The name of Dr. J.T. Kent is taken with much regard after the name of Dr. Hahnemann in Homoeopathy. Dr. J.T. Kent was born on 31 st March, 1849 in Woodhul near New York in USA. He got his bachelor and M.D. Degree from Madison University. From the medical institute of Cincinnati, he learn about allopathy and other unorthodox medical system like naturopathy etc.
He got married at the age of 26 years and started practice as an eclectic physician in the city St. Louise. He became a member of Eclectic Medical Institute. Here, Homoeopathy was tought superficially. So he was not much impressed by it.
He adored his wife without demonstration. Once she fell ill. She was suffering from asthenia, weakness, persistent insomnia, and anaemia. Neither he nor his competent allopathic or eclectic colleagues had the slightest success with her illness. As time went by her condition deteriorated. His wife then requested him to consult a homoeopathic doctor Dr. Phelan, a famous Homoeopath at that era, came treat her. When Dr. Phelan was asking questions about her mental state, her fears, her desires, her preference to food, her disposition, Dr. Kent felt all these things silly and unrelated to her illness. Then Dr. Phelan gave medicine and told him to dissolve 4 globules in a cup of water and 1 tea spoonful every 2 hourly until she felt sleepy. At that time, Dr. Kent was smiling on this absurd method. But due to his wife’s wish, he gave 1 dose of medicine and he went to study again. Then he forgot to give 2 nd dose after 2 hours. He came after 4 hours and he saw that his wife was sleeping quietly. Dr. Kent was surprised by seeing this wounder of Homoeopathic medicine.
After this event, Dr. Kent started reading about Homoeopathy, Organon of Medicine with the help of Dr. Phelan. One day in his clinic, one child as admitted with the complaints of diarrhea and vomiting. His mother was weeping and requesting to Dr. Kent to save her child. But there was no improvement in spite of good treatment. At that time he thought about Homoeopathic medicine and he gave him Podophyllum. After few doses, the condition of that child was improving slowly. These 2 incidences make a great impression in the mind of Dr. Kent and he gave up allopathic practice and started practicing Homoeopathy. He also started teaching Homoeopathic Materia Medica in many institutes. In this way he was converted in Homoeopathy and dedicated his life in the development of Homoeopathy.
CONTRIBUTION
- He has given more stress on the use of higher potency and selection of medicine on the Basis of Mental Symptoms.
- He gave the name simple substance to the Vital Force.
- He published Repertory of Homoeopathic Materia Medica in 1897.
- He has written book ‘Lectures on Homoeopathic Materia Medica.’
- He has also worked upon the Homoeopathic philosophy and wrote the book ‘Lectures on Homoeopathic Philosophy.’
- He also proved many drugs.
