JOURNAL OF HOMEOPATHIC MEDICINE VOL. 1 OCTOBER-DECEMBER-1959.
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- JOURNAL OF HOMEOPATHIC MEDICINE VOL. 1 OCTOBER-DECEMBER-1959.
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JOURNAL OF
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Published Quarterly
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Vol. 1
OCT-DEC. 1959
No. 4
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Chief Editor
Dr. P. Sankaran, L.I.M., d.f. hom. (Lond.),
Hon. Physician, Govt. Homoeopathic Hospital, Bombay.
Editorial Board
Dr. S. R. Wadia, m.b., b.s., m.f. hom. (Lond.),
Sr. Hon. Physician, Govt. Homoeopathic Hospital, Bombay.
Dr. K. R. Sethna, m.b., b.s.,
- Hon. Physician, Universal Health Institute, Bombay.
Dr. V. V. Athalye, a.v.p., Satara,
Member, Court of Examiners in Homoeopathy, Bombay.
Advisory Editors
Dr. F. D. Bana, m.b., b.s., l.r.c.p., m.r.c.s., d.p.h., d.t.m. & h., Bombay.
Dr. M. N. Paranjpe, b.sc., d.f. hom. (Lond.), Poona,
Member, Board of Homoeopathic Medicine, Bombay.
Dr. N. M. Jaisoorya, m.d. (Berlin), Hyderabad.
Dr. Dewan Harish Chand, m.b., b.s., l.r.c.p. (Edin.), d.t.m. & h., (L’pool).
m.f. hom. (Lond.), New Delhi.
Dr. K. G. Saxena, b.m., b.s., Delhi,
Honorary Physician to the President of India.
Dr. B. K. Sarkar, m.b., d.m.s.,
Editor, Homoeopathic Herald, Calcutta.
Dr. Raj Kumar Mukherji, m.a., l.h.m.s., Halderpara, W. Bengal.
Dr. Raman lai P. Patel, d.m.s., d.f. hom. (Lond.), l.m. (Dublin).
Principal, Athurashram Homoeopathic Medical College, Kottayam.
Dr. A. U. Sriram, m.b., b.s., m.f. hom. (Lond.), Tiruchirapalli.
Dr. Otto Leeser, m.d., ph.d. ^Berlin), Buckinghamshire,
Former Head of Robert Bosch Homoeopathic Hospital, Stuttgart.
Dr. D. M. Foubister, b.sc., m.b., ch.b., d.o.h., f.f. Hom. (Lond.),
Dean, The Royal London Homoeopathic Hospital, London.
Dr. K. von Petzinger, m.d., Hameln/Weser., W. Germany.
Dr. Kurt Peter, m.d., d.f. hom. (Lond.), St. Gallen, Switzerland.
Dr. Robert Siestchek, m.d., Vienna,
Secy, of International Homoeopathic Conference, (Salzburg).
Dr. A. D. Sutherland, m.d., Vermont, U.S.A.,
Editor, Homoeopathic Recorder.
Dr. William Gutman, m.d*, New York,
President, Homoeopathic Research Foundation, Inc.
Dr. V. L. Ferrandiz, m.d., Barcelona,
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Dr. Emile Florentin, m.d.,
Consultant Physician, St. Jacques Hospital, Paris.
Dr. A .B. W. Van Zyle, L.R.C.P., M.R.C.S., d.f. hom. (Lond.), De Aar, S. Africa.
JOURNAL OF HOMOEOPATHIC MEDICINE
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That which restores health is the proper medicine, he who cures the patient is the
best physician
.........................
Life is short, art is long ; opportunity fleeting, experiment dangerous and
judgment difficult.........................
Hippocrates.
The physician’s high and only mission is to restore the sick to health
Hahnemann.
Vol. I
Charaka.
4
No. 4
OCT. -DEC. 1959
CONTENTS.
PAGE
1.
editorial:
2.
Homoeopathy instead of Surgery .
3.
Prenatal Defects and Disease of
Coexistence in Medicine
123
Dr. von D. Berndt, m.d.
..
125
the Nervous system
Dr. V. V. Athalye, a.v^p.
..
130
4.
On the Attractiveness of
Geographic Homoeopathy
Dr. Gerard Bakker, m.d.
..
138
5.
Homoeopathy and tissue therapy .
Dr. Balachandran
..
141
6.
Our needs and our rsponsibilities .
Dr. P. Sankaran,
(lond.)
l.i.m., d.f., HOM.
7.
Homoeopathy and the study of
types
8.
Rawolfia Serpentina
9.' Situation
Austria
10.
of
Homoeopathy
.
..
143
Dr. C. V. S. Corea, md., ph.D. ..
..
147
Dr. J. Kishore, b.sc., d.m.s. ..
..
149
Dr. R. Siestchek, m.d.
..
151
153
in
FROM OUR CASE BOOKS:
Clinical Notes
.
Addiction to Pethidin and Morphia.
[
..
Homoeopathy in sterility
.
11.
Specific in Homoeopathy
.
Dr. S. R. Phatak, m.b., b.s. ..
..
Dr. P. Sankaran, l.i.m.., d.f., HOM.
(lond.)
..
Dr. S. R. Wadia, m.b., b.s., m.f., HOM.
(lond.)
..
Dr. Henderson Patrick ..
..
12.
Dr. Charles Pahud
.
Dr. Ch. Pfister, m.d.
155
156
..
157
13.
Dr. Andrew Kellner
..
158
t
•14.
Abstracts and Extracts
..
159
i
15.
News and Notes
..
160
16.
Review
..
160
17.
__
Letters to the Editor
.
..
..
..
••
••
The views expressed in the various papers represent those of the respective authqrs,
k
154
161
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EDITORIAL
CO-EXISTENCE IN MEDICINE
In arranging the syllabus for the various
courses in homoeopathy in India, the educa
tionists come to face a question which seems
to vex them viz., should the students of
homoeopathy be taught anything about the
other widely practised systems of Medicine,
and if so how much? While analysing this
question, we may also determine and if
necessary reorient our attitude towards those
systems.
disagree with them over the interpretations
they put on these facts and deplore their
approach and disapprove of their methods
we may not question the loftiness of their
objectives and their sincerity, devotion and
loyalty to the cause as they see it.
Under the circumstances, it seems that the
more our students have a knowledge of at
least the principles and the approach of these
systems, the better they will be able to
Before discussing this subject dispassio integrate all available knowledge. This will
also help the evolution of a new physiology
nately, we have to recognize certain facts.
and pathology which will embrace and in
The Ayurvedic system of medicine with corporate the truths in the Tridosha physio
its hoary traditions has been practised so long
pathology of Ayurved, the vitalistic dynamic
that its origins are almost untraceable. It conception of homoeopathy and the tissue
represents a tremendous fund of medical
patho-physiology of the orthodox system. We
wisdom and has been catering successfully to
have much to give but we also have to absorb
the medical needs of our country for three. the truths from everywhere. And since the
thousand years and more. To the present objectives of all systems of medicine are the
day world of medicine many of its theories same, there is no reason why all should not
and concepts may appear subtle and abstruse,
arrive at the same goal one day.
its physiology and pathology based on hypo
A fear might be entertained in some minds
theses and its methods unrefined and un
scientific; yet, it will be admitted that when that 'if our students learn the principles of
practised properly the system is effective and the other systems, they may give up homoeo
that it has withstood the test of time. The pathy and practise those. Such fear does
merits of many of the drugs from its ancient great discredit to our faith in ourselves.
materia medica, as for example, Sarpagandha Surely, the grounding we shall give to our
(Rawolfia Serpentina), are being recognised students in homoeopathy through teaching
and they are being increasingly adopted into and training cannot be so defective and our
results so poor that our students would throw
modem medicine.
away our principles and methods at the first
The orthodox allopathic system though
opportunity! Let our students remain
comparatively recent in origin has made
homoeopaths by conviction, not by accident
tremendous strides in many directions, as for
or force of circumstances.
example in the study of tissue physiology and
Incidentally, it must be mentioned that
pathology. Vast sums of money are being
spent in research and thousands of scientists some homoeopaths seem to derive great satis
all over the world engaged in grappling with faction by merely condemning other systems
the problem of disease have uncovered an of medicine. They sincerely believe that
amazing amount of factual data. However criticism of those systems and exposure of
much we, as homoeopaths, may differ and their defects and limitations is enough to
123
establish the superiority of our system and in more positive ways than by merely criticising
advance its cause. They even calculate the others.
degree of devotion of every homoeopath to
the science, by the degree of criticism he
One of the best and most practical ways
offers for the other systems. This is partly of assuring this would be to produce better
a result of the inferiority complex from results—results infinitely better, which no
which we have suffered very long. We must one can doubt or question. One good case
shed this complex and take a more positive cured would be better than ten reasons given
attitude. Homoeopathy is superior, not or twenty explanations put forward. So let
because other systems are defective but us speak less and concentrate our energies on
because it is itself very effective. We can doing more. The language of action and
establish the supremacy of homoeopathy and achievement would be more effective than
incidentally satisfy our sense of loyalty also, the language of words.
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to the Chief Editor, Journal of Homoeopathic
124
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Medicine,
ORIGINAL ARTICLES
HOMOEOPATHY INSTEAD OF SURGERY—INA RURAL PRACTICE
*
Dr. VON D. BERNDT, M.D., Edclshcim, Lcinc, Germany
The title “Homoeopathy instead of Surgery”
should not by any means be taken to mean
that we doctors can do without the services
of the surgeon. Among the indispensable
forms of surgery are reparative accident
surgery, transplantation, clearly indicated
Caesarean incision and some other unavoi
dable surgical operations.
The question arises, however, whether
surgery, in the delimitation of its indicatory
position, has not occasionally far exceeded
the bounds of what is necessary or even
justified.
be cured so as not to allow a primitive and
sometimes even disfiguring removal of the
products of disease to remain the be-all and
end-all of medical treatment.
Criticism of this nature would be in
admissible unless there were a definite
possibility of demonstrating that even such
products of disease may be made to disappear
which modern surgery regards as eradicable
only by “fire and sword”, and by a curative
method of treatment which is described in
the words
tuto, et jucundo33.^
Let us examine a few case-histories from
The atmosphere of our crisis-laden Univer a rural practice which, to my mind, furnish
sity departments of Medicine has been proof that even in these days, homoeopathy
marked by a tragic mistaking of cause for can still be effective in conditions which a
effect and vice versa, which has not been surgeon might regard as a field for his own
without serious consequences. For the objec exclusive intervention. It should be men
tively ascertainable functional as well as tioned that the following will be merely a
somatic changes i.e. the symptoms in a selection from a far larger number of every
patient, are doubtless an effect or rather a day cases which I have dealt with. Moreover,
consequence—phenomena of disorder in an an almost unlimited number of such cases
indivisible living organism. University Medi has been described in homoeopathic literature
cine, however, defines the most striking during the last 150 years.
functional or somatic indications of pathology CASE 1
i.e. the symptoms, as being the cause of
A shepherd, 57 years of age, tall, thin,
illness, a fact which is also clearly expressed stooping, unkempt, with yellowish-grey com
in diagnostical nomenclature. Many mistakes plexion, complained of a stubborn cough
in treatment, medicinal as well as surgical, which he said had been bothering him for ages
may have been due to an effort to fight or and had lately become unbearable on account
to remove these so-called “causes”.
of the damp and chilly weather. There was a
Thus, even in the “Age of the Surgeon” considerable amount of greenish-phlegm.
(a title invented by a German novelist) Result of examination: Bronchiolitis. My
Hahnemann’s emphatic counsel remains as attention was caught by the bony back of his
true as ever—namely, that patients ought to hand. A large area on either side, halfway up
the forearm, was covered by several layers of
* Paper read at the International Homoeopathic warts, badly cracked, encrusted with blood
Congress, Florence, Sept. 1959 and published by
kind permission of K. Haug, Editor, Allgetneinc and dirt, festering in places. On enquiring
Homoeopathic Zeitung, Ulm, Germany; Translated
from the Original in German.
125
tQuickly, totally and gently—Ed.
about the warts, I was told that they had
been proliferating for fifteen years. In the
early years they had frequently been cau
terized. But they had kept on spreading all
over. He had long since given up hope of
ever getting rid of this disorder. I was not
to take any notice of it. He had come to the
surgery only because of his cough.
This happened in the spring of 1950 when
I was carrying out my first shy attempts at
homoeopathic treatment. Consulting the text
book I found that Thuja might be suitable,
for the warts rather than for the cough. I
made out a prescription for Thuja DI-,* 5
drops to be taken twice a day.
When the patient returned 3 weeks later,
having come to the end of his cough drops,
he looked considerably improved. His cough
had abated almost immediately after the
start of the treatment. There was still some
of the cough left, though. Could he have
some more cough drops to continue the good
work? I could not help looking again at the
back of his hand. The wart ridges had
vanished without leaving a trace. I asked him
about it. He replied: They went all of a
sudden last week. But that didn’t really
matter, he added; the main thing was could
he have another supply of cough drops? I
let him have them, and he must have felt
considerably enriched by having them, in the
same way that I felt enriched by an ex
perience which spurred me on towards
gaining new insight to guide me in my work.
twice daily, I asked the girl’s mother to be
patient for a few days. This request seemed
to cause intense irritation to her. A tiling
like that ought to be removed, she repeated.
I insisted and refused to refer the girl to a
surgeon. Within five days the ranula had
disappeared. The girl’s mother, although not
in the least appreciative, was visibly asto
nished. This happened two years ago and
it was not my first healing experinece of this
type. Thus, I did not really feel astonish
ment myself but saw in it only a confirmation
of what I had expected from the art of
healing.
CASE 2
A mother brought her eight-year-old
daughter who was suffering from a speech
impediment and was unfit for school because
of a ranula. This was the size of a hazel-nut
and of recent origin and had developed fairly
rapidly. The woman wanted me to refer the
girl to a surgeon. A brief exploration resulted
in Thuja being indicated as the simillimum.
After prescribing Thuja D 12, five drops
♦D4 = 4X —Ed.
CASE 3
Craftsman, 54 years of age, who had
had surgical treatment on both processus
mastoidei in childhood, had since then been
suffering from a caustic liquid discharge from
ear and been supplied with an electric hearing
aid. For three years he has had a tumorous
growth on the skin of the abdomen. This was
of the size of a plum, spreading rapidly and
decaying on the surface. A case of advanced
cancerophobia—patient’s professional effi
ciency had greatly decreased and he had also
lost a considerable amount of weight. Patient
requested removal of this troublesome
tumour. A brief repertorisation according to
Kent did not lead to a firm decision on
whether Calcarea carbonica or Silicea would
be indicated. Patient received first one and
then the other—as C 200f—but without
result. Thereupon he was given Calciumsilico-fluoratum as D 12, 1 tablet twice a
day. The trouble cleared up within a week,
leaving only a small, wart-like scar which
is still visible today. His general condition
became quite normal; there has been hardly
any discharge since then and his hearing
ability has improved to such an extent that
the hearing aid is only rarely required now
adays. In this case astonishment was equally
great on either side.
fC200 = 200C — Ed.
126
case of Steingall bladder with constant attacks
of colic in a farmer’s wife who was 30 years
A two-year-old girl from a remote district
of age at the time. I had employed alter
had received bilateral paracentesis because
natively homoeopathic and allopathic methods
of otitis media two weeks before seeing me.
of prescription. The specialist resident
The child still had a temperature 38° and
surgeon who was cooperating in observation,
39°, suffered from caustic ear discharge,
insisted pre-emptorily on an operation. This
completely off her food, continually drinking
happened eight years ago and just at that
cold water and constantly suffering severe
time Kent’s Repertory came into my posses
pain. The child had been referred for clinical
sion. I had not yet learnt how to make use
treatment for extremely urgent mastoidec
of it and I required several nights’ study in
tomy on the following day. Her parents were
order to do the necessary analysis. Previously
desperate because the otologist had predicted
the idea of accepting Sepia as a simillimum
that the child would be permanently hard of
would never have entered my mind. I gave
hearing. The cliild had relatives living in my
the patient D 12, one tablet twice daily, for
village and these brought her to me. The
three weeks. At the end there was no surgical
case required an immediate dose of sulfur operation. She has sine* appeared to be quite
C 500. During the following day the child’s
well and it seems that she will remain so.
temperature subsided and she recovered a
Whether she still has the stones, which had
taste for food while her thirst decreased and been ascertained by X-ray, neither of
there was relief from pain. Two days later
us know.
she began a new course of treatment by being
given one tablet Calcium phosphoricum
She has since been carrying on with her
D 12, twice daily.
work which is of a strenuous and worrying
nature. I only see her whenever one of her
15 days later I saw the child again. I found
children has a cold and each time I feel
only slight traces of the previous trouble. The
deeply gratified by her apparent sense of
discharge had ceased. After repertorisation
appreciation. But I feel that this gratitude
the child received another three doses con
is not rightfully due to me but to Hahnemann
sisting of Hepar sulfuris on three consecutive
and Kent to whom I consider myself as
days—C 30, C 200, C 1000.
being equally indebted.
