Constantine Hering
On the Study of Homeopathic Materia Medica
from "Wirkungen des Schlagengiftes"
Allentown und Leipzig, bei C. Kummer, 1837
British Journal Of Homeopathy
vol. II 1844 no. 7
Modernized Translation
Copyright 2003 by WholeHealthNow
The ordinary mode for acquiring knowledge of remedial agents - namely, merely by experience
during practice - cannot be termed studying the medicines, and no directions are required for it.
Much time and labor may be expended in this mode without ever attaining a complete command of
the medicinal agents. Many a homeopathic practitioner will find himself in the situation of walking
on a treadmill - setting machinery in motion, without moving from the spot.
He who trusts solely the experience and observations of others, and thinks that by means of
published collections of cases he will also attain accuracy in the selection of medicines in
individual cases, or find a similar accuracy in his general views of medicinal agents - such a one
constantly remains in a state of dependence, moving merely in the narrow circle which others have
chalked out.
In another country amidst other customs, and at other times when a different character of disease
is present - indeed, during the prevalence of individual epidemic diseases - he stands helpless and
bewildered. His pockets are full of paper money that is not current there, and his hands are
destitute of any available coin.
He who relies only on his own experience for knowledge of medicines can only attain a very
limited understanding. His personal knowledge will be quite imperfect as regards individual
remedial agents. If, perchance, one or other property appears peculiarly prominent, then the
others will be but seldom or never attended to.
For example, consider the case of Aconite, which certainly is of frequent use in inflammations, but
much more often in cases where no inflammation exists. Or consider Belladonna, which is
frequently employed where it does not answer at all, and where Hyosc., Arsen., Bryon., or some
other remedy, should be used instead.
So understanding acquired only in this way will be imperfect, in fine, as regards our whole materia
medica - because by this method the knowledge of materia medica cannot but always be very
deficient. Only a small number of favorite remedies will be retained in memory - merely such ones
as are known, or thought to be known, to possess some general determinate properties which
render their selection easy.
In the greater number of cases that come under daily observation, these favorite remedies will
very frequently be given where they are not of the slightest use. A number of remedies will be
employed for merely single symptoms. And a large number will never be prescribed at all.
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In cases of a more serious and rarer description, even where the most careful research is
employed, it is often all in vain. For sometimes many remedies seem to be equally indicated, so it
is difficult to make a selection from among them. At other times no single remedy seems
applicable.
The more intimate our acquaintance with the medicines, the more seldom will such cases occur,
and the nearer is the physician to the attainment of complete mastery of his subject.
Tyros, who have merely glanced at the remedies, imagine that it is not possible to become
acquainted with a single remedy which has such a vast number of symptoms - just as a country
clown on coming to town is at a loss to conceive how the people know which way to go among
such a number of houses. And yet, in the course of time, he himself finds no difficulty in doing this.
Let us observe how this happens. It may help us a little in studying the materia medica.
It is well known that a person who has been in many large towns can much sooner find his way
than other strangers who have not. This is true without there being much resemblance between
the towns. He must unconsciously have invented some method by which he becomes quickly at
home in every new town.
In like manner, many homeopaths have unconsciously adopted a method of studying the materia
medica. Our present object is to make this method known.
Learning the materia medica “by heart,” would be a highly absurd plan - and not only impossible
on account of the extent of the undertaking, but even if possible, still, utterly useless. In order to
acquire a foreign language, what good would it do to learn the dictionary from beginning to end?
One who could repeat the list of symptoms of a remedy in their regular order would not thereby
possess knowledge of the combination of symptoms - and it is that knowledge of which we stand
corresponding ones may be found in a large number of remedies - and every remedy contains the
indications of a vast variety of diseases.
Section 2
The Goal Of Study
Every medicine has its peculiar characteristic traits which must occur in each of the groups that
are mentioned above. There cannot be the least doubt about this fact. But this only shows the goal
from afar - a goal that we may reach by a careful study of the materia medica.
Up to this time, only a few fragments of such characteristic traits have been discovered. Anyone
may soon learn these by heart; but this can never be called studying the medicines.
Properly speaking, the study of the medicines is rather the road to a fresh discovery of those traits
which, during practice, are continually presenting themselves to us. And, at the same time, it will
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show the fallacy of many well-known dicta proceeding from some who have attained the reputation
of great authorities through the indolence of others.
The homeopathic physician who knows little more than the characteristics of a few polychrest
medicines (with the addition, perhaps, of a few other scraps of knowledge which he himself picked
up) has only a one-legged stool - we may turn ourselves hither and thither, but it will fall to the
ground if not sat on by someone with two legs.
The homeopathic physician who knows no more than this is like a bad chess player - someone
who only knows one or two methods of giving checkmate which he has learned from studying the
fag ends of games played by celebrated players - put together with but a few other modes he has
discovered himself.
The master of the game commands all the pieces in every situation. He shows his skill even when
checkmated, and, properly speaking, he never loses.
Even though the physician at the bedside of the patient has ever so carefully compared a medicine
with the case before him, this will tend but little to advance his knowledge of it. And such a
comparison cannot be termed a study of the medicine, as it is only viewed in connection with the
case thus before him.
the sensations by its action, which have been separately observed and collected together, are to
be regarded as symptoms of one and the same artificial disease. They are seen to belong to one
morbid picture.
nearly connected with the first few, and so on.
There is always a comparing of the new ones with those that were first studied. On this account, I
call this the diagnostic method.
After one or more families of nearly related substances have thus been worked out, the others
follow much more easily. After pursuing the study in this manner with unremitting diligence for
several years, then any new medicine may be made available after only one perusal.
By carefully reading it over only once, so much remains impressed on the memory by the
unconsciously acquired habit of comparison, that in a case of disease in which it is indicated, it is
easily recalled to mind.
He who can do this will not complain of the number of imperfectly proved medicines, or of the
fewness of their recorded symptoms, while at the same time finding fault with the large number of
symptoms presented by other medicines.
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Be the symptoms as numerous as they may, he can make himself be the master of them. Be they
ever so small in number, he understands how to avail himself of them.
He who has not the requisite foundation finds all additions to the materia medica a disagreeable
burden. He shows by his discontent that he has not yet made himself master of the old matter.
Methinks most of those who complain of our materia medica, are either totally ignorant of, or have
but a scanty acquaintance with, our medicines.
Before we proceed to give specific directions, we shall:
1. Endeavor to defend the method we have proposed
2. Show how a single medicine is to be studied
3. Show how the others are to be connected to this one
Section 3
A Defense Of The Method We Have Proposed
The assertion that one remedy must first be perfectly known, and that then the rest will be
acquired with less difficulty, and still more easily the farther we advance, is founded on the
principles and practice of mnemonics.
This diagnostic method, indeed, appears to me to be the only practical plan of studying the materia
medica, or at any rate, the shortest and most direct way of attaining the end proposed.
There are certainly two other possible methods. One is to learn what are called the principal
symptoms of each medicine. The other is to study each substance by itself, and thus, all of them
unconnectedly. A fourth and last method would be, not to study the materia medica at all.
(Exempla sunt odiosa!)
To learn the so-called principal symptoms - e.g., to extract from an epitome like Jahr's Manual, the
most prominently marked sentences, and to get these off by heart - is the shortest way to practice.
But, at the same time, it is the surest way to permanent mediocrity. Let him who is forced to make
a trade of his profession, adopt this method. It will bring him soonest into the center of the woods.
But let him not forget to secure at the same time a permanent possession. If not, he will resemble
the squatters in the far west, who establish themselves without troubling their heads about their
right to the soil. And when the buyer of the land chases them off, they remove to a distance, out of
one wretched wooden hut into another.
They barely support their existence by the scanty profits arising from ill cultivated ground, and the
uncertainties of the chase. This superficial, unmeaning sort of life has charms for them. And their
labors, together with those of the destructive wood louse, lighten the task of the settler.
Those qualities that we at present term the principal symptoms of the medicines are, for the most
part, unsatisfactory - nay, they prove an obstacle in the way of accurate individualization, and lead
to carelessness.
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It is much more convenient to administer to patients a dozen homeopathic remedies according to
this principle, than any plan of the old school. And one may, by such practice, be pretty sure, that
by the end of the year a number of patients will have recovered.
These principal symptoms are, moreover, in many instances incomplete, and in many others
perfectly false. They can only be known with certainty, and have their due value assigned them, by
a careful study of the various medicines, having especial regard to their relations one with another.
A mere acquaintance with these principal symptoms cannot be called studying the remedies. If we
were in possession of a scientific arrangement of the materia medica, we might make it the basis
of our study of the medicines. But at present, we cannot expect to construct anything satisfactory
on such an uncertain and incomplete basis.
He who seeks to study the medicines according to their symptoms, but each medicine separately
and without instituting a comparison between them, will, with the very best memory, not advance
far before forgetting what he had previously learned. The memory is incapable of retaining any
thing but what is presented to it in connection with something else. An idea is easily brought to the
recollection only when in connection with others.
We would remind him who has had no experience of the comparative method, either on himself or
others, that acquiring a knowledge of the symptoms of medicines, is exactly similar to the mode in
which the chemist, the mineralogist, the botanist, and the zoologist acquire a knowledge of the
objects connected with their respective sciences. We should, therefore, set about it in a similar
manner.
Let it be considered what a multitude of signs are so perfectly at the command of the zoologist,
that he can easily recall them to his recollection. Although no one is capable of giving a complete
description of all animals, a repetition of all their characteristics “off the book,” as the saying is.
Yet the zoologist can at once tell a new animal when he sees it. He can instantly determine to
what class it belongs, and point out its particular characteristics. By merely looking at each animal,
he already knows its characteristic peculiarities, or at least has no difficulty in discovering them.
The homeopathic physician must do just the same with his medicines. Let it not be alleged that
zoology and the other branches of natural science are things quite different from our science. It
must be regarded and dealt with in exactly the same manner as the natural sciences.
