Abraham von Szontagh 1830 – 1902

Abraham von Szontagh 1830 – 1902 was a Hungarian orthodox physician, a Professor at the University of Pesth (Budapest), who converted to homeopathy and became a member of the Austrian Homeopathic Physicians’ Association.

Abraham von Szontagh was a colleague of Dome Argenti, Tivadar Bakody, Paul V Balogh, Tihamer Almasi Balogh, Franz Cservinka, Janos Garay, Ferenc Franz Hausmann, Ritter von Koch, Anton Eduard Nehrer, Seteth, Sigmann, Streibig, Moric Szentkiralyi, Weißweiler, and many others.

Abraham von Szontagh also practiced in Bratislava.

In 1848, homeopathy was granted a license in Hungary to be taught as a public and obligatory and equal medical science in the University of Pesth, placing the study of homeopathy on the same footing with the present medical studies in the University.

Abrham von Szontagh used the antitoxin diphtherium, Nosode of Diphtheria, to treat 1000 cases of diphtheria.

Around 1860, Bratislava was already a stronghold of homeopathy. A directory from that year lists eight homeopathic doctors and surgeons in this town alone: Dr Franz Cservinka, Dr Ritter von Koch, Dr Nehrer, surgeon Seteth, Dr Sigmann, Dr Streibig, Abraham von Szontagh, surgeon Weißweiler.

Only two are documented, however, in 1894 in Bratislava; and just before World War I only one was left.

Abraham Szontagh fled after the defeat of the freedom struggle also to Vienna, where he studied medicine. He returned back to Pest 1861…

1863 accounted for five homeopathic doctors to form an association: Tivadar Bakody, Janos Garay, Ferenc Franz Hausmann, Moric Szentkiralyi and Abraham von Szontagh.

They invited their colleagues on the 10th April 1863, the birthday of Samuel Hahnemann to a meeting. On 28 December 1865, fifteen doctors in the hall of the Academy of Sciences founded the Association of Homeopathic Physicians in Hungary. Paul Almasi Balogh, Vice President, first secretary Abraham von Szontagh, and (they decided that only accredited doctors should be allowed to join, as lay homeopaths could not compete with allopaths on an equal footing)… (Paul Balogh Almasi President, the Vice President Dome Argenti).

In 1863, another appeal was launched for the foundation of a homeopathic association that should, however, not admit laypersons. This time the initiators were, among others, Tivadar Bakody, Janos Garay, Ferenc Franz Hausmann, and Abraham von Szontagh.

In the 1860s a new generation of physicians (Tihamer Almasi Balogh, Ferenc Franz Hausmann, Abraham von Szontagh and others) published the first Hungarian homeopathic periodicals the Hasonszenvi Kozlony and the Hasonszenvi Lapok (Notes on Homeopathy) (Szontagh was the first publisher and editor) and, at the same time, they founded the Society of Hungarian Homeopathic Physicians (1865).

The Austrian Society of Homeopathic Physicians, which is now inviting assistance towards another proving of Ledum palustre; while Hoppe has undertaken a proving of Chamomilla; and Szontagh, one of Arnica. (Szontagh also took part on a proving of opium and a proving of Nux Vomica).

In 1865, Abraham von Szontagh and others came out to support Melanie Hahnemann when Arthur Ernst Lutze published a version of the 6th Edition of Samuel Hahnemann’s Organon, containing a contraversial reference to the use of double remedies which has since been repudiated by the publication of Samuel Hahnemann’s origional version.

Abraham von Szontagh was an elected Grand Master of the Budepest branch of the Grand Lodge of the Masons.

Abraham von Szontagh wrote Ueber die Bedingungen der Grösse der Arbeitskraft mit Berücksichtigung einiger Hausthiere, and he also submitted cases and articles to various homeopathic publications.