou on your defeat. Nothing
can prove more strongly to me that homoeopathy is thriving.
As for yourself, I should consider if your fortune was not
already made, this illiberal attack and persecution would
secure it. “Truly yours,
“ANGLESEY.”
After the election he got the following letters:
“ATHEN EUM.
“My DEAR QUIN,-The result may not perhaps surprise
you, I am sure you would have been gratified had you
witnessed the strong feeling which in the course of the
evening was excited and expressed in your favour, let alone
that there were 131 who voted in your favour. There was
an impouring from the black college, which we felt must
turn the thing against you ; but I aid not see nor hear one
man during the evening who did not consider the opposition
to you as entirely professional and by no means personal.
“The letters were read after a short speech, neatly given
by Westmacott and seconded by me.
“Yours ever truly,
“E. VILLIERs.
“I assure you many of your friends were active in your
service to your heart’s content, and your paper was well
filled with mames.”
“My DEAR QUIN,-I found Paris's letters were more to
the point than I thought, as I was last night congratulated,
not by a Medicus, on my line of conduct having kept me
clear of such meanness as had been displayed by the College
of Physicians.
“The meeting of the College on the evening of the elec-
tion has occasioned the whole body being brought into the
Memoir of Dr. Quin. 79
contempt which more particularly belongs to the leader in
this paltry game. ,
“I pen'd a few hasty thoughts on the present state of our
profession, and read them to the Medical Society last night.
Hahnemann and the Similia were touched on very gently,
not in a manner to please you, but in a manner to show
my determination not to permit the sarcasm assumed by
ignorance and prejudice to drive me from my steady course.
“I stated that, as men of honour, we could not be satisfied
with things as they are ; and though I should not presume
to tell them how they ought to proceed, I would, as the only
person who had chosen to avow my determination to in-
vestigate homoeopathy, venture to suggest that the experi-
ments of Hahnemann should be studied, and his mode of
preparing medicine from recent plants be pursued. My
remarks were well received, as also an oration by Dr.
Thompson on Thursday last, in which he gave them some
gentle hints, such as ‘let us resolve on a more united and
unwearying effort to bear down the obstacles which indi-
vidual shortsightedness, selfishness, and prejudice, oppose to
all improvements.’
“With you the matter is safe, but if any of your little
corps are detected in anything paltry your enemies are wise
enough to make the most of it; but keep yourself above
reproach, and though you may not live long enough to see
homoeopathy practised as you will like it, you will see
Hahnemann’s character done justice to, and an immense
improvement in the practice of your profession.
“Ever faithfully yours,
“ W. KINGDON.
“Tuesday Morning.”
Another letter on this subject will be read with
interest.
“Friday Night.
“My DEAR QUIN,--I have intended personally to thank
you for your information concerning the Parisian proceedings.
With such power to reject, there was no chance of your
election; but that you should have been supported by the
80 Memoir of Dr. Quin.
élite of the Club must be satisfactory to you. There is no
chance of the scabbard being again resumed by those who
have placed themselves, as they fancy, at the top of our
profession, and they have great influence on the whole body,
which again has most extensive private influence on the
public. Much time is necessary for the investigation into
the truth of the Mat. Med. Pur., and much more to
ascertain the powers of the infinitesimals; therefore, with
such determined opposition from prejudice and ignor-
ance, an age is necessary to provide for the new system
even a footing, and those who touch it are more than com-
monly called upon to maintain high position. This leads
me to consider your late conduct, which is in itself most
satisfactory, but I cannot think your noble friend was well
instructed in the peculiarities of this matter. It is evident
he had to do with very squeezable material, and I think it a
pity to let him off so easily. The Doctor has almost ad-
mitted that a physician may practise dishonestly, and yet be
a man of honour and a gentleman; now, if this had been
fully admitted by a physician of first rank, what must have
become of the whole mass 2 and if this distinction be so
perfect, what right had he to interfere with your desire to
become a member of a Club composed of men of honour and
gentlemen, as I suppose you did not seek the office of
Physician to the Club” His line of conduct, therefore,
places him in a double dilemma, that of damning his own
order and proving his impertinence. Ergo, it is a pity that
he had not been made more perfectly to enclose himself in
his own toils, which he evidently would very soon have done.
If he, having pronounced no doubt of your honour, does not
admit that he and others like him could practise a dishonest
system, still believing themselves gentlemen, he damnifies
his own expression and still believes you to be dishonest,
and, having chosen to place himself in the breach, should
have been made answerable for his presumption. Your
noble friend has performed the part of a gentleman, and
made the other disavow any intention of personal offence,
but that personal offence was intended at the time there can
be no doubt; and therefore, if he had been a little more
Memoir of Dr. Quin. 81
schooled in what, under the peculiar circumstances of the
case was necessary, he would have placed more completely in
your hands this champion of the College. You won’t catch
any of them tripping again; they will be more cautious, but
not less venomous.
“There was a time when openness, candour, and fair
dealing had their meed of praise, but now, O tempora,
O mores / “Yours very faithfully,
Ç
& JJ
This was the only time through his long career that he
took any notice of attacks upon him or the system he
advocated.
The following year the first volume of the translation of
the Materia Med. Pura was ready to be published. He was
Writing the preface, when a fire took place at the printer’s,
and the whole edition, 500 copies, was destroyed. He was
at this time failing in health. He was so lame he could
hardly walk. Liston was afraid of ulceration of the lunar
cartilage of the knee-joint, and tried to enforce entire rest.
What could he do? His lungs began to be again affected.
He was obliged to give up much practice, but his indomitable
bluck kept him going, and those days of great suffering he
endeavoured to bear with a calm demeanour.
In 1839 there was an accession of converts to homoeopathy,
and its ranks were recruited with a well-known phalanx of
names, Black, Drysdale, Dudgeon, Kerr, Laurie, Russell,
and later Chapman, Yeldham and Vardy, Madden, Chep-
mell, &c., who, by their writings and examples, have helped
to place our system in the position it holds at the present
day. There were others, however, who seemed to think that
the way to propagate the cause was by a wholly different
course of conduct.
Kingdon writes to him—distressed at what was going on
and seeing that such conduct would inevitably retard the
progress of homoeopathy—
“So you have, all of you, given great offence to Dr.
Broackes, and he, in revenge, has published a translation of
the German Central Homoeopathic Congress, prefaced by an
6
82 Memoir of Dr. Quin.
announcement that he is almost the only learned, scientific
and reasoning homoeopath in England, and you all a set of
servile followers in the train of absurdity, empiricism, ignor-
ance, and prejudice. Leaf has been unfortunate in his
attempts, as I have no doubt every word in the book is
written by the bookmaker, whom his liberality warmed into
life, and the Doctor is a creature of his own. Hide your
diminished heads, but even in your fall
“ Believe me,
“Faithfully yours,
“May 6th, 1839. “ W. KINGDON.”
Luther had established himself in Dublin and was in com-
stant correspondence with him ; he complaims that he has
plenty to do but very little pay. In 1840 Quin leaves Strat-
ford Place, and takes a house in Arlington Street, and the
next few years, having somewhat recovered his health, he is
engaged in extensive practice. The system is well established,
and although still the untiring advocate in every society he
enters, he is content to leave the harder work to his younger
but not more active coadjutors.
In 1843 Quin established a dispensary called the St.
James’s Homoeopathic Dispensary, and he had a number of
influential patrons and subscribers, amongst them the Queen
Dowager, the Duke of Beaufort, &c. Some differences
between him and Mr. Hering and Mr. Robertson caused the
Institution to be broken up.
