CENSORIOUS (CRITICAL): A DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS

CENSORIOUS (CRITICAL):

A DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS★

G. William Jones, M.D.

53 remedies are posted under the rubric "critical" or "CENSORIOUS" in Kent's Repertory. Of these, 13 are of particular importance. In considering this differential diagnosis I have added Graphics. Rhus, the remedies which will be discussed here include Arnica, Arsenicum, Baryta Carbonica, Causticum, Graphites, Ipecac, Lachesis, Lycopodium, Mezereum, Nux Vomica, Pratima, Sepia, Sulphur and Veratrum Album.

Inclusion of a remedy under a rubric implies on outstanding degree of severity of the symptom, qualitatively or quantitatively. Most of us can be overly critical of others at times, but patients requiring these remedies manifest the quality of being critical to an unusual degree.

The rubric is listed in the repertory as censorious. Critical is placed as a qualification in parentheses. The dictionary indicated a slight difference between the two words. The word "criticize" seems to have a broader connotation. It may mean merely to evaluate without necessarily finding fault, but usually it does imply a detailed expression of disapproval. "Censure" on the other hand refers to an open and strong expression of disapproval. It may also imply a reprimand or formal criticism of a person or persons by someone in authority. I was interested in finding an old 1914 dictionary and in reviewing these words in it, since after all the repertory was written in the early 1900's and not in 1981*. The meanings of words have frequently changed to some degree since the repertory was originally written. In the older dictionary, the word "critical" is defined as "inclined to criticize,, especially captious, censorious." To criticize is "to judge as a critic especially to find fault.". Captious means "Apt to catch at faults, caviling, carping". In this old dictionary the word "censorious" is defined as "given to censure, apt to condemn" and "the act of finding fault with or condemning as wrong; hostile criticism, blame, condemnation."

Arsenicum and Sulphur are the two remedies in bold print in the repertory– this is interesting as Kent mentions that these two remedies are opposites in many respects.

Let us consider the characteristics of the 14 remedies as they pertain to the Rubric – critical or censorious, in alphabetical order.

ARNICA

Kent has the dental symptoms "I am not sick, I did not send for you". The ARNICA patient does not want to be approached, does not want to be talked to. Full of anguish, may have sudden fear of death at night. "When in a state of health he was friendly, kind-hearted, glad to shake hands, but now he is irritated at seeing me and insists there is nothing the matter with him."

ARSENICUM

ARSENICUM, the insecure perfectionist, is full of these traits. Arsenicum is very forthright, judgemental. Tastes are very definite with a strong impression of intolerance, of incompetence, weakness, poor performance. Demanding and critical in their nature. Clarke mentions indecision and changeable humor– which demands this at one time, that at another and rejects everything after having obtained it. A tendency toward ill-humour, impatience, vexation, inclination to be angry, repugnance to conversation, inclination to criticize and great susceptibility.

And the provings come out with this quality with frequency. "Ill humour alternating with gentle kindliness", "vexed about trifles".

"He is vexed at every trifle and cannot stop talking about the faults of others."

"Very peevish and dissatisfied with everything, she finds fault with everything. Everything seems to her too strong and loud, all talk, every noise, all light."

"Very peevish and sensitive; the least thing insults him and angers him."

"Very peevish and passionate, capricious, she takes every word I'll and is cross when she has to answer."

"Inclined to sarcastic mocking."

BARYTA CARBONICA

Mentally Baryta Carbonica manifests an arrested mental development. Children grow up without the ability to perceive and fail to develop. All sorts of complaint and grievances that may happen are hatched up. "The more he thinks about the complaint the worse it gets". From this background, characteristics develop which include mistrust, want of self confidence, and to quote Clarke "Sudden fits of passion from struggling causes".

CAUSTICUM

On the physical level, Causticum may manifests in a progressive, slow decrease of muscular power– paralysis. Mentally there may be a gradual increasing hysteria. Prolonged anxiety. Unhappy– looks on the dark side– suspicious and distrustful. Timid, nervous and anxious. And from the provings, "Very much vexed,peevish, irritable, censorious". Clarke says "Inclined to fits of anger with scolding".

GRAPHITES

The well known description of this remedy is "Graphites is fat, chilly and costume". This is one of the remedies which can have constantly changing moods. Kent mentions that there is a slowness of thought– worse in the morning, but often excited, hurried and exhilarated in the evening– and extremely fretful and impatient, irritable about trifles and very critical.


IPECAC

The most important feature of Ipecac is its nausea. However, mentally, , Clarke mentions moroseness with contempt for everything. And in the provings are: "Sulky humor that disposes everything and he desires that others should not esteem or care anything." – and – "Ailments from vexation and reserved displeasure."

LACHESIS

Lachesis has an intolerance to restrictions, constriction or pressure. There is overstimulation attempting to find an outlet for relief. He is impatient at tedious and dry things. It is not surprising that the tendency to be critical would be present in this remedy.

LYCOPODIUM

Here we have another of the great polycrests. A most complex remedy, indeed. A very cool character with habits of superiority and haughtiness. In the provings we find: "Sensitive, irritable, peevish, and cross on waking. Easily excited to anger. Cannot bear opposition and is speedily beside himself." Ailments from fright, anger, mortification or vexation with reserved displeasure."

NUX VOMICA

Here is our type A personality – full of the ability to be critical. Kent mentions "they all show over-sensitiveness; irritable, touchy, sensitive to conditions. They are never contented, never satisfied, disturbed by their surroundings , and they become so irritable they want to tear things, to scold. Impulses are strongly marked at times." And among the provings: "takes everything amiss, readily breaks out into scolding and abuse".

"It seems as if he would like to strike anyone in the face who speaks a word to him, so irritable and uncontrollable in his disposition."

"Every harmless word offends. Peevish malevolent, first, excited temperament. Ill humor , vexation, and anger, breaking out in acts of violence".

"Much disposed to scolding crossness".

"Much given to reproach other for their faults".

PLATINA

Platina with its great feeling of pride, arrogance and haughtiness and with its hysterical aspects would be expected to manifest this trait. Clarke mentions,"great irritability with prolonged ill humour – after a fit of passion and mania; with great pride, with fault finding, with unchaste talk; trembling and clonic spasms, caused by fright or from anger."

