I admit, too, that in certain cases of disease there is no possibility of making such an analysis as we have advised, and that certain drugs are so incompletely proved that we know of them only one or two characteristic symptoms and cannot study them as recommended. All that can be said of such cases is that they are incomplete and come under no rule. We must do the best we can and adopt a defective method, which is nevertheless sometimes successful rather than make no attempt to cure. Better cure by a “lucky hit” than not at all. But let not this lead us astray where we might do better.
If one had to traverse a wilderness he would desire first of all a compass. If this were not to be had he might “steer by the stars.” If these were obscured he might judge from the direction of vegetation and of hills and rivers. Failing these, he might even “guess” and his guess might lead him right. Nevertheless, few travelers of sound mind would be led by such a success to prefer a “guess” to a “compass.”
A SCHEME FOR THE STUDY OF MATERIA MEDICA. In the hope that what has been written may serve not only to explain the method in which I have thought they study of Materia Medica may be best pursued, but also to assist those who are entering upon that arduous study, I publish here with a schedule drawn up originally for my own guidance, and which, I think, was a great assistance to
me.
A. GENERAL ANALYSIS.
1. ACTION ON THE VITAL POWER- as exhibited in the action of the remedy upon-a. The sensorium; b. The special senses; c. The sphincters; d. The other involuntary muscles;e. The power of locomotion.
2. ACTION OF THE ORGANIC SUBSTANCE; as exhibited in a. The complexion (showing, viz.: the state of vessels and the nature of their contents); b. The evacuations; c. Ulcers, if any which previously existed are modified by the remedy or if any are produced by the remedy; d. Eruptions; e. General affections of a dyscrasic nature, such as dropsy, tuberculosis, etc., etc.
3. THE SPHERE OF ACTION OF THE REMEDY. What organs or systems of the body are affected in a general way and in what order they are affected.
4. SENSATIONS. What kind of sensations predominate among those ascribed to the remedy in the proving, and what relation, if any, appears to exist between certain varieties of sensation and certain classes of organs or tissues.
5. PERIODICITY. If there be any periodicity in the symptoms it is to be particularly noted and its character defined.
6. PECULIARITIES. There are few good provings which do not ascribe to the remedy certain peculiarities of action which are incapable of classification, which run through the whole action of the remedy and which are peculiar to one remedy and are therefore important characteristics.
These peculiarities constitute the conditions of time, circumstance, aggravation and concomitance, which are attached to the symptoms and often given individual character to them as belonging to one remedy in particular, and as incapable of being ascribed in mass to any other drug. A symptom being recorded as produced, for example, by Pulsatilla, the questions “When did it occur?” “When as it aggravated?” When was it ameliorated?” “When did it cease?” give the condition of time which attach to that symptom. In like manner the questions “Under what circumstances (viz., of rest or motion, of heat or cold, etc., etc.) did it occur, was it aggravated, was it ameliorated,” give the conditions of circumstance and aggravation which attach to the symptom.
It will be observed of almost every remedy that certain symptoms or series of symptoms are accompanied by one or several other symptoms. This fact is the condition of concomitance to which we refer. For example, many symptoms of Pulsatilla are accompanied by a disposition to weep, of Nux vomica by fugitive chills, of Arsenicum by inordinate weakness, of Veratrum by cold sweat of the forehead, etc.
It is further noticeable that in the provings of some drugs this concomitance of symptoms by other symptoms is strongly marked, and almost universal as in the case of Arsenicum.
7. RESUME OF THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE REMEDY. This will include everything in the above analysis which is shown by a comparative study of other drugs to be peculiar to it. It will comprise in particular the conditions of time, circumstance, aggravation and concomitance, and the periods of the day at which the action of the drugs is most marked.
B.SPECIAL ANALYSIS.
1. HEAD.
a. Sensorium, comprising the subdivisions: 1. Vertigo; 2. Intelligence; 3. Memory; 4. Illusions. Each of these subdivisions is to be studied in respect of sensations in so far as they can be predicated of it; of periodicity; of conditions of time, circumstance, aggravation and amelioration; and of concomitance. And under the latter rubric it is to be especially inquired what symptoms affecting other organs, or systems, occur simultaneously in evident physiological connection with the symptoms under consideration.
b. Headache. The points to be investigated are:
1. The location of the pain if it be stationary-its course if it move;2. The sensation; 3. The conditions of time, circumstance, aggravation and amelioration, as above explained in detail;
4. Concomitance.
c. Organic changes. These affects the material substances and tissues of the head, and comprise all deviations from a normal material condition of which we can in any way become cognizant-affections, for example, of the skin, glands, vessels, organs of special sense, etc.
