THE UNIQUE CONTRIBUTION OF HOMOEOPATHY


THE UNIQUE CONTRIBUTION OF HOMOEOPATHY. Most people who know very little about homoeopathy, and even many regular physicians, will admit that homoeopathy is good for children. it certainly is good for babies and children, but it is just as good for them in adult life and even in old age.


TO PEDIATRICS.

The modern infant under orthodox medicine is certainly well taken care of from birth. If he or she has colic, it receives plenty of phenobarbital, enough to keep it sleeping and dopey. If he or she gets a cold or fever from any cause-known or unknown-it receives baby aspirins and penicillin. At six to twelve months of age he or she begins to get innoculations-diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, smallpox and any of the other innoculation that the particular doctor thinks should be given or the state of his finances requires. What a joy and pleasure it is to go to their doctor when they get older-say two years and older.

They look forward to it with great joy and pleasure, for this is about the time they being to get the booster shots, their throats swabbed and a shot for this or that, and they are now old enough to know what real pleasure it will be. They enjoy it so much that, by the time they get to the good doctors they begin to scream and fight and try to get away from their mother. They do not appreciate that white gown anymore which the doctor wears and they remember what he did to them the last time they were in his office.

Such is scientific pediatric care of the 1951 variety and the babies and older children who receive all of these attentions and scientific administrations are, indeed, supposed to be lucky children. In fact, we help pay for it in taxes whether we like it or not.

How about the poor innocent children of parents who do not know any better than to depend on homoeopathy for the care of their children? These ignorant or foolish parents (according to latest scientific teachings) forsake all the great advances of scientific infant care for little, sweet, or tasteless, powders and pills known as homoeopathic medicine. These parents are usually willing to let their offspring live or die by this method, so great is their faith; and the queer part of it is that they seldom die-far less often than under most recent advancement of scientific infant care and treatment.

A baby a year old soon learns to open his mouth for his homoeopathic medicine. It is one of the great events in the lives of older children when they go to the office of the homoeopathic pediatrician or if the physician comes to the house for a home visit. They like him and they know that any medicine he gives them will taste good. These children do their fussing when their brother or sister is taken to the physician and they have to stay at home. It is always great disappointment when they go to the doctors office but someone else in the family is the patient.

Many homoeopathic physicians will give these little ones as box of blank sugar pills so that they will not be too disappointed. After they get to be 3 or 4 years of age they are perfectly willing to open their mouths for the doctor to look at their tongues, throats and etc. They know that he is their friend and will not needlessly hurt them. Such are the pleasures for these little patients of being under homoeopathic care even though some orthodox physicians may not agree that it is up to their ideas of scientific medicine.

Is the homoeopathic care of these little ones really scientific and does it accomplish more than orthodox pediatric care? All well-trained homoeopathic physicians and practically all patients who really understand the principles of homoeopathy know that it certainly does. Homoeopathy is the most scientific system of cure known and it cures the patient rather than palliates or gives temporary relief. It overcomes the inherent tendencies and prevents troubles later on in life. It is certainly not scientific to wait for children to outgrow various ailments, as they should be cured. When they outgrown various ailments, they get something else, usually worse, in its place, such as asthma following eczema.

Children brought up on good homoeopathy certainly have a better start in life and a better chance all through life. They are better physically and mentally and are less likely to develop the various chronic complaints that people are prone to develop or at least will develop later in life. Prescribing for the pregnant women certainly gives healthier babies then all the doping that the average pregnant woman receives from the modern obstetrician. There are far less feeding troubles and digestive upsets during the first year of life under homoeopathic care and they will not need any pheno-barbital to control their colic.

Most people who know very little about homoeopathy, and even many regular physicians, will admit that homoeopathy is good for children. it certainly is good for babies and children, but it is just as good for them in adult life and even in old age.

Children brought up under homoeopathy are spared most of the disagreeable part of medical care and will look back to the treatment they received in early life with pleasure and happiness; without the innoculations, the sprays, the swabs, castor oil, camphorated oil and all that goes with the treatment of the modern child and most of which it does not enjoy.

Homoeopathy gives a unique contribution to pediatrics by sparing these children all the disagreeableness of modern pediatric care and still gives them better health, both during childhood and in the years to come.

A few days ago a young mother phoned me for an appointment for her colicky baby. She said that I had helped her husbands sister when she was a baby. This baby was two months old and had had colic since birth. At present the pediatrician was giving him Cheracol with Codeine which gave a little relief. I recalled the sister-in-law when she was a patient. Her mother brought her to me when she was 13 months old. She had had colic since birth. Her mother said that she had not had a good nights sleep since the baby was born. She said that she brought her to me to please one of my patients.

She knew that I couldnt help her and she was only coming the one time. She knew all there was to be known about diet. I told her that I knew I could help her but I wouldnt promise to do it in one office call. I only saw Shirley the one time, but about 5 weeks later I received a letter from her mother saying: “It is unbelievable that these innocent little pills could do what they have done for Shirley. She has had no colic since she was at your office. Would that we had known you 13 months ago.

Please send some more pills.” I sent her another powder of Lycopodium 10M and some more of the innocent little white pills. I met the mother once in the hospital several years late. She asked me if I was Dr. Smith and said that she had been telling people that I was the best “gas” doctor in the country. Shirley is now 20 years of age and her mother had forgotten all about homoeopathy until her daughter-in-law had tried everything in modern medicine to relieve her baby of colic. Which is the most scientific pediatric care and which is the most unique contribution to pediatrics, the Cheracol and Codeine treatment or homoeopathy? I will leave it to you to answer.

A. Dwight Smith
Dr A. Dwight SMITH (1885-1980), M. D.
Secretary-Trasurer, I.H.A.
Business Manager, The Homoeopathic Recorder.
Author of The Home Prescriber Domestic Guide.
Dr. A. Dwight Smith was born in Monticello, Iowa, in 1885. He graduated with an M.D. degree from Hahnemann Medical College in Chicago in 1912, and in 1921 moved to Glendale, California. After spending a period in the Army Medical Corps he did a residency at Children’s Hospital in Philadelphia specializing in pediatrics. During his many years of practice he was president for one year and secretary-treasurer for thirteen years of the International Hahnemannian Association. He also served as editor of the Homeopathic Recorder, for thirteen years. Dr. Smith also held the position of editor of the Pacific Coast Homeopathic Bulletin for over forty years.