Let it not be said that those sciences are so far advanced, and the system so perfect, that every
thing connected with them is much easier. Suppose that our materia medica were at present as
little advanced as a natural science - as zoology in the time of Aristotle.
This should not deter us from regarding it as such, working it out as such, and studying it as such.
By this means we should make as much progress in it as was then made in zoology - and that is a
good deal in comparison to knowing nothing at all, or to wandering in benighted ignorance amidst
a profusion of everything.
I refer to those who possess a real knowledge of our materia medica, if that has not been obtained
in the way I have just pointed out - and I doubt not that some now see that they have
unconsciously obtained their knowledge in the same manner. There can only be one right way. But
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this may have been pursued without the individual being exactly aware of it himself, as has
happened to those proficient in many of the arts.
When one remedy has been accurately studied, and the art has been acquired of classing others
along with it according to their resemblance and of distinguishing the differences between them,
then each subsequent group that is studied in a similar manner costs far less trouble. The result
will be that he who has thus made himself master of a hundred medicines will require for the
second hundred scarcely so much time and labor as he expended on the first ten.
An increase of the medicines, therefore, ad infinitum, will never prove too much for human
capabilities. Entomologists can easily acquire knowledge of a number of new insects. It requires
little trouble on the part of the botanist to learn an endless succession of new plants. This they do
by a speedy conception of the resemblances and differences among them - and the more practice
they have, the easier it is.
It may be urged that no such laborious mode need be adopted to acquire of one of the natural
sciences, but that the general characteristics of the various classes are soon learned. In the
present state of the natural sciences, all the relationships existing among the various classes and
orders may be seen at a glance, and the study of them thereby greatly simplified.
But, as we have not brought our materia medica to such a pitch of perfection - and from the short
time of its existence, it has been impossible to advance it farther than it is at present - we must
dispense with this simplifying glance.
We must, however, on this account, follow the only path that leads to this end - laborious though it
be at present. As the progress of inventions facilitates commerce and travel more and more, so
the progress of science always lightens the task of learning what has been discovered. The same
will be the case as regards the materia medica.
Until that time comes, we must study the remedies as we find them. The time is, we hope, not far
distant, when we shall be able to talk about the objects of our science in the same manner as
natural historians do of theirs - when, like them, we may be able to give complete descriptions of
these objects without touching upon unimportant information.
The time, we hope, is at hand when we shall know what is and what is not important in our materia
medica.
Section 4
How Is A Single Medicine To Be Studied?
How can a remedy be studied, if the symptoms are not learned by heart? It can be learned through
the same principle as the whole materia medica - by comparison.
The symptoms of a medicine are to be read through carefully several times. This should be done
from beginning to end, in the first years of study, with the pen always in hand. While reading, one
thing or other is always to be particularly attended to.
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-- The First Reading --
At first attention should be directed to the organs in which the symptoms occur. It will be at once
noted that many organs or tissues are particularly attacked. The organs that show the greatest
number of symptoms are to be regarded according to their physiological relationship.
In this, our previous studies are a great assistance, just as every physiological dogma, every
hypothesis, even though false, is an aid to the memory.
Thus, the ear is said to be the peculiar organ of the osseous system. Therefore, when pains or
nodes in the bones occur, I would observe attentively the symptoms of the ear. And, in this
manner, many individual symptoms would appear more significant where connections exist.
For instance, between the functions of the skin and kidneys, symptoms occurring in the one
system will always call to our mind those of the other - whether those symptoms harmonize with or
are opposed to one another.
In our comparison, pathology will also be of use, and that will be so whether its theories are true or
false.
Thus, where symptoms referable to the liver occur, I would always compare the pains in the right
shoulder, and vice versa.
Where turbid urine is passed in small quantity, I would pay attention to the symptoms which point
to the serous cavities.
In doing this, for example, when studying Aurum, a number of symptoms would thereby appear
more important, and consequently be more deeply impressed on my mind. And this remedy would
occur to my memory not only in cases of effusion into the pericardium, but also in hydrothorax and
ascites.
The important observation of Neumann - that diabetes is always preceded by a diminution in the
activity of the kidneys - will be often serviceable in our consideration of the medicines. It will, for
example, help to confirm the supposition that not much is to be expected from Argentum in cases
of diabetes, and that this disease is mentioned in our repertories in connection with silver in this
manner:
Hahnemann, distrusted the alleged diuretic properties of nitrate of silver. Rather he ascribed to it
powers that are exactly the reverse. But as far as I know, he does not adduce a single instance of
its efficacy.
While studying the symptoms of Phosphoric acid, we should call to mind the same observation
that is also the recorded experience of its efficacy in several cases of milky urine - a kind of
diabetes.
In this manner we will see that a large number of the symptoms may be pathologically connected.
During the first reading and comparison, the symptoms arrange themselves, as it were, into some
sort of definite form. Thus we gain a collective impression of the whole that we retain in the
memory, and recall to mind in all cases where the remedy is suitable.
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-- The Second Reading --
During a second perusal of the medicine, attention should be directed at the character of the
symptoms. The former perusal was but a preparation for this step. The character of the pains in
different parts should be compared - all pains or other sensations of the same, or a similar or a
nearly related kind, that occur in different parts should be carefully observed.
If this is done, it will be found, for example, that burning pains occurring frequently in various parts
are not peculiar to Arsenic and Carbo-vegetabilis alone, but they also occur in Phosphoric acid
and other substances. The mind will take a comprehensive view of them, and a complete picture
of them will be retained.
At the same time, attention must be paid to the parts where these pains principally occur. Thus, we
note whether the burning pains are more in the mucous membranes, or in the serous cavities, or in
other parts.
For instance, the burning pain in the case of Arsenic occurs most frequently internally, in the blood
vessels. In the case of Carb. veg. pain is seen more externally, in the skin and joints.
Both substances cause burning in the stomach and bowels, but Arsenic to a greater degree. On
the other hand, Carb. veg. causes much more in the breast - and so forth.
In every substance where the same description of pain prevails, an attentive examination will show
the characteristic features of each.
We will soon discover that certain kinds of pain prevail in certain organs and tissues, e.g., tearing
in the muscles, dartings in the chest, cuttings in the abdomen, pressure in the head, compression
in the ears, boring in the bones, etc. But this we shall enter into more particularly in another place.
This tends much to assist the memory, both directly and indirectly - the circumstance of an
unusual pain occurring in any organ would be the more observed. A number of isolated symptoms
are, moreover, more easily remembered in connection - when placed side by side.
For example, with respect to Aurum, it produces determination of blood to the head, to the chest,
to the eyes; toothache from a similar cause; determination of blood to the legs; and many other
symptoms that may be found to be connected with these.
An accordance of many of the symptoms of different organs may often be observed. Thus Caust.
has sparks, flickerings, figures, an appearance of gauze before the eyes. Also, it has ringing,
whistling; singing, chirping in the ears.
On the other hand, Phosph. has points and spots, dark, black, and gray veils before the eyes; loud
noises, buzzing, throbbing in the ears.
After the moral symptoms have been arranged in groups, they may be easily impressed on the
memory by comparing them with the corresponding symptoms of other organs.
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Thus anxiety, melancholy, etc., are to be compared with the symptoms of the heart and chest - or
a weak, wandering, or obstinate state of mind, is compared with the frequently analogous
symptoms of the digestive organs. And so forth.
Section 5
-- The Third Reading --
At the third reading, the conditions under which the symptoms take place should be noted. This
must always be done pen in hand, even though Ruckert's comparative work be employed.
Doing it one's self has great advantages, especially at the commencement of the study. One is
exercised thereby; and all that has been previously learned is at the same time revised.
It should be observed whether the symptoms take place on the right side or the left. If this has not
been done previously, note at what part of the day they occur, when our pathological knowledge
will be of great assistance to us. Observe in what attitudes, positions, during what motions, etc.,
the symptoms occur.
Care should be taken not to indulge in vague generalities, such as “aggravation in the evening,”
“worse on motion,” and the like. This is of small use in acquiring knowledge of the medicine, and it
is an obstacle in the choice of it as a remedy.
What we wish to know is, what symptom is aggravated in the evening or on motion. When
possible, this symptom should be noted along with some connecting idea.
Since Hahnemann taught us to distinguish between Bryon. and Rhus. by pointing out their
opposite qualities - motion producing aggravation in the one case and rest in the other - it has
frequently happened that too much value has been assigned to this circumstance in the choice of
bryon.
Many other similar remedies are distinguished by possessing a similar pair of opposite properties -
Bell. and Hyosc.; Nux. and Puls.; Chin. and seneg.; Phos. and Nitr.; Sulph. and Con.; Carb. and
Dros.. These along with many other substances bear the same relation to each other as Bryon.
and Rhus.
Bell. has a far larger number of symptoms that are worse on motion than Bryon. - yet the
symptoms that are worse on motion are perfectly distinct. As regards Bell., they occur mostly in
the vascular system. With Bryon. they are chiefly to be found in the joints. The symptoms of the
respiratory organs with Bryon. are not aggravated by motion. However, those produced by Bell.
are decidedly so.
One should be careful of coming to a converse conclusion. I mean to say, in the case of a remedy
having a number of symptoms that are aggravated by rest, it does not follow that they will be
ameliorated by motion, and vice versa. Thus Dulc. has many symptoms that are better on motion,
but very few that are worse when at rest.
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-- The Fourth Reading --
The remedy may be perused yet a fourth time, with particular attention being paid to the
combinations of the symptoms. The student may carefully observe what symptoms follow each
other or occur simultaneously.
However, the attention must have been previously directed to this point. When this was not the
case, the student should seek to bring these combinations into connection with his former
observations.
Care should be taken not to adopt the notion that a remedy can cure groups of symptoms in a
patient only if they occur in the order it produces them. A remedy is capable of curing groups of
symptoms which it does not produce in the same combination at all - groups whose component
parts were observed in a number of different provers, and frequently in quite a different order.