The child has never been ill since. Her
eardrums which had been puncturd by the CASE 6
ear specialist, have healed over. She has now
A professional man who is now 67, of a
a normal sense of hearing.
neuropathic nature—when in deep thought he
The above case dates back four years. I habitually tore his fingernails to the point of
wonder what would happen if all cases of bleeding—four years ago suffered from a
otitis media before the age of seven were prolapse of the rectum which, after each
treated by consistent homoeopathic methods. bowel movement, protruded as far as 10 cm.,
Would there still be institutions for the deaf- causing pain and haemorrhage. The patient
and-dumb? I should think there would be had been in the habit of carrying out the
only few of them left because congenital reposition himself. A surgeon, a friend of
deaf-and-dumbness is extremely rare.
his, was advising urgent operation. However,
considering that his skin was the colour of
CASE 5
parchment, that his general condition was
For two years I had been labouring with a poor and that there was a subsidiary paresis
CASE 4
127
I resorted to a white lie in order to delay
the patient’s removal to hospital; I admi
nistered one Causticum G 30 and made an
appointment with him to see me in two
days’ time.
of the sphincter of the bladder and several
other factors which I looked up in the
Repertory—all this caused me to dissuade him
from having an operation. I administered
instead Causticum as G 30 progressing to
G 200 and up to C 1000 at intervals of
several weeks. The prolapse as well as the
paresis of the sphincter of the bladder dis
appeared and there is now no sign of neurotic
behaviour. The patient looks well and gives
the impression of having been rejuvenated by
at least ten years. Whereas he had previously
been applying for premature retirement, he is
now waging a determined campaign for
permission to stay in office beyond the
statutory age limit.
He appeared to be completely altered; he
had not felt any pain for the last two days
although he had taken no other remedies;
on the other hand his appetite for food had
become excellent. He refused to submit to
the operation “if things go on as they are
doing now.”
In addition to the above-mentioned G 30
the patient later on received two G 200 and
finally one Causticum G 1000, administered
by the practitioner for whom I had previously
deputized. Each time we maintained close
contact by telephone.
CASE 7
A 48-year-old labourer with an anamnesis
extending back over the last ten years was
at last to have an operation (according to
Billroth) for incurable, multiple, dish-shaped
ulcera ventriculi, having previously undergone
clinical treatment of several months’ duration
for ulcer ventriculi.
From Gustav von Bergmann’s clinical
expositions, we gather that dish-shaped ulcera
ventriculi very frequently have or acquire
carcinomous character. The patient had
already received notice of an appointment
for surgical treatment from the University
Clinic and his only purpose in calling on me
was to collect his transfer form.
I had not in any way been responsible for
the previous treatment of this long-standing
complaint, having only occasionally, as a
deputy, taken over the surgery in a neighbour
ing, non-homoeopathic practice. The patient’s
complexion, behaviour, modalities and several
other separate indications revealed a
Causticum-similarity in the sum total of the
medicinal symptoms, and in such a convincing
form as is only seldom seen—so that I found
myself virtually compelled to perform the
experiment.
The cure resulted in the patient gaining
11 kgs. in weight, the healing of the ulcer
having been confirmed both subjectively and
by X-ray check. For the last six years the
patient has been fit for work without an
interruption of any kind.
Would a Billroth-type operation have
shown equivalent results in this case? I do
not know. But as a co-observer in many
similar cases, I beg leave to doubt it.
I should like to complete this case-report
by describing other cases which have been
cured by homoeopathic methods, such as:
Panaris, bursitis, hydropic arthropathy,
prolapse of genitals, hernia initials, occlusion
of intestine, phlegmona subfascialis, exostosis,
chondroma, hypertrophia of tonsils, Slyposis
of the mucosa of the nose, lipoma, fistula
osteomyelitis frontitis, caries vertebrarum and
prostata-hypertrophica.
But I must not exceed the time which has
been allotted to me and therefore I should
like to conclude this brief lecture by quoting
a double case of a rather curious nature:
128
CASE 8
The remarks which I am about to make
with regard to this case ought to be preceded
by a serious caution. I should warn any one
against attempting to deal with highly acute
appendicitis by homoeopathic methods, unless
a homoeopathic diagnosis is obtainable with
out the least delay and with sufficient
accuracy.
The patient in this case was a village doctor.
aged 45, who was in charge of a neighbouring
practice and not entirely opposed to homoeo
pathy. He was worried about the time-wasting
operative clinical procedure and begged me
to make an attempt to save him from the
clinic with the aid of homoeopathy. I received
his request late in the evening. I called to see
him at 11-30 p.m. and confirmed his own
diagnosis.
After supper there had been a sudden onset
of symptoms—hot flushes, shivering, a sensa
tion of sickness and vomiting, with the
patient pacing the floor excitedly in a
stooping posture with severe pain in the lower
right abdomen. Each step caused pain which
became more severe when the patient
lay down.
Temperature, rectal: 38.7°, axillary:
37.1°. Tachycardia. Patient is sensitive to
light, with enlarged pupillae, reddened sclerae
flushed hot face, parched mouth, dryness of
tongue and throat. There is a red, painted
look about the whole thing; also feeling of
irritation in throat and larynx. Slight
meteorism. Distinct reflectory defensive
tension and acute tenderness towards bottom
right. Violent release pain in right hypogastrium; desperate excitation. Failure of
attempt at persuading him to undergo
surgical treatment. Patient said “he would
rather perish than do that”. I had to think
of the large number of patients whom he
might himself have sent for an appendectomy
during his twenty years as a practitioner.
In order to secure a medical diagnosis, I
spent the next half-hour or so consulting
Kent’s Repertory and found Belladonna to
be so obviously indicated as not to leave any
doubt whatever concerning the correctness
of the choice of remedy. Two globuli of the
6th L M
* were dissolved in glassful of water.
I administered orally one small dose of this
every fifteen minutes. The patient took the
first mouthful at 11-30 p.m. He calmed
down after this and became a little tired and
less talkative. An hour later, there was
considerable relief from flatulence and the
parched feeling in the throat disappeared.
Temperature 2 hours after beginning the
treatment was 36.8° (axillary) and 37.6°
(rectal). There was hardly any spontaneous
pain left and no longer any release pain. He
was given four more oral doses of Belladonna
at -intervals of fifteen minutes. At 3 a.m.
patient asked to be allowed to go to sleep.
Leaving instructions for him to stay in bed
during the following day I left for home.
I intended to return at 7-30 a.m. to take his
place in the surgery. At 7 a.m., however,
patient’s wife rang up explaining that there
was no longer anything wrong with him, he
was just eating his breakfast with great
enjoyment, arid she added that he was insist
ing on taking the surgery! himself.
This case occurred nearly a year ago. My
colleague has never been ill since. I believe
he has been cured, not only of appendicitis,
but he seems to have been cured as well of
any theoretical reservations he may still have
had regarding the tremendous importance
and value of Hahnemann’s teaching.
CASE 9
May I quote, in justification of this belief,
my ninth case which is also to be the last for
the purposes of this lecture. Three months
after the above-mentioned events had taken
*6th potency of 50 Millesimal scale—Ed.
fSurgery denotes dispensary—Ed.
129
place, this very same colleague asked me to
have a look at his mother-in-law, then
aged 62.
She had had a sudden loss of weight of
1.0 kgs. shortly after the removal of a facial
eczema by means of cortisone ointment. There
was also complete loss of appetite, spasmodic
constipation, very marked apathy; darkishyellow, caustic-smelling urine, moderate
swelling of spleen and liver, severe attacks of
pain in epigastrium, transfer of flatulence in
colony transversum, moderate leucocytosis
and maximal sedimentation of blood cor
puscles. The surgical clinic had diagnosed
carcinoma pancreatis, unfortunately inopera
ble. A medicinal diagnosis according to
Kent’s Repertory plainly indicated Sepia.
Patient received a dose of 6th L M once a
week to the exclusion of all other medicine
and with only slight changes in her diet. Two
weeks later there was almost complete relief
from discomfort. Eight weeks later the
patient had regained her initial weight and
there was a normal blood formula. The
swelling of the spleen and liver had gone. In
a psychological sense she had also returned
to her former condition. Even the constipa
tion had disappeared. At long last even the
facial eczema reappeared, wholly in accor
dance with the descriptions of Hahnemann’s
Psora-teaching.
I dare not claim that this patient was
definitely cured. Only after years of further
observation and at the end of more homoeo
pathic treatment, if required, could this be
conclusively proved.
But it seems to me that for this woman it
was a singular stroke of fortune that she was,
on the one hand, found to be inoperable by
the surgeons, and at the same time she had
decided to entrust herself to the great and
beneficient power of the homoeopathic art
of healing.
PRENATAL DEFECTS AND DISEASES OF THE NERVOUS SYSTEM
Dr. V. V. ATHALYE, A. V. P., Satara
Member, Court of Examiners in Homoeopathy, Bombay.
In his general practice when a medical
practitioner has to deal with nervous ail
ments of infants, he finds that some have
cyanosis or feeble respiration, others have
difficulty of swallowing or nursing and still
others have rigidity of extremities or recurrent
spasms. Some have clonic or tonic fits,
opisthotonos or emprosthotonos, or certain
other disturbances of the nervous system.
Some infants exhibit frequent elevations of
temperature without any apparent cause.
And when the infants reach the age of
sitting or walking, he may find that some of
them are unable to sit or walk or speak or
do mental functions normal to the age. He
130
comes across some children who fall an easy
prey to various infections and have extreme
sensitivity towards drugs, the sensitivity
sometimes leading to death.
But what does the busy practitioner do for
such infants and children? He treats them
symptomatically for fits and convulsions,
subnormal growth of body and mind and
fevers of unknown origin without any
diagnosis and prognosis. However, in the
absence of definite knowledge of the etiology
of these conditions he is not to blame for his
shortcomings. But during the last 25 years
or more much investigation has been done
in respect of these conditions and we have
now at least better understanding of these
conditions, and a better understanding gives
hopes of better treatment.
Diseases of the nervous system in infancy
and childhood can be conveniently discussed
under five main categories:—
Senior practitioners who have reached the
stage of retirement or have been doing only
consultation work may be expected to devote
themselves to such problems for they have
comparatively ample time at their disposal
if they are inclined to utilise it for such
purposes.
(1) Prenatal defects of the nervous system
(2) Birth injuries
(3) Heredo-familial degenerations
(4) Infections.
(5) Intoxications.
With these introductory remarks I shall
turn to the subject of this paper:
The prenatal defects themselves with one
of which I propose to deal in this paper can
be considered under seven heads:—
Consideration of the diseases of the nervous
system in relation to conditions either
prenatal or postnatal is a province of the
neurologist, and specifically that in relation to
infancy and childhood is one of pediatrician.
But the neurologist generally comes in con
tact with adults and to him the diagnostic
problems with which I propose to deal in
this paper are obviously not familiar; and the
pediatrician will seldom be inclined to give
thought to these problems for there has been
an absence of effective therapeutic measures
needed to deal with conditions involved in
these problems.
But the very extreme despair in curing
and the difficulties even in alleviating these
conditions make the appropriate understand
ing of the causes of these conditions all the
more important. The parents and families
concerned with such infants and children are
found to be absolutely ignorant regarding the
time when the first symptoms of these con
ditions had become manifest.
Recently however a considerable progress
has been made at least as regards a better
understanding of the different kinds of
encephalitis and their relation to acute in
fectious diseases. A number of careful his
tological studies have also become available
now and they help to clarify the relations of
the heredo-familial degenerations.
(1) Congenital spastic diplegia.
(2) Congenital atonic diplegia.
(3) Congenital hemiplegia and bilateral
hemiplegia
(4) Congenital pseudobulbar palsy
(5) Congenital cerebellar ataxia
(6) Congenital athetosis, chorea, etc.
(7) Congenital palsies of the cranial
nerves.
These seven types of prenatal defects may
be suitably brought before our eyes under
two main groups:
In one of these groups, some part of the
nervous system is absent or incomplete and
it is obvious that its development is hindered.
In the other group, the nervous system is
found to have developed upto a certain point
and then destruction has taken place.
We have little or no knowledge of the
causes of these defects. But the most pre
valent point of view is that which attributes
the defects of development to an abnormal
germ-plasm. Undoubtedly, morbid heredity
must be responsible to a certain extent for
these defects, yet it is worth noting that
defects of development of the nervous system
are only rarely met with in more than one
member of a family, in contrast to the nature
131
of the progressive degenerative processes
which are often quite hereditary.
Another point of view attracts our notice,
namely, that permanent defects of various
organs may be the result of measures which
cause a temporary inhibition of the meta
bolism of the fetus.
As an instance, it is told, Stockhard, by
placing developing fish embryos in the ice-box
during certain periods of their growth, was
able to eliminate almost any organ at will.
This enables one to conceive that temporary
disturbances in fetal oxygenation, either
due to infarction of the placenta or
due to maternal illnesses, might lead to
prenatal defects similar to those produced
experimentally.
In the second group of conditions where
after the development of the nervous system
upto a certain point destruction has actually
occurred, the causative factors are equally
uncertain. Possibly maternal toxemias and
metabolic disturbances may play a part here,
though there is no actual proof in support
of such a possibility.
However, Roentgenotherapy of the pelvic
organs during pregnancy is known to cause
injury to the nervous system of the fetus.
Infectious processes during intra-uterine life
are seldom met with, and syphilis is perhaps
the only one infectious process which can be
regarded as definitely established.
Bartlett maintains hereditary syphilis as
one of the causes of cerebral palsies though
in his opinion cases having this stigmata are
very few. To briefly state the underlying
pathological condition he says humourously
“It is a hole in the brain”!
I have indicated so far how prenatal defects
can be conveniently considered under 7 heads
or types and again how these seven can be
brought under two main groups and how our
knowledge of the causative factors is un
132
certain or meagre. On account of our poor
knowledge of the etiology and pathologic
anatomy of the prenatal defects of the
nervous system, it would be useful to present
a clinical classification of the conditions
resulting from them and to discuss them as
syndromes. I shall now deal with the first
type of the prenatal defects or the disease of
the nervous system resulting from that type:
CONGENITAL SPASTIC DIPLEGIA.
It is also called Little’s Disease. Properly
speaking it is a state of bilateral paralysis and
spasticity present from the birth.
I.
GENERAL CONSIDERATION:—
It is a well known fact that Freud had made
very important studies in this field. He
employed this term in only a restricted sense.
He reserved it for those bilateral palsies in
which the paralysis is more severe in the legs
than in the arms. What we call double hemi
plegia is therefore excluded, for in double
hemiplegia the disbility is always greater in
the arms.
Ford, an American writer, considers con
genital cerebral paraplegia as a mild or
abortive form of this diplegia because these
two syndromes come so close to each other
as can not be distinguished and are identical
in respect of essential clinical features and
pathological anatomy. He therefore describes
them together.
In mildest cases of the diplegia under
consideration there is merely a little spas
ticity of the ankles and a tendency to walk
upon toes.
But more severe cases are characterized by
paraparesis, and still more advanced cases
by paraplegia and weakness of the arms.
