The small dose then is obviously desirable; but homoeopathist use not only small doses, but even infinitesimal ones, and and have increased much ridicule by so doing. let it be remembered that a diseased tissue is more sensitive than a healthy tissue, for health presupposes a condition of stable equilibrium, a n it will then be clear that a dose which may have no effect on the healthy may be potent to heal the sick. And as for extreme smallness the century since Hahnemann has taught chemises and physicists at least the powers that lie in quantities immeasurable by the methods of man, so that it is no longer so incredible that even an infinitesimal dose should be able to achieve a marked effete. In any case the scientific path is again that of experiment. Hahnemann did not begin with infinitesimal quantities, but was led by his experience stop by step till be found that not only were the small doses active, but seven sometimes apparently roe active. The experience of Hahnemann has been confirmed by many of his follows. Others again have found more success by using quantities, small indeed, nut not so very mall The question of the dose is probably an individual one like that of the drug, and further knowledge may enable us to choose with certainty not only the drug, but also the dose. At present it is enough to say that it is best experiment with all dilutions (potencies as they are called), and be guided by personal experience. Thee is some consensus of opinion that the more chronic the disease the more a high potency is likely to help, especially when given in infrequent doses. For acute and sub-acute disorders lower potencies are most generally useful. Probably also th more exactly a drug is chosen homoeopathically the more likely are the higher potencies to have a profound effect. But if the drug has only resemblance and not a every close resemblance to the disease, the more will the lower potencies be needed to produce took results. From which it follows that in domestic practice the lower potencies are the more general useful and the high ones should on the whole be left to the expert physician.
Finally, let it be urged one more that the truth flashed of Homoeopathy can only be determined by experiment, and that those who have not made the test should not be allowed to express dogmatic opinions without question, however eminent they may be in other ways. The patch of science lies through experiment, and he who pronounces judgment of a point on science without experiment, when experiment is possible, is to that extent unworthy to be called a scientific man. Of late years, workers in independent fields have done to independent conclusion from which the homeopathies star can draw which encouragement. Readers may be referred to the chapter on Vaccines in this volume for an example. Also the biologists have formulated certain laws, which are universally acted as governing the reaction of protoplasm the substance which is the material basis of life, Activities by timely, and drugs are to be conceived as chemical stimuli,A large stimulus hinders life activity, while the same kind of stimulus in a relatively weak amount encourages like activity. Now when disease is presents it may be truthfully said that the protoplasm of some (often of many) cells in. the body is disordered. Our judgment upon the problem of which cells are affected is a deduction from the symptoms and physical signs which the patient presents. Obviously these are the cells which requires an encouraging stimulus, and th law of stimuli teaches us that could we know of an agent capable in a stung dose of hindering the activate of these cells, that same agent in a smaller dose would give us the encouraging power which we need. But if we administer to the healthy, drugs (stimuli) in if we administer tot he healthY, drugs (stimuli) in measure sufficient to damage the cells o which they are attracted and so produce symptoms, we shall into by the similarity of the symptoms when we find the drug that can affect the same cells as are affected in our per-supposed case of disease, and the dredge administered in a small dose tot he sick man will prove the encouraging stimulus, which his laboring cells require. In other words, we must prove drugs upon the healthy and administer them in small doses for the disease conditions which eye are able to counterfeit, and thus goes a biological investigation noble us to deduce the practice of Homoeopathy, should be encouraged to appease in this faith and extend the number of experimented, who may in their turn become disciples. And those who have been afraid to investigate Homoeopathy through dread of ridicule may taken courage from this evidence that the trend of modern science is towards it, and may be emboldened to make those personal experiments upon which alone can be used base a reasonable conclusion.
LICENTIATE OF THE ROYAL COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS; MEMBER OF THE ROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS; LICENTIATE IN MIDWIFERY, LONDON AND EDINBURGH, ETC. PHYSICIAN TO THE READING AND BERKSHIRE HOMOEOPATHIC DISPENSARY.
Author of "The Stepping Stone to Homeopathy and Health,"
"Manual of Homoeopathic Treatment". Editor of "The Homoeopathic World."