In 1844 he founded the British Homoeopathic Society on
the same basis as the Hahnemannian Society, which he
endeavoured to establish in 1837, but this time with better
and more lasting effect. There were many differences of
opinion in forming the laws which were to regulate the
admission of the members, and for a time the society was
distracted by these differences. There were many secessions
and a voluminous correspondence ensued with Quin, who
had been elected President, and Drs. Chapman, Chepmell,
Madden, and many others, but the President, never diverging
from the duties and course of conduct he thought necessary
for the well-being of the Society, was determined to uphold
Memoir of Dr. Quan. S3
its honour and integrity, and eventually, with the help of
those fellows and members who agreed with him, brought it
triumphantly out of all its difficulties.
From the number of converts, and from various other
circumstances, the animosity of the journals of the allopathic
school became intensified, and the College of Physicians and
Surgeons were urged to take action against this heretical
doctrine. This they wisely refused; but this refusal did not
prevent other bodies acting and forming resolutions which
were published by the Provincial Medical and Surgical Asso-
ciation in 1846. The counter-resolutions issued by the
British Homoeopathical Medical Society, and signed by Dr.
Quin as its president immediately followed. The blast and
counterblast, as Russell well designates them.
“Resolutions of the Provincial Medical and Surgical
Association.
“REPORT ON IRREGULAR PRACTICE.
“The following Report was brought up and unanimously
agreed to.
“Your Committee have, after consultation with numerous
members of the Association, maturely considered the subject
referred to them, and beg respectfully to su
tion of the following resolutions :
“That it is the opinion of this Association, that Homoeo-
pathy, as propounded by Hahnemann, and practised by his
followers, is so utterly opposed to science and common sense,
as well as so completely at variance with the experience of
the Medical Profession, that it ought to be in no way or
degree practised or countenanced by any regularly educated
Medical practitioner.
“That Homoeopathic practitioners, through the press, the
platform, and the pulpit, have endeavoured to heap contempt
upon the practice of medicine and surgery as followed by
members of this Association and by the profession at large.
“That for these reasons it is derogatory to the houour of
members of this Association to hold any kind of professional
intercourse with homoeopathic practitioners.
ggest the adop-
84' Memoir of Dr. Quin
“That there are three classes of practitioners who ought
not to be members of this Association, viz. –lst, real ho-
moeopathic practitioners; 2nd, those who practise Homoeo-
pathy in combination with other systems of treatment; and
3rd, those who, under various pretences, meet in consultation
or hold professional intercourse with those who practise
Homoeopathy.
“That a committee of seven be appointed to frame laws in
accordance with these resolutions, to be submitted to the
next annual meeting of the Association.
“That the thanks of the Association are eminently due,
and are hereby given, to the presidents and fellows of the
Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Edinburgh for
their determined stand against Homoeopathic delusions and
impostures.
“That the thanks of the Association are also due, and are
hereby given, to the Universities of Edinburgh and St.
Andrews, for their resolution to refuse their diplomas to
practitioners of Homoeopathy; but the Association feel im-
peratively called on to express its disapproval of any school
of medicine which retains among its teachers any one who
holds Homoeopathic opinions.
“That these resolutions be printed and transmitted to all
the Medical Licensing Bodies and Medical Schools in the
United Kingdom, and that they likewise be inserted in the
Times newspaper, the Morning Post, the North British
Advertiser, Saunders's News Letter, all the British and Irish
medical periodicals, and in such other journals as the council
may sanction upon the recommendation of the branch
Associations.
“In proposing these resolutions for the adoption of the
Association, your committee are anxious to state that they
are actuated by a strong sense of the importance of the
subject in its relation both to humanity and morals. They
most conscientiously believe that the countenance afforded
to the form of charlatanry herein alluded to is detrimental
to the true interests of the public, as it is subversive of that
strict integrity which ought to characterise practitioners of
Memoir of Dr. Quin. 85
medicine, and which has ever distinguished the profession
in these kingdoms.”
“JoHN Rose CoRMACK, M.D. Edin., Fellow Royal
College Phys. Edin., of Putney.
“ JAMEs TUNSTALL, M.D. Edin., of Bath.
“ H. H. RANKING, M.D. Cantab., of Norwich.”
“Counter-Resolutions of the British Homoeopathic Medical
Society.
“DR. QUIN, President, in the chair.
“A series of resolutions on Homoeopathy passed by the
Provincial Medical and Surgical Association, at Brighton,
on the 14th of August, having been read, it was resolved—
“That this Society deeply regrets that a body of gentle-
men belonging to a liberal profession should resort to
invective in place of argument.
“That the merits of Homoeopathy being a subject of
dispute between two parties in the medical world of equal
professional standing, it is impossible that a resolution of
one of these parties, that the views of the other ought to
be in no degree countenanced,’ can have any influence in
facilitating the settlement of the question in dispute.
“That, in stigmatising Homoeopathy as an “irregular
practice, as a ‘delusion,’ and an ‘imposture,” the Provincial
Medical and Surgical Association resort to terms of abuse
which are at the command of every one ; and which, while
they are in every case inexcusable, unless accompanied by
proofs, are especially valueless when employed to silence a
new doctrine in opposition to the preconceived views of the
persons by whom such terms are used.
“That the differences between Homoeopathic practitioners
and their brethrem of the old school being simply differences
of opinion, a resolution not to hold professional intercourse
with them is nothing more than the amuouncement of an
inability on the part of the members of the Provincial
Medical and Surgical Association to tolerate in others the
same independence of judgment they claim for themselves.
“That, while the legislatures of two of the most impor-
tant States of the American Union (Pennsylvania and Ohio)
86 Memoir of Dr. Quin.
have granted Charters of Incorporation to Homoeopathic
Universities—while the Chambers of the Kingdom of Bavaria,
of the Grand Duchess of Baden, and other German States,
have authorised professorships of Homoeopathy in the pub-
lic Universities—while the Imperial Government of Austria
has sanctioned the establishment of Homoeopathic hospitals
in different parts of its dominions—while, in Berlin and
Moscow, similar hospitals exist—and, while one hundred
beds in the hospital of St. Marguerite (a branch of the Hôtel
Dieu, in Paris) are devoted to patients who are openly
treated in accordance with the Homoeopathic system by Dr.
Tessier and his hospital assistants, it is to be deplored that
so large a portion of the medical body in England and
Scotland should not only commit themselves to personal
animosities against all who may entertain the system, but
should record their thanks to the Royal College of Physi-
cians of Edinburgh for having endeavoured to expel from
their body those of its members who practise Homoeopathy,
and to the Universities of Edinburgh, Aberdeen, and St.
Andrew’s, for having indicated an intention to deny their
diploma to every student who shall refuse to give a pledge
that he will not publicly profess himself a convert to its truth.
“Finally, that the British Homoeopathic Society have
mever, as a body, either ‘through the press, the pulpit, or
the platform, endeavoured to heap contempt upon their
allopathic brethren, their conviction being that nothing could
tend more to retard their cause than the use of taunts and
imputations, in lieu of the calm statement of such evidence
as from time to time it may be in their power to furnish.
“For, and in the name of
The British Homoeopathic Society,
“FREDER1c F. QUIN, M.D., President,
Physician to the London Homoeopathic Hospital,
&c., &c.”
In 1849, Dr. Quin thought it necessary to send in his resig-
mation as President of the British Homoeopathic Society.
Reference to the following papers shows how all differences
were satisfactorily settled, and Dr. Quin remained its Pre-
sident till his death,
Memoir of Dr. Quan,
rº
4
3
At a meeting of the British Homoeopathic Society, held
on the 6th of September, 1849.—President, Dr. Quin.
