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    William Sheaff Helmuth

    Birth: 9-1801

    Death: 4-8-1880

    Birth Date Prefix: about

    Death Date Prefix:

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Biography and Citation Information:
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Biography: 
"HELMUTH, WILLIAM SCHEAFF.—Was born in Philadelphia in 1801. He entered the University of Pennsylvania in 1815 and in 1819 received the degree of Bachelor of Arts. Later the degree of A. M. He at once placed himself under the tuition of Dr. Thos. T. Hewson, a distinguished surgeon of Philadelphia. He graduated from the Medical Department of the University of Pennsylvania in 1823. Dr. James Kitchen and he were students together and became lifelong friends. Soon after his graduation he became one of the physicians to the Moyamensing Almshouse, which position he filled for several years. About this time he became subject to a severe and frequently recurring neuralgic affection of the heart, which often prevented his attention to business, confining him to the house for days together. The symptoms were great anxiety, severe pain, with palpitation and faintness. None of his brother physicians could give him relief, though the usual bleeding, leeching, cupping and blistering were tried. It is said that he often visited his patients with his chest raw from the blisters that had been applied for this affection. It was about this time, in the year 1839, that his old friend, Dr. James Kitchen, who had been studying in Paris, returned. During his absence he had become a follower of Hahnemann. Dr. Helmuth consulted him, and Bryonia 3X was prescribed with almost instantaneous relief, and through the rest of his life when the attacks threatened the same medicine would relieve him. Dr. Helmuth began at once to investigate further into the truth of Homoeopathy, continuing his experiments for several years, and of course being loth to give up the opinions in which he had been born and trained. But the result was an open avowal of Homoeopathy, followed by ostracism from his former medical associates. But from this time to his death he never doubted the truth of the system. At the first meeting of the Corporators of the College Dr. Helmuth was present, being one of the number. On May 17, 1849, he was appointed one of the dispensary physicians of the new College and when Dr. Jeanes resigned in April, 1849, from the Chair of Principles and Practice of Medicine, Dr. Helmuth was appointed in his place. He held this position until April 5th, 1853, when he resigned on account of ill health. After this he devoted himself entirely to general practice. In 1877 he was afflicted with a stroke of paralysis, which resulted in a long and painful illness. He died on April 8, 1880. He joined the American Institute in 1846."
Citation Type: 
Book or Book Chapter
Book or Monograph Title: 
History of the Homœopathic Medical College of Pennsylvania
Author(s) or Editor(s): 
Thomas Lindsley Bradford
Publisher Location: 
Philadelphia
Publisher Name: 
Boericke & Tafel
Year: 
1898
Start Page: 
334
End Page: 
335
Citation Notes: 
https://books.google.com/books?id=gddLAAAAMAAJ&lpg=PA334&ots=VuwWMaQWqj&dq=william%20scheaff%20helmuth&pg=PA334#v=onepage&q=william%20scheaff%20helmuth&f=false
Citation for Birth Info:
Citation Type: 
Website
Citation URL: 
http://search.ancestrylibrary.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?rank=1&new=1&MSAV=0&gss=angs-g&gsfn=william&gsln=helmuth&msbdy=1801&msddy=1880&uidh=if4&pcat=ROOT_CATEGORY&h=2131987&recoff=8+10&db=FSPhilPADeath&indiv=1&ml_rpos=1
Title of Webpage: 
Ancestry.com
Website Viewing Date: 
Tuesday, October 7, 2014 - 18:00
Website Last Modified Date: 
Tuesday, October 7, 2014 - 18:00
Citation Notes: 
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/141723857
Citation for Death Info:
Citation Type: 
Website
Citation URL: 
http://search.ancestrylibrary.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?rank=1&new=1&MSAV=0&gss=angs-g&gsfn=william&gsln=helmuth&msbdy=1801&msddy=1880&uidh=if4&pcat=ROOT_CATEGORY&h=2131987&recoff=8+10&db=FSPhilPADeath&indiv=1&ml_rpos=1
Title of Webpage: 
Ancestry.com
Website Viewing Date: 
Tuesday, October 7, 2014 - 18:00
Website Last Modified Date: 
Tuesday, October 7, 2014 - 18:00