From a pathological point of view, a special study of a medicine which compares it at the same
time to different forms of disease may be useful after a thorough knowledge of the symptoms of
the medicine has been acquired. Experience teaches us that a number of apparently perfectly
different diseases, which are far asunder in pathological works, may still be cured with the same
remedy.
It would consequently be necessary to go over almost all diseases in connection with the remedy.
This would be a great waste of time, and would not lead to a perfect knowledge of the remedy
after all - our pathological systems are very far from being complete enough for this.
It would be well, however, to compare the description of individual forms of disease, with many
classes of remedies. Thus, for instance, those catarrhs which indicate Mercury and allied
medicines are very dissimilar to those in which Arsenic, and medicines of its class, are efficacious.
Section 6
How Other Medicines Are To Be Connected To This One
After a thorough acquaintance with one or more remedies has been gained in the above manner,
the student must then pass on to others. The best course will be to go on next to those most
nearly allied.
The study of the second remedy is already somewhat easier. This is partly owing to the practice
that has been had in acquiring knowledge of the symptoms, and partly because deviations from
the character of the last studied medicine become more vividly impressed upon our mind.
We must, consequently, have a very clear perception of these differences. They must assist us to
attain a distinct idea of the peculiarities of the second medicine, as well as to stamp the knowledge
of the first more forcibly on our memory.
Therefore we must search for resemblances and observe differences in the more prominent
symptoms - and in those that are more easily remembered, rarer, and more striking.
I have called attention above, in the examples of Bryon. and Bell., Caust. and Phosph., Arsen. and
Carb. veg., to the fact, that medicines which otherwise present great similarities in their symptoms,
are yet widely different in certain respects.
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No regard needs to be paid to slight differences, nor even to whole groups of symptoms which one
of the medicines has, and the other has not. No attention need be given to the fact that, in one
case many symptoms are known, while with the other, very few are.
These factors may, however, demand our attention in cases where the different characters of the
remedies are thereby marked - as in the case of Bell. compared with Bryon. regarding the moral
symptoms, the effects upon the organs of the senses, the symptoms of the throat, etc.
The differences sometimes lie in the combinations of symptoms, whereby they may present
resemblances to perfectly different diseases.
More frequently, and much more clearly, these differences are expressed in the conditions under
which the symptoms occur. These are often exactly opposite.
Thus the very similar headaches produced by Bell. and Bry. occur in the former in the evening, in
the latter in the morning.
These differences are sometimes very subtle. For instance, most of the exacerbations of Acid. nitr.
occur in the evening, but those of Acid. mur. are before midnight. Those of Acid. sulph. are after
midnight, and those of Acid. phosph. are seen towards the morning. But all the acids present
nocturnal aggravations.
Symptoms of an opposite character are rare. But differences in nature are very frequent, as is the
case in the gastric symptoms of Bell. and Bry., Bry. and Ant. crud., Ant. crud. and Ipec., etc.
Symptoms in opposite situations are more frequent. Thus, similar symptoms are often
distinguished by occurring in one case on the right, in another on the left side - as happens with
arn. and lach and others.
The catarrhal affections of bell. are distinguished from those of dulc. in that those of the former
occur more in the mucous membranes of the head and neck – in the region of the carotids –
where those of the latter occur more in the chest and abdomen – in the course of the descending
aorta, etc.
Beginners are apt to attend too much to specialties when making these comparisons. This over
attention becomes a very laborious task, and is apt to lead to a total abandonment of the study.
There is, however, no better way of avoiding this error, and of learning how to make one's self
quickly the master of the generalities, than to surmount undauntedly the laboriousness of the
beginning.
On a second comparison, the mind is more accustomed to the work. According to the talents and
previous acquirements of the student, will it be a longer or shorter time before he comes to be able
to complete the comparison of two remedies in a few days.
We must caution those who pay too much attention to specialties not to be so very minute, but
above all things to seek for points of crystallization. We must point out to those who are disposed
to be superficial that important discoveries for practice may be made by a careful comparison.
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The comparisons may be very easily made by means of Ruckert's systematic tables. The
remedies to be compared are to be sought out in each division, their symptoms carefully read, and
the result committed to writing.
A separate column is assigned to each medicine. Those symptoms which both have in common
should be written in the middle. When there is only similarity, the sign of similarity should be
placed in the middle between them. Where opposites, or well-defined differences exist, they
should be distinguished by an interposed arrow, etc.
It cannot be expected that anyone, least of all a beginner, will compare every remedy with every
other. The student should select remedies for this purpose that he considers to be analogous, and
which are known to possess important properties.
All remedies that are closely related by the source of their derivation, must also be srelated with
respect to their symptoms. All that are chemically allied must be so medicinally. Those possessing
similar odors – as are Phosph., Ars., All. sat., Asaf., and Bufo. – must possess resemblances in
their symptoms, etc.
The chemical preparations may be arranged in natural families, according to one or other system.
Those nearly related are thus compared, e.g., Sulph. and Phosph.; Chlor. and Iod.; the carbons
and Graph.; the oxygenous acids, Nitr. ac., Sulph. ac., and Phosph. ac. are compared with each
other, and with the hydrogenous acids, Mur. ac., Hydrocyan. ac.
Further, Sil., Alum.; the carbonates of potash, soda, and ammonia; Bar. and Stront.; Calc. and
Magn.; the muriates of soda and Am., Bar. and Magn. The acetates of Cupr., Ferr., Plumb., Mang.;
the metals Aur., Plat., Stann., Arg., and Zinc.
Interesting comparisons may be made between Phos. ac. and Phos.; Sulph. ac. and Sulph.; as
also Sulph. and Hep., Hep. and Calc.
Section 7
Medicines From The Vegetable Kingdom
Among medicines belonging to the vegetable kingdom, those which may be compared as being
nearly allied, are:
Anac. and Rhus.
Bryon. and Coloc.
Ind. and Tong.
Op. and Chelid.
Spig. and Menyanth.
Viol. od. and Jac.
Thuya. and Sabin.
Coff., Ipec., Chin.
Colch., Verat., Sabad.
Euphr., Dig., Grat.
Lauroc., Prun. sp., Amyg. am.
Led., Rhod., Nux vom., Ign., Oleand.
Arn., Cham., Cin., Leont.
Asa., Cic., Con., Aet., Phell.
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Bell., Caps., Hyosc., Stram., Tab., Verb.
Acon., Clem., Hell., Puls., Staph., Ran. bulb., and Sol.
The cryptogamous plants, Agar. musc., Bov., Lycop., are too remote from each other - and yet
their symptoms are much more similar than those of the more nearly related families of Solaneae
and Ranunculaceae. Sec. can only be judged from from the cures it has effected - the symptoms
of it derived from epidemic diseases are not to be relied on.
It is worthy of observation that the differences of those substances which are allied in their origin
lie principally in the conditions of the symptoms; whereas those substances nearly connected by
the similarity of their symptoms alone, agree merely in single departments of symptoms, but in
others have quite a different character and seat.
Families of substances that are related only in their symptom may be formed from such medicines
as may be employed with advantage in succession - or which serve as antidotes to each other.
In the present state of homeopathic literature, the formation of such families is a very hazardous
experiment. But they are of much greater practical value than those formed from their natural
affinity.
It is perfectly evident that substances that have a similar origin must produce many similar
symptoms. Our business should be to search for the differences, in order to avoid confusion.
When, however, minerals, plants, and animals, widely different from each other, produce similar
groups of symptoms, there must be some deeper reason for this. It must indicate the similarity of
the medicinal to the natural diseases.
Such allied medicines are in general the best antidotes of each other. However - as must happen
from the rules laid down above - among the metals that form several families, there are antidotes
which are never found among those that are nearly connected, but always among those that are
widely separated.
Thus it follows that Sel., Ars., and Am.; Plat. and Argent.; Stan. Plumb., Zinc. and Nic.; Ferr. and
Mang. do not antidote each other. But the metals Plumb. and Plat.; Ferr. and Ars.; Am. and Merc.
do.
Among plants there must be antidotes in each family, and perhaps in each genus. There are,
indeed separate parts in every plant and animal, which seems to have a power of neutralizing the
effects of the others.
Other homeopathic writers have pointed out a close connection between the two naturally allied
substances Nux. and Ign., on the one hand, and the symptomatically allied Puls. - to which may
be added Cham., Coff., and Caps. We may, I think, also reckon Ambr. among these.
Another family is Ars., Verat., Ipec., Asar., to which we may add Ferr. and Chin.; perhaps also
Staph., and Ac. sulph..
Sulph., Calc., and Lyc. are well known as doing well in succession – to which may be joined Led.,
and in another point of view, Therid.
One of the most remarkable and beautiful families is Hep., Merc., bell., and Lach. Between these
and those allied to Arsen., may be placed Phos. ac. and Carb. veg., and those related to them, as
alsoCupr., and on another account Aur.
Anyone who has thoroughly made himself master of two or three families, and then from time to
time makes a comparison between two remedies which appear to him to be related – and between
which he has frequently needed to make a most accurate choice in practice, as for instance,
Sulph. and Ferr.; Phos. and Caust.; Ars. and Carb. v.; Bell. and Bry.; Bry. and Rhus.; Rhus. and
Dulc., etc. - this homeopathic doctor gradually obtains such an extensive basis of knowledge that
all the rest of the remedies are acquired without difficulty.
If a crystal of salt is suspended in a saturated solution of the same salt, the most beautiful crystals
collect upon it.
So, one who is acquainted with a large number of medicines in the above manner, can thereafter
compare every medicine with every other in a very short time - and without many quires of paper.
This must happen before our materia medica, which ought to belong to the natural sciences, can
be looked upon as one of them.