In the course of the private business the Honorary Secre-
tary read the following letter from the President, tendering
his resignation to the Society —
“111, MoUNT STREET; September 5th, 1849.
“SIR,--I beg leave to place in your hands, for the purpose
of being communicated to the Society, my resignation of the
office of President of the British Homoeopathic Society. I
think it but due and respectful to the Society to state the
reasons which have compelled me to take this step. They
al’6–
“First. Because, on reflection, I do not consider the mode
in which the votes of the members of the Society were
tendered at the late annual assembly, calculated to give a
fair and correct expression to the voice of the Society.
“Second. Because, even admitting that I could persuade
myself that such mode is correct and unobjectionable, I
cannot consent to hold office, seeing that my election to the
chair was effected by eighteen votes only, whilst twenty-two
votes are requisite to form the smallest possible majority of
the Society to secure, according to the existing laws, the
election of its officers.
“Third. Because the proceedings at the meetings of the
last annual assembly proved to me that I did not possess that
amount of confidence of the members acting as delegates for
some of the provincial members, and that influence over them
in regulating the order and manner of the debates, which I
deem to be requisite to the proper conducting of the business
of the meetings of the Society, by its chief officer;-and
because the annual assembly last held had lost the scientific
and medical character which had always hitherto distin-
guished the meetings of all former annual assemblies of this
Society.
“Fourth. Because I am of opinion that I shall be able to
render more service to the Society, and to support its funda-
88 Memoir of Dr. Quin.
mental laws and true interests more effectually as a member
than as President of the Society.
“I have the honour to be, Sir,
“Your most obedient servant,
“To Dr. SPILLAN, “FREDERic F. QUIN, M.D.
“Honorary Secretary of the British Homoeopathic
Society, &c.”
The President said he had nothing to add to what was
contained in the letter, beyond his assurance that he would
ever continue to take the liveliest interest in the affairs and
welfare of the Society as a member. On a discussion ensu.
ing touching the President’s resignation, he requested that
some one might be mamed to take the chair, and retired ;
whereupon it was moved and seconded that Mr. Leadam
take the chair. After a lengthened discussion, in which
every member present took part, Dr. Partridge handed to
the chairman the following motion, which was read from the
chair. Moved by Dr. Chapman, and seconded by Dr. Part-
ridge, “That the President having tendered his resignation,
to the deep regret of the Society, it is considered expedient
that Law CXXI be acted on.”
“The President shall not be allowed to resign his office
without the consent of two thirds of the Society.”
“Resolved unanimously—That the Honorary Secretary be
instructed to forward a printed copy of the President's letter
of resignation, together with a copy of the report of the pro-
ceedings of the annual assembly of 1849; also a copy of the
above resolution to each member of the Society, with a
printed form for registering their votes, and that it be re-
quested that every member will, without eaception, on this
important occasion, transmit, without delay, his vote, sealed,
to Dr.Spillan, the Honorary Secretary, to be delivered by him,
unopened, to the tellers to be appointed at the next meeting
of the Society, on Thursday, the 4th of October, 1849. The
envelope to have marked on the outside P. R. (viz. Presi-
dent’s resignation). “D. SPILLAN, A.M., M.D.
“ Fellow of the Dublin College of Physicians,
Hon. Sec. of the British Homoeopathic Society.
“29, Gilbert Street, Brook Street,
Grosvenor Square.”
Memoir of Dr. Quin. 89
“MoUNTFIELD Hous E,
“ 111, MoUNT STREET, GRosvK. So RE.,
“LoNDoN ; November 1st, 1849.
“GENT LEMEN,+A very large majority of the Society
having declared their desire that I should retain the office of
its President, I consider it my duty to yield to the wishes of
the Society, and withdraw my resignation.
“Your flattering and unequivocal declaration of confidence
has relieved me from the false position in which I was placed
by the election of the 25th of August. I could not, without
degradation to myself, and damage to the well-being of the
Society, continue to retain the chair, under the circumstances
detailed in my letter of resignation of the 6th of September.
“I now beg you will receive my sincere acknowledgments
for the honour you have dome me, and my earnest assurance
that I will endeavour to deserve the continuation of your
confidence, by maintaining and administering, as heretofore,
the laws of the Society justly and impartially, during my
tenure of office.
“I have the honour to be, gentlemen,
“Your most obedient servant,
“FREDERIC F. QUIN, M.D., President.
“To the Members
of the British Homoeopathic Society.”
In 1849 he received the following letter:
“NEw YoFR, 49, LAFAYETTE PLACE:
“Sunday, August 19th, 1849.
“My DEAR SIR,-After a long lapse of years, in which I
have ever looked for the pleasure of hearing direct from you,
I have had that pleasure through the intervention of
Mrs. Heurtley’s friends. Dr. Hull, and others of my friends,
had told me the same story of your excellent characteristics
as a man of the world, of the humanities and of medicine, so
that I have felt almost intimately acquainted with you for a
long time; so that the receipt of your letter created the same
emotions as if it had come from an old and trusty friend.
“We have not for some years made any foreign members
of our Society, on account of divisions which exist in our
90 Memoir of Dr. Quin.
ranks, caused partly, if not entirely, by jealousies about
practice. On one side is zeal for pure Hahnemannism, and
on the other a claim for liberality and independence:—the
old story over and over, dear Doctor—you know all about
these affairs, of course.
“I have never ceased to strive for peace and union of
force but I have fairly failed, and give up in despair; so that
at the next meeting I shall do myself the honour to propose
your name for membership in the Society to which I am
attached. The Society was founded in 1834 at my house.
It consisted of medical and lay members, and was called the
* Homoeop. Soc. of New York;' but, as one or two of our
physicians would not join a Society containing laymen, it
was dissolved and re-constituted in 1840 under the name of
* The New York Homoeopathic Physicians’ Society.” In
1846 some nine or ten of our members, all new converts,
and several of them mew comers into the profession from
other callings, withdrew from us and formed a separate
Society, taking the style of the old Society, of which not one
of them was a member, viz. “ The New York Homoeopathic
Society.’
“These divisions do not, however, as in other parts of the
world, mar our personal intercourse. We meet in con-
sultations and in Society on terms of gentlemanly courtesy,
and in time, perhaps, the two bodies may be reunited. The
old Society consists of 40 members; the new has, I am
informed, some 17 or 18 members.
“We have about fifty recognised, actively engaged practi-
tioners of Homoeopathy in New York. The greater number
have come over within the last ten years. Our treatment of
cholera has been very successful as compared with the old
school, but not as fortunate as in 1832 and 1834.
“I have had the good fortune to cure all who have been
under my care, but I have had only four fully developed
cases during the siege thus far.
“With every tribute of regard, personal and professional,
“I am, dear Sir,
“Yours, &c.,
“Dr. QUIN, London. “JOHN F. GRAY.”
Memoir of Dr. Quin. 91
Some few years previous to this the British Homoeopathic
Association was formed for the purpose of advocating and
placing before the general public the true history of the
system inculcated by Hahnemann. Mainly through Quin’s
interest the Duke of Beaufort became its President, the Mar-
quis of Anglesey its Vice-president. Most of his colleagues
gave it their support. The Association did its work well,
and chiefly through the exertions of Dr. Quin, the London
Homoeopathic Hospital was founded in 1850, and in October
of the same year the following letter was sent to him :
“ October, 1850.
