EDITORIAL


EDITORIAL. The French are responsible for the promising research in the application of ultrasonics to Homoeopathy. Dr. L. Wurmser, the distinguished and indefatigable director of Les Laboratories Homoeopathiques de France in Paris has been conducting experiments on the solubilization of insoluble substances and the actual “dynamization” and preparation of nosodes with ultrasonics.


HOMOEOPATHY AND ULTRASONICS.

Ultrasonics are one of the latest and most interesting modern developments of physics. They consist in elastic vibrations transmitted through any gaseous, liquid or solid medium with frequencies above and beyond the audible frequencies, ranging from 20,000 per second to the infra-red band.

Various types of apparatus are used to produce these vibrations: some depend on piezo electrical quartz, others on special magnetic vibrators, all of them capable of generating frequencies up to 960,000 per second.

Of course, little is known about this peculiar type of vibration and its mode of action is yet undetermined. Depending on experimental conditions, opposite effects have been produced. Some of the factors involved are: the nature of the substance, its degree of coarseness when submitted to the ultrasonic action, the power of the generation, the thickness of the quartz sheet, the length of time of the action, etc., etc.

The French are responsible for the promising research in the application of ultrasonics to Homoeopathy. Dr. L. Wurmser, the distinguished and indefatigable director of Les Laboratories Homoeopathiques de France in Paris has been conducting experiments on the solubilization of insoluble substances and the actual “dynamization” and preparation of nosodes with ultrasonics. The Hahnemannian technique of solubilization of so-called insoluble substances by trituration up to the 4th centesimal is another of the major and far-reaching discoveries by the master. This process, however, is tedious and time-consuming and the pharmacist would gain greatly by finding a way to hasten and simplify the process.

The Laboratories Homoeopathiques de France experimented first with ultraviolet radiation, “photolysis,” and obtained interesting results of solutions of the 10 concentration (3d centesimal Hahnemannian). This technique is, however, difficult to control. With ultrasonics at the rate of 960,000 vibrations per second, and extremely rapid succussion brings in no time a very fine division and potentization of the materia. The red oxide of mercury was chosen for these experiments. a remarkable fact ascertained by these studies is the confirmation and verification of the standard Hahnemannian trituration technique.

A number of problems have to be solved before the solubilization and dynamization of homoeopathic remedies can be achieved by ultrasonics-combined or not with ultraviolet radiation. An excess of dynamization can produce oxidation and change the chemical properties of the remedies; big molecules can be broken and inactivated (as in the case of pepsine). The action of ultrasonics is inversely proportional to the size of the particles and their concentration.

Many experiments have been conducted with ultrasonic or microbial suspensions. The bacilli are pulverized, the endotoxins liberated and even destroyed if oxidation is not inhibited. Red cells are hemolyzed only in physiological solution, however, and when well washed. Ultra-viruses lose their virulence but keep their antigenic power. These preliminary results have to be confirmed by clinical use.

In conclusion, ultrasonics are a new form of energy that could be used with great advantage in the preparation of homoeopathic remedies, particularly on insoluble substances and isothapics by direct extract of exo-and endotoxins. It is gratifying to see that, in the homoeopathic ranks, research is carried into new fields. Let us beware and take notice. Congratulations and more power to the French.

R.A.S.

DR.S.W. STAADS.

Born March 13, 1969, in Flensburg, Germany, Dr. Soeren W. Staads was the youngest of five children of Danish subjects- therefore the name, which was often the object of curious conjecture. He died in Los Angeles on September twentieth, 1951 of carcinoma of the stomach and liver.

Very early in life, he dedicated himself to the study of medicine. His resolve to become a practicing physician became especially strong after his recovery from an illness resulting from a childish prank. While playing patient and doctor, a syringe full of cold water in an ear resulted in a broken eardrum. The devotion of his physician during his convalescence strengthened his resolve.

He studied medicine at the Universities of Stuttgart and Copenhagen, as well as at Harvard, and decided to remain in the United STates to practice his profession. On the day he landed on these shores in 1892, a lifelong distaste for bananas was formed. He bought the luscious fruit, anticipating a pleasantly acid flavor. On a bench in Central Park, New York, he took one bite- skin and all! His great disappointment became a windfall for several urchins in a nearby bench, who eagerly accepted the profered fruit, peeled and enjoyed it.

