786 HOMOOUSIANS HOMS to the disease, and give it either in its crude form or in its attenuation, as best seems to meet the exigencies of the case. What homoe- opaths claim as cardinal principles are : 1. The law of similia, or the treatment of disease by medicines whose effects, tested on the living, healthy organism, are similar to the symptoms present in disease. They do not claim this principle as universal or exclusive, since medi- cines are often required for their mechanical, nutritive, and chemical effect ; but they assert that it is of great value, and, when carefully considered and correctly applied, gives when indicated the most satisfactory results. 2. They assert that the law of similia demands an intimate knowledge of the effect of the drug upon the healthy organism. The question of dose is left to the individual judgment of the practitioner; but when given in accordance with the law of similia it is found that a greatly reduced dose gives the most satisfac- tory results. The homoeopathic doctrine, as above stated, admits of a wide diversity on minor points. Some in this school confine themselves to the high potencies ; but the ma- jority range in their prescriptions from the crude drug up through what are called the lower potencies ; all however admitting, as the key- stone of the system, the law of similia. In 1825 homoeopathy was introduced in the Uni- ted States by Hans B. Gram, a native of Bos- ton, but educated in Copenhagen. His success attracted the attention of several physicians, among whom were Gray, Channing, Willson, Hall, and Hering. A careful study of the prin- ciples of the new theory secured their adhe- rence ; and its success, not only in ordinary diseases, but in usually fatal epidemics, soon won for the system a large support. In the United States the school now (1874) numbers about 6,000 physicians. There are nine ho- moeopathic colleges, which at the session of 1872-'3 graduated 204 students. Every college has a dispensary connected with it for clinical teaching, and five have flourishing hospitals; and there are 32 dispensaries not connected with any college. There are 31 hospitals and asylums under the charge of this school. The school, for its age, is rich in practical literature. Among the important works are : Hahnemann's Organon, Materia Medica Pura, and " Chronic Diseases;" Hartmann's "Acute and Chronic Diseases;" Jahr's Symptomen- Codex or "Man- ual of Materia Medica ;" Bonninghausen's "Therapeutics;" Baehr's " Theory and Prac- tice ;" Grauvogel's " Practice ;" E. Guernsey's " Practice ;" H. H. Guernsey's " Obstetrics ;" Dudgeon's "Lectures;" Hempel's "Materia Medica;" Helmuth's "Surgery;" and Frank- lin's " Surgery." There are also published in the United States 13 periodicals devoted to homoeopathy. IIIMIIMH si s (Gr. a/xdf, the same, and ovaia, being, essence), in ecclesiastical history, a term which was originated in the 4th century to dis- tinguish the Athanasian or orthodox party from the Arians, who were called, among other names, Heterousiasts (erepof, different, and ovaia), and the Serni-Arians, who were termed Homoiousians (Gr. b/noios, similar, and ovaia). The Homoousians maintained that the Son was of the same essence as the Father ; the strict Arians, that he was of different essence ; and the Semi-Arians, that he was similar to the Father in essence, but not identical with him. (See ARIANISM.) HOMOPTERA. See HEMIPTERA. HOMPESCH, Ferdinand von, the last grand master of the order of St. John, born in Dussel- dorf, Germany, Nov. 9, 1744, died in Mont- pellier, France, in 1803. He was of a noble Prussian family, and at the age of 12 went to Malta, where he became a page of the grand master Kohan, and gradually rose to the rank of grand cross, through the influence of Austria, of which he was for 25 years the representa- tive at Malta. In 1797 he became grand mas- ter, succeeding Rohan. In June, 1798, Bona- parte, on his way to Egypt, touched at Malta and took possession of the island, seizing 1,200 guns and a large amount of treasure. Hom- pesch received 100,000 crowns as the value of his plate, and was offered an annuity of the same amount, which he refused to accept. He was sent to Trieste, and upon his arrival there protested against the seizure of Malta, and made over his grand mastership to Paul I., czar of Russia, who granted him a pension. This ceasing on the death of the czar, Hom- pesch fell into want, and went to France to urge the French government to pay him the annuity which he had previously declined. He received a grant of 5,000 francs in 1803. HOMS, Hams, or Hems (anc. Emesa or Emissa), a fortified city of Syria, 90 m. N. by E. of Da- mascus, about 1 m. from the river Aasy or Orontes; pop. about 30,000, including 7,000 Greek Christians. It is a prosperous town, having considerable trade, and manufactories of woollen, cotton, and silk fabrics, and of gold and silver thread. The houses are built of black basalt, and many of the streets are paved with the same material. In pagan times Emesa was celebrated for its magnificent temple of the sun, one of whose priests, Elagabalus, was made emperor of Rome in A. D. 218 by the legions of Syria. Odenathus, husband of Zenobia, the renowned queen of Palmyra, was murdered in this city in 266, and Zenobia herself was van- quished in its vicinity, in 273, by the emperor Aurelian. Lying in the direct route which an army must traverse in passing between Egypt and the Euphrates, the ancient Emesa was oc- cupied in turn by invaders from either direc- tion. In 636 it was captured by the Saracens, and it passed under the control of the succes- sive Moslem dynasties. In 1099 it was taken by the crusaders, and in 1 175 by Saladin. After many vicissitudes it was in 1517 added to the Ottoman empire. In July, 1932, Ibrahim Pasha of Egypt here gained a decisive victory over the pasha of Aleppo. In 1840 it was with the