“DEAR SIR,-We, your colleagues, medical officers of the
London Homoeopathic Hospital, regarding the general state
of Homoeopathy as one of extensive progress, exciting as it
is a great and inquiring interest in the public mind, feel
conscious, nevertheless, of the darkness and ignorance which
prevail respecting its principles, by which much suspicion
and obloquy are cast upon its professors, mainly from the
want of some public academical exponent of its philosophical
and practical truths; when, moreover, we look at the
charitable Institution to which we are attached, and the
great benefits it is already silently diffusing, the echo of
which may not unfairly be expected to refresh the emergies
of its supporters who are upholding it from the humane
desire to convey to the poorer classes of the community the
same benefits which have been experienced by themselves
from the practice of Homoeopathy, we feel that the best
mode of promulgating those principles with dignity, and
unfolding the benefits bequeathed by Hahnemann to the
world at large, as well as of enlisting the feelings of the
public in favour of this Institution, would be to deliver a
short course of lectures on Homoeopathy and its principles,
with clinical and therapeutical observations, in the rooms of
the Hospital, addressed to professional inquirers. It is
thought that this would be a grateful and becoming inaugu-
ration of the London Homoeopathic Hospital as a clinical
school of medicine, so happily and successfully established,
that it would be in harmony with the feelings of those who
92 Memoir of Dr. Quin.
have taken so active a part in its formation, and would
stimulate their efforts to perpetuate this great good, whilst
it would proclaim to the world that the London Homoeo-
pathic Hospital is really intended for the advancement and
propagation of the doctrines and practice of Homoeopathy,
as developed by Hahnemann. With these thoughts we beg
leave to express our opinion that, ‘ from the high professional
attainments and the deep practical experience of Homoeo-
pathic remedies in the treatment of disease possessed by our
esteemed colleague, Dr. Quin, he is most fitted to deliver
the first clinical lectures delivered in this metropolis on
Homoeopathy,” and we therefore invite you to deliver a
course of six or more clinical medical lectures in the rooms
of the Hospital, to which all Homoeopathic practitioners and
students, and all medical men desirous of inquiring into the
mode and results of Homoeopathic practice be invited (by
public announcement) to attend, and that these be com-
menced so soon after the 1st of November as circumstances
will permit. “We are, dear Sir,
“Yours faithfully,
“V. MAssol L., M.D.;
“S. T. PARTRIDGE, M.D.;
“EDWARD HAMILTON, M.D.;
“G. CALVERT Holla ND ;
“STEPHEN YELDHAM, M.R.C.S. ;
“ HENRY REYNoLDs, M.R.C.S.;
“J. KIDD, M.R.C.S. Eng. ;
“THOMAs R. LEADAM, M.R.C.S. ;
“HUGH CAMERoN, M.R.C.S. E.;
“JAs. BELL METCALFE, M.R.C.S. E., and
L.S.A.”
Dr. Quin, in accordance with this request, gave a course
of lectures on the theory and practice of the system founded
by Hahnemann. The success of the hospital created great
interest. Sir John Forbes wrote to Dr. Quin to be allowed
to attend and observe the cases; every facility was given
him, but little came of it. He candidly stated that he was
investigating for the purpose of proving that our cures were
the result of giving no medicine, but of leaving things to
Memoir of Dr. Quin. 93
nature. He was puzzled, however, by some cases of scrofu-
lous ophthalmia, which he owned must have been effected by
therapeutical measures. He left off his attendance, and the
last letter upon the subject is as follows:
“OLD BURLINGTON STREET;
“ June 5.
“MY DEAR SIR,-A domestic affliction has, of late, pre-
vented me from availing myself of the kindness of yourself
and colleagues to look on your proceedings in Golden Square.
As I fear I shall not be able to resume my attendance at
present, I write to thank you and your colleagues for the
great courtesy shown to me. I hope, on a future occasion,
I may be permitted to resume my observations for a short
time. “Yours faithfully,
“ Dr. QUIN.” “JoHN FoRBEs.”
The following extract from letter from the Archbishop of
Dublin will be perused with much interest:
Copy of letter from the Archbishop of Dublin to the
Editor of the Medical Times.
“PALACE, DUBLIN ;
“10th December, 1850.
“SIR,--In reply to your inquiry respecting my opinions
on the subject of homoeopathy, I beg to state that though
my personal experience of it is small, my conviction of its
beneficial results in the numerous cases which have come
under my notice, and most especially in acute cases is such,
that I have not only acquiesced in the adoption of it by my
family, but have desired, that in case of my being seized by
any sudden illness which should take from me the power of
expressing my wishes, no other than a homoeopathic practi-
tioner should be called in.”
The above was in answer to a letter received by the Arch-
bishop from the editor of the Medical Times, asking him if
he had any objection to state whether it was true, as reported,
that he had embraced homoeopathy, as his sentiments would
of course have much weight on a subject now much under
discussion.
94 Memoir of Dr. Quin.
1854 was memorable for a severe outbreak of cholera.
The Golden Square Hospital was devoted to cholera patients,
with such successful results, that the Medical Council dis-
credited the report and would not send it in with the others,
notwithstanding the declaration of their own medical inspec-
tor, Dr. Maclouchlin. Through Dr. Quin’s earnest exertions
in conjunction with Lord Robert Grosvenor, Parliament
published a separate blue-book containing our treatment
and report of cases.
Quin was enabled by his influence and advocacy to induce
many wealthy people to subscribe largely to the Hospital,
so that the Board of Management were enabled to purchase
the present building in Great Ormond Street. These sub-
scriptions, many of them anonymous, were for large sums—
from £200 to £1000 each. One large donation of 1000
guineas elicited the following letters :
“13, LoMBARD STREET ;
22nd August, 1853.
“My DEAR QUIN,-I have received your note with its
extraordinary announcement, and cannot express the feeling
it has awakened in me. These things increase in wonder
with their repetition, and the contemplation of our country
possessing natures who are capable of such acts furnishes
food for constant and happy confidence.
“The simple grandeur of it is such that one hardly likes
to touch upon personal consideration in connection with
it; but, as regards your own position, nothing could have
been more opportune than its occurrence. Seeing, as I have
for many years, that most of the injury inflicted upon Homoeo-
pathy in England has resulted from the small jealousies of
those who have wanted to play your part without the power
or claim to do so, and that amongst the colleagues who
have worked faithfully with you, there has been nothing but
unswerving success. I look upon all circumstances that can
tend to strengthen the convictions of the profession and the
public as to the singular regard in which you are held as
the most important aids that can be given to the progress
of the system. For this reason the gift, as far as its bearing
on the immediate welfare of our cause is concerned, is doubly
Memoir of Dr. Quin. 95
valuable from the impressive manner in which it was con-
veyed.
“People who can do such acts, and in such a way need few
expressions of warm wishes for their happiness; and pre-
cluded as we are from the enjoyment of uttering them, it is
this belief in which we must find satisfaction.
“Always, my dear Quin,
“Sincerely yours,
“M. B. SAMPSON.”
“PALACE, DUBLIN ;
“24th March.
“DEAR SIR,--I should have acknowledged your most
interesting letter immediately but that I waited until I could
read it to the Archbishop.
“The generosity of the anonymous donors to the proposed
Hospital is quite startling, and must have a good effect on
public opinion,
“I am sorry to say that the Archbishop does not feel
himself able to respond to the wishes of your Committee
respecting an address. Nor, indeed, could he pledge himself
to be present, as important business may very probably call
him back to Ireland. The proposed entertainment is a very
happy one—and if I happen to be in London, I should cer-
tainly take tickets—and I am sure the Archbishop would be
present if possible. “I am, dear Sir,
“Faithfully yours,
“ELIZABETH WHATELY.”