And in the most severe conditions there is
a generalised rigidity and paralysis. In these
conditions it is impossible to distinguish
between diplegia and double hemiplegia. But
excluding such cases it is possible to make the
several different pathological processes. But
the commonest
among
these many
pathological processes is often what is termed
atrophic lobar sclerosis. Buzzard and Green
field describe it as follows:
HISTORICAL CONSIDERATION:—
“Macroscopically (that is to the naked
There is extensive literature and a number
eye)
the chief appearance is that of atrophy,
of different theories concerning the etiology
cither
localized or affecting to a greater or
of congenital spastic diplegia. I shall mention
less
extent
the whole brain substance......
a few theories:
examination with a hand lens reveals, here
(1) According to one theory, difficult and there, minute depressions or scar-like
labour, premature birth and asphyxia are the puckerings. The surface may have a finely
etiological factors.
worm-eaten appearance. In some advanced
(2) According to another, meningeal cases the convolution is representd by a thin
haemorrhage due to birth injury is the essen leaf of fibrous substance, the so-called parch
tial cause. This view was accepted by William ment-like convolution. The parts of the mid
Gowers and Osler. Osler, however, had brain and hind-brain associated with the
taken a wider view of the prenatal factors sclerosed areas, fail to develop and the
leading to cerebral palsies or congenital cerebral peduncles are smaller......micros
spastic diplegia. For, he included in those copically the condition is one of neuroglia
factors cerebral agenesis, that is, faulty overgrowth associated with degeneration of
development, microcephaly, porencephaly, the neuron substance...... The vessels are
that is, depressions on the surface of the brain, affected, showing perivascular neuroglial
sclerosis. .. .Ependyma (the lining membrane
and congenital cysts in the brain.
of the cerebral ventricles) is involved and
(3) A third theory claimed that premature
may proliferate and show glandular masses
birth which interrupted the development of
which penetrate more or less deeply into the
the pyramidal tract was the determining
tissue around the ventricle.
factor.
Buzzard and Greenfield consider this
(4) According to the fourth, diplegia is the
picture
to be the result of some prenatal
result of a degenerative process.
morbid process.
These are the principal theories advanced
to account for congenital spastic or cerebral
In some cases gross malformations are
diplegia. In short, the first claims asphyxia, found. Rarely, the hemispheres are found
the second birth injury, the third defect of more or less completely fused.
development and the fourth degenerative
Ford has studied a case of this nature in
process as the cause of this condition. Un
which the frontal lobes were united in the
doubtedly there must be some truth in each
midline and there was only one common
of them.
anterior horn for both the lateral ventricles.
Now after these general and historical con The corpus callosum fornix and septum
siderations we may study the pathology of lueidum were absent.
this diplegia.
>
Another type of brain is met with in con
PATHOLOGY:—
genital spastic diplegia. It appears normal.
The syndrome representing congenital But microscopic examination reveals defective
spastic diplegia apparently depends upon development of the cortico-spinal motor
distinction in most cases where the term
diplegia used in Freud’s restricted sense is
applicable, that is, where the bilateral palsies
are more severe in the legs than in the arms.
133
(1) Asphyxia,
(2) birth injury, and
(3) degenerative processes originating in
utero.
tracts. The neurons may be immature in
their morphology and diminished in number.
In some recent studies it has been observed
that the hemispheres (in cases of diplegia)
were small and soft though well formed; the
brain stem was found unduly firm.
Asphyxia:—
With selective stains, Freeman was able to
demonstrate an intense fibrillar gliosis in the
spinal cord and brain stem. In the cortex and
basal ganglia he found a large amount of
lipoid material scattered dust-like through
the gray matter.
There is no direct evidence available to sub
stantiate the theory of asphyxia. From the
clinical point of view, it is not found possible
to prove that asphyxia alone leaves any per
sistent ill effects.
development.
The first kind, the atrophic lobar sclerosis,
is so constant in its histological details that
we can safely regard it as the result of some
specific morbid condition. It is evidently a
destructive process and not a defect of
development. In connection with this kind,
three possibilities must be taken into
consideration:
Degenerative processes originating in utero:—
This is the third possibility deserving con
sideration. Freud, Collier and Ford are
inclined to believe that the vast majority of
cases of lobar sclerosis (the commonest
pathological process) are due to degenerative
processes and the metabolic disturbances and
toxemias associated with pregnancy though
no definite evidence is available.
In a series of 90 babies deeply asphyxiated,
According to Boyd “The congenital spastic Buchardt found only one abnormal baby
diplegia is due to an upper motor neurone some years later. Ford had subjected
regeneration, or rather to agenesia or failure Kittens to severe and repeated asphyxia
of development on the part of the motor without producing any functional or anato
cortical cells and the pyramidal tracts. The mical injuries.
convolutions in the motor area are small and Birth injury:—
atrophic.... The picture is purely motor...”
This is another possibility to be considered.
To summarise, it may be said that three
Much
has been said for and against this
principal conditions may be found in the
possibility.
It has been noted long since that
brain of the diplegics:
diplegic babies are often born premature and
(1) Atrophic lobar sclerosis
frequently by precipitate or prolonged labor,
(2) Gross defects of development.
all these conditions being known to predispose
(3) Defective development demonstrable to intracranial haemorrhage. It is difficult
to resuscitate these infants, they cry feebly,
only upon histological examination.
do not nurse sufficiently and they frequently
ETIOLOGY:—
suffer from convulsions, all of which are
It is clear from the exposition of the subject suggestive of birth injury.
made so far that congenital spastic diplegia
However, if we analyse the histories of a
is not always due to one and the same cause.
large
number of cases of congenital diplegia,
We may therefore consider the etiology in
we
find
only a small percentage of cases in
relation to the two principal kinds of patho
which
there
is a clinical evidence of birth
logical processes, namely, (1) atrophic lobar
sclerosis, and (2) various defects of injury.
134
Now we come to the second principal kind
of patholigical processes, namely, various
defects of development. Defects of develop
ment bring about a big group of congenital
diplegias as is evidenced by numerous anato
mical studies.
The cause of defects in development is
however not known. Probably morbid in
heritance plays a part, although the
occurrence of more than one case in the same
family is unusual. Premature birth can not
be taken seriously as a cause of defective
development, for the large number of pre
mature babies eventually complete the
development of the nervous system and in
fact not more than one-third of all diplegics
are premature.
One thing may be noted here that typical
congenital diplegia with microcephaly is
known to occur as a result of prenatal irra
diation with radium or roentgen rays.
Diplegia may also occur with cretinism.
CLINICAL SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS: —
Now, after general, historical pathological
and etiological considerations, we come to the
clinical signs and symptoms of congenital
spastic diplegia. Congenital spastic diplegia
is certainly the commonest type of infantile
cerebral palsy we meet in children’s clinics.
It is not so in neurologic clinics. It is rarely
to be observed there. And the reason is
obvious. It is that diplegics generally die early
in childhood.
In exceptional instances two or more cases
of diplegia are found in one family, but in
general there is no evidence of morbid
heredity, and the family history is quite
negative.
The symptoms vary much and depend upon
the severity of the lesions:
may be feeble for some time. Nursing is
difficult or even impossible. The extremities
may be abnormally rigid and recurrent
spasms are common. Retraction of the head
and arching of the trunk may be seen. If
the birth is premature, the symptoms are
likely to be attributed to prematurity of birth
and the real picture may thus be obscured.
But it may be remembered that even in
children born at full term, the head is often
abnormally small. Besides, in diplegics any
stimulus will often provoke general muscular
spasms.
Clonic and tonic fits recur from time and
time. The tendon reflexes are usually
increased, but may be abolished by the intense
rigidity, which slowly grows more and more
pronounced; so that it is often possible to
support the child by the feet and head alone.
It is difficult or impossible to maintain
nutrition of the child as there is vomiting
and difficulty in swallowing.
There are generally found recurrent rises
of temperature without any apparent cause.
Finally the child dies of cachexia or some
terminal infection. In cases where the sym
ptoms are evident from birth, death
generally results before the end of the first
year.
(2) In less severe cases, no abnormality is
noticed until the time arrives for the child
to sit up or begin to walk.
Then it is observed that these functions are
not developed and that when the child is
placed on the feet, the legs grow rigid and
are strongly adducted. There may be some
clumsiness of the arms also. Mental develop
ment may be obviously defective or
apparently normal.
(1) In extreme cases, the abnormality of
(3) In mild cases, the child will begin to
the child may be evident at birth. There is walk at about the third or fourth year, but
frequently marked cyanosis and respiration its gait is spastic and clumsy.
135
DIAGNOSIS:—
There is a tendency to stand on the toes,
and for the legs to cross each other, the
so-called scissors gait.
We must differentiate congenital spastic
diplegia from double hemiplegia and from
spinal lesions. From double hemiplegia it can
be distinguished by the relative escape of the
arms and bulbar muscles; and from the spinal
lesions by the presence in most cases of some
degree of mental defect and by the absence of
loss of sensibility and disturbances of
sphincter control. The presence of definite
microcephaly would also indicate a cerebral
process.
The tendon reflexes arc now found to be
increased and a bilateral ankle clonus and
Babinski sign are usually obtained.
As the child grows older, the symptoms
become more and more clear. Petit mal or
general convulsions occur in about one fourth
of the cases.
Even the children who have seemed to
have a normal mental development in
infancy, may be unable to make progress at
school.
In less than one-third of all cases, the head
is slightly less than normal size and in a small
percentage there is definite microcephaly.
Speech is usually delayed and may always
remain imperfect. The general physical
development is often impaired.
Many of these children remain thin and
delicate, succumbing to various infections
very easily. It is very curious to note that
they may be also sensitive to drugs, and two
instances are recorded where death resulted
from the instillation of a few drops of atropine
into the eye as a mydriatic.
In all but the mildest cases death
ordinarily occurs some time during childhood.
One can easily separate the flaccid diple
gias, congenital ataxias, congenital athetoses
and extrapyramidal syndromes from the
congenital spastic diplegia by the presence in
the latter of the signs of pyramidal tract
involvement and absence of ataxia and in
voluntary movements.
Birth injuries can be eliminated by the fact
that they are more apt to cause unilateral
or asymmetrical palsies than the diplegic
syndrome.
Progressive cerebral degenerations which
have begun early in life, that is, after birth,
can be recognised by the continued progress
of their symptoms; but prolonged observation
may be necessary to recognise them.
Epidemic encephalitis may be distinguished
by the history of the acute onset, the distur
bances of sleep, the oculomotor palsies and
the predominance of extrapyramidal signs.
In some cases there is only a very slight PROGNOSIS:—
spasticity of the legs and a tendency to walk
During childhood, there is a tendency to
on the toes. And if the mental condition is
normal or nearly normal, as is frequently improvement which is of course alwaysfound, the parents may not realise that the limited. After childhood (if the case survives)
child has any real disability. In such cases the condition remains stationary.
life is not shortened and the patient may
In severe cases, death usually takes place
reach adult life. The paretic legs do not early in childhood or in infancy, in mild cases
develop as well as the arms; and the contrast the child may reach adult life and may even
between the muscular shoulders, arms and become self-supporting if given proper train
trunk, and the small spastic legs is often very ing which is more satisfactorily obtainable
in public institutions.
striking.
136
TREATMENT:—
Training of mind and muscles is the key
note of the treatment. But large schools are
not found beneficial as there the children
seldom receive any attention amounting to
more than mere kindness to the body. If
monetary circumstances permit, a select
school with a limited number of children is
preferable.
If the mental condition is deeply affected,
training of mind is of no avail. But if it is
normal or even fairly good, much may be
done to improve capacity of movement by
massage, exercises and faradism.
In most cases it is found necessary to have
recourse to some surgical measures in order
to control excessive muscle spasm and to
overcome the deformities it produces, such
as pcs equinus, equinovarus and adductor
spasm of the thighs. In equinovarus, pes
equinus and pes varus are combined. That
is, the patient has club-foot and also inversion
of the foot. Only surgical intervention can
correct these deformities to a smaller or
greater degree.
Some surgeons prefer to resort to stretching
and lengthening of the tendons and partial
section of the peripheral nerves.
Forster’s operation is done with the idea
that if the sensory stimuli can be sufficiently
diminished, the reflex motor contraction of
muscles will be similarly reduced. In this
operation posterior roots are sectioned. But
the operation is difficult and dangerous and
is attended with a definite mortality. Besides
it brings in an additional element of inco
ordination. Stoffel’s operation is considered
preferable.
After muscle balance has been approxi
mately restored by operation, suitable exer
cises are always advised.
• Craniotomy has also been employed by
some surgeons. Some advise lumbar sympa
thectomy. Surgeons differ on the point of
usefulness of these two measures.
Medicinal treatment:—
Thyroideum in doses of gr. 1/10 t.d.s. have
been tried with benefit in certain mild cases.
In homoeopathic therapeutics Arnica, Rhus
tax., Calc, carb., Mercurius, Kali iodide,
Causticum, Cocculus, Cuprum, Lycopodium,
Baryta carb., and Sulphur have been recom
mended. I may add Sepia to the list.
Causticum, Cocculus and Cuprum fre
quently exert a beneficial influence upon the
paralytic symptoms. Mercurius and Kali
iodide are useful where there is syphilitic
stigmata. Sepia will be found effective where
the child has got the characteristic gait called
“cross-legged” or “Scissors” gait. Any of
these drugs, if they are to be effective, will
be found to be so after many months of
administration.
The scope for any kind of therapy is
obviously limited. We can not forget what
Raue and other authors have said, namely
that “destroyed portions of the brain ever
remain destroyed in spite of medicine.” Only
further destruction may be interrupted in
certain cases and to a certain limit.
Some time in the near future I may present
another paper on the remaining prenatal
defects and disease of the nervous system.
REFERENCES:
Arndt
:
Bartlett :
Practice of Medicine (Homoeopathic).
Boyd
:
Clinical Medicine (Homoeopathic).
Text Book of Pathology.
Nelson
:
New Loose Leaf Medicine.
Osler
:
Principles and Practice of Medicine.
Raue
:
Special Pathology and Diagnostics
with Therapeutic Hints (Homoeo
pathic) .
Rose and
Carless:
137
Manual of Surgery.
ON THE ATTRACTIVENESS OF GEOGRAPHIC HOMOEOPATHY*!
Dr. GERARD BAKKER, M.D., Arnhem, The Netherlands.
When on a walk with one of my German
colleagues in the surroundings of Bordeaux—
it was August 1957—we saw, by the side of
the footpath amidst some grass, Dulcamara
in flower. He called attention to the special
significance of Dulcamara in case of urticaria.
His remark struck me because in case of
Dulcamara I sooner think of a change of the
weather in summer, of bowel-complaints as
a result of a sudden cold set in. Moreover I
could not help thinking of a female patient
whom I had been treating on account of
urticaria for two months, without result
(without having given Dulcamara). It is true
the patient was evidently influenced by
suddenly being chilled; when cycling with
bare hands and cold raindrops fall on her
hands—urticaria is the immediate result.
When, I returned from the League
Congress I saw the non-recovered patient
again, I joyfully prescribed Dulcamara.
The result of this too was nil.
Continued anamnesis. It appears that
patient had concealed that she had daily been
taking some Optalidon-tablets for years to
repress headache.
But I had told the patient to take no
coffee, spices or other medicine than those
prescribed!
Indeed, but the patient could not do with
out Optalidon a single day; a University
professor had, as she told now, dismissed her
from his clinical treatment on account of her
clandestine use of Optalidon.
I considered: Nux vomica might able to
break the patient’s obstinacy and act as an
♦Paper read at the International Homoeopathic
Congress, Florence, September 1959.
fTranslated from the original by Author.
138
antidote with a decreased use of Optalidon.
The patient, however, refused to listen to
reason.
The knowledge of his remedies the homoeo
pathic physician has obtained, first by
studying the Materia Medica homoeopathica,
in various issues; secondly from the experience
obtained by practice. As far as the Materia
Medica is concerned, it is obvious that it
is of a comparatively heterogeneous com
position. For the provings on people in
good health with potentized remedies or
drugs to be examined, relate in different
countries to individually greatly different
native provers, even of greatly different races
of human beings. Moreover the work is done
under climatologically greatly different con
ditions and not seldom with drugs bearing the
same name, but as a plant—having a greatly
different habitat and as a mineral or as
animal substance greatly different locations.
These differences can, in case of provings on
human beings, yield differences as regards
the symptom picture of the remedy. In the
event of practical application—at least theo
retically—little differences of the medicine
and individual differences of the race of the
patient can again play a part. These facts
are generally known and accepted. Yet it is
of importance, at a congress convened by the
Ligue Medicale Homoeopathique Inter
nationale to defend the thesis that with all
this the matter has not been sufficiently
considered. In the beginning of our discourse
we mentioned the plant and remedy name
Dulcamara. Well then, original examinations
of remedies in geographically different areas
yield variations of the drug-picture, contri
bute to a geographically differentiated
pharmacology and with it to a geographically
differentiated homoeopathical practice.
Practice requires the ability to distinguish
the geographically qualified variations in the
domain of homoeopathy. With two wellknown and much read American authors
urticaria does not occur in the drug-picture
of Dulcamara. So in Europe we should take
into account this and similar geographicallyfounded differences.
In this discourse we approach the field
meant by means of a comparison of a greatly
limited number of data of the current
pharmacology and of homoeopathical prac
tice as they are at our disposal from several
countries. In a discourse we do not yet come
further. Before acquitting myself of this
task, Mr. Chairman, you may allow me to
express my sincere regret that—faute
d’education concernante—I shall have to
disregard the original Italian literature.
