Six, instead of four doses, if the patient’s organism be known to be refractory to Homoeopathic remedies-also every two hours. This is often satisfactory in confirmed intermittent fever; sometimes, however, twelve doses do better. The placebo is, of course, much used with the higher attenuations, or rather, commonly, after them, viz., Saccharum lactis. Much lesion justifies hourly doses for one day, or every three hours if less; gradually lengthening the intervals.
In subacute diseases two doses every second day, six in all, is well; but every night, or every second night, may e preferred if very gradual effects are sought.
In chronic diseases one dose may cure. Two doses are more emphatic, two to twelve hours apart. Or, three doses,one-half to one hour apart. Or, four doses, one every third or fourth night. Sometimes, as in tumors, a single dose, once in thirty days, as of Sepia or Hepar sulph., has done good “alterative” work.
High Potency Aggravation.-Sudden increase of lesion and serious aggravation of symptoms in acute disease demands a placebo. If the drug were the true similimum the case will hold its own there-under for about six hours, and then a rapid improvement, in every respect, may be surely expected. Such a case, however, should be faithfully watched!.
In chronic disease a primary aggravation is a good sign, and usually lasts about three to four days; sometimes, however, one or more weeks; whilst the physician must stay his mind upon the assurance of his skilful selection. No repetition, of course, nor change of remedy is proper if this assurance be well founded. The secondary vital reaction is now his objective point, and at that point the cure becomes apparent as a coming event. (See Hahnemann’s Three Rules.).
A word as to “schools of practice”.
A symbolic view of the entire healing art, with all of its theory and practice, may be had by taking a rod or wand and inscribing upon the two ends and the middle certain words, viz.: On one end, “coercion-surgery;” on the other end, “solution- medicine;” and on the middle “palliation” (including all kinds). “Practice” is addressed to living nature; the surgical idea is, nature intending to go wrong; our aim, therefore, is here wholly to coerce her to the will and subject her to the dictation and manipulation of the doctor. Sometimes-that is, in proper cases- she kindly consents; in all the rest she resents and defeats the effort.
Not only the knife, but drugs also may do the surgical work, as emetics, cathartics, etc,; and the result is, as stated, still variable. This “surgical idea” and its practice are, in one word, “Allopathy,” as now before the world; and this word is hence to be written also upon the surgical end of the wand, with no offensive but with a purely philosophical meaning, of course, as originally used by Hahnemann himself.
Again, the medical idea is, nature is driving to go right, but is diverted by back of proper suggestion, or stimulus, or solicitation; the best sufficing. The aim here is to recognize her proneness to cure; her sole power to cure; her need of suggestion, guidance, stimulus-in one word, of solicitation-at the exactly right point or points in the organism, as shown by the symptoms and under the law of similars. To this solicitation, in all curable cases, she responds and cures the whole disorder- restores the whole patient.
This “medical idea” and its practice are, in one word, “Homoeopathy,” as now known to the world; and this word is therefore to be now added to the inscription upon the medical end of our wand.
Lastly, the middle of the wand includes all that is not absolutely surgical or medical in the healing art, viz., dietetics, sleep, clothing, and the whole field of physical and psychical hygiene. “Poisoning” and its treatment belong properly to the surgical end; after effects of dynamic sort to the medical end. But what further palliation is to be classified? Answer: All the “adjuvants,” so called, of medical practice-non-medicinal applications, non-surgical expedients, etc.; and, lastly, the “similar remedy” itself may be considered. Old-school practice is so largely palliative that it seems fitting to call it the palliative school.
But mark the difference! The palliatives of the latter are most characteristic upon the surgical or coercive side of this center! Those of the Homoeopathic school are neutral, e.g., water, hot or cold, demulcents, etc. (as, powdered gum arabic, in moist ulcer of the nipple); as a rule neither medical or surgical, but if otherwise they are found upon the medical side of this centre! Indeed, Dr. Henry N. Guernsey used to assert that “the best palliative is the Homoeopathic remedy!”.
