IN our homoeopathic journals, particularly those of an older day, Hahnemannians frequently commented on the rapidity of action of the simillimum, especially when this was given in a high potency, and numerous cases were cited, in which this rapidity seemed little short of marvellous. In these decadent days, such claims of prompt remedial action and response are rather seldom made and he who has the temerity to make them, is likely to call down upon his head, the time-worn criticism of “Not proven!” and is apt to be told that, “Post hoc, is not necessarily proper hoc.”
Our modern homoeopathic crusaders are especially found of indulging in this kind of criticism, at the same time, casting pitying glance upon the simple souls who, in their devotion to Hahnemannian principles, have been rash enough to make such imprudent statements. It is a strange fact that such critics never seem to question the alleged results of cured or so-called physiological medication, a form of therapy, incidentally, in which these mentors seem rather to excel and one which betrays on their part, a subtle antagonism to anything which is not grossly materia.
This antagonism frequently manifests itself in attempts to standardise the school of homoeopathy, with reference to its employment of potencies, the object being, to compel all of us to use such potencies only, as may lend themselves to the detection of the material elements of the drugs from which they are made. Such efforts are in harmony with much that is going on in this sorely tried and harassed world today, so much so, that mankind is in grave danger or being kneaded, squeezed and compressed into a universal mould, destructive of all independence of spirit, of opinion and of initiative; we dress alike, we look alike, and soon we will all be thinking alike. Mores the pity!.
Happily, there are still a sufficient number of Hahnemannians left, scattered about the world, who are bold, or rash enough, to hold opinions of their own and who obstinately refused to be impressed by the official mouthings of their politically minded leaders, whose sole objects seems to be go bow the knee to orthodox medicine. These men and women, quietly continue along the old-fashioned Hahnemannian paths, secure in the knowledge that, although their ways may not please those in the seats of the mighty, they nevertheless are in conformity with simple truth and experience; for such as they, this knowledge is entirely sufficient.
The pioneers taught, and rightly so, that the more acute the disease, the more rapid was the response to the correctly chosen remedy, a statement verified again and again by the employers of high potencies, especially; such rapid responses to remedy action are frequently dramatic in character, much more so, in fact, than those produced by large doses of analgesic or stimulating drugs.
Thus is recalled the case of analgesic or stimulating drugs. Thus is recalled the case of a child of two years, found in most violent convulsions, the cause of which could not be immediately determined; the symptoms, naturally entirely objective, were plainly those of Cicuta virosa, a few pellets of which were forced as gently as possible, between the tightly clenched teeth; almost immediately there issued a deep sigh, followed, by a rumbling in the intestines and the forcible expulsion of a copious stool; then deep slumber, provoking from the distracted parents the question, whether morphine had been given. There were no further convulsion, nor was anything further given or done; the immaterial 200th had done its work both quickly and well. Could anything more be asked?.
A middle-aged man was writhing in pain, seized by an attack of intestinal colic, which caused him to double up noticeably, in an effort at what little relief this undignified position might give him. Questions merely provoked irritable answers, but a single dose of Colocynthis 200th produced a long moan, followed by complete relaxation and sleep of some duration; there was not further pain, though much astonishment on the part of its victim that relief had come to quickly.
More recently, during and attack of violent rhinitis,with evident involvement of the frontal sinuses, a temperature shot up, together with marked facial congestion, a pulsation felt throughout the chest, heat of the head, but coldness of the hands and feet, a pungently hot, dry skin, internal chilliness, especially provoked by moving in the bed or disturbing the covered; the usual distressing pain over the frontal region completed the picture; the suddenness of onset decided the choice of Belladonna, an aqueous dose of which, in the 200th, was promptly given.
American Homeopathy Doctor.
Rabe graduated from the New York Homeopathic Medical College and trained under Timothy Field Allen and William Tod Helmuth.
Rabe was President of the International Hahnemannian Association, editor in chief of the Homeopathic Recorder, and he wrote Medical Therapeutics for daily reference. Rabe was Dean and Professor of Homeopathic Therapeutics at the New York Homeopathic Medical College.