2. EYES.
a. The Orbit. 1. Location; 2. Sensations; 3. Conditions; 4. Concomitance; 5. Organic changes. These subdivisions here and throughout the scheme, wherever used, are to be understood and studied as already explained in the general analysis and under the title “Head.”
b. Lids. 1. Location; 2. Sensation;3. Conditions; 4. Concomitance;5. Organic changes.
c. Conjunctiva. 1. Location;2. Sensations; 3. Conditions;4. Concomitance;5. Organic changes.
d. Globe. 1. Location; 2. Sensations; 3. Conditions;4. Concomitance; 5. Organic changes.
e. Secretions. 1. Character, as regards color, acridity, quantity, etc.; 2. Conditions; 3. Concomitance.
f. Special sense. 1. Visions, altered, intensified, diminished, or perverted. 2. Conditions attached to such alteration.3. Concomitance.
N.B. After each such study of a single organ, a physiological estimate should be made of the significance of the symptoms. For this purpose a faithful study of the concomitance is inestimable value. For example, the proving of Pulsatilla gives sudden loss of vision. Is this Amaurosis? The concomitance shows that the loss of vision is accompanied by loss of hearing, by syncope, and occurs at a period of menstrual irregularities. The symptom is at once explained. This is only a very obvious instance of what is not always an easy though always a most necessary task.
3. EARS.
a. External Ear. 1. Location;2. Sensation; 3. Conditions; 4. Concomitance;5. Organic changes.
b. Internal Ear. 1. Location;2. Sensations;3. Conditions;4. Concomitance;5. Organic changes (as secretions, etc.) and their conditions.
c. Special sense. 1. Deviations, whether intensified, diminished or perverted;
2. Conditions; 3. Concomitance.
4. NOSE. 1. Location;2. Sensations;3. Organic changes, including secretions. With reference to each of the above, observe, a. The conditions;b. The concomitance.
Special sense of small. 1. Deviations from a normal condition;2. Conditions; 3. Concomitance.
5. FACE. 1. Location; 2. Complexion; 3. Sensations; 4. Temperature;5. Organic changes. As regards each of these subdivisions, study, a. The conditions;b. The concomitance.
6. LIPS. 1. Location;2. Aspect;3. Sensations;4. Temperature;5. Organic changes. Respecting each subdivision, note, a. The conditions;b. The concomitance.
7. GUMS AND TEETH. 1. Location; 2. Sensations; 3. Organic changes. In reference to each subdivision, not, a. The conditions;b. The concomitance.
8. MOUTH. 1. Location; 2. Sensations;3. Organic changes. Of these, a. The conditions;b. Concomitance.
9. TASTE: 1. Deviation from normal state. a. Conditions; b. Concomitance.
10. TONGUE. 1. Location;2. Sensations; 3. Aspect; 4. Organic changes. Of these, a. The conditions;b. The concomitance.
11. THROAT AND FAUCES. 1. Location; 2. Sensations; 3. Aspect;4. Organic changes (including tumefaction, secretion, deposits, etc.). Respecting these division, a. The conditions; b. The concomitance.
12. OESOPHAGUS. 1. Location;2. Sensations; 3. Organic changes; 4. Special function. Of these, a. The conditions; b. The concomitance.
13. STOMACH. 1. Location; 2. Sensations; 3. Organic changes; 4. Special function modified, as respects, a. Appetite; b. Thirst; and these modifications may be exaltation, diminution or perversion; c. Nausea; d. Vomiting. Respecting these divisions and subdivisions, observe, a. The conditions; b. The concomitance.
14. HYPOCHONDRIA. a. Right, 2. Left. As regards each, study, 1. Location;2. Sensations; 3. Organic changes. As regards each subdivisions, observe, a. The conditions; b. The concomitance.
Dr. Dunham graduated from Columbia University with Honours in 1847. In 1850 he received M.D. degree at the College of Physicians and Surgeons of New York. While in Dublin, he received a dissecting wound that nearly killed him, but with the aid of homoeopathy he cured himself with Lachesis. He visited various homoeopathic hospitals in Europe and then went to Munster where he stayed with Dr. Boenninghausen and studied the methods of that great master. His works include 'Lectures on Materia Medica' and 'Homoeopathy - Science of Therapeutics'.