Besides there are still other great areas with
a language of their own and homoeopathic
activities.
Please allow me to restrict myself from
practical necessity to drawing from some
German, French, English and American
sources for homoeopathical materia medica.
Our first comparison is concerned with:
A.
The drug-picture of Dulcamara in
relation to the morbid symptom
Urticaria.
1. Hahnemann gives us, in his ‘Materia
Medica Pura* (in the drug-picture of
‘Bittersuz”, Dulcamara): Eruption on arms
and thighs, as white pimples surrounded by
a red rim; the pimples only itch stingingly
and after rubbing stinging arises.
So unmistakably Urticaria is described
here. It can be understood that this symptom,
also on the ground of experience in practice,
is found back in German materia medica as
a component item.
2. So it is in English homoeopathical
pharmacology too:
139
With Clarke, Margaret Tyler, and others.
3. But in American literature, with the
authoritative authors Kent and Nash no
nettle-rash is mentioned under Dulcamara,
which probably is based on a geographical
difference, either of the American Dulcamara
or on the American sensitiveness for it, in
this respect; insensibility. When describing
the drug-picture the English authoress,
Margaret Tyler, mentioned just now, draws
much from Kent; inserts, however, urticaria
without comment. We should be glad to
know the motive of it. Perhaps we should
study the English periodical literature of the
past and reports of meetings for the purpose.
Perhaps we may one day have, an opportu
nity to ask Sir John Weir, who several times
worked together with Margaret Tyler. Are
there differences between the English and
American data which may be called
geographical ?
Besides with Kent and with Nash we may
also look up the drug-picture of Dulcamara
with their compatriots H. C. Allen and
Timothy Allen. They do mention urticaria in
their smaller treatises, possibly as a result of
compilation; with Kent, on the other hand,
urticaria is not so much as mentioned in his
description of Dulcamara, which covers 8
pages.
4. Let us now turn to French homoeo
pathic pharmacology. The first materia
medica of Charette (the one of 1928, La
matiere medicale practique) mentions “des
eruptions du type urticarien”. The latest
Charette (of 1952, La Matiere medicale
homoeopathique expliquee) makes mention of
‘urticaire generalise’. This term is also found
with Leon Vannier ‘Precis de matiere medicale
homoeopathique’ illuminated aetiologically as
follows: ‘eruptions par le froid humide’. These
indications occur again in Vannier’s ‘Caracteristiques essentielles’ (de cent remedes).
Henri Bernard, in his ‘Traite de Medecine
Homoeopathique’ ■ makes
mention
of
‘Eruptions polymorphes’, however, without
mentioning the characteristic urticaria. We
wonder if it is a fact that Paris and its
surroundings produce experiences different
form those in the Aquitaine. In this way we
collect building-materials for geographic
homoeopathy of importance in practice.
Our second comparison of data belonging
to international homoeopathy concerns paying
attention to:
B.
The remedy Hypericum
iSt. John’s Wort occur in the whole of
Europe. As known to you Hypericum is
really indispensable when treating injury of
the nerves and after a traumatic affection of
the spinal marrow and brain.
by H. Fergie Woods. Hypericum already
occurs among 82 remedies. And in the- little
American book by A. and D. T. Pulford:
Key to the Homoeopathic Materia medica,
Hypericum is considered among a total of 50
drug-pictures.
In my opinion it appears from these data
that in various countries and regions homoeo
pathy unfolds in different ways. ‘Geographic’
homoeopathy to be developed may, it seems
to me, be deemed suitable to order these
differences in principle and offers a working
programme. It does not seem useful to draw
premature inferences.
As a type of remedies of which little is
known, but which may probably contain great
possibilities, I .mention at last.
1. With the French authors we notice this
C. Alfalfa
remarkable fact: Charette I, a book of nearly
600 pages, gives nothing about Hypericum.
It is a lucerne which—in connection of the
In Charette II—an exceptionally pleasant and possibilities offered by the soil among other
instructive book, with introductions and things—is of a greatly different significance.
explanations which are notably original—
In antiquity Alfalfa, synonym medicago
Hypericum does not occur either. Leon
Vannieds Matiere medicale, mentioned sativa, was known by the Medes and named
before, gives Hypericum as one of 285 Medicago after their country. It is even said
remedies. In the booklet of 1956—about the that. Medes, centuries before Christ, invaded
one hundred remedies—it does not occur. Greece, using horses fed on Alfalfa. In our
Bernard’s Traite de Medecine homoeopathi- days the most important Alfalfa is grown in
que, a substantial book, not in the first place America. In certain regions the roots can
devoted to materia medica, invites attention reach a length of as much as 15 metres. This
makes it possible for the plant to absorb a
for Hypericum, be it only in 5 lines.
great, variety of minerals and other matter
When we consult the German, English and in a particular potency—or, however this
American authors we see that all the greater quality may be indicated. By stacking-after
and smaller books and booklets describing a the crop like is done with hay, much vitamin
hundred or more homoeopathic remedies, D may be developed, and so on. Alfalfa, the
mention Hypericum. So smaller books which alpha of the alpha, ‘Father of all foods’;, is
give information about Hypericum neverthe rich in proteins (materials) and in potash
less are: Herwig Storch (Magdeburg.) Homo- (potassium carbonate—remedy for women).
eopathische Arzneimittel fur die Praxis; There is every reason to entertain admiration
Stauffers Homoeopathisches Taschenbuch, be- for potential remedies like Alfalfa in antici
sorgt von Martin Schlegel. Of the English pation, though they are not yet found as
literature of little size we mention the instruc remedies put to the test in our materia medica.
tive ‘Essentials of homoeopathic Prescribing’ In his instructive pocket . manual of
140 •
homoeopathic materia medica Boericke men
tions Alfalfa. As a tincture it is praised for its
tonic effect on spirit and body, for its
eliminating function via the urinary passages.
Notably the rheumatic diathesis should be
accessible for the remedy. I have been able to
satisfy myself of these effects to a certain
extent. On the ground of similar data a variety
of remedies is waiting for their unfolding by
provings on people in good health. The
homoeopathic physician is buotyed up to a
similar enterprise realising that choosing his
material from -what non-scientific people in
their naive experience recognized as curative,
he remains closer to the art of healing than if
he chooses his starting-point in the physical
basic subjects of the medical faculty, which,
it is true, are indispensable, but at the same
time not curative.
With Alfalfa we met again the geographical
factor of importance for the remedy.
I have tried to show you that, by the side
of the ‘geographical pathology’ of the current
medical science, ‘geographical homoeopathy*
can be possible. It is a branch of homoeo
pathy not only fully worthy of our attention—
but also wanting it!
HOMOEOPATHY AND TISSUE THERAPY—SOME HYPOTHESES*
Dr. BALACHANDRAN, Madras
Having had occasion to read Dr. Biswas’s processes in the organism into which they
learned article on the relation between have been introduced.
homoeopathy and tissue therapy, (the HahneTissue therapy introduces these Biogenic
mannian Gleanings-—April 1959) and as I Stimulants ready-made, straightaway (by
myself have been trying to correlate the two implantation of tissue with a high content of
systems, I feel I should present some of my these or by injection or peroral use of
thoughts to your Society and shall be grateful extracts of such tissue), to increase the orga
to you for any criticism.
nism’s resistance to pathogenic factors as
(1) The process of the development of well as to increase the regenerative and
Biogenic Stimulants in an organism may be resorptive properties of the organism, thus
called ‘Filatov-Phenomenon’, for the sake of accelerating recovery.
convenience.
(b) Biogenic Stimulants are also produced
(2) Every living tissue (human, animal or in intact organisms through the biochemical
vegetable) isolated from the organism and changes which occur when they are subjected
retained under conditions, unfavourable but to unfavourable (but not lethal) internal
not lethal, that inhibit its vitality, undergoes (or external) environmental conditions.
a biochemical change accompanied by the
It is this second observation of Filatov that
formation of substances, Biogenic Stimulants, seems exactly to conform to the method of
which help the tissue to preserve its viability homoeo-therapy. I don’t think it is correct
under such conditions.. These substances are to say that the homoeopathic medicines
formed in the tissue while it is still living and themselves contain Biogenic Stimulants, pro
is in a state of ‘survival’. They have no duced by trituration or otherwise. A careful
specific character, but they stimulate vital study of Filatov would show that this can
^Read before the Clinical Society, Madras.
not be. I should rather hold that the
141
homoeopathic - simillimum by creating an
initial optimal ‘aggravation’ causes an
unfavourable (but not lethal) environment
within the organism, thus forcing it to produce
Biogenic Stimulants. My view seems to be
supported by facts: —
organism. On the contrary, homoeopathy
promotes the development of Biogenic Stimu
lants within the organism itself by creating
an unfavourable internal environment. And
to produce such environment and thereby
cause the onset of the Biogenic Stimulants,
homoeopathy has to employ a medicine
etiologically suited to the diseased organism.
That is, it resorts to individualisation. If
Biogenic Stimulants directly originate from
the process of trituration or succussion, then
any single homoeopathic remedy should be
able to cure all diseases of all persons. But
this is not so.
“The appearance of non-lactose fermenting
bacilli often followed and seemed to bear
relationship to the previously administered
homoeopathic remedy...... In the laboratory
one observed an unexpected phenomenon,
that from a patient who had previously
yielded only B. Coli, there suddenly appeared
a large percentage of non-lactose fermenting
(3.) Incidentally, it is pertinent here to
bacilli of a type which one. associated with
stress
the limitations of tissue therapy.
the pathogenic group of typhoid. If one
accepts the view, generally held, that the Filatov himself observes that it may be “con
B. Coli of die intestinal tract is a harmless tra-indicated or at least limited in such
saprophyte and is non-pathogenic it must be conditions as serious impairment of the cardio
concluded that so far as the intestinal tract vascular system, serious kidney lesions, fresh
was concerned there was no evidence of cerebral hemorrhage and in the latter period
disease in these patients during die first series of pregnancy” (Tissue Therapy-—P. 41).
of examinations. Now the patient’s stool
In the face of this difficulty we have
yielded a large percentage of presumably theoretically to account for the probabilities
pathogenic organisms, and according to die of successful homoeopathic treatment in con
accepted Pasteur-Koch theory, the patient was ditions to which tissue therapy may not be
suffering from disease. Clinical investiga applied.
tions however revealed that the patient did
(4) The greater curative action of the
not fall ill, but had experienced a sense .of
well-being which he had attributed to the last higher potencies requires to be explained.
medicine he had received. Since the non- Shall we say that, generally speaking, the
lactose fermenting bacilli had appeared after higher the potency the more unfavourable but
a definite latent period of ten to fourteen less ‘lethal’ are the internal environmental con
days, following the administration of the ditions created and consequently the more
remedy, it would seem that the homoeopathic abundant production of Biogenic Stimulants?
potentized remedy had changed the bowel
(5) When the potency employed is greater
flora, and had caused the disease. The patho than necessary, that is, much higher than the
genic germ in this case was the result of vital optimal potency required in a case, perhaps
action set up in the patient by the potentized it causes an aggravation too violent to
remedy..............” (Paterson-BozveZ Nosodes- stimulate the Filatov-phenomenon. “The
P. 2.).
intoxication of the body by pathogenic sub
(2) It would thus be seen that tissue stances causes inhibition of its ability to
therapy is able to cure almost all diseases respond to the disease by the production of
through one specific, viz., the direct introduc Biogenic Stimulants essential for initiating
tion of the Biogenic Stimulants into the regenerative processes. On the other hand
142
aim at, not the specific pathogenic factors
(e.g., microbes and their toxins), but the
organism as a whole. It is thus impossible
to show that they arc directed ‘against the
disease’ as such.
(9) In correlating homoeopathy and
tissue therapy it occurs to me that the
homoeopathic principle of similars is part of
a wider ‘Filatov’s Law’, as it may be termed.
That is, “the appearance of Biogenic Stimu
(6) Shall we then say that the Filatov- lants under the influence of unfavourable
Phenomenon occurs just at the time when environmental conditions is a general law
affecting all living nature. Biogenic Stimu
the ‘curative crisis’ is of optimal intensity?
lants are produced wherever there is
(7) Dr. Biswas says that the homoeopathic adaptation to new conditions or a struggle
remedy often removes minor symptoms at for existence.” (Filatov—My Path In
which it is not aimed. This should not be Science—P. 71—wording slightly changed
strange, as the remedy is aimed at the here).
disease-totality on the basis of our under
(Following Fridland (Paths of Science) I
standing of the major constitutional signs and
have used ‘Biogenic Stimulants’ instead of
symptoms. The minor symptoms are just like
‘Biogenic Stimulators’).
the smaller branches of a massive tree. When
the tree is gone, the branches go too. Hence,
REFERENCES:
I suppose, the hypotheses of tissue therapy 1. Biswas —Homoeopathy Through a Different
Angle—Hahn Gleanings—April-1959.
may not be invoked for explaining the disap
2. Filatov —Tissue Therapy—Foreign Languages
pearance of minor symptoms that may have
Publishing House, Moscow—1955.
no special therapeutic significance.
3. Filatov —My Path in Science—Foreign
pathological processes developed as a result
of the action of pathogenic substances may,
'in diseases of a certain gravity and duration,
give rise to the increased production of
Biogenic Stimulants that act through the
nervous system (the cerebral cortex) and
intensify the physiological functions to a
degree permitting recovery.” (Filatov—My
Path In Science—Chapter 2—P. 7; italics
mine).
(8) The fundamental point of similarity
between homoeopathy and tissue-therapy is 4.
that they believe in stimulating reaction of
5.
the organism against disease factors. They
Languages Publishing House, Moscow
^41957.
Fridland—Paths of Science—Foreign Languages
Publishing House, Moscow—1956.
Paterson—The Bowel Nosodes—A. Nelson &
Co., London—1950.
OUR NEEDS AND OUR RESPONSIBILITIES*
Dr. P. SANKARAN, L.I.M., D.F. Hom. (Lond.).
Hon. Physician, Govt. Homoeopathic Hospital, Bombay.
First of all, I have to thank you for the
high honour you have bestowed upon me in
asking me to preside over the scientific session
of this conference. I do not pretend to have
any great abilities and therefore I assume
that this privilege is conferred merely in
appreciation of my unlimited enthusiasm.
•Read at the scientific session of the 2nd South
India Homoeopathic Conference, Madras, 1959.
The recent progress of homoeopathy in our
country has been very satisfactory. Almost
all the States have given a status to the
system, by recognising it as a scientific and
standard system of medical treatment. We
have several homoeopathic colleges and
hospitals and several journals too in the
country. All round we see a spurt of activity
in our field. Such a state of affairs naturally
143
gladdens Our hearts. If this activity is
pursued in the correct direction with increased
vigour, we shall soon be able to place homo
eopathy where it richly deserves to be.
While such recognition from the State and
support from the people gives us great
encouragement, we can never forget that the
real progress of our science will depend
almost entirely on its own merits. Therefore,
we should neither be overjoyed by any
external support nor disheartened by any
lack of it. We should all the while concen
trate on increasing our inherent merit by
fortifying the foundations of our science and
by aiding its advancement along the lines
envisaged by our great masters.
In spite of the fact that in our country,
there were practically no institutions properly
equipped to teach and train students, the
science of homoeopathy has survived. This
is due to its inherent efficacy. Since there was
a persistent demand for homoeopathic treat
ment, the vast majority of homoeopaths have
been forced, in the absence of facilities, to
teach themselves and practise the art and
many are doing it successfully. We can only
admire the greatness of the science which is
able to produce brilliant results even under
such difficult circumstances. It is easy to
imagine what infinitely superior results can
be achieved if we could train students in wellequipped institutions.
have failed to take further steps along the
lines indicated by them. This is, indeed,
deplorable. We have to take up the work
where it has been left off and continue to
advance the science, however limited our
abilities and resources may be. The sooner
we realise these obligations, the better it
would be.
Since we are assembled to discuss the
scientific aspects of homoeopathy, it would
be better to start with a clear idea of what
we mean by science. Science has been defined
as knowledge ascertained by observation and
experiment, critically tested, systematized and
brought under general principles. The basis
of science is observation and experiment and
if the conclusions of such observation and
experiment are to be correct, then it is
essential that the observations themselves
should be absolutely accurate and objective.
Therefore science demands the highest
degree of loyalty to truth and if we desire to
discover solutions to our problems and
advance the science, it is essential that we
should be absolutely truthful. Any degree of
untruth or exaggeration, permitted in order
to enhance our prestige or for some temporary
benefit, is bound to defeat bur objective.