SEPIA

Sepia tends to be repressed in their affections and sexuality. Accompanying this can be a very irritable side. Kent mentions that the Sepia woman permits no opposition to her opinions. "The best impressions of her are lost if controversy arises". "Passionate, irritable, the greatest irritability from slight causes", "Very easily offended", "Vexed and disposed to scold", "She vents her spite on those she loves best."

SULPHUR

Sulphur, certainly, is a very grand remedy. It is interesting that Kent in his discussion of Sulphur does not directly mention the words critical or censorious. However, as we know, Sulphur can be very impatient with others. He wants to get along, he can be argumentative – especially on the intellectual level. Clarke mentions "ill humour, moroseness, quarrelsome this position and a disposition to criticize."

VERATRUM ALBUM

This is a remedy characterized by coldness of discharges, coldness of body and prostration on the mental level, there is violence and destructiveness and hysteria. Wants to destroy and tear something. Always wants to be busy. Clarke mentions "quarrelsome and delirious, striking a kidney with a hand and foot changed to a happy and comical delirious state."


In summary, I have reviewed some of the characteristics of the important remedies relating to the Rubric "Censorious or Critical". This has been a helpful exercise to me and I would recommend it to others as one method of study of the materia medica and of the relationship of remedies to each other.


From:– Similia Similibus Curentur, Journal of the American Institute of Homeopathy, June, 1981

★This article was presented to the California State Homeopathic Medical Society, March 7, 1981, El Cortez Hotel, San Francisco, CA.

MOTION AND REST Part 1

Article originally published in "The American Homoeopathic Review, Vol IV, New York, January, 1863. No. 7 & 8"

MOTION AND REST*

BY DR. C. VON BOENNINGHAUSEN, MUNSTER.

* Allg. Horn. Zeitung, 65, 18.

Part 1

(For Part 2 Click here)

If we attentively read and study the long series of symptoms of the thoroughly proved remedies, we find therein, without giving them any forced significance, the material for a great number of the most various diseases. Almost all remedies exhibit in common this abundance of symptoms and it is repeated alike in the oldest and the newest provings. Only now and then does one come across one or another symptom, which occurs under only one or only a few remedies, but this is rarely sufficient of itself alone to completely characterize a morbid affection, still less a (generic) disease.

From these facts, of which every one may convince himself with his own eyes, it is easily comprehensible that besides the strictly morbid phenomena and sensations, still other items than the Physiological and Pathological indications must be taken into account, if we would be in a condition to make a correct choice of a remedy in any concrete case.

But these items are to be found, directly and especially, in the individual peculiarities as well of the disease as of the remedies; and the important problem is, to investigate and comprehend both with the utmost possible precision and to bring them into relation with each other so as to satisfy with the necessary perfectness the fundamental principle “Similia Similibus.”

With what comprehensiveness the founder of the homoeopathic school and his early immediate pupils, recognized and met this necessity, appears most clearly from their writing. But many younger Homoeopathists appear not to have thoroughly understood the importance and necessity of this part of Therapeutics, but instead thereof, seem to lay a preponderating weight upon general Physiology and Pathology which in recent times have made such wonderful growth, sciences which teach indeed to recognize the disease with certainty but not to cure it. It needs only to compare the more recent records of clinical cases, even those which are published as model cases, with the earlier ones, to show that my assertions are just.

It would require too much space were I to attempt to delineate, even with the greatest possible brevity, all the peculiarities of the Homoeopathic Therapeutics, in which it differs from the Allopathic and to which strict regard must be paid in its practical application. But it may not be superfluous to touch, by way of illustration upon one point, of which for the most part no notice is taken by the Allopaths, for the reason that they do not understand how to make it available, but which is by us brought into constant use, inasmuch as it manifests a great influence upon internal and external symptoms, and hence demands the greatest consideration as a necessary constituent of the Simile. I mean the influence of Motion and Rest upon the aggravation of symptoms.

The occurrence or aggravation of (internal as well as external) symptoms, by motion of the whole body, or only of the part affected, in contradistinction to repose, is without doubt known in a general way to every Homoeopathist. No one would, for example, blindly give Bryonia in a so-called Nervous fever if the patient kept constantly tossing about and could find no rest on account of pains in the limbs which were relieved only by motion; neither would he give Rhus, in a disease going by the same pathological name if every motion, however trivial, aggravated to an intolerable degree the pains in the limbs and if the pains were only relieved by absolute repose.

It would, however, be a great mistake to suppose that with these general designations, Motion and Rest, the subject is exhausted. In this very particular it is most evident, as in like manner with regard to many other influencing circumstances, with what sharpness and precision the examination of the patient must be made, if we would select the remedy with as much certainty as that with which we desire to cure the disease. The following pages are devoted to a closer consideration of Motion and Rest such as has been alluded to. They are the fruit of careful experiment and observation for many years, and as such I venture to commend them to my younger colleagues.

When a patient, in reply to a question put to him, simply replies, "Motion aggravates;" this may be understood in a threefold sense. The aggravation, namely, may take place, first, on beginning to move, second, during continued motion and third immediately after motion. These are clearly important distinctions which are want to be predicated of motion and to be specified as legitimate sequences of it, but each of which has special relation to its own peculiar group of remedies.

When, for example, the aggravation takes place only at the beginning of motion, but diminishes gradually as the motion is continued, then Caps., Carbo veg., Caust., Con., Euphorb., Ferrum, Fluor. acid, Lyc, Puls., Rhus tox., Sabad., Samb., and Silicea are most frequently indicated. When, on the other hand, the aggravation occurs during motion and is increased by continuance of the motion, our first choice will fall upon Bell., Bry., Cocc, Colch., Ledum., Nux vom., etc. When however the aggravation occurs immediately after motion, that is, in the period of repose which immediately follows motion, still other remedies are to be preferred, such as Agairicus, Anac., Arsen., Cannabis, Hyoscyam, Kali carb., Puls., Rhus tox., Ruta, Sepia, Spong., Stann., Stram.,, Valer. and Zinc.