On the Study of Homeopathic Materia Medica
from "Wirkungen des Schlagengiftes"
Allentown und Leipzig, bei C. Kummer, 1837
British Journal Of Homeopathy
vol. II 1844 no. 7
Modernized Translation
Copyright 2003 by WholeHealthNow
The ordinary mode for acquiring knowledge of remedial agents - namely, merely by experience
during practice - cannot be termed studying the medicines, and no directions are required for it.
Much time and labor may be expended in this mode without ever attaining a complete command of
the medicinal agents. Many a homeopathic practitioner will find himself in the situation of walking
on a treadmill - setting machinery in motion, without moving from the spot.
He who trusts solely the experience and observations of others, and thinks that by means of
published collections of cases he will also attain accuracy in the selection of medicines in
individual cases, or find a similar accuracy in his general views of medicinal agents - such a one
constantly remains in a state of dependence, moving merely in the narrow circle which others have
chalked out.
In another country amidst other customs, and at other times when a different character of disease
is present - indeed, during the prevalence of individual epidemic diseases - he stands helpless and
bewildered. His pockets are full of paper money that is not current there, and his hands are
destitute of any available coin.
He who relies only on his own experience for knowledge of medicines can only attain a very
limited understanding. His personal knowledge will be quite imperfect as regards individual
remedial agents. If, perchance, one or other property appears peculiarly prominent, then the
others will be but seldom or never attended to.
For example, consider the case of Aconite, which certainly is of frequent use in inflammations, but
much more often in cases where no inflammation exists. Or consider Belladonna, which is
frequently employed where it does not answer at all, and where Hyosc., Arsen., Bryon., or some
other remedy, should be used instead.
So understanding acquired only in this way will be imperfect, in fine, as regards our whole materia
medica - because by this method the knowledge of materia medica cannot but always be very
deficient. Only a small number of favorite remedies will be retained in memory - merely such ones
as are known, or thought to be known, to possess some general determinate properties which
render their selection easy.
In the greater number of cases that come under daily observation, these favorite remedies will
very frequently be given where they are not of the slightest use. A number of remedies will be
employed for merely single symptoms. And a large number will never be prescribed at all.
2
In cases of a more serious and rarer description, even where the most careful research is
employed, it is often all in vain. For sometimes many remedies seem to be equally indicated, so it
is difficult to make a selection from among them. At other times no single remedy seems
applicable.
The more intimate our acquaintance with the medicines, the more seldom will such cases occur,
and the nearer is the physician to the attainment of complete mastery of his subject.
Tyros, who have merely glanced at the remedies, imagine that it is not possible to become
acquainted with a single remedy which has such a vast number of symptoms - just as a country
clown on coming to town is at a loss to conceive how the people know which way to go among
such a number of houses. And yet, in the course of time, he himself finds no difficulty in doing this.
Let us observe how this happens. It may help us a little in studying the materia medica.
It is well known that a person who has been in many large towns can much sooner find his way
than other strangers who have not. This is true without there being much resemblance between
the towns. He must unconsciously have invented some method by which he becomes quickly at
home in every new town.
In like manner, many homeopaths have unconsciously adopted a method of studying the materia
medica. Our present object is to make this method known.
Learning the materia medica “by heart,” would be a highly absurd plan - and not only impossible
on account of the extent of the undertaking, but even if possible, still, utterly useless. In order to
acquire a foreign language, what good would it do to learn the dictionary from beginning to end?
One who could repeat the list of symptoms of a remedy in their regular order would not thereby
possess knowledge of the combination of symptoms - and it is that knowledge of which we stand
in need.
In practice, we never make use of the whole range of symptoms, but only of a particular
combination of a small portion of them. To the general symptoms of every form of disease,corresponding ones may be found in a large number of remedies - and every remedy contains the
indications of a vast variety of diseases.
Section 2
The Goal Of Study
Every medicine has its peculiar characteristic traits which must occur in each of the groups that
are mentioned above. There cannot be the least doubt about this fact. But this only shows the goal
from afar - a goal that we may reach by a careful study of the materia medica.
Up to this time, only a few fragments of such characteristic traits have been discovered. Anyone
may soon learn these by heart; but this can never be called studying the medicines.
Properly speaking, the study of the medicines is rather the road to a fresh discovery of those traits
which, during practice, are continually presenting themselves to us. And, at the same time, it will
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show the fallacy of many well-known dicta proceeding from some who have attained the reputation
of great authorities through the indolence of others.
The homeopathic physician who knows little more than the characteristics of a few polychrest
medicines (with the addition, perhaps, of a few other scraps of knowledge which he himself picked
up) has only a one-legged stool - we may turn ourselves hither and thither, but it will fall to the
ground if not sat on by someone with two legs.
The homeopathic physician who knows no more than this is like a bad chess player - someone
who only knows one or two methods of giving checkmate which he has learned from studying the
fag ends of games played by celebrated players - put together with but a few other modes he has
discovered himself.
The master of the game commands all the pieces in every situation. He shows his skill even when
checkmated, and, properly speaking, he never loses.
Even though the physician at the bedside of the patient has ever so carefully compared a medicine
with the case before him, this will tend but little to advance his knowledge of it. And such a
comparison cannot be termed a study of the medicine, as it is only viewed in connection with the
case thus before him.
To study a remedial agent is to attentively observe its symptoms and curative powers, without any
reference to particular cases or particular diseases. It is to consider all its effects as connected
with one another.
All its individual symptoms are seen as separate parts of a whole. The many changes produced inthe sensations by its action, which have been separately observed and collected together, are to
be regarded as symptoms of one and the same artificial disease. They are seen to belong to one
morbid picture.
The proper mode of studying the whole materia medica consists of first making one's self the
complete master of a few medicines. Afterwards comes the mastery of those medicines mostnearly connected with the first few, and so on.
There is always a comparing of the new ones with those that were first studied. On this account, I
call this the diagnostic method.
After one or more families of nearly related substances have thus been worked out, the others
follow much more easily. After pursuing the study in this manner with unremitting diligence for
several years, then any new medicine may be made available after only one perusal.
By carefully reading it over only once, so much remains impressed on the memory by the
unconsciously acquired habit of comparison, that in a case of disease in which it is indicated, it is
easily recalled to mind.
He who can do this will not complain of the number of imperfectly proved medicines, or of the
fewness of their recorded symptoms, while at the same time finding fault with the large number of
symptoms presented by other medicines.
4
Be the symptoms as numerous as they may, he can make himself be the master of them. Be they
ever so small in number, he understands how to avail himself of them.
He who has not the requisite foundation finds all additions to the materia medica a disagreeable
burden. He shows by his discontent that he has not yet made himself master of the old matter.
Methinks most of those who complain of our materia medica, are either totally ignorant of, or have
but a scanty acquaintance with, our medicines.
Before we proceed to give specific directions, we shall:
1. Endeavor to defend the method we have proposed
2. Show how a single medicine is to be studied
3. Show how the others are to be connected to this one
Section 3
A Defense Of The Method We Have Proposed
The assertion that one remedy must first be perfectly known, and that then the rest will be
acquired with less difficulty, and still more easily the farther we advance, is founded on the
principles and practice of mnemonics.
This diagnostic method, indeed, appears to me to be the only practical plan of studying the materia
medica, or at any rate, the shortest and most direct way of attaining the end proposed.
There are certainly two other possible methods. One is to learn what are called the principal
symptoms of each medicine. The other is to study each substance by itself, and thus, all of them
unconnectedly. A fourth and last method would be, not to study the materia medica at all.
(Exempla sunt odiosa!)
To learn the so-called principal symptoms - e.g., to extract from an epitome like Jahr's Manual, the
most prominently marked sentences, and to get these off by heart - is the shortest way to practice.
But, at the same time, it is the surest way to permanent mediocrity. Let him who is forced to make
a trade of his profession, adopt this method. It will bring him soonest into the center of the woods.
But let him not forget to secure at the same time a permanent possession. If not, he will resemble
the squatters in the far west, who establish themselves without troubling their heads about their
right to the soil. And when the buyer of the land chases them off, they remove to a distance, out of
one wretched wooden hut into another.
They barely support their existence by the scanty profits arising from ill cultivated ground, and the
uncertainties of the chase. This superficial, unmeaning sort of life has charms for them. And their
labors, together with those of the destructive wood louse, lighten the task of the settler.
Those qualities that we at present term the principal symptoms of the medicines are, for the most
part, unsatisfactory - nay, they prove an obstacle in the way of accurate individualization, and lead
to carelessness.
5
It is much more convenient to administer to patients a dozen homeopathic remedies according to
this principle, than any plan of the old school. And one may, by such practice, be pretty sure, that
by the end of the year a number of patients will have recovered.
These principal symptoms are, moreover, in many instances incomplete, and in many others
perfectly false. They can only be known with certainty, and have their due value assigned them, by
a careful study of the various medicines, having especial regard to their relations one with another.
A mere acquaintance with these principal symptoms cannot be called studying the remedies. If we
were in possession of a scientific arrangement of the materia medica, we might make it the basis
of our study of the medicines. But at present, we cannot expect to construct anything satisfactory
on such an uncertain and incomplete basis.
He who seeks to study the medicines according to their symptoms, but each medicine separately
and without instituting a comparison between them, will, with the very best memory, not advance
far before forgetting what he had previously learned. The memory is incapable of retaining any
thing but what is presented to it in connection with something else. An idea is easily brought to the
recollection only when in connection with others.
We would remind him who has had no experience of the comparative method, either on himself or
others, that acquiring a knowledge of the symptoms of medicines, is exactly similar to the mode in
which the chemist, the mineralogist, the botanist, and the zoologist acquire a knowledge of the
objects connected with their respective sciences. We should, therefore, set about it in a similar
manner.
Let it be considered what a multitude of signs are so perfectly at the command of the zoologist,
that he can easily recall them to his recollection. Although no one is capable of giving a complete
description of all animals, a repetition of all their characteristics “off the book,” as the saying is.
