Appendix of Organon
Appendix of Organon
Appendix of Organon
PRESENTED BY
Dr. SHARY KRISHNA .B .S
18th BATCH P.G.T.
Dept. of Organon of Medicine, Homoeopathic Philosophy,
Chronic Diseases & Psychology
On 02.01.2018
in 1st edition
3rd and 4th edition FN-145
1st edition
189 local malady
“It could not make its appearance at all without the
consent of the whole of the rest of the health and without
the participation of all the rest of the sensitive and
irritable parts of all the living organs of the whole body.”
Progressive
improvement continues from
the medicine last administered-
wetake for granted does the duration of
the action of the helpful medicine
continues-
No Repetition
243
"But as water (even when distilled) begins to spoil after a few days, whereby
also the power of the small quantity of medicine it contains is destroyed, the
addition of a small quantity of spirits of wine was requisite, or where this was
impracticable or could not be borne, I allowed instead a few small bits of
hard-wood charcoal to be put in the aqueous solution, whereby my object was
accomplished; only in the latter case the fluid becomes after a few days of a
blackish colour, from the shaking which is necessary before taking each dose,
as will presently be seen".
Vital force will not admit repetition of
unaltered dose of medicine
"Before going farther I must make the important observation that our vital
principle does not well admit of the same unaltered dose of medicine being
given to the patient even twice, still less several times in succession. For then
either the good effects of the former dose will be partly done away with, or
there appear new symptoms and sufferings dependent on the medicine, and
that were not formerly present in the disease, which obstruct the cure; in a
word, the medicine, though it may have been chosen accurately
homoeopathic, acts awry, and attains the end in view either imperfectly or
not at all. Hence the many contradictions of homoeopathists among
themselves in respect to the repetition of the dose"
Shaking the phial with 5 or 6 jerks of the
arm
"But if, for the repeated administration of one and the same medicine (which
is indispensable in order to obtain the cure of a great chronic disease), the
dose be each time changed and modified, although but slightly so, in its
degree of dynamisation, the vital force of the patient accepts quietly and as
it were willingly the same medicine, even at short intervals, an incredible
number of times, with the best result, and each time to the increased
advantage of the patient".
"This small alteration of the degree of dynamization may be effected by
shaking the phial in which is the solution of the single
globule (or several of them) with five or six smart jerks
of the arm before each time of taking it".
If aggravation then go to lower potency
at longer intervals
"When the physician has allowed the several table-spoonfuls of such a solution to be
taken successively in this manner (yet so that when the remedy has one day produced
too powerful an action he lets the dose be omitted for a day),
he then, if the medicine continues to show itself useful, takes one or two globules of
the same medicine of a lower potency (e.g. if he have previously employed the
thirtieth dilution he now uses one or two globules of the twenty-fourth), dissolves them
in about the same number of table-spoonfuls of water by shaking the bottle, again adds
a little spirits of wine or a few pieces of charcoal, and allows this solution to be
used to the end in the same way or at longer intervals, and even somewhat less
at a time, but each time only after shaking it five or six times,
as long as the remedy continues to effect improvement and no new symptoms of the
medicine (never experienced by other patients) appear, in which case another medicine
must be employed.
But if only the symptoms of the disease appear, but increase considerably under the
continued and even moderated use of the medicine then it is time to discontinue for
one or two weeks or even longer, and we way expect to see striking improvement
from it". 1
in acute disease- FN
(1) "In the treatment of cases of acute disease the homoeopathic physician goes to work in a
similar manner.
He dissolves one or two globules of the highly potentized well-selected medicine, in seven,
ten or fifteen table-spoonfuls of water (without any addition) by shaking the bottle, and lets
the patient,
according as the disease is more or less acute, more or less dangerous, take a whole or half
table-spoonful (or even less if it is a child), every half, whole, or every two, three, four or six
hours (after well shaking the bottle each time).
If the physician observe the occurrence of no new symptoms, he goes on with it at these
intervals, until the symptoms at first present begin to increase; then he gives it more rarely
and in smaller doses".
"In the cholera, as is well known, the suitable remedy must often be given at much shorter
intervals".
"Children should get these solutions always only out of their ordinary drinking mugs; a table
or tea-spoon for drinking with is something quite unusual and suspicious to them, and for
that reason they reject this tasteless liquid. Some sugar, may, however, be added to it for
them".
If repetition of same potency
"After such a portion has been taken and the same
medicine is still found to be necessary, if the physician
wishes to prepare a fresh portion of the same degree
of potency for the patient,
it is requisite first to shake the new solution as
many times as the number of succussions given to
the former one amount to, and a few times more,
before the patient takes the first dose of it;
at the subsequent does, however, only five or six times
again".
