We must be particular to discriminate between idiosyncrasies, habitual infirmities and physical deviation from health for what may be normal in one would be morbid in another, and so forth. Some fixed plan or method must be adopted in our examinations, and Hahnemann’s cannot well be improved upon. He begins with the moral and intellectual symptoms and then takes in topographical order, the different regions of the body, starting with the head and ending at the feet. In the main the above constitutes Hahnemann’s directions and if faithfully carried out must inevitably give the examiner a complete picture of the cause which as we all know, is the open sesame to the similimum.
After we have obtained a full and complete account of the patient’s symptoms and cleared away by painstaking investigation obscure or doubtful points we must next group and classify symptoms in accordance with our estimate of their value, to facilitate our subsequent task of selecting the required remedy. Symptoms originating from the mind are to be noted down first and then those most uncommon and peculiar.
To distinguish between these and the unessential and unimportant is often very difficult and not seldom calls, as you are well aware, for great skill and discernment. As a rule the less diagnostic is a symptom the more important it is as a guide to the needed remedy. The most constant, the most recent or latent symptoms developed must be considered-they are the sine qua non. All symptoms not founded upon reliable or positive premises must be discarded; the fleeting are generally of less value.
An invaluable piece of advice the master gives us concerning the examination of patients, is to let the sufferer tell all of his pains, sensations, and so forth without interruption for he cautions us, if the patient is questioned before he was told his whole story, he may, through confusion or timidity forget some essential symptoms. Another equally important suggestion is to note down in writing all that falls from the lips of the patient, relating to his symptoms, and these, he counsels us, to take down as possible, in the patient’s own words and in the order given. Subsequently his statements may be corrected or corroborated by the attendants or friends.
The master also particularly warns us not to put leading or suggestive questions or in other words. We are to avoid making inquiries which may be answered simply in the affirmative or in the negative. I may return to this later if the patient comes under our care immediately after a course of drugging it may be necessary unless the patient be in danger or in great distress, to defer prescribing until some of the effects of the medicine have passed away. Everyone of these suggestions is worth its weight in gold-aye, a hundredfold more-as the observing Homoeopath daily realizes.
The peculiar, extra-ordinary symptom is generally the keynote leading to the totality of the case, the essence of the disease (Vide Organon, para 158.)
With your permission I shall cite some cases to illustrate this rule.
