Now let us consider the sulphonamides in relation to the homoeopathic principles. We might consider, in the light of our thesis, any or all of the synthetic drugs, but so far as we know there has been no effort to exhibit the potential powers of the substances through the well-known and thoroughly tried method of Hahnemann-that of proving the remedy on the healthy human being. Such an attempt has been made in the case of sulphanilamide, notably by Dr. Allan ***D. Sutherland; the results of this fragmentary proving were published in the *Homoeopathic Recorder for September 1940.
Dr. Sutherland’s conclusions were that this substance, potentized, has great possibilities as a homoeopathic remedy when we have more clearly demonstrated its field of usefulness by the sure guide of the symptomatic outlines that our principles demand; these are the only guides which provide safety in cure rather than uncertain palliation of a condition that the patient later has to overcome through his natural vitality, or else succumb to in some other and more deeply constitutional form at a later date.
The homoeopathic adage that we try to cure the patient rather than the disease might well be supplemented by the statement that we do not presume to snatch the patient from an acute illness from which, by the grace of his dynamic energies, he might well recover (acute illnesses being always self-limiting) to foist upon him a constitutional condition plus the imposed drug illness, from which he may never recover.
The results of the homoeopathic remedies in such infections as pneumonia, grippe, streptococcus, staphylococcus and other generalized or local infections have been more remarkable than in any other system of medication. This is a simple way of saying that the natural laws, upon which homoeopathy is founded and upon which our principles are based, work just as surely in serious, swift-paced onslaughts of disease as in any other condition. It is true that in some of these conditions the system is more deeply involved and death more imminent than in many conditions we are called upon to treat. It is also true that many of these serious infections were cured before the laboratories were at hand to furnish accurate diagnosis, and that very often the most prominent result of a laboratory diagnosis is to weaken the courage of the physician, the patient, and the patient’s family.
The homoeopathic physician recognizes another important principle in these serious states; the more acute the case, the more the infection strikes at the life of the patient, the more clearly indicative are the symptoms. Obscuration of symptoms (unless produced by crude drugging) is very rare in case of acute infection. The homoeopathic remedy works regardless of the name of the disease, and works, moreover, toward a true and complete cure, without sequelae or constitutional involvement.
The value of vitamins in the diet has been a burning subject among research chemists and therapeutists alike. The source of vitamins in natural foods, especially raw fruits, has been recognized for some time; and of course sources of synthetic vitamins have been discovered and their use urged through the drug houses. One simple but obvious fact seems always to be overlooked by the manufacturing chemists-that while chemically the synthetic product may vary little from the natural, there is a difference which is recognizable in results, sometimes far removed in time from the experimental stage. It is hardly likely that a patient would suffer from too many vitamins through a normal diet; the vitamin is normally balanced with the other food values.
With the increased regard for vitamins as a necessity of life, we are now under a barrage of foodstuffs where added synthetic vitamins are an ineradicable part of the diet. Since it has been found that these substances are necessary to life and development, argue the laboratory chemists, therefore as a nation we must take advantage of this source of increased energy and vigour; and since the synthetic vitamins have the same chemical construction and are easily available at a comparatively low cost, we must use these vitamins to the fullest extent, therefore they are introduced into many basic foods such as flour etc. Thus we have a business venture which is very profitable to the producers of the vitamins, and it becomes almost impossible for an individual to escape a diet heavily laden with synthetic vitamins.
Now, however, the careful research men who investigate carefully all sides of the question and take time to correlate facts, are beginning to voice the conclusion that after long and critical study they find there is as great danger from too many vitamins as from too few, and perhaps more. This is a statement in accord with homoeopathic principles, and with the laws of nature governing balance in all things : ” The amount necessary to effect any change in nature is the least possible “; “Action and reaction are equal and opposite.”
The manufacturing chemist states in his literature that it has been determined that the normal vitamin requirement is from 3 to 25 milligrams per day. We may expect that overdosing with vitamins, which have a constructive and maintenance value, would have two definite reactions: first, a destructive action proportionate to its normal constructive action; and second, the permanent disability of the system to react to normal vitamin intake. This latter is comparable to the effect of insulin administration in the diabetic patient; he soon loses his ability to produce the necessary secretion in his own economy. This is another illustration of the loss of a function by the need being supplied through no effort of the patient, and evolution bears witness to the fact that what a creature does not use he must lose. Thus the excess supply of vitamins robs the body of its normal reception of the natural vitamins.
One can hardly conceive of the effect of a high vitamin in take on the younger generation in the light of this conclusion. And we can hardly fail to consider the results of the unrestricted administration of these elements in future generations : will they be able to assimilate them from natural sources, or will there be, after a time, some radical changes in the human economy to compensate?
In particular, we may inquire regarding the reactions in the special functions : will these functions be permanently affected? For instance, it has been demonstrated that vitamins ***C and ***D help to overcome rickets, and that a certain amount of these are necessary for the proper growth and development of the bony structure. It has also been demonstrated that excessive does will cause rickets. Since vitamin E is supposed to stimulate the generative function? We might continue this analogy through the list of vitamins so far isolated and studied.
It is well for us, as homoeopathic physicians, not to overlook the potentialities of the synthetics in the field of therapeutics; but we must examine them carefully in the light of our well-proven homoeopathic principles, remembering also that the findings of the clinic do not necessarily bear the same relationship to the human patients as to the laboratory animal, and that the secondary results may vary widely from-nay, be directly opposite to-the primary results which appear to be so brilliant and satisfactory.
We must remember that our homoeopathic laws, it they are natural laws, as we have every reason to believe, are still worthy of our consideration and that no sure guidance has yet been found that is not in accordance with those those laws; and that the rest of time must be applied in every instance of a new discovery that has not been tried according to know law. It is foolish to reject the new just because it is new, but it is even more foolish to accept every new finding blindly without fully testing its validity when we have at hand all the means for sound procedure, means which the dominant school so far has failed to accept.