Rubbed in externally in an aqueous solution
"But if the diseased organism be acted upon by the physician with the same
medicine at the same time on other sensitive parts besides the nerves of the
mouth and alimentary canal-
if, I say, the same medicine which is found salutary be at the same time
rubbed in externally in an aqueous solution (even in but a small quantity)
on one or more parts of the body which are most free from morbid affections
(e.g. , on an arm or a leg or a thigh unaffected by any skin disease, pains or
cramps),
by this means, the salutary action will be much increased;
the limbs to be rubbed in this manner may be, moreover, changed
. In this way the physician gains much more advantage from the
homoeopathically suited medicine for the patient affected by a chronic
disease, and
can cure him much more rapidly than by merely administering it by the
mouth".
Rubbed in –idea of cure
proof seen in mineral bath of patients with healthy skin
"This mode of employing the medicine (that has been
found useful internally), by rubbing it into the skin of the
surface of the body, which has been very much tested by
me and is uncommonly efficacious, and is attended by the
most strikingly happy results,
explains those rare miraculous cures in which patients
with a sound skin, who had long been cripples,
recovered rapidly and forever by bathing a few
times in a mineral water the medicinal constituents of
which were by accident homoeopathically suited for their
chronic disease“2.
FN-Mineral bath for diseased skin-wrong
(2) they were proportionately injurious to patients who suffered from ulcers and
cutaneous eruptions, which, as happens from other external remedies, they
repelled from the skin, whereupon, after a transient restoration of the patient's
vital force.
the internal, uncured disease settled in another part of the body much more
important for life and health,
Eg:s in place of these affections the crystalline lens grew opaque, the optic nerve
became paralysed, the hearing was lost, pains of countless kinds tormented the
patient, his intellectual organs suffered, his spirits became affected, spasmodic
asthma threatened to suffocate him, a fit of apoplexy carried him off, or some
other dangerous or intolerable ailment appeared in their stead.
"In cases where, along with extreme weakness, there was great
irritability on the part of the patient, and only smelling at a
phial
in which were a few small globules of the required
medicine was admissible,
when it was necessary to continue the medicine for several days,
I let the patient smell daily in a different phial containing
globules of the same medicine,
but every time in a lower degree of potency, once or twice
with each nostril, according as I wished to make a smaller or
greater impression".
Posology
The note to #246 is remarkable as containing Hahnemann's direction to give all medicines in the
thirtieth dilution in both chronic and acute diseases. This potency he elsewhere informs us he
adopted for the sake of uniformity.
Previous to recommending this uniform dose, Hahnemann had advised different doses for different
medicines according as they varied from one another in power and energy.
The variations in Hahnemann's posology at different periods of his life may be seen in an article by
Dr. Hughes in the 36th vol. of the Brit. Journ of Hom., p. 113.
But that Hahnemann did not stick to the thirtieth dilution as the proper dose in all cases is evident
from various passages in his writings.
Thus, in the last edition of the Chronic Diseases, he directs that when a medicine requires to be
repeated it should invariably ge given in a lower dilution.
Eg:s He says in the same work that nitric acid should be given for condylomata in the sixth dilution,
thuja in the thirtieth, twenty-fourth, eighteenth, twelfth and sixth dilutions,
petroselinum in drop doses of the fresh juice.
In 1836 he writes to Dr. C. Hering (Hom. World, xxvi, 77) to send him the third trituration of
lachesis and crotalus.
In 1841 he begs Dr. Lehmann, of Coethen, who prepared all his medicines, to send him the third
trituration of some medicines, a list of which he encloses (see facsimile letter, Lesser Writings).
On the other hand, he seems also to have occasionally given medicines in higher dilutions (v. #287,
third note).
Potency
In short, Hahnemann's practice shows great variations at
different periods of his life in respect of the doses he
gave.
Generally, where he has previously used lower, he
subsequently gave higher dilutions, but that was not
always so, for he says in the first edition of the Chronic
Diseases that though he formerly gave the sixth
attenuation of stammum he now finds the third trituration
the best dose; and
it is noteworthy that in the last edition of the Materia
Medica Pura, published in 1833, he gives as specimens and
models of homoeopathic practice two cases which had
already appeared in the first edition, published in 1816,
where the doses given were respectively the pure juice of
bryonia and twelfth dilution of pulsatilla".
248 Aph -Urgent case + no improvement=new remedy
before the expiry of the period of action of a dose of medicine,
the state of an urgent disease has,
on the whole, not improved,
but rather become aggravated - though may be only slightly - by
new symptoms,
when, consequently the medicine has not been selected
homoeopathically corresponding to the case in its characteristic
effects,
a dose of a medicine more precisely suited for the morbid state now
present must be given,
even before the expiration of the period of action of the medicine
last administered".
In chronic diseases –Same medicine
twice in succession –is improper
Fourth edition.- "#250.