Important as it is to notice the above distinctions yet in many cases even this is not sufficient. There exist in reference to motion and rest still other points which require equally to be observed inasmuch as they correspond, like the foregoing to the individual genius of the different remedies.

First, it makes an important difference whether the motion is violent, involving much bodily exertion, in which case, while observing the distinctions previously defined, preference is to be given to Acon., Arn, Ars., Bry., Calc., Cann., Lyc, Nux vom., Rhus, Ruta, Sil. and Sulph.

If, further, there has been, in conjunction with the motion, considerable overheating, the choice will fall especially among Acon., Ant.crud., Bell., Bry., Camphora, Carbo veg., Dig., Kali, Opium, Phos., Sep., Sil., Thuja and Zinc. What might be said of the same character respecting taking cold (simultaneously with and immediately after motion) either in the entire body or in isolated parts, whether from getting wet through, or from some other causes—circumstances which might sometimes require the selection of still other remedies —this we must omit for lack of space.

It is necessary however to state, briefly, that the hind and manner of the motion likewise furnish their peculiar indications. Thus for aggravation from assuming the erect position, we have Acon., Bell., Bry., Ign., Nux vom., Opium, Rhus., Staph. and Sulph., while to aggravation from stooping, the following more frequently correspond: Alum., Ammon. carb., Arn., Calc., Lach., Sang., Sep., Spig., Thuja and Val.; although the desired favorable result may be wrought by still other remedies especially by such as produce alternate effects, when they correspond homoeopathically in respect of other symptoms.

The same is true of aggravation on rising from a sitting posture which requires especially Aconite, Apis, Caps., Conium., Fluor. acid, Lyc, Phos., Puls., Rhus tox., Spig.; and rising from the recumbent posture (from the bed) which calls for Apis, Bry., Carbo veg., Conium, Lach., Sulph. acid.

As a matter of course, under these heads, the beginning of motion is involved in assuming the upright posture; and in rising (from the bed) is involved also the aggravation of symptoms after sleep and thus still other remedies may come under consideration.

Furthermore it is to be observed whether the aggravation of symptoms takes place during or after the rising from a sitting or a recumbent posture, because in these cases, as has been before remarked of motion in general, different remedies compete for a preference.

The kind of motions must be carefully noticed; aggravation from extending the part affected is a verified indication for Alum., Calc, Coloc, Rhus tox., Sep., Staph., Sulph. and Thuja. And aggravation from flexing or turning it, for Ammon. mur., Cicuta vir., Ign., Kali, Lyc, Nux vom., Puls., Spig. and Spongia. The direction in which the motion of flexion is executed makes an important difference. If outward, Caps. and Caust. are preferable; if inward, Ignatia and Staphysagria; if backward, Calc., Kali, Puls., Sepia, and Sulph.; if sidewise, Bell., Natr. mur.; if forwards, Coffea and Thuja; or finally, if the part be retained in the flexed position, Hyos., Spong. and Valer. Under the head of Extension, belong also stretching and twisting for which likewise certain remedies are especially indicated, viz.: Amm. carb., Ran. bulb. and Rhus tox., as well as drawing up a limb, which frequently indicates Ant. tart., Rhus tox. and Secale cor.

Under this general head come also aggravations from lifting the limb affected, for which Arn., Baryta, Bell., Fer., Kali, Ledum, Rhus tox. and Sil. are indicated; and in particular from straining, for which Am., Bor., Bry., Calc, Cocc, Graph., Ign., Lyc, Natr. carb., Nux vom., Phos. acid, Rhus tox., Sep., Sil. and Sulph. stand in the first rank as remedies.

If walking in general is to be included under the head of motion, then the distinctions above specified of motion will apply to walking and aggravations occurring on beginning to walk, by continued walking and on ceasing to walk will have a corresponding therapeutic value. But there are certain additional varieties which furnish special indications by reason of their connection with certain accessory circumstances. For example, walking in the open air gives rise to aggravation of a great number of symptoms and hence serves as indication for a large number of remedies, but especially for the following: Anac, Bell., Carbo veg., Cocc, Colch., Con., Fluor acid, Hepar, Nux vom., Phos. acid, Selen., Spig. and Sulph.

But even this is far from exhausting our therapeutic store. The additional question arises, whether this aggravation on walking in the open air occurs in a damp atmosphere or in
rainy weather, in which case Amm. carb., Calc., Colch., Dulc., Fluor, acid, Lach., Lyc, Nux mosch., Rhus t., Sulph., or Verat., are usually indicated; or whether it take place in
dry weather, in which event Asar., Bell., Bry., Caust., Hep., Nux vom. and Puls, are especially indicated. Moreover special indications are furnished—by aggravation from exposure to the hot sun—for Ant. crud., Bell., Bry., Lach., Natr. carb., Puls., Selen. and Valer; from exposure to the air just before a thunderstorm, for Agar., Natr. carb., Phos., Rhod., and Sil.; from exposure to snowy air, for Calc., Con., Lyc., Phos., Phos. acid, Puls., Rhus tox., Sep., Sil., Sulph.; and from exposure to fog, for Bry., Cham., China, Mang., Nux mosch., Rhod., Rhus tox., Sep., Sulph. and Verat. Under this head belongs also walking in the wind; and Ars., Asar., Bell., Calc., Cham., China, Euphras., Graph., Lach., Lyc., Nux vom., Phos., Puls., Rhus tox., Spig. and Thuja are especially indicated where aggravation occurs from walking in a strong wind.

Besides the preceding conditions which exert an influence in a therapeutic point of view upon the motion of walking, there are several others which sometimes accompany isolated symptoms and furnish indications that are all the more useful because in such cases leading concomitants are often altogether lacking. Such are, for example, under vertigo, the aggravation by walking over a narrow bridge, which indicates Baryt., Ferr. and Sulph.; or upon or over water, which indicates Ang., Ferr. and Sulph. The same is true of pains in the soles of the feet, aggravated by walking upon a hard  floor or upon a cement-walk, a condition which calls for Ant. crud., Ars., Con. and Hepar.