A connection may also be formed between the two lines of professional thought and experience by assimilating equivalent phases in use by both. Three of these pairs are as follows: Our “primary effect” the other side call “the physiological action,” and this is their main reliance. If this be subject, as in Digitalis, to sudden toxic excess the effect is ascribed to a yielding of resistance, owing to the storing up of the drug in quantity in the system; its victory over vitality then occurring. Now, we see our minute doses of likewise, but in a mild way. According to our respective ideas, they entitle this phenomenon “cumulation;” we say, “drug-aggravation”.
Again in chronic cases, they give minute doses of Iodine, Mercury, Arsenic, etc., acting in a quiet, subtle way, not understood; they call them ‘alteratives.” We say, “antipsoric,” antisyphilitic,” “antisycotic” remedies.
It is not to be inferred that either school of practice confines itself logically to its won end-its own characteristic field, or that truth and consistency demand that it shall do so. The correct principle is simply, to treat medical indications purely by Homoeopathic remedies, with neutral palliatives, if necessary; on the other hand, to treat surgical indications accordingly, and finally, never to confound them. Physiological errors, and the resulting alterable anatomical lesions, always belong to the former class.
The best treatment of “diseases” by the senior branch of our profession is, “Homoeopathy, unawares,” crude and mongrel-like, indeed, but recognizable. In our own school, the converse is too often visible; hence, this paper! All the malicious insinuations uttered against our loyalty will, however, fall to the ground whenever we ourselves shall sharply distinguish between medicine and surgery, as above.
In many painful affections people clamor for a liniment. I then prescribe, with good and innocent effect, the following: Alcohol, two ounces; Sweet oil, one teaspoonful. Mix in a new vial, with a new cork, and apply as needed.
Narcotics and other drug palliatives, germicides, and condiments, tobacco, et id amne genus, as a rule, do not prevent the specific action of well selected Homoeopathic preparations; but they nevertheless may work evil in the system, each in its own way, independently of our drugs. Only, if they are similars to the latter they may have some antidotal effect.
A familiar instance of a Homoeopathic remedy fulfilling its specific work, despite medicinal conditions and the like, and even in the face of the fact of “similarity” itself is seen in the unerring action of Natrum muriaticum or Sodium chloride, when prepared by attenuation or “potentization,” notwithstanding the crude substance is in simultaneous use in most articles of food. This is a stumbling block to some superficial thinkers, but is easily explained, thus; the potentized drug, so far as dynamic activity is concerned, apart from chemical and physical forces is experimentally found to be the superior; hence, the term potentization. The provings of Natrum muriaticum, already mentioned, have revealed this astonishing fact and established it beyond peradventure. Silica, Aurum, and the other insoluble drugs have added their confirmation.
A common Homoeopathic experience is the mutual, or, at least, modifying power of the higher and the lower attenuations of drugs. Often, when a drug has acted in excess of equilibrium with disease forces a change of potency in either the upward or the downward direction renews the good effect or abolished a bad one, i.e., ‘antidotes” it.
Dr. H.N. Guernsey, in view of this, was in the habit of treating chronic tobacco poisoning with Tabacum in high potency.
Pain and Analgesics.-Many “analgesic” drugs are now offered for our favor, but we cannot, with impunity, forget that only the totality of symptoms (pains included) can justify any prescription. Pain is the second point in Boenninghausen’s system of selection, and a rightly selected drug, duly regarding location, kind of pain, and the conditions of aggravation and amelioration represents a specific analgesic power, with which crude non-specific anodynes have no right to compete or to interfere.
Thus it is that the best anodyne is the “similar remedy,” and also the most prompt and permanent. Hot or cold applications, wet or dry, may be of temporary service, likewise satisfying clamors which, sometimes, cannot be put off; and they are not hurtful if properly managed, but they must be non-medicinal, as a rule, or, if medicated, it must be with the similimum, and the same remedy as that given internally.