Yet the zoologist can at once tell a new animal when he sees it. He can instantly determine to
what class it belongs, and point out its particular characteristics. By merely looking at each animal,
he already knows its characteristic peculiarities, or at least has no difficulty in discovering them.
The homeopathic physician must do just the same with his medicines. Let it not be alleged that
zoology and the other branches of natural science are things quite different from our science. It
must be regarded and dealt with in exactly the same manner as the natural sciences.
Let it not be said that those sciences are so far advanced, and the system so perfect, that every
thing connected with them is much easier. Suppose that our materia medica were at present as
little advanced as a natural science - as zoology in the time of Aristotle.
This should not deter us from regarding it as such, working it out as such, and studying it as such.
By this means we should make as much progress in it as was then made in zoology - and that is a
good deal in comparison to knowing nothing at all, or to wandering in benighted ignorance amidst
a profusion of everything.
I refer to those who possess a real knowledge of our materia medica, if that has not been obtained
in the way I have just pointed out - and I doubt not that some now see that they have
unconsciously obtained their knowledge in the same manner. There can only be one right way. But
6
this may have been pursued without the individual being exactly aware of it himself, as has
happened to those proficient in many of the arts.
When one remedy has been accurately studied, and the art has been acquired of classing others
along with it according to their resemblance and of distinguishing the differences between them,
then each subsequent group that is studied in a similar manner costs far less trouble. The result
will be that he who has thus made himself master of a hundred medicines will require for the
second hundred scarcely so much time and labor as he expended on the first ten.
An increase of the medicines, therefore, ad infinitum, will never prove too much for human
capabilities. Entomologists can easily acquire knowledge of a number of new insects. It requires
little trouble on the part of the botanist to learn an endless succession of new plants. This they do
by a speedy conception of the resemblances and differences among them - and the more practice
they have, the easier it is.
It may be urged that no such laborious mode need be adopted to acquire of one of the natural
sciences, but that the general characteristics of the various classes are soon learned. In the
present state of the natural sciences, all the relationships existing among the various classes and
orders may be seen at a glance, and the study of them thereby greatly simplified.
But, as we have not brought our materia medica to such a pitch of perfection - and from the short
time of its existence, it has been impossible to advance it farther than it is at present - we must
dispense with this simplifying glance.
We must, however, on this account, follow the only path that leads to this end - laborious though it
be at present. As the progress of inventions facilitates commerce and travel more and more, so
the progress of science always lightens the task of learning what has been discovered. The same
will be the case as regards the materia medica.
Until that time comes, we must study the remedies as we find them. The time is, we hope, not far
distant, when we shall be able to talk about the objects of our science in the same manner as
natural historians do of theirs - when, like them, we may be able to give complete descriptions of
these objects without touching upon unimportant information.
The time, we hope, is at hand when we shall know what is and what is not important in our materia
medica.
Section 4
How Is A Single Medicine To Be Studied?
How can a remedy be studied, if the symptoms are not learned by heart? It can be learned through
the same principle as the whole materia medica - by comparison.
The symptoms of a medicine are to be read through carefully several times. This should be done
from beginning to end, in the first years of study, with the pen always in hand. While reading, one
thing or other is always to be particularly attended to.
7
-- The First Reading --
At first attention should be directed to the organs in which the symptoms occur. It will be at once
noted that many organs or tissues are particularly attacked. The organs that show the greatest
number of symptoms are to be regarded according to their physiological relationship.
In this, our previous studies are a great assistance, just as every physiological dogma, every
hypothesis, even though false, is an aid to the memory.
Thus, the ear is said to be the peculiar organ of the osseous system. Therefore, when pains or
nodes in the bones occur, I would observe attentively the symptoms of the ear. And, in this
manner, many individual symptoms would appear more significant where connections exist.
For instance, between the functions of the skin and kidneys, symptoms occurring in the one
system will always call to our mind those of the other - whether those symptoms harmonize with or
are opposed to one another.
In our comparison, pathology will also be of use, and that will be so whether its theories are true or
false.
Thus, where symptoms referable to the liver occur, I would always compare the pains in the right
shoulder, and vice versa.
Where turbid urine is passed in small quantity, I would pay attention to the symptoms which point
to the serous cavities.
In doing this, for example, when studying Aurum, a number of symptoms would thereby appear
more important, and consequently be more deeply impressed on my mind. And this remedy would
occur to my memory not only in cases of effusion into the pericardium, but also in hydrothorax and
ascites.
The important observation of Neumann - that diabetes is always preceded by a diminution in the
activity of the kidneys - will be often serviceable in our consideration of the medicines. It will, for
example, help to confirm the supposition that not much is to be expected from Argentum in cases
of diabetes, and that this disease is mentioned in our repertories in connection with silver in this
manner:
Hahnemann, distrusted the alleged diuretic properties of nitrate of silver. Rather he ascribed to it
powers that are exactly the reverse. But as far as I know, he does not adduce a single instance of
its efficacy.
While studying the symptoms of Phosphoric acid, we should call to mind the same observation
that is also the recorded experience of its efficacy in several cases of milky urine - a kind of
diabetes.
In this manner we will see that a large number of the symptoms may be pathologically connected.
During the first reading and comparison, the symptoms arrange themselves, as it were, into some
sort of definite form. Thus we gain a collective impression of the whole that we retain in the
memory, and recall to mind in all cases where the remedy is suitable.
8
-- The Second Reading --
During a second perusal of the medicine, attention should be directed at the character of the
symptoms. The former perusal was but a preparation for this step. The character of the pains in
different parts should be compared - all pains or other sensations of the same, or a similar or a
nearly related kind, that occur in different parts should be carefully observed.
If this is done, it will be found, for example, that burning pains occurring frequently in various parts
are not peculiar to Arsenic and Carbo-vegetabilis alone, but they also occur in Phosphoric acid
and other substances. The mind will take a comprehensive view of them, and a complete picture
of them will be retained.
At the same time, attention must be paid to the parts where these pains principally occur. Thus, we
note whether the burning pains are more in the mucous membranes, or in the serous cavities, or in
other parts.
For instance, the burning pain in the case of Arsenic occurs most frequently internally, in the blood
vessels. In the case of Carb. veg. pain is seen more externally, in the skin and joints.
Both substances cause burning in the stomach and bowels, but Arsenic to a greater degree. On
the other hand, Carb. veg. causes much more in the breast - and so forth.
In every substance where the same description of pain prevails, an attentive examination will show
the characteristic features of each.
We will soon discover that certain kinds of pain prevail in certain organs and tissues, e.g., tearing
in the muscles, dartings in the chest, cuttings in the abdomen, pressure in the head, compression
in the ears, boring in the bones, etc. But this we shall enter into more particularly in another place.
This tends much to assist the memory, both directly and indirectly - the circumstance of an
unusual pain occurring in any organ would be the more observed. A number of isolated symptoms
are, moreover, more easily remembered in connection - when placed side by side.
For example, with respect to Aurum, it produces determination of blood to the head, to the chest,
to the eyes; toothache from a similar cause; determination of blood to the legs; and many other
symptoms that may be found to be connected with these.
An accordance of many of the symptoms of different organs may often be observed. Thus Caust.
has sparks, flickerings, figures, an appearance of gauze before the eyes. Also, it has ringing,
whistling; singing, chirping in the ears.
On the other hand, Phosph. has points and spots, dark, black, and gray veils before the eyes; loud
noises, buzzing, throbbing in the ears.
After the moral symptoms have been arranged in groups, they may be easily impressed on the
memory by comparing them with the corresponding symptoms of other organs.
9
Thus anxiety, melancholy, etc., are to be compared with the symptoms of the heart and chest - or
a weak, wandering, or obstinate state of mind, is compared with the frequently analogous
symptoms of the digestive organs. And so forth.
Section 5
-- The Third Reading --
At the third reading, the conditions under which the symptoms take place should be noted. This
must always be done pen in hand, even though Ruckert's comparative work be employed.
Doing it one's self has great advantages, especially at the commencement of the study. One is
exercised thereby; and all that has been previously learned is at the same time revised.
It should be observed whether the symptoms take place on the right side or the left. If this has not
been done previously, note at what part of the day they occur, when our pathological knowledge
will be of great assistance to us. Observe in what attitudes, positions, during what motions, etc.,
the symptoms occur.
Care should be taken not to indulge in vague generalities, such as “aggravation in the evening,”
“worse on motion,” and the like. This is of small use in acquiring knowledge of the medicine, and it
is an obstacle in the choice of it as a remedy.
What we wish to know is, what symptom is aggravated in the evening or on motion. When
possible, this symptom should be noted along with some connecting idea.
Since Hahnemann taught us to distinguish between Bryon. and Rhus. by pointing out their
opposite qualities - motion producing aggravation in the one case and rest in the other - it has
frequently happened that too much value has been assigned to this circumstance in the choice of
bryon.
Many other similar remedies are distinguished by possessing a similar pair of opposite properties -
Bell. and Hyosc.; Nux. and Puls.; Chin. and seneg.; Phos. and Nitr.; Sulph. and Con.; Carb. and
Dros.. These along with many other substances bear the same relation to each other as Bryon.
and Rhus.
Bell. has a far larger number of symptoms that are worse on motion than Bryon. - yet the
symptoms that are worse on motion are perfectly distinct. As regards Bell., they occur mostly in
the vascular system. With Bryon. they are chiefly to be found in the joints. The symptoms of the
respiratory organs with Bryon. are not aggravated by motion. However, those produced by Bell.
are decidedly so.
One should be careful of coming to a converse conclusion. I mean to say, in the case of a remedy
having a number of symptoms that are aggravated by rest, it does not follow that they will be
ameliorated by motion, and vice versa. Thus Dulc. has many symptoms that are better on motion,
but very few that are worse when at rest.
10
-- The Fourth Reading --
The remedy may be perused yet a fourth time, with particular attention being paid to the
combinations of the symptoms. The student may carefully observe what symptoms follow each
other or occur simultaneously.