But motion upwards or downwards requires also very particular consideration. For motion upwards (ascending, going upstairs) among many other remedies, Arn., Ars., Bry., Cup., Nux vom., Senega, Sep., Spig., and Spong. are most prominent, while for motion downwards (descending, going downstairs) Arg., Con., Ferr., Lyc, Rhod., Ruta, Sabina and Verat. have in many cases proved to be indicated.

Continue in Part 2

MOTION AND REST Part 2

Article originally published in "The American Homoeopathic Review, Vol IV, New York, January, 1863. No. 7 & 8"

MOTION AND REST*

BY DR. C. VON BOENNINGHAUSEN, MUNSTER.

* Allg. Horn. Zeitung, 65, 18.

Part 2
(For Part 1 Click Here)

Driving and riding must be included among the varieties of motion. Various symptoms are induced or aggravated by driving in a wagon, which generally find their remedy among Ars., Bry., Cocc, Colch., Hepar., Hyos., Ignat., Lach., Nux mosch., Op., Petr., Rhus tox., Selen., Sep., Sil and Sulph. On the other hand the remedies for sea-sickness, from motion in a ship, are pretty much confined to Ars., Cocc, Colch., Ferr., Hyos., Opium, Petr., Sil and Tabac, although the motion of rocking which seems to nearly related to the above, corresponds only to Borax and Carbo veg. It may here be mentioned as something remarkable that some symptoms are relieved by driving in a wagon, and in such cases Ars., Graph., Nit. acid or Phos., are most likely to be indicated.

As regards riding (on horseback) the totality of the symptoms in those persons with whom this exercise does not agree, will generally be found to be of such a character that Graph., Nat. carb., Sep., Spig. or Sulph. acid, are among the remedies best indicated. In this connection, as above, we note a singular circumstance, viz.: that cases of exceedingly painful, inflamed and protruding haemorrhoids sometimes present themselves, in which, contrary to all analogy and to all reasonable expectation, riding (on horseback) affords the greatest relief. In such cases as these a single very small dose of a high potency of Kali carb. is generally sufficient to cure the disease rapidly and permanently.

Just as change of position may, through the aggravation of symptoms, furnish a useful indication for several remedies, most strikingly, for Caps., Carbo veg., Con., Euphorb., Lach., Lyc, Phos., Puls. and Samb., so it may also happen that it alleviates the symptoms. This affords a very characteristic indication for Cham., Ign., Phos. acid, Valer. or Zinc.

Turning over in bed is also a motion which produces more or less of aggravation under several remedies, and may therefore serve as an indication. It is most marked under Acon., Ars., Borax, Bry., Cann., Caps., Carbo veg., Con., Ferr., Hepar., Lyc, Nat. mur., Nux vom., Puls., Rhus tox., Sil., Staph. and Sulph. Closely related to this is the motion of looking around, although as regards aggravation it is as yet noted only of Calc, Cicuta vir., Con., Ipec. and Kali.

In addition to the above-named varieties of motion there are many others, which however we may pass by here the rather because they affect often only isolated portions of the body, a fact which constitutes in itself something of an individual characteristic and which therefore gives to the motion associated with it a somewhat subordinate rank. Among the number, are, for example, respiration, inspiration as well as expiration, swallowing, whether only of saliva, or empty swallowing, or also swallowing of food or drink; sneezing, yawning, coughing, speaking, writing, etc. Respecting all of these conditions, in so far as they exercise an influence upon the aggravation or amelioration of symptoms, our Materia Medica Pura contains a large quantity of observations which were first obtained by provings upon the healthy and then verified by administration to the sick. They have therefore sustained a double test, a priori and a posteriori, and they deserve just as much consideration, in the search for the most complete and perfect simile, as any other symptoms that have been discovered and verified in the same way. If at the present day this consideration is not commonly accorded, if, indeed attention is chiefly fixed on the pathological, the general symptoms, while the concomitant symptoms, which for the most part are very characteristic, are correspondingly neglected, assuredly such laxity and incompleteness in the application of our fundamental principle are utterly inexcusable and it is not; to be wondered at that even “experiments on the sick,” to their great injury should be ever on the increase, while pure experiment is growing less and less frequent.

Thus much, for the present, I have felt constrained to say respecting the influence of motion and its varieties upon the phenomena of disease and respecting, consequently, the importance of regarding them and finding their correspondence in the drug symptoms in order to show to what extent and with what critical discrimination we are to avail ourselves of them. At the same time, what has been written will demonstrate, with what industry in a period of fifty years (the first volume of Materia Medica Pura of 243 pages, appeared in 1811, the third edition of the same volume with 504 pages in 1830) our therapeutic edifice has been extended, while every duly verified new observation or discovery finds always therein its appropriate place and must contribute to the further extension and completeness of the whole.

All that needs to be said concerning the influence of rest upon the aggravation of symptoms, may be done with considerable brevity, for essentially it consist in the converse of what has been already said.

One variety of rest, however, demands a brief consideration and all the more, because in the first place it affords for many internal and external diseases a truly indispensable characteristic, and in the second place because it must astonish every experienced Homoeopathist to see, as he reads the more recent descriptions of clinical cases, that many practitioners appear to leave it altogether out of account. I mean rest in the recumbent position.

I pass by simple lying, which is merely rest in contradistinction to motion, and also lying in bed and propose to consider the different recumbent positions, which are the points of greatest interest in this connection.

First under this head comes aggravation from lying outstretched in contradistinction to lying crooked or in a curved position. For aggravation in the former posture, Cham., Colch., Coloc., Platina, Puls., Rheum, Rhus  and Staph. are most likely to be appropriate. For aggravation in the latter, most frequently Hyos., Lyc, Spong., Teucr. and Valer.

Aggravation from lying with the head low indicates other remedies again, among which are Ant. tart., Arg., Ars., Caps., Chin., Colch., Hepar., Lach., Nit., Puls, and Spig. If in addition the horizontal position is most tolerable to the patient, then Apis, Arn, Bell. and Spong. may be added to the above.

But still more important than these, are the recumbent positions upon the back and upon the sides.