“I think it possible if the Archbishop were able to be
present, that he would not object to state, as a proof of his
confidence in Homoeopathy, his having given to his family
written injunctions—signed—that in case of any sudden
illness which should incapacitate him from the use of his
judgment, none but a Homoeopathic practitioner should be
called in ; but this is merely my own suggestion, and it
would not induce him to take up what he thinks himself
incapable of doing justice to, viz. an Address.”
Lord Ebury on 10th July, 1853, accepted the post of Chair-
man of the Board, and became one of its most active
supporters.
96 Memoir of Dr. Quin.
From the formation of the British Homoeopathic Associa-
tion and the British Medical Homoeopathic Society, to the
establishment of the London Homoeopathic Hospital in
Great Ormond Street, a long correspondence was kept up
by Dr. Quin, not only with the lay supporters but with his
medical colleagues, some of whom had adverse views as to
the mode in which the Officers of the Hospital should be
elected, and an active opposition was got up, with the forma-
tion of another hospital under Dr. Curie and others. An able
supporter of the Hospital was greatly distressed at the
opposition. Dr. Quin was constantly urged to reply to
various attacks made on the Hospital or the Society. He
asked his friend’s advice, and he wrote thus: “It is not our
function to descend to single combats but to fight the general
battle of the cause on the broadest field and with the largest
army and with the most sublime rallying cry that we can
find ; there are spirits whose peculiar aptitudes for personal
attack might have been employed for the benefit of the
cause, but as you know these have preferred to misdirect
their energies by setting Homoeopaths against Homoeo-
paths, and breaking up, or at least diminishing a band of fel-
lowship which, until they appeared amongst us with their
doctrines of liberty, equality and fraternity, had been one of the
truest, most harmonious, and at the same time unaggressive
bodies that had ever been formed for the propagation of a
truth.”
In 1857 a Bazaar was held in the Riding School of the
Cavalry Barrack, Hyde Park, for the benefit of the Hospital.
Sir E. Landseer promised a contribution.
“ St. John’s WooD ROAD ;
“ May 8th, 1857.
“DEAR QUIN,--I write in haste to-day. The sketch of
the Stag so highly flattered by your committee, forms part
of a work I have in hand relating to deerstalking in the
Highlands. It is etched and will some day be sold belonging
to the work in question. If you can call here to-morrow at
5 o'clock I will, in addition to the original chalk drawing,
give you two impressions (my only proofs). The proof I
Memoir of Dr. Quin. 97
give of my admiration for your institution and my affection
for you. “Yours affectionately,
“ E. LANDSEER.”
His friendship with Landseer was of many years’ standing,
and the two friends were seldom long without communicating
with each other, and when confined by illness they were con-
stantly together.
“DEAR QUIN,--Thanks for your letter, you can’t be in
better hands; are you humbugging for the sake of the com-
forting discipline? Have you pluck enough to come here?
we have not tender temptations to offer (not that the venison
is tough), but as far as hearty welcome and gladsome friends
can tempt, here we are ; dull, stupid, knocked up and irritable;
One day like another. The forest all day, return late, cram,
drink, and sleep. Quite insensible to the charms of Deeside
scenery, where there is a combination of boldness and ten-
derness that would do your large heart good. We are
equally insensible to the horrors of our sport, regardless of
lovely landscape, sweet air, genial sunshine; hard as bricks;
the object of life is to take life; the toast we drink is
blood; the death struggle is glory; the bloody blade wiped
with pride. The full bright eye settling into a fixed and
senseless jelly points no moral, the only point we value is the
tail adorned with a due proportion of fat (rather good style).
Come, and we will make you happy — as a Quin.”
Sir Edwin Landseer gave him a series of his engravings
marked with his initials as a token of his friendship
and regard.
“Thanks, best of friends for your cheering letter. I
write a word in haste just to say. The Bottom (the
well-known print of Titania and Bottom), but without
anything written on the margin, simply (E. L.) to mark its
being a first-rate impression. God bless you you kind-
hearted old boy. “Yours ever,
<< E. L.”
“BRAHAN CASTLE ;
“August 28th.
“My DEAR QUIN,-Since I left Chillingham I have wan-
7
98 - Memoir of Dr. Quin.
dered from place to place in this Highland world. The
last week has been passed in Glen Strathfarrer with Lord
Lovat and his stalwart sons (whose calves shake their fists
at you). Here I returned last evening, after a week’s stalk-
ing in bad weather, cold, snow on the hill tops, wet
to the bones, after struggling up the mountains in my own
heated moisture, taking stations to wait for deer, and being
suddenly iced ; all such transitions I promised you to avoid;
such resolutions are difficult to keep in the casualties and
accidental circumstances of deerstalking. All this I have
ventured in spite of my nervous apprehensions; as yet I am
mone the worse, and wonderfully better from the comfort of
finding your kind letter and the papers it enclosed; with
all my heart I thank you as I now feel armed against am
invasion. The tardy post has been my worst of foes; your
letter has wandered, and at last finds me here. I am so
glad to receive your friendly pen and ink, I only wish we
(our happy group at Braham) could be cheered by the sound
of your friendly voice. Jump over board and take another
trip in the healthy Highlands. I am off to Strathcoman on
the 1st September. After a sojourn there I shall find myself
here again before going south, which I propose doing if
Marochetti makes good his promise, and goes with me to
Taymouth and the Black Mount. What a Brick you would
be if you joined the party. The Glen Quoich (Ellice's), too,
would be enchanting to see the Pair so applauded at Car-
lisle. I suppose I must expect to have my check-string
pulled occasionally. I have every reason to rejoice in being
able to undertake a hill in any form, which I gratefully
acknowledge as your doing. “Ever yours,
& 4 E. L.”
“ 25th September.
“My DEAR QUIN,-Letters just received tell of your in-
disposition; like a dear, good old friend, write me a line,
enable me to answer gladly the tender inquiries of the
anxious group all so eager to hear you are all right again,
We (the M. of Breadalbane, Stanley of A., and E. L. came
Here on the 14th, Elcho on the 18th) do not muster a large
Memoir of Dr. Quin. 99
party till next week, when the D. and Dss. of M., Abercorn,
Stafford, and a foreign grandee or two are expected. Our
Host is kind enough to wish me to remain, and to afford me
endless opportunities for the improvement of my rifle eye.
After thirty years’ playing at being a Highlander, I feel
thankful to the kind stars that still enable me to enjoy a
deerstalker’s life without suffering from the hard work.
Constantly as I am tempted to sketch, I have indulged the
trigger more than the brush or pencil. My score of deer
now amounts to thirteen. Dear, kind Lord B. has just
repeated his friendly advice, viz. that I stay where I am—
the longer the better. You will, I am sure, recommend me
to follow this healthy suggestion, particularly as my holi-
days are soon to cease. I ought to be in harness again by
the 10th of October. I could tell of very picturesque events
of the forest and pursuit of deer; perhaps my brush may
convey more accurate details and save you from pen-and-ink
twaddle. Thanks, dear Q., for your paper of comfort; alto-
gether I am stronger and better than I have a right to be.
Let me have a line soon. Address, Forest House, Black
Mount, Dalmally, N.B. God bless you.
“Yours, E. L.”
“ST. JoHN’s WooD ;
** 20th October.
“DEAR QUIN,-Thanks, my good fellow, for your letter.
I am sorry you are so out of condition, as had you been all
right we might have had you behind a haunch. I returned
last evening, and have at once plunged into artistic thoughts;
my holidays are over and harmess on. We are always startled
to find our belongings grown older, and never believe in our
own looking-glass, Truth. Everything at my house looks
pinched, old, and wretched; so the sooner I see your glad-
some face the better I shall be. “Yours, E. L.”