However, the attention must have been previously directed to this point. When this was not the
case, the student should seek to bring these combinations into connection with his former
observations.
Care should be taken not to adopt the notion that a remedy can cure groups of symptoms in a
patient only if they occur in the order it produces them. A remedy is capable of curing groups of
symptoms which it does not produce in the same combination at all - groups whose component
parts were observed in a number of different provers, and frequently in quite a different order.
From a pathological point of view, a special study of a medicine which compares it at the same
time to different forms of disease may be useful after a thorough knowledge of the symptoms of
the medicine has been acquired. Experience teaches us that a number of apparently perfectly
different diseases, which are far asunder in pathological works, may still be cured with the same
remedy.
It would consequently be necessary to go over almost all diseases in connection with the remedy.
This would be a great waste of time, and would not lead to a perfect knowledge of the remedy
after all - our pathological systems are very far from being complete enough for this.
It would be well, however, to compare the description of individual forms of disease, with many
classes of remedies. Thus, for instance, those catarrhs which indicate Mercury and allied
medicines are very dissimilar to those in which Arsenic, and medicines of its class, are efficacious.
Section 6
How Other Medicines Are To Be Connected To This One
After a thorough acquaintance with one or more remedies has been gained in the above manner,
the student must then pass on to others. The best course will be to go on next to those most
nearly allied.
The study of the second remedy is already somewhat easier. This is partly owing to the practice
that has been had in acquiring knowledge of the symptoms, and partly because deviations from
the character of the last studied medicine become more vividly impressed upon our mind.
We must, consequently, have a very clear perception of these differences. They must assist us to
attain a distinct idea of the peculiarities of the second medicine, as well as to stamp the knowledge
of the first more forcibly on our memory.
Therefore we must search for resemblances and observe differences in the more prominent
symptoms - and in those that are more easily remembered, rarer, and more striking.
I have called attention above, in the examples of Bryon. and Bell., Caust. and Phosph., Arsen. and
Carb. veg., to the fact, that medicines which otherwise present great similarities in their symptoms,
are yet widely different in certain respects.
11
No regard needs to be paid to slight differences, nor even to whole groups of symptoms which one
of the medicines has, and the other has not. No attention need be given to the fact that, in one
case many symptoms are known, while with the other, very few are.
These factors may, however, demand our attention in cases where the different characters of the
remedies are thereby marked - as in the case of Bell. compared with Bryon. regarding the moral
symptoms, the effects upon the organs of the senses, the symptoms of the throat, etc.
The differences sometimes lie in the combinations of symptoms, whereby they may present
resemblances to perfectly different diseases.
More frequently, and much more clearly, these differences are expressed in the conditions under
which the symptoms occur. These are often exactly opposite.
Thus the very similar headaches produced by Bell. and Bry. occur in the former in the evening, in
the latter in the morning.
These differences are sometimes very subtle. For instance, most of the exacerbations of Acid. nitr.
occur in the evening, but those of Acid. mur. are before midnight. Those of Acid. sulph. are after
midnight, and those of Acid. phosph. are seen towards the morning. But all the acids present
nocturnal aggravations.
Symptoms of an opposite character are rare. But differences in nature are very frequent, as is the
case in the gastric symptoms of Bell. and Bry., Bry. and Ant. crud., Ant. crud. and Ipec., etc.
Symptoms in opposite situations are more frequent. Thus, similar symptoms are often
distinguished by occurring in one case on the right, in another on the left side - as happens with
arn. and lach and others.
The catarrhal affections of bell. are distinguished from those of dulc. in that those of the former
occur more in the mucous membranes of the head and neck – in the region of the carotids –
where those of the latter occur more in the chest and abdomen – in the course of the descending
aorta, etc.
Beginners are apt to attend too much to specialties when making these comparisons. This over
attention becomes a very laborious task, and is apt to lead to a total abandonment of the study.
There is, however, no better way of avoiding this error, and of learning how to make one's self
quickly the master of the generalities, than to surmount undauntedly the laboriousness of the
beginning.
On a second comparison, the mind is more accustomed to the work. According to the talents and
previous acquirements of the student, will it be a longer or shorter time before he comes to be able
to complete the comparison of two remedies in a few days.
We must caution those who pay too much attention to specialties not to be so very minute, but
above all things to seek for points of crystallization. We must point out to those who are disposed
to be superficial that important discoveries for practice may be made by a careful comparison.
12
The comparisons may be very easily made by means of Ruckert's systematic tables. The
remedies to be compared are to be sought out in each division, their symptoms carefully read, and
the result committed to writing.
A separate column is assigned to each medicine. Those symptoms which both have in common
should be written in the middle. When there is only similarity, the sign of similarity should be
placed in the middle between them. Where opposites, or well-defined differences exist, they
should be distinguished by an interposed arrow, etc.
It cannot be expected that anyone, least of all a beginner, will compare every remedy with every
other. The student should select remedies for this purpose that he considers to be analogous, and
which are known to possess important properties.
All remedies that are closely related by the source of their derivation, must also be srelated with
respect to their symptoms. All that are chemically allied must be so medicinally. Those possessing
similar odors – as are Phosph., Ars., All. sat., Asaf., and Bufo. – must possess resemblances in
their symptoms, etc.
The chemical preparations may be arranged in natural families, according to one or other system.
Those nearly related are thus compared, e.g., Sulph. and Phosph.; Chlor. and Iod.; the carbons
and Graph.; the oxygenous acids, Nitr. ac., Sulph. ac., and Phosph. ac. are compared with each
other, and with the hydrogenous acids, Mur. ac., Hydrocyan. ac.
Further, Sil., Alum.; the carbonates of potash, soda, and ammonia; Bar. and Stront.; Calc. and
Magn.; the muriates of soda and Am., Bar. and Magn. The acetates of Cupr., Ferr., Plumb., Mang.;
the metals Aur., Plat., Stann., Arg., and Zinc.
Interesting comparisons may be made between Phos. ac. and Phos.; Sulph. ac. and Sulph.; as
also Sulph. and Hep., Hep. and Calc.
Section 7
Medicines From The Vegetable Kingdom
Among medicines belonging to the vegetable kingdom, those which may be compared as being
nearly allied, are:
Anac. and Rhus.
Bryon. and Coloc.
Ind. and Tong.
Op. and Chelid.
Spig. and Menyanth.
Viol. od. and Jac.
Thuya. and Sabin.
Coff., Ipec., Chin.
Colch., Verat., Sabad.
Euphr., Dig., Grat.
Lauroc., Prun. sp., Amyg. am.
Led., Rhod., Nux vom., Ign., Oleand.
Arn., Cham., Cin., Leont.
Asa., Cic., Con., Aet., Phell.
13
Bell., Caps., Hyosc., Stram., Tab., Verb.
Acon., Clem., Hell., Puls., Staph., Ran. bulb., and Sol.
The cryptogamous plants, Agar. musc., Bov., Lycop., are too remote from each other - and yet
their symptoms are much more similar than those of the more nearly related families of Solaneae
and Ranunculaceae. Sec. can only be judged from from the cures it has effected - the symptoms
of it derived from epidemic diseases are not to be relied on.
It is worthy of observation that the differences of those substances which are allied in their origin
lie principally in the conditions of the symptoms; whereas those substances nearly connected by
the similarity of their symptoms alone, agree merely in single departments of symptoms, but in
others have quite a different character and seat.
Families of substances that are related only in their symptom may be formed from such medicines
as may be employed with advantage in succession - or which serve as antidotes to each other.
In the present state of homeopathic literature, the formation of such families is a very hazardous
experiment. But they are of much greater practical value than those formed from their natural
affinity.
It is perfectly evident that substances that have a similar origin must produce many similar
symptoms. Our business should be to search for the differences, in order to avoid confusion.
When, however, minerals, plants, and animals, widely different from each other, produce similar
groups of symptoms, there must be some deeper reason for this. It must indicate the similarity of
the medicinal to the natural diseases.
Such allied medicines are in general the best antidotes of each other. However - as must happen
from the rules laid down above - among the metals that form several families, there are antidotes
which are never found among those that are nearly connected, but always among those that are
widely separated.
Thus it follows that Sel., Ars., and Am.; Plat. and Argent.; Stan. Plumb., Zinc. and Nic.; Ferr. and
Mang. do not antidote each other. But the metals Plumb. and Plat.; Ferr. and Ars.; Am. and Merc.
do.
Among plants there must be antidotes in each family, and perhaps in each genus. There are,
indeed separate parts in every plant and animal, which seems to have a power of neutralizing the
effects of the others.
Other homeopathic writers have pointed out a close connection between the two naturally allied
substances Nux. and Ign., on the one hand, and the symptomatically allied Puls. - to which may
be added Cham., Coff., and Caps. We may, I think, also reckon Ambr. among these.
Another family is Ars., Verat., Ipec., Asar., to which we may add Ferr. and Chin.; perhaps also
Staph., and Ac. sulph..
Sulph., Calc., and Lyc. are well known as doing well in succession – to which may be joined Led.,
and in another point of view, Therid.
One of the most remarkable and beautiful families is Hep., Merc., bell., and Lach. Between these
and those allied to Arsen., may be placed Phos. ac. and Carb. veg., and those related to them, as
alsoCupr., and on another account Aur.
Anyone who has thoroughly made himself master of two or three families, and then from time to
time makes a comparison between two remedies which appear to him to be related – and between
which he has frequently needed to make a most accurate choice in practice, as for instance,
Sulph. and Ferr.; Phos. and Caust.; Ars. and Carb. v.; Bell. and Bry.; Bry. and Rhus.; Rhus. and
Dulc., etc. - this homeopathic doctor gradually obtains such an extensive basis of knowledge that
all the rest of the remedies are acquired without difficulty.
If a crystal of salt is suspended in a saturated solution of the same salt, the most beautiful crystals
collect upon it.
So, one who is acquainted with a large number of medicines in the above manner, can thereafter
compare every medicine with every other in a very short time - and without many quires of paper.
