This education must contain a knowledge of the true philosophy of sickness, and also of the nature of the curing agents, and of the rules for the use of these for the solution of clinical problems. A medical education in this sense is an education which enables one, before a case of sickness, to put his hand on the specific agent which will cure it.
An interesting sidelight in these days of economic pressure is that many of our gifts are coming from points outside of the United States. Some of these gifts are small, and some are coming from far distant, isolated places where The Recorder has a peculiarly heightened value, in that it is the only link between homoeopathic pioneers and their homoeopathic background.
Homoeopathy could never have been discovered a priori. It is a science, since it is entirely based on experiment. Who was the great chemist who said the only possible way to know how a lump of sugar would behave, when put into a cup of tea, was to try? Or, as Hunter said to Jenner, “Dont think; try.” It is only our experience of homoeopathy that has made us homoeopaths.
Sepia is indicated almost as frequently in men as in women, and yet, like Pulsatilla, we continue to refer to it as a womans remedy. Careful use of the repertories will tend to prevent such unwarranted and unhomoeopathic generalizations. Any remedy in the entire materia medica may be indicated in either sex at any age and in any so-called disease.
As physicians, we are all fellows of the great body of humanitarians. What does it mean to you and to me to be classed as a humanitarian? Is it a spontaneous outburst of a hearts sincere desire, or is it simply a business transaction? Philanthropy and medicine should, and are, joining hands, and the two professions are very justly hearing the call, feeling the kinship, and trying to work together.
The day of the baby or child specialist is over, for after all, babies are people, and if a physician is not skilled in the treatment of grown folks, he is probably no more capable of dealing with sick children. There was Dr. Abraham Jacobi, the greatest pediatrician America has produced, and Dr. Jacobi was a general practitioner throughout his long and illustrious life.
About the most pronounced general feature of Ant. tart. is the state of weakness prevailing throughout its entire proving. Another prominent characteristic is the tendency to produce catarrhal conditions everywhere throughout the economy. While no mucous membrane is exempt to the action of the drug, the bronchial tubes and lungs are more markedly and more frequently affected than are those of other parts.
Many apparently incurable disorders can be traced indubitably to the use of tea, coffee, tobacco and stimulants. But on this point just one word it is seldom wise to tell a man that tobacco is hurting him. He will simply call in another physician. Use antidotes, and patch up the case the best way you can, and let him pay for his indulgence by consulting you from time to time.
Usually wakens with anger. The membrane, usually gray or white, begins on the right side and either stays there or travels over to the left, and is noticed especially on the tonsils, especially the right, is profuse, and extends to the nose. High fever. Swollen tongue and tonsils. Nose obstructed; fanlike motion of alae nasi; obliged to breath through mouth with tongue protruded. Sensitive to cold.
The student approaching homoeopathy should understand that however well grounded he may be in the various branches of medicine, however useful they may have been to him in the past, or should be in the future, that the conception of what is to be accomplished and the uses of medicines therefore is an entirely different proposition. It is based on a different concept of vitality, on dynamic, though manifest, actualities.