“My DEAR QUIN,-Ten thousand thanks for your letter
just received. I am sincerely grieved to hear of the attack
you mention. Altogether I have to acknowledge improve-
ment; but yesterday, after painting three hours and a half,
I took a walk in the woods to find a woodcock, and was sud-
denly reminded of my old foe, in the shape of weakness and
3. &
* A - 3.
* * ,
tº
wº
* , &
100 Memoir of Dr. Quin.
faintness, that made me unhappy for hours; but I have been
strong enough lately to remain out gunning the whole of
daylight. I am very glad you like your print ; take it as a
proof of my affection for your generous friendship and excel-
lent kindness. Tell me your inconvenient sensations are
flitting. The weather is in your favour, not so for me. The
other day in a frost I was out shooting with ———; he said,
* Have a drop of sherry,’ and before I could discover my (his)
mistake, drank a good gulp of raw brandy. Perhaps this
bothered your discipline. When you have time write me a
line. That you may realise many happy years is the sincere
wish of “Yours, affectionately,
“ E. LANDSEER.”
“ST. JoHN’s WooD ;
“ 2nd November, 1859.
“My DEAR QUIN,-I, as you must know, had not the
remotest idea you were again a patient. Poor dear old boy.
I am really distressed to hear of your condition. Nothing
can be more touching than your heroism. I do sincerely
hope your pluck and excellent frame of mind may be very
soon rewarded. Let me know if you would like to see an
old pal who is quite at your service to scribble at your side
every evening, and to gossip over Highland achievements and
Swells, one and all so attached to you. By your pencil
sketch I see your hand is as strong as ever, even though you
write on your back; so you will be able to answer my pro-
posal. Since my return I have been trying to plunge into
success in the old dirty studio; so any little outing in the
evening will be a pull for me, particularly if I can make you
for a second forget the hard trial you are put to.
“Dear Quin, remember
“I am very truly and affectionately,
“E. LANDSEER.”
1856 was a year of great suffering to him, and he almost
retired from active practice. In 1859 he had to undergo a
surgical operation which, in his impaired state of health,
might become serious. Previous to the operation he made
his will, which has given such a munificent bequest to the
Memoir of Dr. Quin. I0]
Hospital. Mr. Fergusson operated. A second operation
was afterwards found necessary. He recovered entirely
from the local affection, but his attacks of asthma became
more frequent. He returned, however, in a great measure
to active life and accepted the office which the following
letter offered him :
“LoNDON HomoeoPATHIC HospitaL,
“52, Great Ormond Street,
“Bloomsbury, W.C.;
“ 18th October, 1859.
“My DEAR SIR,--I am directed by the Board of Manage-
ment to request your acceptance of the Chair of Therapeutics
and Materia Medica in commection with the Medical School
of this Hospital, to which office you have been unanimously
recommended by the Medical Council.
“I am, my dear Sir, yours very truly,
“F. F. QUIN, Esq., M.D. &c., &c. ‘‘ R. BUCHAN.”
And in conjunction with his colleagues gave a series of
lectures in the Board Room of the Hospital.
About the end of the next year a violent attack was made
by some of the medical journals upon Fergusson, in con-
junction with Homoeopathy, more particularly as to his
consulting in surgical cases. He had at first determined, like
his predecessor, Liston, to take no notice of these attacks,
and Dr. Quin wrote the following letter:
“ lll, MoUNT STREET ;
“August 7th, 1861.
“DEAR FERGUsson,--I have had, as I believe you know,
an interview with Mr. Price, since which I have read the
articles and correspondence in the British Medical Journal
and Medical Circular. Mr. Price will have told you that
I shall be most happy to take any step that you thought
would assist you in this illiberal, umgenerous outcry which
certain members of the profession are making against you,
provided you wished it, and I could see my way to its being
of service to you. Now, the more I reflect on the matter,
the more I become convinced that any testimony or evidence
from me, or any one of my persuasion, would harm instead of
102 Memoir of Dr. Quin.
benefiting you. The object of your detractors is evidently to
make you out to be a ‘black sheep” in their pure white
spotless flock, and me and my friends to be the wolves that
have tempted you into other pastures. Now, my or our
stating that several others of your body have at different
times wandered into the same pastures, and are equally
‘black sheep’ as yourself will not make your fleece whiter in
the eyes of those who are interested in making and deter-
mined to keep you black. On the contrary, I cannot help
believing that my testimony would raise up a host of new
enemies, and inundate the medical press with more corre-
spondence and fresh leading articles, and furnish besides
fresh pretexts for attacking you. You have written your
letter and have made your statement in your own way, and I
would take my stand upon it were I you. This, I think,
would be wiser than friends or evidence, that would be held
suspicious, being brought forward with information that
other mameless persons acted exactly as you did. This
would inevitably bring a nest of hornets upon you.
“Mr. Price tells me that some one has given you a report
of the dimmer that was given to me. You would see that I
had made it a rule never to answer attacks upon myself, but
I would do for you what I would not do for myself, if you
think that good to you would come of it. If these con-
siderations and reflections of mime do not convince you, let
us meet and determine the best means of assisting you.
“Believe me, yours very sincerely,
“ FREDERIC F. QUIN.”
To this letter Mr. Fergusson returned no answer, nor
did he call or request Quin to call on him, but some time
after its receipt he published a letter in the Lancet, pro-
mising that, in deference to the wishes of the profession, he
would not meet any Homoeopathic practitioner in future,
upon which Quin wrote the following letter:
“111, MoUNT STREET;
t “August 23, 1861.
“DEAR FERGUsson,<-I beg to enclose a cheque for a hun-
dred guineas for your kind and skilful surgical treatment of
Memoir of Dr. Quin, 103
me. When Isought your valuable aid I was under the impres-
sion that our numerous professional relations since the
death of Liston, and consequent intimate friendly inter-
course, made it matural that I should apply to you, and that
you should be pleased to have an opportunity of being of
use to me. At the same time, I felt that my putting myself
into your hands, in preference to those of any of the other
eminent surgeons in London, was the best proof I could
give my patients and friends of the sincerity of the advice
given by me to them to apply to you when they required
surgical aid. I therefore unhesitatingly sought and accepted
your professional assistance, intending to recognise it as the
service rendered by one friend to another, by one profes-
sional brother to another, and for that purpose I had a
considerable time ago, knowing your taste for bronzes, com-
missioned a friend, a great judge and connoisseur, then
starting for Italy [but who, instead of returning home as he
intended, went on to the East], to bring me back some of
the best class and epoch, with the intention of begging your
kind acceptance of them as a token of friendship and regard
from me.
“I find, however, by a careful perusal of your different
published letters, which are for the first time all now fairly
before me, that on the many occasions on which we met in
consultation during some twelve years, as also when I applied
for your aid for myself, I was under most erroneous impres-
sions in regard to the position which you wish it to be
understood you occupied towards myself and other physicians
practising homoeopathy. I feel, therefore, that to carry out
my original intention now would be unsuitable equally to
your views of our past, and to my views of our present
relations. With renewed thanks for your kind professional
assistance, I am yours truly, “FREDER1c F. QUIN.”
To which letter Sir William returned the following answer:
“ 16, GEORGE STREET, HANOVER SQUARE ;
“23rd August, 1861.
“DEAR QUIN,--I have within the last hour received your
note and its enclosures,
104. Memoir of Dr. Quin.
“With the greater part of it I feel much gratified, as it
accords with all the feelings I ever entertained on the sub-
ject to which it refers.
“I have never considered that you were under any pecu-
niary obligations to me, and the personal services which I
have been able to give I have always deemed as of a friendly
kind. I am truly pained that you should think otherwise,
and in asking you to take back the cheque for one hundred
guineas I must express a hope that you will let our personal
relations stand as heretofore. My professional views I have
never concealed from you at any time.