This must happen before our materia medica, which ought to belong to the natural sciences, can
be looked upon as one of them.
Some unknow
facets and writing
of Constantine Hering.
By Calvin B. Knerr, M. D.
Presented by Sylvain Cazalet
of Constantine Hering.
By Calvin B. Knerr, M. D.
Presented by Sylvain Cazalet
 Dr Calvin B. Knerr |
"Lives of great
men all remind us,
We can make our lives sublime".
We can make our lives sublime".
It appears to me to be
unusually appropriate, and significant, that the International
Association of strictly homœopathic physicians should hold its meeting
here, in Boston, the Athens of the New World where Homœopathy has
flourished from its earliest history in this country.
It is here, that men
like the Wesselhoefts came to practice. One of these, the elder William,
was a pioneer, who had stood shoulder to shoulder with Hering at the
Allentown Academy, the first homœopathic college in the world, where
homœopathic literature had its beginning, where some of the earlier
textbooks, printed in German, were translated and published for the
benefit of its students. It was there that Wesselhoeft gathered the
seeds of sound doctrine which he later planted here in Boston, which has
borne fruit ; manifold and is still productive in the hands of his
successors.
MainAmong those pioneers, the founders of the Allentown Academy, I am proud to name one of my ancestors, a country clergyman of German descent, the Rev. John Helfrich, who, like the honored Bœnninghausen, became a skilled amateur in Homœopathy, which he practiced among his parishioners and friends, and assisted in making provings and contributions to the literature of those early days.I owe my affiliation with my great teacher and honored father-in-law, which began directly after my graduation from Hahnemann College, in the year 1869, to the close friendship between Dr. Hering and my great uncle.
Dr C. HeringTo the few to whom it has been permitted, by Providence, to have shared in the lives and labors of great men, to have lived, walked and talked with them, shared their intimacies and confidences, observed them in their daily tasks of doing good in a great way, has been granted a privilege that cannot be too highly estimated, nor too deeply treasured in both heart and mind.As I look back upon the past from what must be near the summit of a long life, longer than what is allotted to most men, I realize that the years in which I sat at the feet of Hering were years of golden opportunity. From the moment of my entering upon my duties as assistant to the great master, I began to record in a diary the conversations of Dr. Hering, his table-talk, the daily incidents that occurred in his busy life, his interviews with other physicians of prominence, who came to consult or to be instructed and entertained by the sage so widely known and respected. In the years that followed, eleven in all, the book grew to a fair size filled with a mass of daily notes of a kind that are calculated to interest the followers of Hahnemann, and particularly the neophytes in Homœopathy. I have in mind, to place before the public, and the profession, a volume to bear the title. "Conversation and Philosophy of Dr. Constantine Hering" in two parts to be followed by the "Lesser Writings" from Hering's pen, consisting of essays on Materia Medica and Therapeutics ; provings and history of provings ; clinical observations ; correspondence with eminent homœopaths of an early period ; Hahnemann, Stapf, Jenichen and others in foreign lands as well as that of a later period, letters from and practitioners in this country : Allen, Dunham, Bayard, Bell, Berridge (of London) ; Boyce, Bute (Hering's student and predecessor in North America the one who coped with the cholera in Philadelphia, before Hering's arrival). P. P. Wells, the Wesselhoefts, William and Conrad, and many more from different parts of the world.
Dr Carroll Dunham
Dr Edward Bayard
Dr G. H. ButeFrom the manuscript of the first volume. Conversation and Philosophy of Constantine Hering, I have culled a few cases, hitherto unpublished, and some general remarks to illustrate Dr. Hering's method of practice.
CASE I :Was that of Judge M., a prominent member of the bar and the judiciary, unusually bright and competent, who was born a hydrocephaloid. His head remained unusually large in his earlier years until he came under the care of Dr. Hering, who prescribed occasional doses of Calcarea-phosphorica in a high potency. At intervals the boy with the big head, as his deformity was corrected, required to be fitted, with a smaller, not a larger hat, as is the custom with growing lads.
CASE II :A young Cuban was brought to Philadelphia for treatment. I was called in consultation with some allopathic physician who had the case in hand. I found a young man, with black eyes, a mere skeleton filled with air, unable to swallow a morsel of food without vomiting it up directly after. He cursed at doctors in general and swore that he would take neither, homœopathic nor any other kind of medicine. I sent to the nearest confectionery shop for some plain cream of which I ordered a teaspoonful to be taken, with a little sugar every half hour. The patient took it. Next day he said he had not vomited once. I then increased the quantity of cream to dessert-spoonful doses, every hour. On the following day he complained of severe pain in the stomach. I felt a large lump there the size of a fist. This his physician had pronounced to be cancer. It was none. I gave him two globules of Hyoscyamus on the tongue. He had no more pain after this. I now ordered a table-spoonful of beef tea to be taken on the one-half hour, and the same quantity of arrowroot on the next half hour, turn about. The young man kept on gaining weight steadily and in a short time he returned to his island a well man. When he received my bill, in the amount of one hundred dollars, he paid it promptly, at the same time telling me that I was the most sensible doctor he had ever met, and at the same time the most stupid, because he had expected to pay me no less than a thousand ! This patient recommended a great many others to me, from Cuba.Hering did not contribute much of clinical material from his practice to our literature. He made constant use of cases cured by others. In fact he intended to write a book as soon as he could accumulate a thousand or more typical cases. This book was not written.Hering never failed to write down the symptoms of his patients at their first visit, and again at future visits, for which purpose he carried with him a small note-book to the bedside, and in his office he used tablets of note-paper about three by four in size. While there had accumulated stacks upon stacks of such notes, carefully arranged upon shelves, not one of them could be completely deciphered to be of any use, not even by those among us who were familiar with his handwriting. Other papers of Materia Medica, though hard to read, are not beyond recovery. Since, after his death, I am probably the only person living who can read the papers, I have made it my business through the many years that they have been in my possession, to rewrite, copy and translate most of them. There is much material, all of it in ink which so far has withstood the corroding influence of time. The paper, of the best, also holds well. Good Lotzbecker snuff which the doctor used and let fall among his papers and the leaves of his books, has preserved them from decay and the ravages of the book-worm.
Dr J. E. StapfHering says both Hahnemann and Stapf kept records of their cases in blank books, or ledgers, in which a single page was devoted to each patient. Between lines there was left room for remarks. The symptoms were numbered. After each symptom were placed the marks signifying better or worse, as the treatment progressed.Hering was the first to condemn the giving of castor oil on the third day after child-birth, which was almost universally done to produce a bowel movement with the lying-in. He claims that the seventh day after child-birth is the natural time for passage ; if it does not come then he advises a dose of Bryonia, or Nux-vomica. We see with satisfaction that that practice of purging is being largely ignored even by the ordinary practitioners of medicine.
Hepar-sulphur : Before the advent of modern surgery Dr. Hering fought off lancing abscesses, which he thought bad practice, and unnecessary if Hepar, in a high potency, were given to the patient. This suggestion came from him as early as 1827, while in South America. At about the same time Hartmann, in Germany, introduced Mercurius.
Dr E. von GrauvoglKali-nitricum : A key note of Nitrum is : Drinking often, but little at a time. The patient drinks but little at a time because the act of swallowing interferes with respiration. Hering says this is Grauvogl's observation.Hering laid great stress upon the following with a complementary medicine where the previous remedy had ceased to be beneficial after waiting a reasonable time, with a similarly acting medicine, preferably one from another group, as for instance Belladonna after Rhus-tox'. Pulsatilla after Nux-vomica in many variations. The key to this will be found under Chapter 48. "Relationship in Guiding Symptoms", the Condensed Materia Medica, and in the Repertory to these works.Certain remedies are inimical and should not be allowed to follow each other closely, as for instance : Phosphorus and Causticum also Rhus-tox. and Apis ; likewise Nux-vom. and Ignatia. Only one of them can be properly indicated.
Aloes has its sphere of action in the pelvis. There is great congestion there, with a feeling of fullness, as if everything was tending there. Hæmorrhoidal tenesmus.Hering got the Arum-triphyllum. (Jack-in-the-Pulpit) from an upcountry Pennsylvania German who had it from an old woman, in one of the valleys of Pennsylvania.After a proving it became valuable remedy in his hands for scarlet fever in its worst form.Hering was called to see three children located in a basement on Cherry Street. The oldest child was in the last stage of the sickness, evidently dying. The second was in the second stage and very sick. The third had just begun to sicken. He thought of the Pennsylvania German's remedy, the Arum-triphyllum, which he administered to each of the three children, in the sixth dilution. All three recovered.The chief indications for the remedy are soreness of the mouth, cracked lips and salivation. He tried the remedy again soon after, this time getting an aggravation, probably due to a lower potency ; higher ones were made use of later.
Hamamelis (witch hazel) was suggested to Hering by a consumptive at the point of death, named Pond, who controlled his hæmorrhages with the quack medicine, which he himself had introduced, and which made him rich, but which he kept a secret. Hering thought if a substance can stop hæmorrhages from a lung almost gone, it must be a good remedy.The consumptive had a fair daughter who was impressed by the doctor. She revealed to him the formula. Her father had planted acres with the witch hazel, had built a distillery by which to extract the sap of the bush during the month of February, when it is strongest, just before the flowering season, when all plants are strongest in sap. Hering says if it had not been for consideration of the daughter, he would not have had any time for a man who discovered a healing remedy and guarded its secret for material gain.Either everything is chance or all things that happen are governed by laws ; otherwise where would a line be drawn between chance and rule ?There are four kinds of motion :1. Up and down.
