In the desensitization of highly susceptible patients, our results seem to be encouraging. With the small series at our command, one cannot be too dogmatic or over-enthusiastic. All that can be said is that the use of this method is to be encouraged, as it is incapable of doing harm, is worthy of a trial, and the results thus far obtained by a number of different physicians, including myself, are very highly encouraging.
Thus we can see that God in His wisdom has provided the remedies for the diseases that afflict us poor mortals. A knowledge of the medical properties of those vegetable remedies would be a great blessing to mankind. Some of the best cures I ever made were accomplished with simple vegetable remedies.
They present clinical characteristics that resemble one remedy in one and another remedy in another and no one substance is most similar to all diabetic nor to all cancer patients. The homoeopath seeks a remedy most similar in its effects to the individual affected and at the same time regards all the influences which contribute to disorder or maintain it in the life of the individual.
Hahnemann called attention to the deleterious effects of coffee drinking and his monograph upon this subject is well worth reading and study today. Although we may not agree with all that he has said upon the evil effects of excessive use of coffee, nevertheless we must admit that there are many people to whom this delightful beverage is a positive poison.
Pulsatilla was given for many reasons. It was most conspicuous form the repertory point of view, fitted our case most precisely form a reading in the “Materia Medica.” It was more particularly given because mental symptoms were in perfect accord, since our patients was nervous, desired sympathy and because his general make up as I watched him when reading the “Materia Medica” all aimed toward Pulsatilla.
The first impressions are the lasting ones among the majority of us and if the students of homoeopathy get their first impressions from real homoeopaths in real homoeopathic institutions we shall have no trouble in laying and maintaining a firm foundation for homoeopathy.
Generally stated, the nosodes are indicated where we lack individualistic symptomatology. This lack of symptomatology plus the chronic taint or diathesis which we can ascribe to our patient will help us prescribe the nosode. For example, let us say we have an old suppressed gonorrheal case, having been treated by injections, and now ten years later he suffers from rheumatoid affections.
Orthodoxy we have always with us, in science as well as religion. Reactionaries always with us, in science as well as religion. Reactionaries always resent and react against any word, expression or action which tends to enlarge the boundaries they have arbitrarily set in their creeds, customs or codes. Hence the ridicule and criticism to which Hahnemann and his followers have been subjected to for using certain words that are “taboo” in scientific circles.