Thus we are made free of the Repertory; for wherever PAIN occurs, whether in HEAD, STOMACH, BLADDER. BACK, the arrangement is precisely the same:
FIRST, PAIN GENERALLY, in regard to time and other conditions, and extension.
Next, PAIN LOCALISED, in regard to time; other conditions, and extension
Then CHARACTER OF PAIN GENERALLY, with time; other conditions, and extension
Then CHARACTER OF PAIN IN REGARD TO EACH LOCALITY IN TURN, always with regard to time; other conditions in alphabetical order, and extension.
The homoeopath is already familiar with the broader arrangement of the REPERTORY, for it is that of the Materia Medica. In conclusion, let us just glance through it, as there are a few points of difficulty in the search for what we want.
Let us run through the book, taking the Sections in order.
MENTALS-Here especially we need to read constantly, and compare, We may very often have to take the idea, and resort to synonyms, in order to find just what we need. Sometimes we have to combine rubrics, Among the Mentals, the sub-sections are often far more important than the lists under the large and more general headings.
WEEPING is a very long rubric, and is common to very many remedies; it is qualified below, WEEPING at a certain hour; alternating with cheerfulness; causeless; consolation aggravates; while telling symptoms; from music; these things individualise, and carry us nearer to the remedy. It repays you to constantly study the Mentals; to know exactly what you can find there, and under what precise phraseology. Observe that SENSITIVE TO LIGHT, NOISE, etc.., ARE HERE; while sensitive to odours comes under “SMELL acute in the section NOSE.
VERTIGO- Here are several heading that denote levitation; and here we get sensations of sinking, and tendency to fall to right, left, etc..
HEAD-Includes HAIR-Here we get all the head sensations and pains; and here, for head only, we get what we had previously noted in GENERALITIES, for pain generally, i, e., increasing and decreasing suddenly or gradually, and their combinations,
EYE-With a separate section, VISION.
EAR-With discharges and pains, but with a separate section, hEARING.
NOSE, Including TONGUE, which is interwoven into all its sections; but with a separate section for TEETH (coated tongue you find under “Mouth, discoloration.”)
From mouth, away down the digestive tube, taking first THROAT, with tonsils, uvula, oesophagus.
And here, in the next section, Kent inserts EXTERNAL THROAT, with cervical glands and thyroid. This section is always difficult to find.
STOMACH- with the important Generals-the desire and aversions in regard to articles of diet, and hunger, and thirst (As we said, better and worse for eating and drinking, and for different foods are found in Generalities.)
ABDOMEN. Here most of the menstrual pains are to be found. As it is difficult often to differentiate between gastric and abdominal pain, it is often advisable to consult both these sections.
RECTUM, with a separate sections for STOOL. diarrhoea, Constipation and Urging, are found under RECTUM, whereas character of stool-loose, hard, large gushing, forcible, colour, odour, etc.., are in the next section, STOOL.
Then under URINARY ORGANS. we get no less than five sections, and they are very puzzling at first, because BLADDER and URINE are widely separated, and one hardly knows what to look for in each. these sections are, BLADDER, KIDNEYS, PROSTATE occur under BLADDER; whereas the character of the urine, its odour and deposits are to be found under URINE. HERE also we find urine copious and scanty.
GENITALIA, in two sections for MALE and FEMALE. In the latter are found the important Generals associated with menstruation, whereas, as we saw, the generally worse and better in connection with menses, are placed under GENERALITIES, at the end of the book.
Then we are taken back to the THROAT, to start this time down the respiratory tract. Kent’s order in compiling the Repertory is always, from above down; from the more important to the less; from the most broadly general, to the most minutely particular.
LARYNX and TRACHEA.
RESPIRATION.
COUGH
EXPECTORATION.
Then CHEST, into whose sections are interwoven lungs, heart, mammae.
BACK.
EXTREMITIES.
NEXT, SLEEP, with dreams. Really an important general. This includes positions in sleep; whereas better and worse for sleep, and for different positions lying, are found at the end of the book, in Generalities.
Then the FEVER sections CHILL, FEVER, PERSPIRATION. (Under Fever, you find the succession of stages, which may be important.
Lastly SKIN; which, remember, is merely a particular, an organ, though a very important one, as regards its excretory function,.
And so the book ends up with the all-important section, GENERALITIES.