There are several questions in homoeopathy
which remain unanswered, some because we
have taken no trouble to find the solutions
and others because they have defied solution
in spite of our best efforts. It would be
worthwhile to glance over a few of these so
that they may be tackled in future.
Keeping aside for a moment our apprecia
tion for the science and critically analysing
the state of the science, particularly our
own contribution to its growth, we are
embarrassed to notice that we and our PHARMACY:
We are following the traditional methods
immediately preceding generations of homo
eopaths have sadly neglected our duties. We of potentiation suggested by Dr. Hahnemann
have not cared to help the further evolution and Hering. It is possible that Other methods
of homoeopathy in the way we ought to have of potentiation can be evolved. Even the new
done. We seem to have fallen into a state scale of potencies described by Hahnemann,
of apathy and lethargy'. We have been the 50 Millesimal scale or Quinquagintasatisfied with merely applauding the great millesimal scale, as it is called, has not been
work of Hahnemann, Hering and others. We fully exploited. Those of us who have used
144
these new potencies in our practice have a able to treat, relieve and cure a number of
feeling that these are far more powerful and conditions purely on the basis of the sympto
beneficial than the traditional ones. It is, matology irrespective of the diagnostic
therefore, necessary that these potencies label, yet it is fact that we have to now try
should be tried out in practice by experienced and find out what pathological conditions
physicians, of course, with the greatest our drugs cover. At first appearance this
precautions since their full power is yet would seem to be unnecessary for as the
orthodox homoeopaths would say, the
unrecognized.
diagnostic label makes no difference. Yet,
PHARMACOLOGY:
on a little deeper thinking, we can see that
In surveying the subject of pharmacology it does make a difference, e.g. when we say
one is appalled at the lack of progress. The that such and such drugs are preventive for
field of homoeopathic pharmacology is almost such and such. diseases, we are using diag
unexplored. We have not the least idea as nostic terms. Similarly, many prescribers
to how homoeopathic potencies act. But for have noticed that certain drugs have specific
the researches of a few persons like Dr. Boyd, effect in certain disorders. In the interest of
very little has been done. True, various our science, it would be necessary to extend
explanations have been offered from time to this field of application.
time and several theories put forth but these
may not withstand a careful scientific
analysis. It would be necessary ,for us to
devote a great deal of our energy in this
field before we can reach even tentative
conclusions.
THE PROBLEM OF POTENCY:
CLINICAL MEDICINE:
It is in the field of clinical medicine that we
have to advance a lot. Cases should be
recorded most carefully including the
etiology, complete, symptomatology, investi
gations done, previous treatment carried out,
prescriptions made, etc. The basis of such
prescriptions should be also mentioned. The
result of the prescriptions should be noted
most carefully, including the degree, the type,
the time etc., of the reaction after administra
tion of each dose. Our case records should
be most faithful, presenting the symptoms as
they are, not as we feel they ought to be.
Further, wherever our prescriptions have
failed, these also should be noted. These
observations are bound to enormously increase
our knowledge in the clinical field.
In spite of so many years having passed,
we are yet unaware of the basis for the
selection of the potency. It is said that
potency is also an individual matter and will
depend upon each patient and his physician.
This, instead of being an explanation, seems
to be only an excuse to cover our ignorance.
There must be a basis for the selection of
each potency and we might be able to discover
this basis if we can bring together and study
and compare a large number of accurate case
records from a large number, of accurate
prescribers.
OUR MATERIA MEDICA:
Our materia medica, it has to be admitted,
has ceased to grow, a long time back. This
is not due to the fact that it has grown to
its maximum but due to the fact that we
have grown extremely lazy and complacent.
We have failed to make additions to
our materia medica by conducting provings
of new drugs. We know that provings are
the very foundation stones of homoeopathic
. Even though the homoeopathic indications practice. To conduct provings we only
are given in , a symptomatic form and we are require enthusiastic volunteers and drugs.
145
Our country is richly endowed with a variety IMMUNOLOGY:
of valuable drugs, men we have in plenty and
Many homoeopaths have claimed that
enthusiasm there is unbounded. Yet we have homoeopathic drugs have the power to offer
done very few provings. If this is not a protection in epidemics. These claims are
paradox, it is a tragedy! If only every sincere no doubt based on careful observations and
homoeopath were to conduct or take part repeated experiences. If these claims are
in a proving, then our science would soon correct, as we sincerely believe them to be.
be ruling the world. We have also failed then we have a very economical, efficacious,
to augment the materia medica by reproving simple and harmless method of prophylaxis
old drugs, by recording and reporting accu within our reach. But before we can offer
rate observations of drug effects—of them with utmost confidence and before the
symptoms caused by drugs in the patients public can accept them with great faith, it
and/or removed by drugs from patients—and is necessary that we should be perfectly sure
by failing to gather records of the toxic effects of our claim. In order to meet with standards
of drugs reported in the medical literature. of tests laid down in modern medical practice.
This is a matter for great regret and the we shall have to carry out experiments with
sooner it is mended, the better it is for us large numbers of people, giving one half of
and for our science.
them the prophylactic medicine and the other
half a placebo and assessing the rate of
Further, our text-books in materia medica infection in both groups. This can be
seem to contain a number of inaccurate state particularly possible in schools where the
ments. These should be carefully examined children are all under our control and obser
and corrected. The texts have to be brought vation and the absence of any child due to
up-to-date by incorporating symptoms and illness can be noted and recorded. Secondly, it
disorders which we come across in modern would help if every homoeopath would
conscientiously report every case where he
times.
believes that the administration of a homoeo
pathic potency afforded protection from any
REPERTORIES:
disease.
The fact has to be faced with regret that
our repertories are all incomplete and OBJECTIVE METHOD OF
imperfect. A repertory is a dictionary and DRUG-SELECTION:
a dictionary cannot afford to be imperfect.
The subjective method of drug-selection
Therefore the repertory must give all possible which we all follow is no doubt a very
drugs under each rubric, not merely some of simple and excellent one as far as it goes but
the drugs. It is not intended to minimise the we have to confess that there are certain cases
value of the great work of Dr. Kent and wherein the symptoms are all one-sided and
others. It is said that Dr. Kent almost became there seems to be no general disturbance
blind preparing and proof-reading his reper expressed by the patient. One can quote
tory—but we have to record that no one has several disorders of the skin such as eczemas,
come forward to complete and fill up the warts, psoriasis, corns, leucoderma etc., and
gaps in his great work excepting Dr. Boger. other conditions like hydrocele, lipomata,
Imperfect as we are, how can we ever hope alopecia etc. There are also some cases where
for success if the repertories and materia the patient seems to be apparently quite well
medicas—our very tools on which we rely but examination and investigation reveal
some serious internal disturbance such as
so much—are themselves defective?
146
hypertension (asymptomatic), infiltration
(Pulmonary), calculus, etc.
nation as was developed on the Emanometer
by Dr. Boyd and others. This line requires
to be pursued vigorously if we are to advance.
If our treatment is to embrace such condi
tions also, it is necessary that we develop CONCLUSION:
more objective methods of drug selection. At
There are numerous such problems remain
present, we depend too much on the ing to be discussed and solved. We have only
patient, giving importance to his every word. glanced at some of these. Each of you who
A lack of or inaccurate observation, deficiency have studied and contemplated can add to
of expression or absence of co-operation on the list of problems awaiting solution.
his part or a lack of understanding or inter Solutions can be found only by hard and
pretation on our part would lead us far away silent work followed a free exchange of
from the correct drug. This is not a very experiences. The scientific part of the
happy state of affairs.
proceedings of homoeopathic gatherings tends
Further, as our treatment stands at present, to get minimal attention and so our science
there is no court of appeal if two or more continues to suffer. It is time we changed
homoeopaths disagree on a particular case. our outlook.
Each homoeopath, depending on his training
Above all, it must be emphasised again that
and experience, tends to place a differing in all scientific discussions, we have to be
degree of emphasis on each symptom and so scrupulously honest and precise. We have to
there is a probability of difference in drug make unbiased observations and draw from
selection. When such difference arises, there them logical conclusions. This alone can lead
is no criteria to judge who is correct.
to progress.
I hope, this conference will be a forerunner
To overcome these difficulties, it is neces
sary to develop checks and counter-checks of many such to follow wherein our many
which can be done by introducing a certain problems, spoken and unspoken, will find a
degree of mechanical and biophysical elimi solution.
HOMOEOPATHY AND THE STUDY OF TYPES
Dr. C. V. S. COREA, M.D., Ph.D. Colombo, Ceylon.
In an article entitled ‘Comparative Study also, that whatever is noticed about the
of the Typologies Proposed by the Homoeo expression of remedies or patients is not
paths and the Morphologists,* Dr. Thooris collated with the physiological happenings to
regrets that the homoeopathic materia which it bears witness.
Morphologists consider the head as the
medica does not deal more with the cons
truction of the individuals who are typical most representative part of the human form.
of its remedies and with the biological Thooris sees an analogy between the confi
significance of such structural variations. He guration of the face and certain simple
has been able to find sparse mention of the geometric figures. For instance, he considers
horizontal lines of the Carbonic type, the cube symbolic of the Carbonic type of
the vertical lines of the Phosphoric type, the head and the square (which is its twosinuous lines of the Fluoric type. He regrets, dimensional representation) as characteristic
147
of the remedy Calcarea carbonica. The
square brutality of this facies he likens to
the Roman type of visage. This he calls
Type A. The circle he calls Type B. and
relates it to Natrum Sulphuricum. Type C
is a pyramid standing on its base and
represents the triangular facies of Thuja type
with the narrow forehead and heavy jowls.
This he likens to Sancho Panza. The fourth
type D, is the inverted pyramid, correspond
ing to Calcarea phosphorica whose brow is
broad and whose chin is narrow. His fifth
type E, is the Phosphoric, the cube on its
point, like an equilateral diamond in cross
section, with narrow brow and chin and
prominent molars.
Thooris wonders whether these analogies
cannot be extended from the head to the
body. (This opens a fascinating vista for a
comparative study not only of morphological
measurements in general but of the types of
hands; the square spatulate hands perhaps
going with Type A; the round, pudgy ones
with B; the broad palms with pointed fingers
with C; the large, square fingers with narrow
palms with D; and with E either the
uniformly narrow, long hands or the pointed
fingered, small wristed but wider knuckled
hands. This is pure speculation on my part
and would make a valuable subject of study).
Thooris remarks that although there is
little in the homoeopathic materia medica
about gross morphology and measurements,
there is abundant detail relative to morpho
logical minutia such as skin, hair distribution,
wrinkles, blotches, orificial colour, etc. He
then gives a page and a half of such details
culled from our materia medica, which are
of such interest that I cite them in full as
follows:
“The masks pass with a thousand singularities
before our amazed eyes: Here is Phosphorous
with its waxy grace, the cheeks having circum
scribed red spots like a touch of rouge; there is
148
Lachesis of leaden hue, the swollen lids exposing
a yellow sclera, the nose highly coloured and the
lips purple. Sulphur is yellow, its eyes blue,
its cheeks and lips red, pimples marking its
greasy shining skin. Sepia has an earthy face
with black hair and eyes and a butterfly shaped
spot on the nose and upper cheeks. Lycopodium,
with graying hair, has a gray skin with dark
patches on the temples, the cheeks sag and it
has blue circles beneath the eyes. Chamomilla,
with a white cold face is noted by one check
pale and the other red.
“Look at the greenish face of Krcosote, the
rubicand one of Nux, the yellow one of Natrum
muriaticum, the lividity of Antimonium tart-.,
the ashen countenance of Secale with its livid
spots, the pallor of Arsenicum, the blueish hue
of Conium, the suffused puffiness of Aconite,
the fresh tint of Bromium, the slate colour of
Garbo, the deathly pallor of Tabacum.
“Red circles under the eyes of arsenic contrast
with the blue ones of Lyc.; Calc, phos., Baryta
and Hcpar are distinguished by their long noses
(muscau de tapir, literally ‘tapir-like snout’).
Consider the white lips of Thuja, as if they had
just drunk milk; the black, cracked ones of
Arsenic; the burning mouth of Bryonia; the
exfoliated lips of Conium; the oral cyanosis of
Dig., Camph., Cupr., and Verat. alb., the lips
of Graphites very thick, the deformed ones of
Ant. crud., the upper lip of Selenium marked
with a crack or chap (gercure).
“I note the nasogcnic wrinkles of Thuja; the
deep lines of Lyc.; the drooping lid of Alum.,
Led., and Rhus; the heavy lid of Sepia; the
puffing of the internal angle of the upper lid
of Kali carb, and its glabellar swelling;
the oedema of both lids in Apis; the palperbral
oedema interior in Arsenic and general in
Conium.
“Note the melancholy of Graphites, Ambra
and Aconite which music augments; the con
centrated sorrow of Pulsatilla, the inquietude of
Sepia, the fear of death of Aconite, the
inconsolable air of Natrum mur., the hesitation
of Cyclamen, the irritable mien of Nux, the
variability of Zinc, the nostalgia of Capsicum,
the indifference of Kali .brom., the stupefaction
of Apis, the torpor of Baptisia, the despair of
Verat. alb.
“One recognizes the soft, smooth warts of Ant.
crud., the large horny, crenelated warts of
Causticum, the enormous warts of Dulcamara,
the pedunculated and fissured warts of Thuja.
and Sulph. is hard and dry. Ars. has cold skin
like parchment; Thuja., Plb., and Natrum. mur.
have an oily skin; Merc, a livid one. Compare
the flaccid tissues of Kali bichr., the relaxed fibre
of Sulph. and the soft musculature of Merc.
with the rigid fibre of Nitric acid and Conium.”
“Not only is the clinical attention of the
homoeopath attracted by the visible but also by
the palpable. Calc, has a fine skin; that of Alum.
RAUWOLFIA SERPENTINA
Dr. JUGAL KISHORE, B.Sc., D.M.S. Delhi.
[Following is schematic presentation of the symptoms of Rawolfia compiled from the
provings. The author hopes that this may not get buried among old journals and rust. The
best way to utilise the symptoms of this drug, which holds out great promise, would be to
incorporate- them in one’s Repertory at the appropriate places.—Ed.].
MIND'.— Lack of concentration.. Forget
ful. Mental Exhaustion. Spells words wrongly
(C/. Lach. etc.). Uses wrong letters in
writing. Forgetful for what he has done. Rude
and abrupt; sluggish; dazed. The impression
given as if he had a shock (Cf. Acid phos,
Ign.). Wants to be left alone. Irritable and
does not want to be bothered. Day-dreaming.
(Bry.) Aversion to company. Extreme mental
and physical exhaustion. Alternations; tired
mentally and physically, or on the top of the
world and over-enthusiastic. Extreme weari
ness is better by violent exercises. (Cf. Sep.) .
EARS'.— Heat and redness on the right
ear. Burning both ears. Flushes of heat—
on face and ears.
HEAD'.— Sensations in the head as if it
would burst; (Cf. Glon; Nat. mur., Acid
phos., Alumen); pressure on vertex; creeping
crawling sensation; as if head would float off.
Constriction scalp. (Cf. Cann. ind.).
Tightness in the forehead as if like a tight
band on the forehead above the eyes. (Cf.
Gels., Carbolic acid). The pain in the fore
head is better by cold application, washing,
open air; (Phos.; Ars. alb.), Creeping crawling
in the scalp is worse on waking. (Lach.).
There is weight on the vertex pressing down
(Cf. Glori., Acid phos., specially when
we compare its symptoms with those of the
head, and in relation to history of grief).
THROAT:— Pain in the throat or
burning, better cold water, worse in the
morning. Sore throat on waking (Cf. Lach.).
Burning throat is worse at night. Nasal
catarrh, profuse running; sneezing better out
of doors. The discharge from the nose is
gluey at times. For weeks nasal congestion;
worse in cold wind; worse entering warm
room. Obstruction in the nose with sneezing.
Obstruction, stuffiness although nose is not
relieved by blowing (Cf. Stic.). (This drug
should be an excellent one in cases of a allergic
rhinitis. The crude dosage used by the other
school, very often, causes blocked feeling in
the nose and other catarrhal symptoms).
EYES'.— Sore; aching, tired, feeling in
eyes, worse movements side to side. Sticking
both canthi and worse cold wind; on reading.