Upon passing the state board examinations, he was licensed in January, 1893, to practice medicine in the state of Iowa. As soon as possible, he sent for his fiancee, who arrived in New York in May, 1893. they were married immediately and entrained for the wild and woolly west via Buffalo and Niagara. Their travels brought them as far as the little town of Essex, Iowa, where the young doctor found an interesting opening and where both learned the magnificent new way of American life with the Swedish tinge which the community offered. There were now two new languages to master. Both immediately took steps to become naturalized citizens.

Hiding his youth behind a huge, very black beard, Dr. Staads became a vital part of the community; an urgent offer, however, from Pomeroy, Iowa, not far away, beckoned and was accepted.

In 1898, the ever present urge for bigger and better fields resulted in a move to Sioux City, Iowa. Here Dr. Staads practiced his chosen fields of homoeopathy and surgery. Keeping ever abreast of the changing times by taking advantage frequently of short courses in new techniques, offered in Chicago and in the east, the doctor established many a close friendship throughout the country among members of the American Institute of Homoeopathy as well as the American College of Surgeons.

During these years he was successful in establishing a hospital and a sanitarium in his city, serving patients over a wide radius. During part of that time, he kept an office in Omaha, Nebraska, for the convenience of his many patients in that area. In earlier years he had passed state board examinations in several neighboring states, though Iowa continued to remain the choice for his residence and main activity.

During his active years, Dr. Staads was a member of the Hahnemann Homoeopathic Medical Society of Iowa, serving as its president. He was also a former president of the Sioux City, Iowa, Homoeopathic Medical Society. He was a Senior Member of the American Institute of Homoeopathy; a member of the Surgical, Gynecological and Obstetrical Society; and Associate Member of the Los Angeles County Homoeopathic Medical Society.

The early difficult years of the horse and buggy general practitioner and later of the specialist and surgeon, exacted their toll when Dr. Staads was forced to begin pampering his own heart after thirty-five years of busy and successful practice. Since 1928 he had enjoyed the delightful climate of Los Angeles and the happy friendships that developed there.

During these years he kept himself interestingly occupied with his beloved books and professional magazines and journals. A linguist with enthusiasm, he was fully aware of the challenge offered him in making translations from many foreign language journals and text-books. These translations, he shared freely with medical journals throughout the country. This, he considered a labor of love, and he gave unstintingly of his linguistic talents to all who asked.

Dr. Staads and his wife, who died in 1940, reared six children, and now there are eleven grandchildren and nine great grand children.

W.W.SHERWOOD, M.D.

Word has been received here that Dr. E. Peiro Rando of Barcelona, Spain, has been elected Vice President for Spain in the International Homoeopathic League. The 15th Congress of the 1951, which elected Dr. Peiro to this office, formerly held by his eminent country man and colleague, the late Dr. Augusto Vinyals Roig, expressed a strong desire for the early resurgence of homoeopathy in Spain and a prompt resumption of the scientific activities of the Academy of Homoeopathic Medicine in Barcelona.

In accepting the responsibilities of the office, Dr. Peiro dedicated his labors to the memories of those who had preceded him in office, especially Dr. Vinyals, to the end that the League might become a more potent force in the Promotion of a true brotherhood in the world-wide homoeopathic family and the expansion of international homoeopathy.

The Recorder offers its heartiest congratulations to Dr. Peiro for the well-deserved honor which has been bestowed upon him by the International Homoeopathic League. We can think of no one better fitted than he to reanimate Spanish homoeopathy.

In a communication received recently from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Dr. Souza Martins informed us of the official acceptance of homoeopathic pharmacotechnical instruction. Government action on his matter was taken on August 7, 1951, by the Chamber of Deputies, a red letter day for our Brazilian colleagues, the consummation of a dream begun in 1843.

Rabe R F
Dr Rudolph Frederick RABE (1872-1952)
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.