3. The aggravation, called the negative phase, is very similar to the homoeopathic aggravation, and like it, is frequently avoided by a higher potency.
4. The infrequent repetition of the dose is stated by careful observers to be an important factor. Too frequent repetition is injurious or at least undesirable and not productive of the best results.
The clinical Test. Have the vaccine and serum treatments been of greater services than the application of careful homoeopathic prescribing? We have yet, to prove that such is true. For instance, take typhoid fever, Dr. Watters, of Boston, collected 328 cases, and after excluding all the unfavourable ones showed a mortality of 4.6 per cent., and relapses amounting to 6 per cent. Homoeopathic prescribing can do far better than this, as has been reported on several occasions. In vaccine therapy they say: “the earlier the case is seen the more favorable the results.” This assinine assertion certainly will not bolster up any system of medicine. It is not likely that there is a treatment for any condition that is better when that condition has reached a moribund phase. Vaccine therapy is a much easier method than the pure homoeopathic method. Contrary to Dr.Nowell’s assertion it may be applied by anyone, while true homoeopathic prescribing requires a master of the art. It is the opinion of the good prescribers of the homoeopathic school, and these opinions have been expressed in society discussions, that quite as good results may be obtained from our application of drugs, or, at least, these substances under the names of nosodes homoeopathically prepared and orally administered. It is furthermore to be remarked that for the most part those using vaccines are those who have has but a limited experience in clinical work with homoeopathic remedies.
The study of vaccine therapy is nevertheless most desirable, for a knowledge of it will lead to a better understanding of the underlying principle of homoeopathy.
Indication for Vaccine Treatment. When we can give as clear indications for the use of vaccine in, for example, boils as we have for our Belladonna, Arnica, etc., a distant advance will have been made. It is not likely the same vaccines will suit every case. The Autogenous Nosode is perhaps more in the line of homoeopathic prescribing. We know in the case or remedies that differentiation is necessary, and so it is with vaccines. Only the pharmaceutical detail men and the commercially inclined physician will advocate their indiscriminate use.
We cannot in a work on therapeutics give, at present, and precise indication for the application of vaccine therapy, and, alas, even indication for some of the nosodes are indefinite and unsatisfactory, yet when prescribed as in the case of the vaccine under homoeopathic indications excellent results follow. The system, however, as a whole, lacks sufficient verification to place it among proved medical facts.
Professor of Materia Medica in the University of Michigan Homeopathic Medical College. Member of American Institute of Homeopathy. In addition to his editoral work he authored or collaborated on: Boericke and Dewey's Twelve Tissue Remedies, Essentials of Homeopathic Materia Medica, Essentials of Homeopathic Therapeutics and Practical Homeopathic Therapeutics.