GENITOURINARY ORGANS.— Very
profuse pale urine. Very frequent urination
in the evening between 5—9 or 3—7
Af O UTH: — Sore, dry lips. The lower lip
cracked in the middle (Cf. Puls., Hep., Cham.,
Nat mur.). Dryness of the tongue which
is indented. (Cf. Merc.) There are hot
flushes on the face, worse 6—8 p.m. Right
side of face and ear hot and red, left normal.
(Cf. Cham). Dryness of the skin of facet
Tooth-ache, pulsating, throbbing; worse
warm food drink (Cf. Cof; Cham.)
149
(Diabetes). Burning after urination. Burning
at tip of meatus on urination.
CHEST:— Gough aggravated cold air.
(C/. Rum..) Desire to take a deep breath
(C/. Ign.) The pain beneath left breast on
laughing. Tightness and constriction of the
chest in the evening. Extreme breathlessness on
running even a few yards. Violent beating of
the heart felt in the throat. Breathless as if he
had run miles; short of breath on climbing
stairs or cycling. (These drug symptoms seem
to indicate its use either in bronchial or cardiac
asthma. It is worthwhile exploring its
possibilities in this particular field.) It has
various other pains in the chest ; many pains
in the nipple region. Cramping pains in both
the nipple regions. These pains come and go
slowly and are worse exertion. (C/. Stan.).
Loud forcible beats on climbing stairs or
on sudden exertion. Pulsations felt even
in the. teeth. Gripping pain; constriction
in. area of the apex beat, worse on
physical exertion; going up-stairs. Sudden
pains in heart after exertion, from front to
back, coming suddenly and going suddenly.
Shooting pains left breast. Sharp pains in
the right nipple region coming and going
quickly. Pain under left breast with breath
lessness on going up-stairs and walking. (It
may be useful in cases of Angina pectoris or
Coronary ischaemia). Sharp pain on right
side extending to jaw and right arm. Pain
right chest on relaxing after hurrying.
STOMACH:— Very hungry all day and
appetite wanting the next; desire to eat even
after full meal. Desire for spicy things. (Used
to like sweets previously). Desire for cold
water. Aversion to the tea. Desire for fruit
drinks (juicy things). Averse to sugar in tea.
Eructations tasting of food. Hunger 10
minutes after food. Hunger soon after meals.
ABDOMEN:—Sharp pain in the abdomen
in the evening; feels hard like a stone; colicky
pain in the hypogastrium. Terrific pain better
doubling up; better pressure; heat; with
great weakness as if part of inside would drop
out. (C/. Sep.). Heaviness and discomfort
abdomen, worse evening, 6 p.m. Distended
with a few mouth-fuls of food followed by
profuse diarrhoea with great weakness and
nausea. Waves of pain coming and going from
right to the left of abdomen. Feeling of nausea
in the area of the navel. Ache right to left
(C/. Lyco.). Pain umbilicus worse cough,
stool, stretching, rising up in bed. Abdominal
muscles, feel strained worse stool, nausea
while stretching. Violent pains just above
navel. Abdominal discomfort is better lying
on stomach.
RECTUM'.—Early morning diarrhoea
compelling him to get out of bed (Cf. Sulph.,
Psor.). Hard and then loose stools about six
times daily. Much straining with small stool
followed by a large stool. Ineffectual urging
for an hour, then a soft stool. (Ahi., Lyco.)
Loose stool followed by a watery stool after
1 hr., constant ineffectual desire for stool (Cf.
Sulph., Nux.). Sweating, straining and pain
while beginning stools. Two stools with feeling
of looseness all day. (Its application in
diarrhoea and dysentry. Its active alkaloids in
the Serpasil “reserpine”. It often cause
diarrhoeas with even bloody mucus).
BACK AND EXTREMITIES-.—This
drug seems to affect the extremities and the
joints to a great extent, and thus should be
useful in the conditions of neuritis, arthritis
etc. The pains, sensations complained of, are
twitching, pulling, darting, throbbing,
stabbing, shooting, jabbing. The pains seem
to come and go quickly. Swelling and sensation
of burning heat of the small joints. The pains
usually worse after rest and on beginning to
move, better walking or motion. There is also
lot of aching pains in the lumbar and sacro
lumbar region, worse on waking. Pain left
after sitting for a long time. The pains are
worse putting the weight of the body on the
leg. Worse standing, difficut to move quickly
150
after resting. Stiffness of the knees. Worse on
going up and down stairs. Pain left sacroiliac
joint on waking, worse after sitting, worse on
•beginning to move, bending forward or back
ward, better walking, better hard pressure.
(Cf. Sepia., Nat. mur., Calc, carb., Aesculus.).
Sudden sharp pain right wrist, right thigh,
right biceps, right arm and fingers. Ankles,
hot itching swollen, worse at night, worse
heat. (C/. Led.). (Some pains are better by
cold application and worse by heat). Pain left
loin, worse standing, better pressure. Sensation
of pins and needles running throughout the
body. Legs heavy, worse walking as if they
would give way. In left arm, like needles being
stabbed in and out “quick come and go”.
Linear pains like thread; of pains right upper
arm to the base of thumb. Left ankle as if
sprained or kicked (Cf. Am., Rhus tox.).
Also aching deltoids as if strained, tired aching
of legs as if strained. Burning soles of the feet,
wants to bathe in cold water; sore and hot.
of feverishness without actual temperature;
worse in warmth of room and fire, better open
air, worse warm weather and muggy weather'
(Cf. Puls., Lach.). Weakness after bath (Cf.
Sulph.). Flushes of heat. Sweating and sinking
as if afraid. Mind worse in over-heated room,
feels very much hot in a warm room. Weakness
al the knees as if afraid; fear of vomiting.
Fear of being ill. Extreme exhaustion is a
marked feature. (Warm bloodedness and
exhaustion are the key notes). In the proving
of the drug sides are not marked but on the
whole the symptoms are more prominent on
the right side of the body. Many symptoms are
worse after sleep. Worse on waking. Most of
the pains come and go quickly especially in
the extremities but certain pains specially in
the chest and cardiac region come and go
slowly as mentioned above. The patient gives
the impression of warm bloodedness at times.
There is air hunger. The pains in the
extremities or joints are wrose on rest and on
beginning to move and better on motion.
SLEEP:—Dreams of travelling. Frightful
(Cf. Rhus tox., Puls., Lyco.). Formication,
dreams “as if she was being killed”, “of
pinpricks, pulling sensations are quite well
mother being drowned”. “Tooth broke off”,
marked. The stabbing stitching pains (Pulling
“jaw was broken” (Dreams of accidents).
sensations) occur most frequently especially
Either very sleepy or sleeplessness on account
in the extremities. Darting pains come and
of very active brain.
go quickly. The pains usually are better by
SKIN: —Cracked heels. Dryness of the face. pressure, aggravated by external heat and
Skin very dry. (Cf. Acid phos., Gels., Kali better by cold applications (Sole of feet; heels;
phos., Acid pic.).
Small joints; painful teeth).
GENERALITIES:—Mental and physical
prostration, slow in word and deed. Feeling
The aggravation of certain complaints is
in the evening, between 3 and 10 p.m.
THE SITUATION OF HOMOEOPATHY IN AUSTRIA
*
Dr. ROBERT SIESTCHEK, M.D., Vienna,
In Hahnemann’s lifetime and thereafter till
the end of the century, homoeopathy stood
in “high blossom and esteem” in the AustroHungarian empire. Valuable contributions to
*Translatcd from the original in German.
151
materia medica were made. With the
beginning of the first world war (1914/18),
and in the following years, there was a
regrettable decline in the Austrian State. The
reason lay—as in other countries also—in the
coarse, mechanistic-materialistic thought of
the physicians and especially of competent
College lecturers. Only a very few physicians
preserved the teachings of Hahnemann and
propagated them amongst the younger
generation. While in neighbouring Germany,
the homoeopathic doctors formed an ack
nowledged and considerable noteworthy
association of German homoeopathic doctors,
formation of a similar association in Austria
could not be considered till 1938. At the same
time, it must be mentioned that in the 19th
century, the Austrian homoeopathic doctors
had a “Union of Homoeopathic Doctors of
Austria”, and this represented in general the
first physicians’ union in old Austria.
Through the union of Austria with
Germany (from 1938 to 1945), the effective
range of the German Central Union extended
over Austria also. However, the older people
were either dead or invisible or too tired to
undertake organisational work. The younger
generation was for the most part, during the
2nd World War, called up for war. For the
first time through their contact with German
colleagues, they came to know of the tenets
of homoeopathy with an unprejudiced mind.
After the horrors and distress and wants of
the 2nd World War, it was a year before the
thought of bringing together the homoeopaths
of Austria could be put into action.
After a lot of difficulties, in the year 1953
in a solemn inaugural meeting and the first
scientific sitting, the “Association of Homoeo
pathic Doctors of Austria” was called to life.
The then president of the “Liga Homoeopathica Internationalis Medicorum”, Doctor
Pahud, and I shared the honour to be elected
Chairmen till 1956. Dr. Josef Wolf, Lienz,
Ost-Tirol, (Austria) is the Chairman now.
Our Association, reckoning about 80
members, has set before itself the aim of
defending the importance of homoeopathy
and of expanding it in Austria.
This will be achieved by introductory and
vocational school courses. Since 1959, there is
in Vienna an “Austrian Institute of Homoeo
pathic Physicians” under the guidance of
Dr. Dorcsi.
This summary of homoeopathy in Austria,
even if extremely concise, will be incomplete,
if I do not intimate the approach and the
position of the official circles. The fact, that
we in Austria have a group of homoeopaths
proves that officially the practice of homoeo
pathy is not prohibited. The other fact,
however, that the medicines are not brought
under the social and health insurance, proves
the other side, that harsh laws are hampering
the spread of homoeopathy amidst the masses
as 90% of our population is under social
insurance!
To these circumstances is also to be
attributed that only a few chemists and
druggists stock homoeopathic medicines.
During College studies, the student gets
almost no instruction in homoeopathy. The
position of the official lecturers in medicine is
mostly antagonistic.
The educational developments of Hahne
mann’s thoughts have been exclusively due to
the work of the association or through self
studies. Till today, there is not a single
homoeopathic hospital. We are however,
confident, that in the next few years, we will
succeed in overcoming all difficulties step by
step.
The homoeopaths of Austria have close
contacts with the colleges and associations
abroad, particularly our relations with the
league of homoeopathic doctors (Liga
Homoeopathica Internationalis Medicorum)
and personal relations with the Indian friends
and colleagues to whom I send my greetings,
through the Journal of Homoeopathic
Medicine.
152
CASE REPORTS
CLINICAL NOTES
Dr. S. R. PHATAK, M.B., B.S., Bombay
Among the several eases treated by me wherein
the prescription based on some peculiar feature of
the patient relieved the ease, I recollect the
following: —
1. Once a patient got up in the morning and
while opening the pipe to wash, got an electric
shock, because of a leakage in electricity. He could
not draw his hand away at once. Since then he
suffered from pain all over the arm, which was
amel. by rubbing. Phos. removed this pain.
2. A lady came with a complaint of leucorrhoea
which was worse while urinating. Basing the
prescription on this symptom, I gave her Sil. Sil.,
30,200 and 1000 had no effect. Then I gave her
Pul. on the symptom “Urination, agg.” This also
had no effect.
15 days later, the husband came to me and
mentioned that the leucorrhoea was worse whenever
he was away for some days. After intercourse, it
was better. Boger gives under Merc. sol.
“Leucorrhoea, while urinating” (Synoptic Key,
P. 253) and Clarke gives under Merc. sol. “Coition,
amel.” (Dictionary, P. 443). So on these symptoms
I gave Mere. sol. which cured her.
3. A patient had giddiness whenever he walked
barefooted on a hard surface. Conium helped him
(Boger’s Synoptic Key, P. 446 “Walk on hard
pavements—Con.”).
4. I had a case in which the patient complained
of having seminal emissions while sitting near a
woman or talking to her, even without sexual
thoughts. All remedies given in Kent’s Repertory
were tried but to no effect. Salix Nigra m. 30,
t.d.s. cured him in a few days.
5. Oedema in a limb persisting after a fracture
which has healed is helped by Bovista. Holding
scissors also cause an indentation in the hand.
6. There was a ease of uterine haemorrhage in
a lady aged 35 which was suppressed by removal
of the uterus. Then she developed severe bodily
pains. Various drugs were tried but failed. Bursa
Pastoris given in material doses,
m. 30, t.d.s.
helped.
7. When a patient complains that she has not
been well since having undergone a dilatation and
curetting operation, I have found Nit. acid and
Bursa Pastoris useful.
8. I once saw a patient who had a big calculus
on the bladder. He had severe pain in the bladder
worse after urination which was only relieved in
one position, viz. by lying down in the knee chest
position with the gluteal region raised. This pain
was relieved by Parcira brava. Later on, however,
the stone which was the size of a sparrow’s egg had
to be removed surgically.
9. There was a case of a woman aged 40 years
who was suffering from cystitis for 3 days. She had
burning in the urethra during and after micturition,
the pain being relieved only by sitting cross-legged
and bending forward and applying continuous
pressure over the genitalia. It was worse on lying
or in any other position. She had already received
Cantharis and Mere. cor. from another physician
(on the indication “Bending double, amel”), with
no relief. I gave her Nit. acid, on the symptom
“Steady pressure, amel” and she felt better within
a day.
10. There was a patient with cardiac valvular
disease, who had pain in chest and severe palpitation
which was ameliorated only by placing the hand
over the precordium. A few doses of Laurocerasus:
30, helped him. The symptom “Holds hand over
heart” is given in Boger’s Synoptic Key
(Pp. 236, 237).
11. Another patient of valvular disease, com
plained of an uneasy sensation and pain extending
from the occiput to the shoulders with palpitation,
agg. exertion. The case improved under Onosmodium. Onosmodium has pains going downward,
from, o.cciput to shoulders, agg. exertion.
153
ADDICTION TO PETHIDIN AND MORPHIA
Dr. P. SANKARAN,
D.F. Hom. (Lond.).
Hon. Physician, Govt. Homoeopathic Hospital, Bombay.
The following two eases of addiction to opium
derivatives will be of interest to homoeopaths.
craving for the drug also decreased and we were
able to discontinue it without any ill-effects.
1. In January 1955, Dr. S., Medical Officer in
charge of a Government hospital consulted me
regarding his mother. She was a lady aged about
60 years, who was suffering from very painful
osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine. She could not
stand up or walk, and could sit up with difficulty.
It was an agony for her even to turn over in bed.
Her son not being able to bear her suffering had
one day given her Pethidin which gave her
considerable relief for the day. The injection was
repeated for a few days as she became restless and
uneasy without injections. But soon the doctor
realised to his dismay that she had now become
addicted to the drug in addition to her original
disease. She suffered agony when she was deprived
of the drug. She not only required the drug but
even if the quantity of the drug was reduced by
10%, she could feel the difference. Being very per
turbed over this, he sought the help of homoeopathy.
2. In August 1959, I was consulted by Dr. S.
He reported that he had taken morphia for 3 or 4
days for some pain and had then become addicted
to it. He now required a quarter grain of morphia
per dose, six or seven times a day. During the period
of this addiction, in the last 3 or 4 months he had
lost 22 lbs. in weight and had become careless
about his profession. He complained that if he did
not take the morphia, he would feel some unbearable
discomfort in the abdomen and develop a diarrhoea
with sudden and frequent urging for stool. The
discomfort and diarrhoea would cease as soon as
he took the injection. When he consulted me first, I
just prescribed Nux. vom. 200, T.D.S. feeling that
it would antidote the effects of the narcotic drug.
This gave him much relief. So I continued the
drug and in the course of a fortnight, he was able
to cut down his injection to 2 or 3 per day but
he still could not give it up.
I found in her symptoms like burning of the
palms, and soles, and inability to withstand hunger,
increased thirst, redness of the lips, early morning
diarrhoea etc., all indicating Sulphur. But before
I prescribed for her, the doctor laid down the
condition that even while under homoeopathic
treatment if his mother craved for the drug and
suffered without it, he would give her the Pethidin
as he could not bear to see her suffer.
I changed the prescription to Opium: C.M.,
T.D.S. and this gave him considerable relief and
in the course of another ten days he was able to
give it up. Now for the last one and a half months
he has not taken a single injection of morphia.
Finding that it was either a case of allowing the
continuation of the drug along with the homoeo
pathic medication and taking a chance of providing
relief, however slender, or giving up the case
altogether, I accepted the condition and gave her
Sulphur:200, three doses in one day, followed by
placebo. This gave some relief to her pains. Later
on I had to give her Zinc. met. and other drugs;
she improved steadily within a few days. She
continued to take Pethidin for a few days but the
In this second case the medicinal doses Were
administered repeatedly as the patient was
repeatedly taking the morphia.