If lying upon the back aggravates, this indicates especially Amm. mur., Ars., Caust., Cham., Chin., Coloc., Cup., Cycl., Iod., Nitr., Nux vom., Phos., Plumb., Rhus., Sep., Sil. or Spig. When, on the contrary this position affords relief, the most suitable remedy will generally be found among Acon., Anac., Bry., Calc.., Carbo. an., Kali carb., Lyc, Merc., Puls., Seneg., Stann. or Thuja.

Aggravation from lying on the side requires in general Acon., Anac., Bry., Calc., Carbo. an., Kali carb., Lyc, Phos., Puls., Stann., Sulph. and Thuja. But under this head there are two varieties which are of very great importance, viz.:

1. The aggravation may be produced by lying upon the right or upon the left side; or,

2. It may be produced by lying on the painful side or on the side which is not the seat of pain.

If we disregard these distinctions we grope about in the dark in treating many affections of the head, chest, abdomen and limbs, and we fail to select the correct and successful remedy until we have long sought it and experimented in vain, whereas we might easily have found it at the outset had we paid attention to the distinctions above indicated.

The following remedies correspond to aggravation produced by lying upon the right side; Amm. m., Borax, Caust, Mag. mur., Merc., Nux vom. and Spong.; by lying on the left side, Acon., Amm. c., Baryt., Bry., Colch., Ipec., Nat. carb., Nat. mur., Petr., Phos., Puls., Sep., Sil., Sulph. and Thuja. But when this condition comes into collision with the following one, the preference is always to be given to the latter.

The most important distinction and one of which we may the most frequently avail ourselves in practice is that between aggravation produced by lying on the painful side, and that produced by lying on the painless side.

In the former case the chief remedies are: Acon., Amm. c., Ars., Baryt., Calad., Cycl., Dros., Graph., Hepar., Iod., Lach., Lyc, Magn. c., Magn. m., Mosch., Nitr. acid, Nux mh., Nux v., Par., Phos., Ph. ac, Rheum, Ruta, Sabad., Selen., Sil., Spong., Staph. and Thuja.

On the other hand, aggravation when lying on the side which is not the painful one occurs uniformly under the following remedies; Ambra, Arn., Bry., Calc., Cann., Caust., Cham., Coloc., Fluor. acid, Ign., Kali carb., Puls., Rhus , Secale, Sep., Stann. and Viola tr.

All of these indications are so trustworthy and have been verified by such manifold experience that there are hardly any others which can equal them in rank, to say nothing of surpassing them. But the most valuable fact respecting them is this: that this characteristic is not confined to one or another symptom, but like a red thread it runs through all the morbid symptoms of a given remedy which are associated with any kind of pain whatever or even with a sensation of discomfort, and hence it is available for both internal and external symptoms of the most various character.

It is really a matter of surprise and wonder that an element so obvious and so very valuable for the appropriate selection of a remedy should have remained so entirely unheeded in many of the most recent details of cases so carefully drawn up in other respects and that instead of these, the results of auscultation and percussion should be recorded with the utmost exactness, notwithstanding the fact that the symptoms of our old and well-tried pure Materia Medica contain nothing whatever relating to these, then unknown methods of observation and that, consequently, they are almost worthless as items on which to base the choice of the remedy.

If the conscientious homoeopathic physician is more intent on curing his patient as speedily and as safely as possible, than on making a parade before him and astonishing him by a display of scientific accomplishments, he will, at least, first, seek out in the case those, I had almost called them therapeutic-pathological, characteristic symptoms by which he may make sure his choice of the remedy; and not until he has done this, will he seek to make available the general physiologico-pathological phenomena, for these, at least, can then do no mischief. And if he desires, in a laudable manner, to prepare the way for a future useful application of the stethoscope and the pleximeter, let him seek to bring the results of the employment of these new implements into relation with the above-mentioned old and verified symptoms, in such wise that both united may be employed in making the cure even more certain and precise than before.

He, however, who does not go to work in this fashion, but in contradiction of section 153 of the Organon, pursues his way over the barren waste of a pathology without characteristic, should as little expect to be recognized as a true homoeopathic physician as those others who in opposition to section 245, et sequa. of the Organon, by their, to say the least, unnecessary administration of massive doses, give our adversaries occasion to declare (as in the Allg. Preuss. Med. Zeit., 1861, and not altogether without reason) that the distinction between allopathic and homoeopathic remedies no longer exists, and to deduce from this the futility of the claim on the part of physicians to the liberty of dispensing their own remedies, since in fact the necessity for this liberty is denied to exist.

 If any one, whoever he may be, has the audacity to proclaim to the world, that Hahnemann himself, towards the end of his life, returned to the use of massive doses and only maintained an outside semblance of adherence to his potentization theory, from unworthy motives, such a man is nothing but a common slanderer, unworthy of respect and credit at the hands of any honorable man, whether Allopath or Homoeopath, and he will be nailed to the pillory as a malignant liar by the publication, which we may very soon expect, of original matter from our great master’s own journals. 

Published in the American Homoeopathic review by Dr. Dunham.

Read Part 1

Clinical Cases By Samuel Swann. M.D.

This article on clinical cases was published originally in "The Hahnemannian Monthly   Vol  6, September 1870." Repertorization part is prepared to understand the case by modern tools.This article is presented by Dr Ravinder S. Mann.

Clinical Cases

By Samuel Swann. M.D.

Acidum Lactis in Morning Sickness during Pregnancy

Mrs.H., a healthy brunette, two months pregnant with her first child, had nausea and vomiting in the morning on rising and after eating, with water-brash so profuse as to require the constant use of a spittoon, while at night her pillow was saturated with saliva. Gave one dose Acid Lac. 1 M and in less than an hour the water-brash had ceased, and she had no return of that or the nausea.

In this, as in several cases where the morning sickness had been cured with Acid Lac., I did not again see the patient till confinement, there being apparently entire exemption from the usual derangements attendant on pregnancy.

I use the 1 M potency, because one dose at night is sufficient, while with the 15th, 30th and 200th, I have sometimes been obliged to repeat the dose.