2. From side to side.
3. Forward and backward, the motion of the rocking chair,
4. and the swing.The first is the motion of health, liked by babies. The baby jumper is an excellent invention for the nursery.The second is not healthy, but not quite as bad as the third, which is most detrimental to women and children, causing all manner of diseases with them. No person can stand a rocking-chair in the long run.A fourth motion, that of swinging around in a circle, is the worst of all motions.Hering believed (with Swedenborg) that the nerves contain a gaseous substance which circulates from the periphery to the centre through the sensory nerves, and from the centre to the periphery through the motor nerves. In sleep this current is reversed.Medicines placed upon the tongue are there changed to a nerve-gas, which is transmitted to diseased parts.This would explain the lightning-like cures as mentioned by P. P. Wells and observed by others. Hering wonders if the metals contained in a battery are dissolved, disintegrated and thus pass on through the wires. He remarked, "Now we have only the effects from copper and zinc. Other metals might come into use."The Rev. John Helfrich, a lay practitioner, associated with the Allentown Academy, once contributed a case to the Correspondenzblatt, a cure with Ipecacuanha in which the patient had no symptoms of this particular remedy. Why did he prescribe the Ipecac ? Because a number of other patients with the same sickness, had gotten well under it. He had stumbled upon the law of treatment the genus epidemicus !
In cities we have not the same opportunity to observe this as in the country."If a wrong is done, either from malice or from ignorance. Nemesis is sure to follow. This would appear to be a law of nature." Hering believed, with Jean Paul Richter, that all things that happen, happen twice, the duplicator of events. It would seem to be scarcely sufficient to close these reminiscences of Dr. Hering without saying something about the South American Lachesis. I will let that sainted homœopath and skillful practitioner of other days. Dr. C. W. Boyce of Auburn, New York, do the speaking. Dr. Boyce was an intimate friend of Hering, who made several long visits to Philadelphia, where the two spent days in each others society.I quote from an Appreciation of Hering by Boyce, read at the Hering Memorial meeting in 1880 in which are There are laws that govern history as well as laws that govern space, planetary movements. I hold to the belief that history repeats itself and that everything happens in doubles. For example, this morning I had a patient who had a strange symptom not to be found in our Materia Medica. This afternoon there came another with the same strange symptom. The symptom is : He is constantly thinking of his sickness ; cannot get it out of his mind !"I was asked the other day whether it was not very provoking, as well as discouraging, to meet with ungrateful patients."Ingratitude we meet with everyday, said !. Our Lord and Master was covered with it. Surely God has more cause to complain of ingratitude than have !."Kepler, the great German gastronomist, was a Protestant He with his family and friends had to leave their possession in Austria on account of religious persecution. He was followed by riders, sent out by the king, who asked him to return. Kepler said : "If I go back my friends will have to return with me !""Kepler was once asked how he could wait so long and so patiently for his theories to be accepted and replied, "The Lord has waited a long time for people to understand the harmony of His creation ! Why should I be impatient ?" contained these remarks. Dr. Hering had named Boyce the man who saved Lachesis. This was after the bombastic and superficial Hempel had declared the remedy "inert, in fact, no remedy at all"Boyce says :"Often, as I came to Dr. Hering's house he would exclaim, Here comes the man who saved snake, and how he took the poison and how he had proved it. We were to go to the Academy of Natural Sciences together and see the original snake.The name of Dr. Hering is so closely associated with Lachesis, in my mind, that when one is mentioned the other is almost sure to come up with it, and to a great extent, with me, homœopathy depends upon Lachesis for its glory.I had a case of typhoid fever which had continued unchecked for twenty-one days. At this time there seemed no chance for the patient to recover. Hope had been abandoned, when, during the night following the twenty-first day, Lachesis was given every two hours. Next morning, there was a complete change for the better. The tongue was moist, the delirium greatly lessened. From this time on convalescence progressed until health was restored.This case was never forgotten, but it was a long time before I saw another such result. It came, however, in a case of gangrene. A woman discovered a small black spot on the calf of her leg, which gave her a great deal of uneasiness, and it rapidly increased in size. When I saw her, she was in bed, and the spot measured three inches in diameter ; it was rapidly increasing in size, and she grew sicker and sicker. Lachesis was given and in a few hours the progress of the disease was checked. In a few days the entire piece of flesh which was affected fell out, leaving a hole reaching to the sheath of the muscles ; but this healed kindly in a short time.Again followed a time of professional drudgery, without striking results, when again I was startled. A woman, who was nursing a child, was aroused at midnight by the cry of fire. She had only time to grasp her child and rush out of the house in her night-clothes. It was winter-time, and she went into snow to her knees. She stood about in this undress until the house was consumed before seeking shelter. The result was that she did not get out of bed until the following summer, and then only by the help of Lachesis, which, in nine days, not only took her out of bed, but set her to doing her housework.In about another month another great calamity seemed to be impending. My eldest daughter was taken with diphtheria. It went on to the Croupy stage. This was at a time when I had never seen a case recover in which the larynx had become involved. The disease had first shown itself on November 1st, You all know how this disease progresses, and how anxious we all are when we have such cases to treat. This one progressed until the eleventh day, slowly but surely getting worse, when I wrote to Dr. Hering, giving minutely the symptoms and condition, saying that on the thirteenth day, when I knew he would have the letter, I would telegraph the symptoms, if the patient were still alive. This I did, and soon had the reply : "Give Lachesis".In December, 1863, another claim came to me in my immediate family. To give a correct account of this case I must copy it as reported at the time. "A child of twenty-one months, with light hair, blue eyes and tight complexion, took cold on Christmas day During the night of the 26th there was fever and rapid respiration. At 11 A. M. on the 27th, the child had a spasm lasting fifteen minutes. From this time until January 8th, there was continued fever, greatly increased at night, with a pulse of 150. The respiration per minute were seventy on actual count, and at no time less. Generally there was a red spot on one cheek, which frequently changed sides. When one cheek was red the other generally was pale. All of this time the left lung was impervious to air. Auscultation revealed slight bronchial respiration but no vesicular murmur. The right lung was not implicated ; there was constant cough, yet much increased at night. The case had gradually, but surely, got worse, up to January 8th, when the right lung began to be affected. On this day the child became uneasy and restless, throwing itself about in all directions and positions in its efforts to get breath. The face grew dark, there was constant spasmodic cough with labored breathing, the little thing in its agony striking at the mother for control. When it fell asleep for a few seconds at a time the throat became so dry that a condition resembling croup came on, and all the sufferings were increased. This fearful condition was rapidly hurrying the little sufferer to its grave. All the remedies prominent in similar conditions had been given, including Lachesis 200, without result. At this juncture Lachesis 12 (three pellets) was given, dry, on the tongue ; immediately (the pellets had not entirely dissolved on the tongue) the cough stopped and the breathing was relieved, for four hours. At the end of this time the cough gradually returned with all of the sufferings (in a diminished degree) when another dose of Lachesis 12 produced the same decided relief this time lasting for sixteen hours. Four doses in twelve hours so changed the condition that the child slept nearly all of the night, and air passed freely again to all parts of the previously obstructed lung.I consulted Dr. Hering on one occasion with reference to a patient in whom I had an especial interest (it being my other and better half), and after making a careful and critical examination, he invited me to his private study to review the case further, and proceeded to make an exhaustive investigation. His manner of study, his thoroughness in analyzing a case (so in contrast with many whom I have met in the profession possessed with more of assumption than wisdom, who would deign to study a case only as a marked exception) impressed my-mind forcibly as to the necessity of a thorough and accurate knowledge of pathological conditions, symptoms, and remedy, before prescribing. In the course of that investigation, he remarked to me :"Let us apply the triangular test, and if we find three important or characteristic symptoms, pointing to one remedy, let me assure you that we can prescribe it with almost unerring certainty. I have tested its application in hundreds of cases, and when clearly defined, it seldom fails to fulfil its mission".As an aid to my investigations, I have kept faithfully in view the illustration of the triangle, the trinity of symptoms, in the selection of a remedy, with the motto inscribed within the boundaries of its lines, and angles, so appropriately expressed : "By this sign we conquer".Friends, it requires the highest order of both physical and moral courage, to risk life calmly in trying to succor others. Witness the heroic act of a man alone in a room, when all the attendants have fled, with a box he has just opened containing the most venomous serpent, the largest of its species, from whose glands after the most mature deliberation, he is about to extract the deadly poison. See the nerve of the man, who, alert as is the snake, seizes it just below the head with a firm grasp, when its folds uncoiled, with reared head and flaming eye, forked tongue and naked fang, it is anxious to strike the intrepid soul, who, at the risk of his life, seeks from its venom the healing balm for earth's sufferers. Watch him adjust the pointed stick between the opened jaws of the serpent whose bite is certain death, and whose impotent rage secretes the deadly saliva, while he tantalizes it till it can distil no more poison, when into a jar of alcohol he thrusts the monster nor relaxes his grip of steel till life is extinct. The poison, caught till on a watch-glass, is transferred to a mortar and rubbed with sugar of milk, till his purple and bloated face, and swimming brain, suspend his eager operation. He swallows the preparation with measured regularity to produce upon himself the effects of the venom. (asking his wife to note carefully all his symptoms). Observe him toss in his fever, note the loquacious delirium as he flits from subject to subject, note the suffocation, the frantic struggle for breath, while he clutches and tears, from throat and breast, all clothing ; mark his mental condition, the anguish and apprehension, and ask your selves for whom, for what purpose he does this and then answer -is he not a hero ?Posterity may keep in mind that a man like Hering, incomparable, eminent, totally unselfish, lived and labored to the last breath of his life to establish a safer and a better system of medicine for which science must forever be beholden to him.I will close with a question which possibly few, or none, of us present will be able to answer offhand.Hering asks, "Who were the first homœopaths mentioned in the New Testament ?" The answer is given by St. Paul who in Acts, Chapter 14, verse 15, says, "We are homœopathic," the Greek word signifying of like passions ; in German "æhnlich leidende !" of tike suffering.Hering laughs and says, "That is something the Old Man (meaning Hahnemann, whom he adored) did not know".Source : Homœopathy, 1938.
Copyright © Sylvain Cazalet 2001
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