Even in chronic diseases
it is very seldom or never the case that nothing better can be
done, especially at first,
than to prescribe the same medicine twice in succession, even
after the expiration of the period of action of the first dose; for
even when it has done good the improvement effected by it must go
on for some time, and usually there is no indication for the
repetition of the same medicine,
WHAT CANNOT BE IMPROVED BY THE FIRST DOSE, A
SECOND OR LARGER DOSE IS EQUALLY UNABLE TO CURE".
Intercurrent remedy
Third edition.- "#270.
When, therefore, a thoroughly suitable specific
(homoeopathic) remedy cannot at once be found on
account of the deficiency of medicines whose pure effects have
been ascertained,
there will usually be one or two next best medicines for the
characteristic original symptoms of the disease,
one or other of which - according to the morbid state in each case -
may be useful as an
So that its administration in alternation with the chief
medicine promotes the recovery much more palpably than giving
only the chief medicine, most, though still imperfectly, suited
amongst all those we possess, two or three times in succession".
Repetation =after expiry of the period of action
of the preceding dose
"#271.
The most beneficial procedure is to give solely and alone the best
adapted homoeopathic chief medicine in uninterrupted succession (in
which rare case it must correspond very closely to the chronic disease
a smaller dose ought to be given every time, after the expiry
of the period of action of the preceding dose
in order not to disturb the improvement
(seeing that the medicine becomes ever less and less
necessary),
To conduct the case to the desired end in the most direct and natural
way.
Retetation in chronic disease
272
As soon as the chronic disease has for the time yielded to a
thoroughly suitable homoeopathic remedy,
i.e. , specific or nearly specific for this case, if the disease is a very
chronic one (ten, fifteen or twenty years old),
a dose of the chief remedy must be given for three or six months,
at ever longer and longer intervals, at last at intervals of several
weeks (the intervals being varied according to circumstances),
Always in smaller and smaller doses until all tendency of the organism
to the chronic dyscrasia has completely disappeared and is
extinguished
The neglect of this provision leaves the best treatment incomplete
and in ill-repute".
273. Repetation=Orginal symptoms aggravate
Infirst 4 editions
The time for the repetition of the dose
The appearance of some slight traces of
one or other original symptom of the old
malady".
To #252: In the first three editions the first part of this
paragraph runs thus:
"But should we find that such ever-decreasing doses
do not suffice to attain the desired end, and that the
patient must continue to have equally large or even
larger and frequently repeated doses of the still
indicated homoeopathic remedy in order to avoid a
relapse, this is a sure sign, "..etc
Idea seen in 215 of first edition
To #253, note 2: Hahnemann generally uses the terms
"low" and "lowest" when he talks of increased degrees
of "dilution or attenuation", but the corresponding,
"potencies" he calls "high and highest".
Order of symptoms in proving corresponds to order in cure
Third edition - 279
"#238. For if this greater alteration in the organism, caused by the excessive
quantity of the medicine, be too violent, owing to the dose selected being
stronger than necessary, though it may be very similar to the original disease,
besides the increased intensity of the homoeopathic aggravation (#157, fifth
edition), there ensues, at the very least, an unnecessary weakening after the
expiry of the period of action of the medicament, and, if the dose was very
excessive, there occur, in addition to the increased primary medicinal symptoms,
some symptoms of its secondary action, a kind of medicinal after-disease
opposite in character to the first".
large dose =serious ailments
239.
Now, moreover, as scarcely any medicine can be selected so perfectly
homoeopathic that it shall correspond with mathematical accuracy and
completeness in every point to the totality of the disease symptoms (#156,
fifth edition), the new symptoms which, when the dose was suitably small,
were inconsiderable, are increased to serious ailments of many kinds if the
quantity of medicine given was excessively large".
Homoeopathic aggravation
"#240. For these and other reasons the rational practitioner (who always
adopts the best method in his practice because it is the best, and does not
suffer himself to be deterred from doing so by the dictates of blind custom)
will select the remedy that is suitable for the disease in such a well-adapted
dose that it shall hardly be able to excite a semblance of aggravation of the
disease, that is to say, shall hardly be able to dominate in the slightest degree
as a counter-disease force over the disease to be cured".
"#241. This apparent aggravation and increase of the disease under
treatment by the homoeopathic remedy should be scarcely perceptible, and
the only in the first two or three hours after its ingestion".
Smallest possible dose : minimum
aggravation
242. One of the chief maxims of the homoeopathic medical system is the
following: The counter-disease force (the remedy), chosen as appropriate as
possible for the cure of the natural disease, should be made only strong
enough to effect our purpose, and should not injure the body in the least by
unnecessary strength".
243. Now, as the smallest quantity of medicine naturally deranges the
organism least, we should choose the very smallest doses, provided always
they are a match for the disease".
size of the dose
To #279: The corresponding aphorism in the first edition says with regard to
the size of the dose (#244)-
245.
