THE SYLLABUS


We feel after persual of some Homoeopathic literature that a certain stimulus may be given to the more enthusiastic study of our materia medica, if we publish a series of questions formulated by Farrington some fifty years ago…


(The following questions were formulated by the late Dr.E.A. Farrington and published by him without answers, in pamphlet from, in January, 1876.)

FOREWORD

The time is ripe and has long since been ripe for us as Homoeopaths to take to ourselves somewhat of the enthusiasm of our foregoers in or Materia Medica. A world-renowned surgeon has taken a strong step for the establishment of at least the plausibility of our method of therapy. Harvey Cushing, in the Cameron Prize Lectures, delivered in 1925 at Edinburgh, says:

“And now that the smoke of battle has cleared and we no longer hear the barrage of the shot gun prescriptions of our predecessors, we many even salute the infinitesimal Hahnemann and look upon Osler’s contempt for most drugs as indirectly a great benefaction of practical therapeutics”

Let us avail ourselves of our heritage. That sincere but based antagonist of Homoeopathy, Oliver Wendell Holmes, in a lecture before the Harvard Medical School, once said;

“I firmly believe that if the whole Materia Medica could be sunk to the bottom of the sea, it would be all the better for mankind and all the worse for fishes”.

We admire Holmes, both as a physician and a literateur. We disagree with him in the use of the word “whole” instead of the word “much”. Had the latter word been used we would have been in hearty accord. We feel after persual of some Homoeopathic literature that a certain stimulus may be given to the more enthusiastic study of our materia medica, if we publish a series of questions formulated by Farrington some fifty years ago and answer the questions from certain symptoms confirmed with accord by Hahnemann, Hering, Lippe, and the elder Raue and Korndoerfer.

AUG. KORNDOERFER,

JR.

CLARENCE BARTLETT,

Section 1.

1. What changes are made in the Blood by Lachesis?

High grade hemolysis and anti-coagulant action. Indicative symptomatology : Haemorrhagic diathesis.

Blood dark, non-coagulable; small wounds bleed much.

2. What changes are made in the Blood by Apis?

Indicative symptomatology; Phlebitis, ecchymotic spots, varicose veins, dropsies.

3. What changes are made in Serous Membrane by Bryonia? Inflammations (dry).

Indicative symptomatology : Tearing stitch-like pain in chest in the region of diaphragm and various joints.

4. What changes are made in the Skin by Rhus Tox.?

Inflammation-Vesicular, macular, papular, pustular lesions.

Indicative symptomatology : Intolerable itching, red measly rash all over body. Urticaria, ivy-poisoning, Pemphigus.

5. What changes are made in Capillaries by Hamamelis?

Relaxation of capillary circulation (venous). Venous congestion. Passive haemorrhage.

Indicative symptomatology : Venous haemorrhage from all orifices of the body. Varicose veins.

6. What changes are made in Buccal Mucous Membrane by Arum Tri.?

Inflammation.

Indicative symptomatology : Excessive acrid saliva; buccal cavity raw, sore, bleeding.

7. What changes are made in Mucous Membranes by Lycopodium?

Catarrhal inflammation.

Indicative symptomatology : Over-sensitiveness to hearing and smell. Mouth and tongue dry, without thirst. Bitter taste in morning.

8. What changes are made in Mammary Glands by Conium?

Inflammation and tumefaction.

Indicative symptomatology : Tumors of mammae, with piercing pain worse at night; gland abnormally tender.

9. What changes are made in the Urine by Bryonia?

Renal inflammation (complicating acute infectious disease, Scarlet Fever).

Indicative symptomatology : Urine loaded with albumin. Face bloated below the eyes; burning in the urethra when not urinating.

10. What changes are made in the Glands by Mercury? Inflammation, with or without suppuration.

11. What changes are made in the Skin by Arsenic?

Anaemic appearance, pasty; later, yellow and scaly. Dryness, burning, itching, inflammation and ulcerated; associated with the appearance of petechiae. Indicative symptomatology : Herpetic eruption, itching and burning. Petechiae. Blue spots. Urticaria.

12. What changes are made in the Throat by Belladonna?

Acute inflammation.

Indicative symptomatology : Dryness of the mucous membrane. Feeling as if, throat were too narrow for deglutition. Tearing pain, worse when swallowing liquids. Liquids may be regurgitated through the nose.

13. What changes are made in the Nails by Graphites? Finger-nails black, rough, matrix inflamed, with soreness, throbbing and numbness. FInger-nails thick and deformed. In- growing Toe-nails.

14. What changes are made in the Intestines by Veratrum Album?

COndition simulating high grade acute inflammation. Indicative symptomatology : Stools-watery, greenish, mixed with flakes. Gushing, profuse rice-water discharges. Colic; cutting as from knives. Cholera Morbus, worse at night, cold sweat on the forehead. VOmiting and purging at the same time; after fruits.