COMMENTS: Those who have read case
histories of morphia addicts and have seen them
suffer and slowly sink deeper and deeper into the
habit, will realise what is owed to homoeopathy.
Secondly, these two cases seem to illustrate the
point that homoeopathic drugs may act in spite of all
apposition with crude drugs. So homoeopaths who
insist on a very strict, puritanical diet and regimen
may reconsider and relent and give their patients
more amplitude.
154
HOMOEOPATHY IN SUB-FERTILITY
Dr. S. R. WADIA, M.B., B.S., M.F. Hom. (Lond.),
Sr. Hon. Physician, Govt. Homoeopathic Hospital, Bombay.
Even though birth control is the major problem
in densely populated countries like India and China,
yet infertility is also an important and often vexing
condition. In the desire to have children, there
is little that such couples will not do from consulting
the specialist in the department to praying and
following every superstition that holds out some
promise.
18-7-1957 :
L.M.P. last Nov. 1956, she is now
in advanced state of pregnancy and
very happy about it.
21-9-1958 :
Patient has a baby one year old, both
mother and child being in good
health.
Homoeopathy is able to help even in cases where
the specialists after carrying out investigations just
find nothing wrong and are only able to label it as
infertility or sub-fertility as such. Two such cases
are presented here:
She is married for the last three years to a
vigorous young man, but has not concived. Both
husband and wife were examined by a specialist
and found normal.
1.
Mrs. K. I.
Age 28.
She is married for the last 10 years and has one
child about nine years old but did not conceive
again. She has consulted various specialists for this
condition as well as for her menstrual irregularity
but to no advantage.
2.
Ill
Constipated:
sometimes.
has piles,
which
Sulph. 200 (1).
1-6-1956 :
Patient feels better, heat less. Last
menstrual period on 25-5-56 was not
so foul and colour better
S.L.
1-7-1956 :
Last menstrual period on 25-6-56,
lasted 7 days; discharge brown in
colour, soles still burn but less.
Sulph. 200 (1).
18-7-1956 :
She had frequency of micturition.
3.
She was chilly.
4.
There was backache throughout the day.
5.
Had Car sickness.
28-12-1956 :
Sepia 30, 4 doses, 6 houny.
15- 1-1957 :
Patient was feeling better.
Sepia: 200 (1).
24- 1-1957 :
Last menstrual period lasted 5 days,
less painful than usual.
4- 3-1957 :
She had missed her last period, she
now has nausea due to pregnancy,
flatulence. Sepia: 200,(3), 2 hourly.
8- 4-1957 :
Nausea nil, feels well.
18- 8-1957 :
Patient feels happy, is able to digest
her
food;
no
nausea;
no
leucorrhoea, sex desire normal; no
pain during coition.
Patient feels much better; no pain in
legs, menses has no foul odour.
S.L.
10-8-1956 :
2.
bleed
1-5-1956 :
Patient much better, periods regular,
slightly offensive, no leucorrhoea.
Sulph. 200 (1).
Age 46.
1. This patient also had severe pain during
sexual intercourse. It was an ordeal for her to
pass through the act. Her sex desire was also
diminished. She had leucorrhoea and dysmenorrhoea.
I
Menses, black, offensive and prolonged:
has to take vitamin K to stop the flow; Urticaria
and nausea during menses; Leucorrhoea, foul. Pain
in body and legs.
II
Heat and burning all over the body; Soles
burn; does not cover her feet at night.
Mrs. J.
S.L.
The Sepia repeated now and then carried her
through the pregnancy at the end of which she
had a healthy child bom. Her menses have now
become regular and sex life normal.
155
• SPECIFICS” IN HOMOEOPATHY^
Dr. H. HENDERSON PATRICK, M.B., B.S.
Sir John Weir, in a recent address to the Faculty
of Homoeopathy, drew our attention to the work
of the AU Union Institute for Experimental
Medicine of Russia. The first conclusion of this
body, carrying on research work into the cause
of disease, is as follows: “There is no panacea. That
is, there is no drug or medicinal formula of any
kind which is universally curative either in a
general sense or in a particular disease”.
Hahnemann told us the same thing 150 years ago.
Every good homocopathist knows it to be true.
How, then, can we speak of “specifics” in Homoeo
pathy? The truth is that while no remedy is or
ever can be 100 per cent, accurate in all cases of a
particular disease or condition, in a few diseases
or conditions the disease syndrome so accurately
fits a known drug picture that it is only in a small
percentage of cases we require to go past this
remedy. It is little wonder, then, that the disease
and the remedy get so intimately associated in the
mind of the physician that he is apt to think of
the remedy as specific. The most typical example
of this is scarlet fever and Belladona. Belladonna
poisoning and scarlet fever are not easily distin
guished, hence we find that Belladonna will cut
short the great majority of cases of scarlet fever.
We need not expect it to cure the malignant case,
but how often do these occur? I can remember
only one. This one, with a widespread markedly
haemorrhagic rash, made a good recovery under
Lachesis.
Another example of the same kind is found in
the relationship of whooping cough and Droscra
although, so far as my experience goes, the
percentage of cases requiring Droscra is not so high
as the percentage of scarlet fever cases requiring
Belladonna.
As the remedy for the relief of accidental damage
to the soft tissues Arnica stands out at almost 100
per cent. It is natural that the percentage here
shou'd be high, as we arc not dealing with a disease
in the true sense and no other remedy need be
considered. Arnica may be administered either
internally or externally. In my opinion the former
is more efficacious. We find one remedy standing
out also for the effects of accident in the psycho
logical sense. Ignatia is nearly always the remedy
for the shock following unexpected bad news in
previously healthy persons.
In Lac caninum we have a remedy which is
almost specific for drying off the secretion of milk in
women who, for any reason, wish to stop feeding
their infants before the usual time.
Acne, I used to find one of the most troublesome
things to treat; most patients suffering from this
complaint were so completely void of any symptoms
on which to base a prescription. When one finds
constitutional symptoms these must, of course, guide
to the prescription. When there arc no symptoms
give S.S.G*. I usually start with a very low potency,
6X trit., give it t.i.d. for three days then wait. Very
few cases will not respond.
Consideration of “specific” remedies leads on
naturally to the question of prophylaxis. In a
letter written recently by the B.M.A. to the Faculty
of Homoeopathy the statement was made that
Preventive Medicine was the medicine of the future.
The inference behind the statement seemed to me to
be that Preventive Medicine was more or less a
monopoly of the orthodox school and had nothing to
do with homoeopathy. Exactly the opposite is
the case.
Surely the homocopathist whose life work is the
development of his patient’s immunity both in
health and disease should be in a better position than
his orthodox brother to practice Preventive
Medicine? Are not prophylaxis and the development
of immunity one and the same thing? Prevention is
better than cure. It is also easier; easier because it
must, of necessity, be routine. The exact symptom
complex which anyone will develop after infection
by a particular disease virus can never be foretold
with any degree of accuracy, hence we must use
for the stimulation of immunity the drug which
produces the most likely ones.
Tuberculosis in young children. This, I think, is
not so common as it used to be, but is still much
more frequent than it ought to be. I shall never
forget one case which occurred in my practice many
years ago. The father of the child was one of the
earliest producers of Certified Milk and possessed
a herd of cattle of which he had every reason to
be proud. The boy was brought up under ideal
conditions, had never been off the farm and had
fExtractcd from British Homoeopathic Journal.
♦S.S.C. is a potentised combination of Sulphur, Silica and Carbo veg.—Ed.
156
never had a day’s illness. When about three years
old he was taken for a few days with his parents
to stay with friends in another part of the country.
A very short time after that he became ill, developed
T.B. meningitis of which he died. I think all
children should be given Tub. bov. 12 or 30 on at
least two occasions before they arc exposed to raw
milk. Some may say, of course, that the remedy
is to pasteurise the milk. I don’t agree, but this is
not the time to argue the point.
physician will be able to tell which of these is the
better in any particular individual.
Smallpox. I am afraid I may be on thorny ground
here also when I say I do not believe in the efficacy
of cowpox vaccination as a prophylactic. Apart from
that it is sometimes definitely harmful and may
even be the cause of death. Variolinum is the
natural prophylactic. It certainly has two advantages
over cowpox. It has definite relationship to smallpox
and it is not harmful. During the last two outbreaks
of smallpox in Glasgow many thousands of people
took variolinum instead of being vaccinated. None
of these took smallpox. I am aware, of course, that
the total number of cases was not large enough to
put much stress on this, but the fact should be noted
all the same, and also the fact that many of the
people who did take smallpox had been recently
vaccinated.
Surgery opens a wide field for homoeopathic
prophylaxis. Phos. 30 given the day before the
operation will prevent the sickness which commonly
follows the administration of chloroform. Properly
given, chloroform is not a dangerous anaesthetic.
Practically nothing else was used for general anaes
thesia in the Glasgow Homoeopathic Hospital for
thirty years. There was one death out of over 5,000
cases. Where ether is the anaesthetic give Ant.tart.
To promote rapid healing of wounds use Calendula
during the operation. Apply to any tissue where
rapid healing is desired, c.g. bowel anastomosis;
about 20 minims of the mother tincture to a pint
of water is strong enough. After the operation the
prophylactic remedy should be given at once.
Anticipate the symptoms and get the remedy in
first. After the ordinary abdominal operation, e.g.
simple appendix give Rhus tox. 1 M. or Arnica. If
the appendix has ruptured and one is afraid of a
septic spread give Pyrogen. After septic conditions
involving the liver, Crotalus. After amputations,
circumcision, removal of nails, Hypericum. After
tonsillectomy the remedy is Calendula either in
potency or as a gargle or both.
Sea sickness. Tabacum is probably the drug with
symptoms most like this distressing condition. A dose
of the 30th potency every few hours the day before
sailing will usually prove helpful.
It cannot be claimed, of course, that, using those
remedies as prophylactics, one will never get any
post-operative trouble, but I think it can be said
with confidence that those troubles will be reduced
to a minimum.
Exam, funk or undue anxiety before public
speaking, etc., can best be prevented by one of two
remedies, Arg. nit. or Gclsemium. The experienced
After punctured wounds, don’t rush for a
antitetanic serum. Give a few doses of Ledum 30 and
you will have no cause for worry.
OBITUARY
Dr. CHARLES PAHUD, M.D.
On Sunday, July 12, 1959, the death
occurred in Lausanne of Charles Pahud, M.D.
He died after a short but grave illness quite
unexpectedly at the age of 70.
In Dr. Pahud we have lost a true disciple
of Hahnemann. He was born in Lausanne on
January 20, 1890, completed his studies there
and in 1916 qualified as Doctor of Medicine.
He served twice as Secretary of the Medical
157
Association of the Canton of Vaud in
Switzerland and was also twice President of
the Swiss Homoeopathic Medical Society
(1939-1945 and again from 1955 until his
death).
From 1951 to 1953, Dr. Pahud was
President of the Liga Internationalis Homoeopathica, and a few years ago he acted as
godfather at the foundation of the Austrian
Homoeopathic Association. Both the Societe
Homoeopathique Rhodanienne and the
Societe homoeopathique de 1’Est de la France
made him a honorary member and he was a
corresponding member of the Liga Inter
nationalis. He was one of the founders in 1956
of the Swiss Journal of Homoeopathy and of
the Rheinfelden Congresses.
Charles Pahud was known far beyond the
frontiers of his country. An unshakeable faith
in Hahnemann’s teaching together with the
rich experience gained from his vast practice
made him a master in the field of homoeo
pathy. His tolerance towards opponents, his
diplomatic adaptability in delicate situations
and his genuine concern for the sufferings of
others earned him the respect of colleagues
from all quarters and endeared him both to
his patients and to his friends.
The loss caused by his death is felt
particularly keenly by those of us who were
privileged to work with him and who saw
him fight for the good of his Society and for
his Journal.
He has however passed the results of his
efforts on to grateful pupils who know the
value of his reasoning and of his ideas and
who will make use of them in the right place
for the benefit of homoeopathy.
Our courteous and kindly Doctor Pahud
will no longer appear at our Congresses but his
spirit will remain and go on living amongst us.
—Dr. Ch. Pfister
DR. ANDREW KELLNER, M.D. (LEIPZIG), L.M.S.S.A., F.F. Hom. (Lond.)
TRIBUTES
It was a pleasure to attend the clinics and
lectures of one who looked so similar to the
father- of homoeopathy. He was stout and
well built and had a head which to me looked
as big as Dr. Hahnemann’s. The resemblance
was specially noticeable when he sat at the
back of Dr. Hahnemann’s bust in the Museum
of the London hospital and sipped tea of
which he was very fond. He used to prescribe
lbw potencies of medicines, 3c or 6c, and
used to repeat for 2 to 4 weeks. After a very
pleasant chat with each patient, he would
end by saying “Come and see me after a
month”. These words still ring in my ears.
As a Cardiologist at the Royal London
Homoeopathic Hospital and with his wide
knowledge of homoeopathy, he was very
successful. He was the President of Faculty of
Homoeopathy during 1958-59.
May his soul rest in peace.
—S. R. W.
158
Dr. Kellner will be always remembered by
all his students and friends. Hahnemann-like
in appearance as well as in deportment, he had
a habit of speaking in a measured voice, very
carefully selecting his words. In his mind,
every word had a certain size, weight, shape
and colour.
Half the cardiac cases in London under
homoeopathic treatment were under his care.
In chronic valvular conditions his favourite
remedies were Ars., Cactus and Crategus, all
given in low dilutions, repeatedly.
NOTES FROM DR. KELLNER’S CLINICS: —
Never ask the patient to write out his own
history. It is much better to take it in person.
Never start by asking the name, age, etc.,
of the patient first. When you commence a
case, better start with the symptoms.
When retaking the case, start with a blank
paper and a blank mind.
If you are asked “Gan you cure me?” do not
promise anything; say only “There is no cure
at all I shall only try to help you. I am
confident of doing a great deal of making you
of the symptoms.”
If a patient comes to you who is already
taking some allopathic medicines and is finding
relief from them and if you insist that he
should discontinue immediately those drugs to
which he is habituated, e.g. aspirin.
barbiturates etc., he will suffer far more
damage that way. Let him discontinue the
drugs slowly after he has got faith in your
treatment.
If the patient crosses her bridges before
she reaches them, she requires Arsenic.
If a cup of milk is brought with a layer
of fat on the surface and if the patient looks
at it disgustingly, and carefully collects it with
a spoon and throws it away, then this patient
requires Phosphorus.
—P.S.
ABSTRACTS.
MEDICAL EDUCATION IN JAPAN
Dr. V. G. VAISHAMPAYAN of Sholapur writes: —
Medical education in Japan is modelled to suit
the requirements of that country. There are in all 46
medical schools. Out of these 33 are Government,
provincial and municipal controlled and 13 entirely
private. Some of these schools are more or less poorly
supported and consequently they have to struggle
hard to keep up to the requirements. The private
medical schools have no permanent endowment to
maintain in the schools. It may, therefore, be
difficult to understand how a private medical school
can be maintained without outside support. They
are all self-supporting. The important sources of
income are hospitals, working under the direct
control of the medical schools. The medical services
are paid for directly by the patients or charged to
the social services office. The less important sources
are students’ tuition fees, admission fees and
donations from sympathisers. None of these medical
schools are sectarian. They are in no way inferior
to those in Western countries. The entrance
examinations are conducted by individual schools.
The extent and number of admissions in different
schools varies from forty to eighty students per year.
The curriculum is of four years. Each medical school
has a hospital attached to it and also a University.
159
This forms a unit. Teachers teaching different
subjects are examiners for the same subjects;
therefore they know the calibre of their pupils. 95%
of the pupils generally pass the examinations. The
remaining 5% get through, in three or four terms.
The cost of medical education is not, therefore,
very high. Every year 3000 medical students pass
the University examinations. The salary on which
they are started is Rs. 150/- p.m. and the maximum
is Rs. 750/- to Rs. 1,000/- p.m., which is reached
in 25 to 30 years. There are very few private
practitioners, as 80 per cent of the population is
covered by health-insurance; therefore, there is no
destructive competition in medical practice in
Japan. If at all there is any competition it is for
increasing one’s knowledge.
Our country’s population is four times that of
Japan. We hardly turn out 2000 medical men every
year, from 50 and odd medical colleges. If the
country is to have enough medical men, the medical
education should be made less expensive, without
allowing the standards to go down. It is, therefore,
essential to re-organize the set-up of medical
education in our country.
