Another point I wanted to speak about is the one Dr. Stevens brought up, about the patient who comes back two or three years afterwards and whats another dose of the same remedy. I find the same remedy that worked two or three years before, or six months before, will carry that case usually very nicely when they come back, in the same potency. I always select that and always tell them, “That remedy did good work for you six months or two years ago, and it is entitled to repetition.” I dont think many times I have to change that.
DR. GRIMMER: I hope you will pardon my speaking twice, but there is a thought that I think might help. Dr. Dixon spoke of handing the patient plenty of the philosophic side of our work. That is good, but you get food patients sometimes that know nothing at all about homoeopathy. They come to us because some other grateful patient has sent them, knowing just that it is the doctor that cured them, without inquiring about homoeopathy or anything. It is a little heard to put those patients on philosophy along. I always give them plenty of placebo, as well as the philosophy. I think it helps to back it up.
DR. HAYES: Mr. Chairman, when a patient has been through a session with Dr. Dixon, I imagine his morale is much better forever after.
The question of potency, of course, is an individual problem, but one should not forget a simple outlook from which we can estimate it at least, and that is, How much work in medicine do you have to do be or can you do with a certain patient? If a great dela has to be done it is better in a chronic case to begin with low potency, and the 30th is a wonderful potency, if there is a great deal of chronicity in the individual.
With a young person with a great deal of vitality, you can often give high potency to the CM. even at once, and get permanent results. Where the more chronic and long standing conditions, especially where pathology has taken place which is more or less obscure, are apparent, then low potency, ranging up from that, is the best way to use it.
DR. BOND: That brings up a case I had just before coming to Cleveland. I have given a woman Lycopodium 10M. about three months ago, with very marked relief. She kept me after some medicine for a cough that had just recently occurred. Not having her case history with me, and being a little bit busy, I told her I would have to go home and bring her back some medicine.
The next time I came to see another member of the family, I had forgotten her medicine. I made the excuse again and said this time I would have to send it to her. It happened that the very next day I was in town and thought I would go around and see her anyhow. By the time I got there to give her medicine, she was well of her cough, so I guess my delay was beneficial in the end.
The chronic remedy, Lycopodium, had carried her through cough as well, without having to give her any acute remedy.
I wonder how many of you have noticed people developing acute colds after the chronic remedy has been given. It has been an observation on my apart quite often. I would like to hear from some other member on that part of it, too.
DR. STEVENS: In reply to Dr. Bonds question, about the development of what seems an acute cold, I think it is very common where a deep homoeopathic remedy is given to have what seems to be an acute coryza develop, and if you can simply keep the patient quite and content for a few days it usually turns out very well. Sometimes in case of a cough where I want the patient to keep quiet on the remedy, I advise, especially at night, a wet pack; that is, a very thin, wet linen covered by a dry flannel, so the evaporation relieves the congestion in the larynx, if it is that.
Sometimes I even allow glycerin lozenges, which are absolutely unmedicated. Pine Brothers glycerin lozenges with honey flavor I think are perfectly safe. They have no medical value, but they are very soothing to a dry throat and help to bridge over the acute stage until the remedy has time to act.
In reference to Dr. Hubbards question, I have tried very hard never to interfere with the action of a high potency. I either give plenty of placebo or, if it seems absolutely necessary, as it does in the cases of which I spoke, I give a very low potency which will act on a different plane and not cut into the action of the high potency.
