Page:Isvar Chandra Vidyasagar, a story of his life and work.djvu/549

502 self to the study of the new science, and soon acquired a tolerable knowledge in it. He then began to treat simple cases himself according to this mode and experienced good results. He induced his second brother, Dinabandhu, to learn the new science and to relieve the sufferings of the diseased poor. It was he, who persuaded the famous Dr. Mahendra Lal Sarkar, the greatest Indian homœopathist of the day, to try the efficacy of the new medicines. Dr. Sarkar was an eminent allopathist and had had a great aversion for the new science. One day, when he and Vidyasagar called together to see the Hon'ble Justice Dwarka Nath Mitter, who was confined to bed through illness, their conversation turned to Homœopathy, and a great debate ensued between the two friends as to which of the sister sciences was superior. At last, Dr. Sarkar was obliged to say that he would no more condemn Homœopathy, but would try and see if there was anything in it. He was a great scientist and had good inquisitive faculties. He soon found out the superior curable properties of the new medicines, and became a staunch follower of Homœopathy. In a short time, he rose to great eminence, and surpassed in practice even Dr. Berigni, the founder of the homœopathic treatment in India, who had consequently to return home with an empty pocket.

About 6 or 7 years after this, Vidyasagar's youngest daughter was cured of a serious illness