15. What changes are made in the Stomach by Kreosote?

What symptomatology seems to indicate it might be called for in ulcers and malignant conditions.

Indicative symptomatology : Corrosive fetid ichorous discharges from mucous membrane; vitality greatly depressed. Rapid emaciation. Vomiting. Tension over stomach; tight clothes intolerable.

16. What changes are made in the Lungs by Phosphorus?

would seem to be associated with congestions and even specific inflammations. Haemorrhagic diathesis. There appear no symptoms confirmed by Hering, Raue and Lippe, as a group, although the following have been confirmed individually by Korndoerfer, Sr., and others.

Indicative symptomatology : worse lying on the left chest, better when lying on the right side. Heaviness of the chest, as if weight were lying upon it. Congestion of the chest; oppression; anxiety; worse from emotion. Pain between scapula.

17. What changes are made in the Nerves by Hypericum?

Injury to parts rich in sensory nerves, especially fingers, toes and matrices. Lacerations, when intolerable pain shows nerves are severely involved.

18. What changes are made in Cellular Tissue by Apocynum?

Oedema and Dropsy.

19. What changes are made in Peristaltic Action by Asafoetida? Increased peristalsis. Flatus passing upwards, none down. Offensive eructations. Constipation.

20. What changes are made in Structure of Tongue by Muriatic Acid?

Inflammation even to ulceration. Indicative symptomatology : Taste acrid, putrid, like rotten eggs, with ptyalism. Tongue sore, bluish; ulcers with black bases and blisters. Tongue dwindles. looks shrunken.

21. What changes are made in Heart Muscle by Coffea?

No organic changes, but functional. Indicative symptomatology : Palpitation Violent, irregular with trembling of the limbs.

22. What changes are made in Spine by Strychnine?

Strychnia has a stimulating effect on the central nervous system, but especially upon the motor tracts of the spinal cord. In over- doses it increases the nervous reflexes, and causes nervous irritability and sleeplessness. In toxic dose in causes tetanic spasms and opisthotonos.

23. What changes are made in Heart by Digitalis?

Inhibition of heart action through irritation of pneumogastric nerve. Indicative symptomatology : Pulse small, irregular, slow. Feels that heart would stop beating if he moves.

24. What changes are made in Mucous Secretion by Pulsatilla?

Catarrhal inflammation. Indicative symptomatology : Discharge bland, white, yellowish-green, thick.

25. What changes are made in the Teeth by Fluoric Acid? Rapid Caries. Fistula Dentalis. Indicative symptomatology : Teeth exquisitely sensitive to touch.

26. What changes are made in the Bones by Silicea?

Inflammation, swelling, suppuration and Necrosis.

27. What changes are made in Cartilages by Silicea?

Inflammation, especially of the knees. Indicative symptomatology : Fibrous parts of joints, especially of the knees, inflamed.

28. What changes are made in the Blood by Arsenic? Anaemia. Indicative symptomatology : The skin, nervous symptoms and general condition of the patient all suggest this. Skin pale, pasty-like. Anaemia.

29. What changes are made in functions of Mucous Membrane by Allium Cepa?

Acute catarrhal inflammation with profuse secretion from eyes and upper respiratory tract. Indicative symptomatology : Profuse bland lachrymation. Constant sneezing, with profuse acrid coryza. Fluid coryza, headache, lachrymation, cough, thirst, loss of appetite, fever, worse in the evening. Profuse acrid watery discharge from nose with bland lachrymation.

30. What changes are made in functions of Spine by Cocculus?

Paralytic weakness of motor nerves of the spine (and sensory). Indicative symptomatology : Paresthesia of the hands and arms. Lower limbs nearly paralyzed. Paralysis of the limbs. Symptoms are more suggestive of functional, rather than organic changes.

31. What changes are made in Nutrition by Iodine?

Improper assimilation of food. Indicative symptomatology : Emaciation with good appetite. Cachectic condition, profound debility and great emaciation. Eats freely, but loses weight all the time.

32. What changes are made in Mucous Secretions by Natrum Muriaticum?

Hyper-secretion; secretions are altered in quantity; character remains mostly moral; pus may be found. Indicative symptomatology : Catarrh, when secretion is clear. Loss of smell. Nose sore; interior of the alae nasi swollen.

E. A. Farrington
E. A. Farrington (1847-1885) was born in Williamsburg, NY, on January 1, 1847. He began his study of medicine under the preceptorship of his brother, Harvey W. Farrington, MD. In 1866 he graduated from the Homoeopathic Medical College of Pennsylvania. In 1867 he entered the Hahnemann Medical College, graduating in 1868. He entered practice immediately after his graduation, establishing himself on Mount Vernon Street. Books by Ernest Farrington: Clinical Materia Medica, Comparative Materia Medica, Lesser Writings With Therapeutic Hints.