In diseases the sensitiveness of the organism to medicines, especially those
employed homoeopathically, is immensely increased.
Of this the ordinary observer has no conception; it is only known to the careful
observer. It is beyond all belief when the disease has attained a great height". (1)
Eg: Opium
FN: "A patient struck down with typhus, insensible and comatose, with burning hot
skin bathed in perspiration, with stertorous respiration coming from his open
mouth in a jerky interrupted manner, ..etc. is restored to consciousness and in a
few hours to health by the smallest dose of opium, even if it be a million times
smaller than ever was administered by any physician in the world.
Eg: Animal magnetism
Limitation up to 30th
To # 280: The following note occurs here in the fourth edition. "My labours in
this matter, recorded in the prefaces to the medicines in the Materia Medica
Pura, have anticipated the wants of homoeopathic physicians, and saved
them the trouble of instituting thousands of trials on themselves by indicating
for some medicines the dilution required for homoeopathic practice; though
since then I have been constrained by more recent experience to carry the
dilution of most of the medicines still lower, in order to attain nearer to
perfection in this incomparable healing art, as will be found in the
introduction to the second part of my book on Chronic Diseases".
This was of course written before Hahnemann had definitely fixed on
the thirtieth dilution as the most suitable dose for all medicines and
all diseases. In the places indicated in the earlier editions of the Mat. Med.
Pura he endeavours to fix the proper dilution for many of the medicines
which varies from the crude substance to the thirtieth dilution.
Criticising old school about crude combination of drug
To #281: This paragraph is followed in the first edition by the subjoined note:
"Let not the often enormous doses of medicines given in ordinary practice be urged against
this truth.
These medicines have seldom any homoeopathic relation to the disease (when that is the case
the medicines are much more efficacious in altering the health than when they are given on
other principles).
Moreover they are always given either in combination with other strong drugs, or other
violently acting medicines are given besides or between the doses of the first.
Mixed up in this way each medicine can no longer exercise its peculiar action, but is altered by
the action of the second, third, or fourth ingredient.
The so that they can often be taken without producing any great effect.
A single one of these very powerful ingredients, if it be genuine and in full possession of its
powers, is given alone in the same dose would often cause death - a dreadful possibility,
they are ignorant less dangerous by mixing a number of them together in one prescription. (This
proceeding seems to be vaguely indicated by the expression "corrigentia".]
almost termed a piece of good luck that in ordinary practice may medicines, especially the
extracts, become almost absolutely powerless by the mode of preparing them hitherto in vogue
I cannot set forth in tabular form the weights and measures of the
medicines for the reason that the medicines differ so much in power.
To #283: The degree of culture of their minds people have very different standards of
measurement for estimating the great and the small;
Persons of such limited intelligence are to be met with who can appreciate nothing
that they cannot grasp with their hands, and who estimate things not according to
their real inherent power, but by their coarse commercial weight.
The smallest weight of medicine they will hear of must be not less than a grain; a
tenth of a grain is for them an unconsidered trifle.
How can we suppose that these people, with their restricted standard of
measurement, can have a conception of the necessary division and diminution of the
medicinal doses for homoeopathic purposes into smallest fractions of grains? It were
vain to expect it!
Short-sighted man! how can you assign limits to the marvellous, almost spiritual
power of medicines? How with your coarse mechanical scales can you determine the
exact weight at which they will cease to have any effect?"
Doctrine of divisibility
"The doctrine of the divisibility of matter teaches us that
we cannot make a part so small that it shall cease to be
something, and that it shall not share all the properties of
the whole.
And what is the use of larger doses of medicines if the smallest possible quantities given on the
homoeopathic principle suffice for the cure of diseases in the most rapid and permanent
manner? And why should there be doubts about the powerfulness of such small but still material
doses of homoeopathic remedies, though their calculated weight is extremely small,
Imponderable
the power of electricity and galvanism
power of animal magnetism in altering man's health?
the magnet
north pole of a large magnet capable of lifting ten or twelve times its own weight
experiments of trust, worthy observers on healthy persons have taught us (v. Andry and
Thouret, Beob. u. Unters. üb. d. Gebr. d. Magn., Leipzig, 1785, p. 155)" This is followed by the
subjoined paragraphs which appear in the first edition only:
248 DIVIDING THE DOSE
But in the preface to the third part of the Chronic Diseases, published in 1839, there is an
approving allusion to the fiftieth dilution.
(See the concluding paragraph of preface given above p. 296). In this passage Hahnemann departs from
the caution he gave in his letter to Dr. Schreter, of the 13th September, 1829 (see Brit. Journ. of Hom.,
v, p. 398):
"I do not approve of your potentizing the medicines higher (as, for instance, up to thirty-six and sixty).