He found but little opportunity to test his newly-discovered law of cure while he remained in Leipzig, and poverty compelled him to labor with his pen most indefatigably, as was evidenced by the large number of essays and translations published at that time.
Providence, however, interfered in his behalf; the reigning Duke of Saxe Gotha offered him the position of Physician to the Asylum for the Insane in Georgenthal, in the Thuringen Forest. He entered upon his duties in 1792. While at the head of this establishment, he succeeded in affecting a cure which created some sensation, because the party concerned was the Hanoverian Minister, Klockenbring, who was rendered insane by a lampoon written by Kotzebue. He also introduced a mild and humane treatment for the insane, removing the chains and tight-jacket, heretofore in use.
In 1810, he published his greatest work, "The Organon," which ran through five editions, and was translated into most all the living languages. From 1810 to 1821, we find him again in Leipzig, publishing his Materia Medica, and lecturing twice a week in the University, at the same time attending to a multitude of patients.
In 1821, Hahnemann was induced by the reigning Duke of Anhalt-Coethen, who was his warm friend and admirer, to change his place of residence, and appointed him his Physician. He accepted the position. He soon began to work as earnestly as before in proving medicines and prescribing for his patients, who came from all parts of Europe.
On one occasion, during his residence in Coethen, he recieved a visitor who had heard a great deal of Hahnemann and his garden, and who had imagined the garden to be as large as its owner was great. When he was ushered into the presence of the Prophet of Medicine and found him seated at a table in a summer-house, only a few yards from the dwelling, he exclaimed: "But where is the garden?" To which Hahnemann replied, "This is the garden." "Surely," rejoined the visitor, "Not this narrow patch of ground?" "True, it is very narrow and very short, but observe its infinite height," said the Sage, pointing upwards to the blue sky overhead.
The tenth of August, 1829, was a joyful day for the venerable old man, being the fifteenth anniversary of his obtaining the degree of M. D. Gratifying and memorable in more than one respect was this day for him.
I refrain from giving you a full description of this impressive celebration, lest I should be considered tedious, yet I cannot thus pass over historical facts, without dwelling upon a few of the principal features of this gratifying and memorable festivity.
The early morning found assembled a large number of the friends of Hahnemann, his disciples; deputations from various cities; also deputations from the Universities of Leipzig, Vienna and Erlangen, which presented him with the Diploma of Honor. The King of Saxony, the Duke of Saxe Gotha and many others had sent costly presents from far and near. His dwelling having been appropriately prepared for the celebration, and on a table, resembling an altar, adorned with flowers and entwined with oak leaves, was placed a well executed bust of Hahnemann.
After Hahnemann was introduced, his bust was crowned with laurels, amid appropriate addresses and congratulations. With deep emotion, the venerable old man in heartfelt and affecting words, gave thanks to the Supreme Being that he had been permitted to make so great a discovery, and was so favored with a long life, full of bodily and mental vigor.
A year after this important occurrence, the Asiatic Cholera came marching from the East, for the first time. This aroused the medical profession in general. Physicians were helpless, and none of them had ever seen a case of this fearful disease. But Hahnemann, after learning the symptoms of the disease, advised the mode of treatment by which the mortality of that terrible scourge was threefold reduced, and numerous testimonials were published, showing the immense success of his mode of treatment. In 1831, he lost his partner in life, having been married forty-nine years and a few months.