Repertorization:

MOUTH - SALIVATION - sleep, during

MOUTH - SALIVATION – profuse

STOMACH - VOMITING - pregnancy, during

STOMACH - NAUSEA - pregnancy - during

STOMACH - NAUSEA - morning - rising - agg.

STOMACH - NAUSEA - eating - after

STOMACH - VOMITING - morning

STOMACH - VOMITING - eating - after

STOMACH - ERUCTATIONS; TYPE OF - water brash - pregnancy, during

On repertorization  Lactic Acid come prominently with Natrum Mur, Lyco, Nux Vomica, Sepia, Phos, Sil  as indicated remedy. In small Rubrics + Small Remedies group it comes on 1^st rank.

                              

Cerebral Irritation- Apis Mel.

A male infant, seven months old, with the large head and large prominent hazel eyes. Symptoms: single, sharp, shrill scream, both while sleeping and waking; at the same time raising the hand to head back of the ears; bores the head in the pillow; breathes heavily and with difficulty, and gasping; vomits food as soon as taken, followed by retching; retention of urine twenty-four hours; small movement from the bowels, dark, and smelling brassy; high fever; full pulse; short sleep; eyelids half open, pupils turned up. Gave Apis 1 M, one dose dry on tongue. In one hour after, he urinated profusely; urine of a dark color and strong, ruinous odor. Six hours after, had a profuse evacuation, olive green, slimy, and full of bright red lumps, like chopped beet, with colic and tenesmus. The next day he was well and continued so. The mother states, that after taking the remedy he did not scream and the breathing became easier very soon.

Repertorization:

MIND - SHRIEKING - sleep, during

MIND - SHRIEKING - waking - on

HEAD - BORES head in pillow

STOMACH - VOMITING - eating - after

STOMACH - RETCHING - vomiting - after

RESPIRATION - DIFFICULT

RESPIRATION - GASPING

BLADDER - RETENTION of urine

STOOL – SCANTY

STOOL - ODOR - brassy

Combined Rubric

STOOL - DARK

STOOL - BLACK

FEVER - INTENSE heat

GENERALS - PULSE - full

SLEEP - SHORT

EYE - TURNED - upward

EYE - OPEN eyelids - half open

Out of 16 rubrics :  Apis 16/33, Ars 13/29, Arnica 13/25, Lyco 12/28, Bell 12/26, Cupr 12/24, Zincum 12/24

A Case of Chronic Gastritis

© Dr.R.S.Mann 2011

Presented By

Dr. R S Mann

Mr S.. kumar, 35 yr male, From Nainital, has following complaints since 10 years.

Burning in stomach, whole abdomen, with eructations which starts every time after eating. Lot much thirst and frequently drinks water, with dry lips. Constipation with insufficient stool. Heaviness of abdomen with tight feeling.

Dose not want to involve anywhere, not want to work, not want to talk and aversion to noise.

No taste in mouth. Aversion to fatty food, sweets. Desire salt. Weakness, want to lie down always. Feel coldness in back.

Frowning constantly while explaining his complaints. Very thin person.

Likes winter, remain healthy comparatively in winters but worse in summers from beginning of March to October. Complaints aggravate at change of weather.

Personal history of recurrent jaundice from many years. Jaundice at beginning of summers in march, every year from few years.

Drug History: Taking antacids of many types daily since many years. Lot much burnings if he miss even a single dose.

Repertorization:- Radar

GENERALS - EATING - after

GENERALS - LEAN people

GENERALS - PERIODICITY

GENERALS - SEASONS - summer; in - agg.

GENERALS - WEATHER - change of weather - cold to warm agg.

GENERALS - FOOD and DRINKS - sweets - aversion

GENERALS - FOOD and DRINKS - salt - desire

GENERALS - LIE DOWN - desire to

GENERALS – WEAKNESS

MOUTH - TASTE - wanting, loss of taste

STOMACH - ERUCTATIONS - eating - after

STOMACH - THIRST - large quantities, for

STOMACH - THIRST - large quantities, for - often; and

STOMACH - PAIN - burning - eating - after

ABDOMEN - PAIN - burning

ABDOMEN – HEAVINESS

RECTUM - CONSTIPATION – insufficient

BACK – COLDNESS

SKIN - DISCOLORATION – yellow

MIND - FROWN, disposed to

MIND - LAZINESS

MIND - TACITURN

Combined Rubric:-

MIND - NOISE - aversion to

MIND - SENSITIVE - noise, to

 Medicines: Total 24 rubrics are taken into account. Out of 24 score is -- Nat Mur 24/56, Sulph 21/47, Ars Alb 21/40, Nux V 20/40, Phos 19/46, Lyco 19/40, Sep 19/38, Bryonia 19/38.

Natrum Mur. covering every symptom of the patient.

Prescription:-

19 October, 2011

Natrum Mur 200  CH  3 doses prescribed 6 hourly, with Sac Lac for a week.

Patient does not returned after a week.

26 December, 2011

Patient came for weakness after viral fever.

All his gastric complaints cured magically, after 4^th day of prescription on 19^th October 2011, patient start to relive, day by day all the complaints gone. No eructations, no burning afterward, no weakness. Now he works smoothly all the day without tiring.

Never Been Well Since - By Joy Lucas

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Never Been Well Since

Joy Lucas

A Great teacher Of Homeopathy
Go to her website From Here


 

Abortion: Nat mur; Carc; Tub; Pyrogen; Ign; Staph; Syph

Accidents: (with joint trouble) Syph; (with depression) Op; Carbo veg; Gels; (spine) Bellis per; (childbirth) Calc phos; (dorsal) Hyper; (cervical) Ham; (old) Sil; Thuja; (head) Arn; Nat sulph; (with bursting H/A’s) Glon; (skull) Hell;

Acute Illness: Psor; Carbo veg; Sulph; Sil; Tub; Calc phos; other nosodes;...
 