NEWS AND NOTES
INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS
The next congress of the International Homoeo
pathic League is to be held in Montreaux,
Switzerland, in the summer of 1960.
Homoeopaths who wish to benefit from the
Congress and enjoy the delightful climate, natural
beauty and hospitality of Switzerland can start
preparing from now.
HOMOEOPATHIC FACULTY AT AGRA
The Agra University has decided to form a
homoeopathic faculty. The Vice Chancellor has
constituted an Ad Hoc Committee of eleven
members, including Dr. H. C. Batra and Dr. K. G.
Saxena to prepare statutes, syllabus for a degree
course in Homoeopathy. The National Homoeo
pathic College, Lucknow will function under this
faculty for the present but later on the Agra
University will start another college and hospital
at Agra.
EDITORIAL BOARD
We welcome to the editorial board our new
colleague Dr. Raj Kumar Mukherjee, m.a., l.h.m.s.
Dr. Mukherjee is a distinguished homoeopath who
has done much silent service by translating several
valuable books from French to English. He also
brings into use his knowledge of the German and
Spanish languages.
REVIEW
1. Organon of Esoteric Principles of Homoeotherapeutics. Pp. 167, Price Rs. 10/-.
2. Late Dr. J. T. Kent’s Repertory Index.
Pp. 27, Price Rs. 5/-.
Both booklets written and published by
Dr. Homee A. S. Hatteria, from Rustom
Building, Mahomedalli Road, Bombay 3.
Unfortunately, the solution of the potency
question seems to be more complex and not
so easily amenable. Going through the lite
rature one is surprised to notice that different
homoeopaths had prescribed different poten
cies for the same or similar conditions with
equal success. For example, whereas the
author of this booklet has prescribed mother
tincture only for external use, many of
Dr. Cooper’s wonderful cures were made
with a single drop of the mother tincture
administered internally.
The former book deals with a variety of
questions within the homoeopathic field, the
main subject being the determination of the
optimum potency—a question which has
The author has ignored the fact that to
engaged the minds of the homoeopaths since
reach a definite conclusion we have to prove
Hahnemann’s time. The author has pains
not only that under a certain set of circum
takingly collected numerous cases from
stances, a certain result evolves, but also that
homoeopathic literature wherein a single dose
under any other set of circumstances, such as a
of the medicine has effected a cure. These
result does not evolve. So it would be neces
cases have been taken as the basis for his
sary to show also that every other potency
conclusions. As particular conditions have
been and cured by the remedies in particular did not help such conditions.
potencies, he infers that these are the proper
In dealing with other questions such as
potencies for such conditions.
aggravation, time of administration, dietary
160
printing and spelling mistakes. The writers and
publishers should take great care to prevent
these. A mistake in the substance can be
permitted as arising from certain limitations
but mistakes in printing are due to careless
ness; and if ignorance is a defect, carelessness
can be a crime; particularly in the field of
medicine.
restrictions etc., the author is on safer ground
and discusses them well. Throughout the
book there is evidence that the author has
read well and taken much pains.
The Index to Kent’s Repertory is compiled
to facilitate quicker reference to the Reper
tory and is likely to be useful for beginners.
Homoeopathic books in India often have
the unfortunate tendency to carry many
—P.S.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
in a better position to associate the case with
the drug.
The Chief Editor,
Journal of Homoeopathic Medicine.
Sir,
The third issue of the Journal of Homoeo
pathic Medicine interests me very much. May
I suggest to the contributors to grade the
symptoms while reporting cases, to enable us
to see better the real picture of the case.
Sir John Weir and Tyler have said in their
booklet on Repertorising “People all the world
over are wasting their lives, working out
cases at enormous expenditure of time arid
minutest care, for comparatively poor results:
and all for want of a little initial help. The
key to the enigma, which they lack, is the grad
ing of symptoms.... in the cases where all the
more-or-less-indicated remedies lack some
symptom or other of the totality, to know
which symptoms are of vital importance to
the correct prescription, and which are of
less importance, and may therefore probably
be neglected....”. A pageful of symptoms,
recorded without any gradation does not cut
much ice in the field of similia similibus, for
the similarity is based not on the totality of
all the symptoms as such but on the totality
of the characteristic symptoms. The reader
may therefore be given the advantage of
knowing which of the symptoms listed are
well-marked and peculiar so that he will be
Dr. Sankaran’s case of pericarditis
impresses by the quickness of action of the
potentised remedy. Apart from the intrinsic
low cost of the drugs, the speed of recovery
brings down the cost of hospitalization very
much and that should stimulate any govern
ment to take the issue of spreading homoeo
pathy sincerely.
Dr. S. S. Kumta’s article is interesting. If
and when the collionically redynamised
‘group remedies’, are proved on healthy indi
viduals, they might enrich the armamenta
rium. Till then, those ‘group remedies’ will
serve at the most like remedies of the third
grade, since they are verified by clinical
application alone. Though Nux vomica and
Ignatia contain strychnine they are not just
identified with strychnine, nor taken as
“Strychnine plus something” in the realm of
potentised medication. “The seeds of Ignatia
contain a larger proportion of strychnine than
those of Nux vomica and the great differences
(italics mine) in the characteristic features
of the two medicines prove the wisdom of
considering medicines apart from their so
called “active” principles. There are many
active elements in plants beside the alkaloids
they may contain and these are often the
determining factors of the drug’s specific
161
action” so said Clarke. And Hahnemann said
“Although its (Ign.) positive effects have a
great resemblance to those of Nux vomica
(which indeed might be inferred from the
botanical relationship of these two plants),
yet there is a great difference in their
therapeutic employment33 (italics mine). The
“Genius” of the drug whether it be a single
remedy—mineral, vegetable or animal in
origin or a nosode or the ‘group remedy* of
Dr. Kumta, has to be matched with the
genius of the case. Then success is certain.
Or else chaos is certain.
Yours sincerely,
A. U. SRIRAM.
Tiruchirappalli,
1-10-1959.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:
The Following Journals have been received:
1. The Karnataka Homoeopathic Journal,
(English and Kannada), Bangalore.
6.
Homoeopathy (Tamil), Kumbakonam.
7.
Homoeopathy (English), Kumbakonam.
2.
The Torch of Homoeopathy (English and
Hindi), Jaipur.
8.
The Voice of
Tiruchirappalli.
Homoeopathy
(Tamil),
3.
The Indian Journal
(English), Bombay.
9.
Homoeopathy & Comparative
(English), Mavelikara.
Medicine
4.
The
Madras
Homoeopathic
(English), Madras.
10.
The Homoeopathic Magazine (English and
Urdu), Lahore.
5.
The Homoeopathic
Bombay.
11.
Salud Y Vida (Spanish), Barcelona.
of
Homoeopathy
Outlook
Journal
(English),
162
o
VILCO VITE
A palatable multivitamin tonic
Vitamin A
Vitamin D2
Vitamin B*
l2
345
Riboflavin
Each 30 ml. contains:
30,000 LU.
Vitamin B6
6,000 I.U.
Panthenol
30 mg.
Vitamin C
15 mg.
Niacinamide
in a flavoured syrupy base
6 mg.
30 mg.
0.3 G.
0.3 G.
Indications:—
Growth of bones, Rickets, Dentition and dietary supplement for infants
and children.
Pregnancy, Lactation, Osteomalacia and conditioned hypovitaminosis.
General debility, malnutrition and as a general tonic.
VILCO LABORATORIES
1072, Fosbery Road, Bombay 15.
For all kinds of German,
American and Indian Homoeo
pathic Medicines, Patents,
publications and HOMOEO
COMPLEX INJECTIONS
always contact your perma
nent and reliable dealers:
For all genuine Homoeopathic and Biochemic
Medicines, Mother Tinctures, Sugar of Milk,
Globules, phials and corks, Medical goods
and Books, both Indian and foreign, please
contact us. Rates are moderate; decent
commission for wholesalers. Catalogue on
request.
Our own publications:
(1) Dr. Rush's Veterinary Surgeon
(First Indian edition)
... Rs. 5.00
(2) Dr. Roy’s M. M.—A Manual of
Homoeopathic Repertory
...Rs. 3.00
(3) Dr. Chakraborty T.—120 Princi
pal Medicines with their Thera
peutical Hints ...
•••Rs. 3.00
(4) Chakraborty Dr. B. P.—Antipsoric Guide for Chronic Diseases. Rs. 3.50
(5) Chakraborty Dr. B. P.—Rela
tionship of Remedies ...
... Rs. 1 • 25
ECONOMIC HOMOEO STORES
PRIVATE LIMITED.,
M/S. UNIVERSAL TRADERS (INDIA)
B. D. 91, Juhi Kalan,
P. O. Box No. 439
KANPUR
Homoeopathic & Biochemic Chemists,
Book-sellers and Publishers.
159, Netaji Subhas Road, CALCUTTA—1.
Oram: Morbilinum
Post Box: 536,
So far about 20 alkaloids have been found in the well known root Rauvolfia Serpen
tina. Nature has so balanced the activities of these alkaloids that administered
together the total alkaloids do not produce any harmful and toxic untoward effects
as is the case when one single alkaloid is administered. SERPINOID is the product
of choice containing the total alkaloids of Rauvolfia Serpentina together with
other naturally occuring substances which are extremely useful. In cases of essen
tial hypertension SERPINOID gives prompt, safe and reliable results.
PRODUCT OP
■X’"***-’-
SAMPLES ON REQUEST
EXACTLY 20 YEARS AGO
We started as a small Institution, in a small place with only two assistants.
TO-DAY, when we enter into the third decade of our service to HOMOEOPATHY and
the NATION, we look back with satisfaction on our achievements and we also look
forward to an era of increased activities and service in the same cause.
AT PRESENT more than 100 trained personnel of our establishment serve our clients distri
buted all over India and abroad.
ON THIS OCCASION we wish to announce that in our new Non-Bonded Laboratory, we are
now manufacturing all Homoeopathic Mother Tinctures and Dilutions from original B & T
and Dr. Madaus* Back-Potencies and crude drugs. We wish to assure the public and the
profession that we will keep up our traditions of high quality and best service. Besides
standard Homoeopathic medicines, we also specialise in the manufacture of Biochemic
Tablets, Homoeo Injections and Our Own Patent Products.
Please apply for a free
Copy of our
PHYSICIANS’ GUIDE.
INDIAN INSTITUTE OF HOMOEOPATHS
• Homeo House,
Kumbakonam, S. India.
and
6, Stringers St.
Madras—1.
THE HOMOEOPATHIC MEDICAL PUBLISHERS
PUBLICATIONS
SOME RECENT RESEARCH AND ADVANCES IN HOMOEOPATHS
In this booklet is described in brief and summarised, much of the research done and advances
made in the field of homoeopathy during the last fifty years. It fills up a long felt need and puts in
the hands of the homoeopath much material of information and reference not readily available
otherwise.
Price : Rs. 2.00 ^Postage 60 nP. extra).
OPINIONS :
"...Dr. Sankaran is to be congratulated for having condensed in the space of twenty-three pages such
interesting and valuable information.”
—Health & You, London.
“...this book is a priceless boon.”
—Homoeopathy, Kumbakonam.
CLINICAL RELATIONSHIP OF HOMOEOPATHIC REMEDIES
This booklet gives the complete clinical relationship of the common homoeopathic remedies in a
handy booklet form and is compiled from the writings of Authorities like Allen, Boger, Boenninghhausen, Hering, Kent and others. It is a most useful book and one essential for every Homoeopath
who wishes to prescribe scientifically and successfully.
Price : Rs. 2.50 (Postage 70 nP. extra).
OPINIONS :
handbook.”
"...We are very grateful to Dr. P. Sankaran of Bombay who has compiled a most useful and authorititative
The Karnatak Homoeopathic Journal, Bangalore.
a “...The booklet got up in an attractive style, will be of great use for all interested in homoeopathic study
and prescribing.”
—The Madras Homoeopathic Journal, Madras.
d.f. hom. (Lond.), provides a most
useful method of picking out the correct homoeopathic remedy easily and quickly, thus conserving
the valuable time and energy of the prescriber. It enables the physician to select the proper drug
from among the 292 common remedies contained on 392 Symptom Cards. It simplifies the task of
repertorisation and makes prescribing less difficult and more accurate. This set includes a copy of
the Pocket Repertory And is contained in a wooden cabinet. 2nd Edition (Revised and Enlarged)
Price (Per set) Rs. 50.00 (Pkg. & Forwarding Rs. 2.50 extra).
A CARD REPERTORY compiled by Dr. P. Sankaran,
THE POCKET REPERTOR Y is a handy booklet which supplies the need for a concise but com
prehensive repertory when used independently. It also serves as an index for the Card Repertory
helping to pick out the correct rubric-cards.
2nd Edition (Revised and Enlarged) Price Rs. 3.50 (Postage 70 nP. Extra).
OPINIONS :
"...Your compilation, the Card Repertory, will be very useful to all homoeopaths, The Pocket Repertory
is also excellent.”
Dr. S. R. Wadia, M.B., B.S., m.f. Hom. <Lond)
President, Board of Homoeopathic Medicine, Bombay
".,.We highly commend this valuable contribution to the Homoeopathic Literature to all students and
practitioners of homoeopathy who want to be successful prescribcrs in their professional life.”
—The Homoeopathic Herald, Calcutta.
“...We recommend this compilation to anyone wishes to own a Card index repertory of the type of those
compiled by master minds, but much cheaper.”
—Homoeopathy & Comparative Medicine, Mavelikara.
Available from all Homoeopathic Pharmacies & Booksellers or direct from :—
THE HOMOEOPATHIC MEDICAL PUBLISHERS
13-A, Station Road, Santa Cruz (West),
BOMBAY-231
To keep abreast of all information on Health
Read and subscribe for
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published by
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published by
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Paper
Loats
...demand the full attention of a
small boy. He has little or no
time to worry a^out other things—
but his parents do. They are
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All these things do so much to
make a home a happy place
to grow up in. By making
these everyday products
of high quality that everybody
can rely on, and by
distributing them
throughout the length and
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economical prices...
HINDUSTAN LEVER
SERVES THE HOME
PR. 1X52
DR. WILLMAR SCHWABE, g.m.b.h. Karlsruhe (West Germany)
offer medicines of exclusive qualiry
* Alfalfa Tonic
* Sealed powders & Tablets
♦ Biofiingin
* Injections
* Cinerera M.
* Biochemic combinations
* Diugutt
* Anything Homoeopathic
* Tonsiotren
* Anything Biochemic
Ask for free samples at the above address directly or through:
THE NEW ERA HOMOEOPATHIC PHARMACY
BOMBAY—28
(Importers from Dr. Schwabe (W. Germany); Luyties—(U.S.A.);
B & T (U.S.A.); Conte Ceasare Mattie Electro-homoeopathic
medicines (Italy)
ROC PHARMACEUTICALS have pleasure in
introducing its HEMATINIC and VITAMIN products
to the HOMOEOPATHIC medical profession....
ROCFER*
Tablets of most TOLERABLE iron com
pound as 5 grs. Ferrous Gluconate,* in
only 3 tablets a day dose, for all IRON
DEFICIENCY anaemias.
ROCPLEX* ELIXIR
A raspberry flavoured, extremely palatable,
nutritional general TONIC for various
B-Complex deficiencies in a NON-SYRUPY
BASE, in 2 teaspoons a day dose.
ROCFER*—MF
Powerful
HAEMATOPOIETIC
tablet
including fortified B.Complex factors,
Vitamins C and D., Calcium and Folic
Acid, for various types of IRON DEFI
CIENCY including MEGALOBLASTIC
anaemias, in 3 tablets a day dose.
ROCVTTE ELIXIR
A high potency, orange flavoured extremely
palatable, aqueous preparation of 9
important VITAMINS for all MULTI
VITAMIN DEFICIENCIES, in 1 teaspoon
a day dose.
All the products are highly concentrated so as to minimise the dosage.
They are of HIGH EFFICACY, ECONOMY & EXCELLENCE.
YOU CAN PRESCRIBE THEM WITH CONFIDENCE.
ROC PHARMACEUTICALS,
808, Vincent Road, Dadar T. T., BOMBAY 14.
* REGD. TRADE MARKS.
Published by Dr. P. Sankaran for the Homoeopathtc Corporation, 13-A, Station Road, Santa Cruz
(West), Bombay 23 and Printed by S. Ramu at The Commercial Printing Press Private Limited
34, 38 Bank Street Fort Bombay.
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