“I start for the country within a few minutes.
“With much personal regard, I am yours very sincerely,
“ Dr. QUIN.” “WM. FERGUssON.
In 1861 his colleagues, in recognition of his services and
his life-long and successful advocacy of the cause, determined
to give him a dinner, which took place at the London Coffee
House, and was a complete success; and Dr. Dunn, in the
following letter best expresses the sentiments of all who
were present:
“DoNCASTER ; July 2nd, 1861.
“My DEAR DR. QUIN,-The report of what took place
at the dinner made me deeply regret that I could not be an
actor. I read with delight and pride your speeches, and
have sent the report to many of the right sort of people all
round here. I was called to one on Saturday night, and
your speech so tickled his fancy that he gave me a five
pound note for the London Homoeopathic Hospital, which I
enclose, and shall feel obliged if you will direct Buchan to
send the receipt for it.
“I hope to send many such, but will not trouble you. I
could not, however, refrain telling you the effect of your
speech not only on myself, but my patients. I will defy the
whole allopathic body, professors and fellows, to acquit
themselves with a twentieth part of the ready wit and lite-
rary merit that were displayed on the occasion. Nothing
but a heavy charge and great responsibility kept me away,
but I revel in the report, and will spread it to all the world,
Memoir of Dr. Quin. 105
“Chapman, too, was the right man in the right place, and
I don’t think a better chairman could have been found.
They told me in the winter that you were likely to die, but
I was glad to see you in good health, and likely enough to last
twenty years longer. Ainsi ; soit-il. Believe me to remain,
“My dear Doctor,
“Yours very faithfully,
“GEORGE DUNN.”
Alas! although he did live nearly twenty years, from that
time till his death his health broke down completely, and it
was most distressing to see or even to hear him in the
violent attacks of asthma by which he was affected, and
which seldom gave him any remission.
After nearly forty years of activity and communion with
his fellow men, of honour and respect such as fall to the lot
of few, he had well earned his otium cum dignitate, but the
dignity came without the ease, and for the last fifteen years
he was obliged to forego all the active duties of his pro-
fession, and he felt the coming shadows over the brightness
of his previous active life.
Yet with all his sufferings he worked whenever he could
for Homoeopathy. In February, 1869, he requested his
friend, Sir W. Fergusson, to accept a small token of his
gratitude for services rendered, and he received the following
letter :
“ 16, GEORGE STREET, HANOver SQUARE, W.;
“25th February, 1869.
“MY DEAR QUIN,-I cannot find words to thank you
sufficiently for the magnificent gift which you have been
pleased to present to me.
“If you had asked me to choose something to be pleasing
to the eye and useful also, I doubt if I could have mamed
anything likely to produce equal gratification, for it has the
same effect upon others as upon myself.
“I thank you in addition for all the kind expressions,
wishes, and hopes contained in your note, and you may rest
assured that my eyes will never rest upon these objects with-
out a lively recollection being raised of the long period of
I 06 Memoir of Dr. Quin.
happy friendship which I have enjoyed with the generous
and kind-hearted donor.
“Believe me,
“Ever yours very sincerely,
“WM. FERGUSSON.”
“T)R. QUIN, Belgrave Mansions.”
Others also learning the universal esteem he was held in
by all grades of society, and knowing the power he possessed,
did not hesitate to seek his assistance when they required
it. He was respected, and deservedly so, by many medical
men as we have seen, and he gave his interest when he saw
those who sought it were deserving of it. The following
two letters are indications of this:
“43, SACKVILLE STREET, PiccADILLY, W.;
“ May 24th, 1866.
“DEAR SIR,--I did myself the pleasure of calling upon
you this morning to ask your kind offices in obtaining the
vote of one of the Governors of Charing Cross Hospital for
the vacant Assistant-Physiciancy for which I am a candidate,
but as you were engaged, I did not send my card in to you.
On Monday, perhaps, I may be more fortunate in seeing
you. I feel that my request savours much of obtrusiveness,
but my anxiety to come off victorious will loudly plead as
my excuse. To-day the voting papers will be sent to all the
Governors, and I should esteem it very much if you could
make it agreeable to yourself to obtain the vote of Her
Royal Highness the Duchess of Cambridge. This post will
bring you a copy of my testimonials. Pardon this trouble,
and believe me, dear Sir,
“Yours obediently,
“TILBURY Fox, M.D. Lond., M.R.C.P.”
“ Dr. QUIN.”
“43, SACKVILLE STREET, W.;
“May 31st, 1866.
“DEAR SIR,--I return you my best thanks for your
kindness, and am, “Yours very faithfully,
- “TILBURY Fox.”
“DR, QUIN.”
Memoir of Dr. Quin. 107
In 1863 he was asked by a medical acquaintance then
practising Homoeopathy whether the cause would be
benefitted if some distinction as knighthood was conferred
on its leading practitioners; to which he sent the following
reply:
“BADMINTON ;
“January 25th, 1863.
“ DEAR SIR,-Absence from town and a severe attack of
illness has interfered with my correspondence. Your two
letters have been forwarded to me by the post. I learn that
you are anxious to hear from me. This I did not under-
stand from your first, in which you ask me to write only
in the event of my agreeing with the general principle, &c.,
of the subject of your letter. I confess I do not see how
so great a cause as that of Homoeopathy can be advanced
by the endeavour to obtain for some leading practitioners
of Homoeopathy such sterile titles as those you mention.
On the contrary, I think that Homoeopathy would be more
likely to lose cast by such means in the estimation of the
educated class who lead the public. Such a barren honour
as knighthood conveys no distinction whatever unless con-
ferred on the field of battle, or when it accompanies some
order of merit granted for great public services. Hahne-
mann, the founder of Homoeopathy, would have been a very
proper recipient for some mark of distinction or order of
merit, but I cannot perceive upon what plea any successful
Homoeopathic practitioners, who do good to themselves by
doing good to others, could be put forward by the advisers of
the Crown as deserving of distinction, unless they had per-
formed some great public services and disinterested acts
meriting reward beyond the emoluments of their profession.
I am, moreover, quite convinced that until such public ser-
vices and disinterested acts have been performed by some
of our body, and have claimed the attention and admiration
of the general public, any attempt to influence the advisers
of the Crown, as proposed by those of whom you speak,
would be attended with signal failure.
“I am, yours truly,
“FREDERIC F. QUIN.”
108 Memoir of Dr. Quin.
Another time he is asked advice as to the propriety of ~7.
merely meeting in consultation with men who, professing
our doctrines, hold but slight qualification for practice,
“ lll, MoUNT STREET;
“ February 27th, 1864.
“DEAR ——,--I do not feel that I am warranted to set
myself up as an authority on the subject on which you have
Written me, nor in a position to give a categorical answer to
your question, the more so as all the circumstances of the
case are not stated by you. I have, however, no objection
to state to you the rule I have laid down for myself. I have
always acted upon the principle that our duty to the sick seek-
ing our aid ought to be paramount, and after that comes the
question of self respect and professional etiquette with regard
to consultation with others not so well placed as ourselves.