Allopathic drugs: Gaertner;

Ambition loss: Nux vom

Anger: Cham; Anac; Staph; Colocynth;

Anaesthetics: Phos;

Antibiotics: Nit-ac; Sulph; Gaertner; Penicillin;
 
 Bathing, cold: Ant-c; Bellis; Rhus tox;
 
Birth: Pyrogen; Secale; Bellis
 
Blood transfusion: Carc;
 
Blows to soft tissue: Conium; Bellis:
 
Boils: Bovista; Pyrogen; Anthrac; Staphyloccocin;
 
Breast milk suppressed: Calc carb; Bry;
 
Broncho-pneumonia: Morgan;
 
Business  failure: Ambra gris; Arg-nit; Sil;
 
Catarrhal illness: Tub;
 
Chest illness: Sulph; Kali carb;
 
Childhood: Calc carb; Carc;
 
Chloroform: Phos; Chloro;
 
Climacteric: Lach; Kreos;
 
Confinement: Bell
 
Coal gas: Bovista;
 
Cortisone: Cortis;
 
D & C: Nit-ac
 
Deaths: Ambra gris; Nat mur; Carc; Kali brom;
 
Diarrhoea: China; Op; Zinc; China ars; Sep; Nux mosch
 
Diptheria: Lac can; Gels; Caust; Arg-nit;
 
Disappointed love: Tarent; Hyos; Ign; Nat mur; Phos-ac;
 
Discharges: Bry; Sil; Cup met; China
 
Ear discharges: Merc; Stram;
 
ECT: Elect;
 
Exertion: Bellis; Bry;
 
Falls and Shocks: Arn; Gels;
 
Fatigue: Calc phos;
 
Fear: Acon; Op; Stram;
 
Foot sweat: Sil;
 
Frustration: Staph; Con; Phos;
 
Glandular fever: Carc; Tub;
 
Gonorrhea: Thuj; Med: Lac can; Puls;
 
Grief: Ign; Caust; Phos-ac; Aur-mur; Cocc; Lach; Nat mur; Staph; Carc; Amm mur;
 
Hay fever: Histamine;
 
Headaches: Mag phos; China Sal; Stannum;
 
Head injuries: Hyper; Glon; Nat sulph;
 
Haemorrhage: China; Collinsonia;
    
Hepatitis: Carc;
 
Histamine injections: Histamine;
 
Hysterectomy: Ooph; Arist-clem; Follic; Ign; Staph; Lach; Bell;
 
Inflammatory illness: Carc;
 
Insults: Staph;
 
Iron injections: Puls; Phos;
 
Joy: Coff;
 
Labour: Pyrogen; Sep; Thuja;
 
LSD: Phos; Mang;
 
Lover left: Lyc;
 
Loss: Nat mur; Aur mur;
 
Measles: Sulph; Puls; Carbo veg; Sil; Dros; Kali carb; Ip; Ars;
 
Mental trauma: Psor;
 
Marriage: Lach; Staph; Med;
 
Migraines: China sal;
 
Mumps: Parotid; Puls;
 
Nervous breakdown: Asaf; Med; Mag phos; Ign; Acon; Asar;
Night watching: Cocc;
 
Operations: Staph; Stront carb; Gaertner; Pyrogen; Calc phos; Collinsonia; Nux vom; Bellis;


Over heated: Bry; Glon;
  
Overstraining: Rhus tox;
 
The Pill: Ooph; Nat mur; Sep; Avena sat; Fraxin amer; Lil-tig;
 
Piles: Collinsonia; Sulph; Nux vom;
 
Pneumonia: Carc; Kali carb; Morgan; Phos; Lyc; Sulph; Carbo veg;
 
Puberty: Sulph; Puls; luna; Syph; Sepia;
 
Poisons: Hepar sulph; Calc ox; Ip; Mez; Alum; Plat; Colocynth; Caust; Sulph-ac; Aurum; Sars; Nit-ac; Sil; Puls; Coff; Nat mur; Calc sulph; China; Ars;
 
Rage: Cham;
 
Rape: Ign; Sep; Acon; Caust; Staph;
 
Rheumatic fever: Streptoccocin; Iod; Kalmia; Aur; Syph; Med;
 
Rubella: Gaertner;
 
Scarletina: Calc carb; Cham; Apis;
 
Shock: Arn; Ambra gris; Carbo veg; Iod; Phos-ac;
 
Sleep, loss of: Cocc; Nux vom;
 
Sterilisation: Follic; Staph; Arist-clem; Lach;
 
Sunstroke: Nat carb; Gels
 
Sweat: Colch; Sil; Bar carb; Zinc; Dulc; Cup met;
 
Tampons: Lach; Cup met;
 
Tonsilitis: Phyt; Streptoccocin;
 
Trauma: Arn; Bellis; Hyper; Nat sulph; Ruta
 
U V Rays: Nit-ac;
 
Vaccinations: Pyrogen; Thuja; Apis; Staph; Ledum; Nat sulph; Puls; Sil;
 
Venereal disease: Syco co; Proteus; Med; Syph;
 
Warts: Staph; Merc; Nit-ac; Thuja;
 
Whooping cough: Carc; Carbo veg; Dros;

X-Rays: X-ray; Cobaltum; Rad brom;

The Language of the Repertory – J T Kent

If you've come to this page directly via a search engine, please note this article is mainly for homeopaths and students of homeopathy, so assumes a certain level of understanding of homeopathic concepts and terminology.
 


This Article originally published in The Homoeopathician, A Journal For Pure Homoeopathy, Vol. III January,1913 No. 1, from page no. 8 to 10.

The Language of the Repertory
By James Tyler Kent, A.M., M.D., Chicago, III.

Introductory Note: To many who have not been thoroughly trained in repertory study, the practical value of such work remains uncomprehended. The following article has been prepared to shed light on some of the difficulties that confront those who have not learned to appreciate the immense value of such an index as is afforded in the modern Repertory, and how familiarity with it unlocks the store-house of our materia medica in the future to that rubric or symptom.
Many fail to use the repertory because they think of symptoms in pathological language or because they look for expressions in the language of tradition. It must be remembered that symptoms come to us from lay provers; that sick people are lay people. Both of these express sicknesses in the language of the layman and the repertory must be an index of the materia medica. Every effort to convert either the materia medica or the repertory into the language of traditional medicine must result in total failure. Technical language condenses the thought of a given sickness. That is all that is needed to convey all there is knowable from one physician to another until the question of the remedy comes up, and there the new question comes up: What is the remedy? The answer comes by asking another question: What are the symptoms? The symptoms are the speech of the Patient.
THE physician must study the homoeopathic principles until he learns what it is in sickness that guides to the curative remedy. He must study the materia medica until he learns what is needed to meet these demands.
He must then study the repertory until he learns how to use it so that he can find what he wants when he needs it. It must be admitted that many do mechanical work and fail to realize that any other kind is possible. The physician must read over and over the rubrics in the repertory in order to learn what is in it and how symptoms are expressed. Often he will see a rubric or a symptom that he would not have thought of seeking in that place; he should then settle in his own mind where he would have looked for it; then he should make one or several cross-references to guide him laity and of nature: uneducated nature—simple nature—appealing to an educated physician. The symptoms of a patient have no meaning whatever to an untrained physician—to a physician untrained in the significance of symptoms of the patient, of the prover—hence the repertory is meaningless to him. This explains why so many try to use the repertory and fail: they have had no teaching in our so-called homoeopathic colleges.
All who know how to use a repertory succeed, and not one has ever discarded it. It appears strange that all do not try to find some one to teach them to use it when there are so many willing to do it; it appears strange that they do not desire to know how to use the repertory; it appears strange that they have not learned to note the precise language of the patient, the language of the materia medica, and the language of the repertory.
Physicians who are ignorant in these methods see no difference when the same symptom appears in three different patients in the same family, though one has this symptom at 10 a.m., another at 1 a.m., and another at 4 p.m.; one is better from heat, another from cold, and the third not affected by either, and I have known them to ask very promptly: "What has that to do with it?" Three patients suffer from a similar headache: one is better in the open air, one is better from applied cold, and the third, from applied heat; and again comes the question: "What has that to do with it?"  Yet these are only the first and simplest differences to be mentioned.
The inexperienced physician in our art trains his mind to lump and condense and concentrate and this leads in the opposite direction to what is required. We have large groups or rubrics but these are next split up into conditions, circumstances and modalities until every least difference in time, place, degree and manner is brought before the mind so that distinction and individualization may appear. "What has that to do with it?"
I will mention the word "weakness" and even our own students may say: "What a common general symptom to mention," but if he is weak—after eating, must lie down for a while, in hot weather, after stool, after mental and physical exertion, after sleep, who would not wonder if Selenium would not cure such a case? When such a group of circumstances is associated in catarrh of nose, throat and larynx, or carcinoma, and there are desire for open air, lack of vital heat, emaciation in advanced years, extreme sensitiveness to drafts—even warm drafts, there is nothing left for the homoeopathist but to give Selenium.
How can the inexperienced physician work this out without a repertory, properly used? The proper use of the repertory will lead to correct offhand prescribing in simple cases, in from ten to twenty years. The mechanical use of the repertory never leads to artistic prescribing nor to remarkable results. Certain mental characteristics go hand in hand; some characteristics of mind are necessary to good, artistic repertory-work, others are equally prohibitory.
Some minds cannot comprehend that potentization of any given drug is possible in proportion to the homoeopathicity of that drug to a given group of symptoms, and that when the drug is not similar, only attenuation is present. When attenuation becomes potentization is a question that the healing-artist alone can comprehend otherwise than theoretically. The physician who can clearly comprehend this can learn to comprehend the value of symptoms and therefore learn, by the aid of a repertory, to compare the symptoms of his patient; otherwise repertory-work is purely mechanical.
Perhaps a clinical case will best illustrate the subject.
Mrs. S., aged 47, a very excitable—almost hysterical—woman, for many years has suffered—  violent occipital headaches.
Compelled to take strong medicines for years.
Occur every few days; never passes a week without one. Continue three days.
Heat and pressure give most relief.
Bowels constipated; for a week has no desire; then takes cathartics.
Says: "I have taken everything."
Stool hard and small, resembling sheep-dung.
Craves open air; cool air.
Heat flushes.
Menstruation absent lately.
Urine scanty and strong.
Eyes have sensation that they do not belong to her.
Cold knees and below knees.
Very tired and excitable.
Over-sensitive; extremely sensitive to touch over entire body.
What are the strange, rare and peculiar symptoms in this patient?
The remedies that have stool in round, hard balls resembling sheep dung that also have strong craving for open air are: 
Alum., bar.-c, carb.-an., carb.-s., caust., graph., kali-s., mag-m., nat-m., nat-s., op., sulph.
No desire for stool for many days;
Alum., carb.-an., carb.-s., caust., graph., kali-s., mag.-m., nat.-m., op., sulph., and many        others not related to the case.
Occipital headache: Alum., carb-an., carb-s., mag-m., nat.-m., op., sep., sulph.
jarring agg.: Carb-s., mag-m., nat.-m., sulph.
pressure amel.: Mag-m., nat-m., sulph.
heat amel.: Mag-m.
March 4th. Mag.-m. 10m.
April 9th. Mag.-m. 10m.
May 20th. Mag.-m. 50m.
There has been no headache since and she has been in good health. In this case the headache is a common one, but it was what she came to have cured. The peculiar symptom is the one difficult to explain, viz.: stool in hard balls resembling "sheep dung."
It is certainly uncommon; it is not the stool natural to healthy human beings; it is not a diagnostic symptom of any disease. One might wonder what kind of commotion in the intestine could break up a hard stool into lumps so small and tumble these around until they were flat, oval and round and small as sheep's dung; the normal stool and the common stool are quite different Then it must be "strange, rare and peculiar." Now as she so longs for the open air it will be best to eliminate with the above rubric from remedies that have craving for open air; this gives the start. Then taking the next most important rubric, viz., inactivity or no desire for a week what remains can be seen in the anamnesis above. So proceed to the end, taking the symptoms in the order of their importance. The result is a cure.
Most all recent discoveries are verifying what Homoeopathy has been trying, for more than a century, to have the medical profession realize. All Hahnemann has ever asked his enemies to do is to "put the law to a test and publish the failures.
Why do they not do it.