When sent for by the patient, I never inquire whom I am
to meet, but go, and receive all the information I can get,
whether from the patient, his friends, his nurse, or his medical
attendant, whoever or whatever he may be. I state my
opinion of the case and my views as to future treatment
to whomever it is sought by. If requested to continue my
attendance in conjunction with a person in a doubtful posi-
tion as to qualification, I state to him candidly but privately
my doubts and objections to doing so, and if he does not
satisfy me as to his medical position I tell him I must
communicate these doubts and objections to the patient’s
friends, or I give him the option of making the communi-
cation in my presence, so that I may have the opportunity
of correcting anything not quite correct. If, on the other
hand, I am requested to see a patient by a medical attendant,
of whose qualifications I have reason to entertain doubts,
and learn that it is he and not the patient who has called
me in, I decline to go unless he can give me satisfactory
proof that he is properly qualified. I think that we are
too illiberally treated, in general, ourselves, by our colleagues
of the prevailing school, not to make us disposed to stretch
a point on the indulgent side, except where there is a sys-
tematic attempt made to impose upon the public by men
practising with spurious qualifications and not properly
Memoir of Dr. Quin. 109
educated in the profession. Here we are bound in the in-
terests of the sick, the public, and our profession, to hold
ourselves aloof from intercourse with such men after we have
given our opinion as to the mature and seat of the disease
and treatment. In the case of the individual you have written
about I know not if he is an American, or some one who has
gone through the usual curriculum of study at the College
of Pennsylvania, or even obtained his diploma after pass-
ing the proper examinations there. If he has, I should not
feel myself warranted in refusing to meet him at the bedside
although not registered here in England. My continuing
to meet him would depend upon the character of the man
and his antecedents and moral conduct. Many thanks for
your inquiries about myself. I am still at times very
suffering. “Yours truly,
“FREDERIC F, QUIN.”
Although broken in health and bowed down by the de-
pressing influence of his infirmity, his mind and memory
remained pre-eminently clear. His wit and power of re-
partee were the same. Some only seeing and meeting him
in society in his old age knew little of his sterling qualities.
An eminent friend of his, of great intelligence and repute,
stated the other day that he considered Quin a man of
exceptional good judgment; not only was he capable of
giving the best advice in private affairs, but he was a most
clever and experienced physician, and gained the confidence
of his patients in the most surprising manner.
It is mot the intention to enter into Quin’s social life.
This memoir has been written for the purpose of showing
how much the system which he introduced into this country
owes to his influence and character; but it is pleasant to
record that he was as genial and delightful in a little family
dinner with any one of his medical colleagues as he was
when dining with the noble or wealthy, or with the magnates
in literature and art. His beaming, happy countenance gave
brightness to every party, and it was his aim always to en-
deavour to make that party pleasant. He never in any of
his stories raised a laugh against another which would cause
110 Memoir of Dr. Quin.
bitter or painful feelings, and he was often delighted in
raising one at his own expense. “For the love of St.
Patrick, give me a penny, your honour,” said a sweeper to
him. “How did you know I was an Irishman?” “ Och,
yer honour, could I be mistaken in that potato face 2°
Many will recollect with what gusto he related this. He
was invited to a dinner to meet a party of directors of a
company where there had been some unpleasant differences,
and this dimmer was given for the purpose of reconciliation.
The solicitor of the company, who was present, was a sombre,
matter-of-fact sort of person, not open to a joke. Quin, on
sitting down (all looking very gloomy), made some happy,
witty remark about the said solicitor, which set the table in
a roar. Gloom was dispelled, everybody became very happy,
and the evening passed away most harmoniously, all parting
the best of friends.
“I have to thank you for the merriest evening I have passed
many a year (writes a friend to a mutual friend of Quin’s).
T}r. Quin is the most extraordinary man I ever met with in
my long life. He must be a great acquisition to London
society, for besides his capital stories he is brimful of infor-
mation on all subjects. It was quite a new life to me after
my long retirement.”
His memory for past events was surprising. He could
give an account of most circumstances which had happened
during his long life. A discussion arose once at a dinner
party as to various employments of a certain member of the
diplomatic body. Quin stated that he had been at certain
places as Secretary of Legation in 1823-24. This was
doubted. The next day he got the following letter, with an
exact account of the services of the said diplomatist, and
tallying completely with Quin’s version :
“My DEAR QUIN,--Here is the testimony to the accuracy
of your memory, which I mentioned last might. May it
always be as fresh, especially as regards
“Yours ever faithfully,
“Jon N P. DELAN.E.”
An instance of his argumentative powers is given by
Uwins in his correspondence.
Memoir of Dr. Quin. 111
“My friend Quin the other day, at the Austrian Ambas-
sador’s, in the midst of a company of Catholics, tackled the
Count in such fine style and put him to such shifts as I never
before saw him reduced to ; and Quin is altogether unac-
customed to such discussions. He declared to me afterwards,
though he confessed it to his shame, that it was not merely
the first time he had ever talked on the subject, but the
first time he had ever considered it; and that he was only
forced upon it, by the absurdity of something that fell from
the ambassador. Quin, though not a scholastic reasoner,
is a young man of astonishing acuteness and address. He
accomplished his end by assuming the air of a scholar and a
learner in the school of religion; and in this quality he put
such sly questions as not merely puzzled Count Figuelmont,
but would have puzzled the Council of Trent had it been
sitting on the subject. I never saw simple truth so trium-
phant. This was in 1827. With all this, his kindness of
heart, and his desire to help others was always a prevailing
trait with him.”
“Dr. Quin,” writes Uwins, “ who has been to me a
brother, is one of the most accomplished and fascinating
men in existence. There is not a party of rank, talent, or
fashion that would be thought complete were he omitted.
He is gay without buffoonery, witty without punning, and
always pleasing without appearing to make an effort to
please. I have seen him in the most trying situations, and
I never saw him for a moment at fault ; and with it all he is
a man of deep feeling and solid character. I love him from
my heart; he has been to me the kindest friend that man
can be to his fellow man.”
With such varied powers he was peculiarly fitted to in-
augurate a new system of therapeutics for the treatment of
the sick into a country where medical practitioners are par-
ticularly conspicuous in their dislike to innovation, who, as
an eminent medical man stated in a public lecture a short
time since, run in a groove and never wish to get out of it.
In fact, we may say, in the hackneyed expression, “ he was
the right man in the right place.”
No man had more friends. Those of his later years were
112 Memoir of Dr. Quin.
just as fond of him as those of earlier days, and he was much
gratified by the strong attachment shown by all.
The unswerving friendship and affectionate regard of His
Royal Highness the Prince, and Her Royal Highness the
Princess of Wales was a source of unmixed pleasure and
comfort to him (the Prince was at Quin’s bedside a few
hours before his death). The Duke of Edinburgh was also
much attached to him.
His professional connection with H.R.H. the Duchess of
Cambridge was of long standing. The Duchess appointed
him one of her Physicians in Ordinary, and the more than
friendship shown by every member of that family for so
many years was most devotedly appreciated.
His last illness was a very brief one, a sudden chill brought
on a severe attack of bronchitis, which his enfeebled consti-
tution and great age was unable to withstand, and he sunk
without suffering on the 28th November, 1878.
With the close of Dr. Quin’s life closes also the first
half century that has elapsed since the system of thera-
peutics enunciated by Hahnemann was introduced into this
country. It was in 1828 that Dr. Quin first practised it in
London. The fifty years determined fight in defence of its
principles has been crowned with success, for he lived to see
the system which he so courageously introduced and defended,
take its place as a ‘methodus medendi’ in every civilised
country in the world.
It only remains for us and those who come after us to
follow his example, viz. always to bear in mind that our first
duty is to our profession ; that in advancing our particular
tenets we must always act as “becometh gentlemen’—that
any departure from the ethics which regulate our conduct
affects more or less the whole body of those who profess our
views; and that a high standard of professional conduct is
more particularly necessary if we desire to maintain our
position as medical reformers, sans peur et sans reproche,
Filmed by Preservation 1991.