CLARKE JH, Homoeopathy Explained - Classical Homeopathy Online

Cyanide of Mercury was certified as death from diphtheria. Again and again cases of
Belladonna poisoning have been mistaken for scarlatina. When the resemblance between
a drug disease and a natural disease is so close as this, it can be inferred with absolute
certainty that the drug which manifests the “likeness” will be a remedy of wide
usefulness in the treatment of cases of the disease. Accordingly Mercurius cyanatus is a
remedy which homoeopaths of proven usefulness in diphtheria; and Belladonna not only
modifies the course and symptoms of scarlatina, but it also acts as a prophylactic against
infection. If Belladonna in the 3rd centesimal potency be given to the healthy members of
a household when scarlatina breaks out in it, the epidemic will not spread. Were this fact
generally known among school proprietors, an enormous amount of trouble, anxiety, and
loss might be saved to them. This is one small point in the immense importance of a
knowledge of homoeopathy to the community at large.
But it is necessary to guard against the idea that because certain drugs produce a more or
less perfect facsimile of certain natural diseases, that every disease must have its natural
counterpart and cure. The instances in which a single drug produces such a perfect
picture are rare; and when they do occur, it must be understood that many cases of the
disease will require other remedies for their cure. Homoeopathy has no cut and dried
remedies for cut and dried diseases.
Wherein, then, are we to look for the likeness? It lies in the character of the symptoms
produced by the drugs, corresponding with the character of the symptoms present in
every case of disease.
Hahnemann quickly discovered that symptoms observed in provings did not all possess
equal value. He noticed that when any peculiar or out-of-the-way effect came out in a
proving this had especial value in prescribing when the same symptom was met with in a
case of disease.
This peculiarity need not be in the actual symptom itself, it may be in the conditions
under which it manifests itself; or it may be in some concomitants, which is found
associated with it. It is in being able to discern and utilise these points that most of the art
of homoeopathy lies, and it is on this that success in treatment largely depends.
To give one or two illustrations. A patient who suffered severely from headache
complained that one of her sensations was “as if woollen were wrapped round the head
inside the skull.” Now that is a most peculiar sensation, and to cure the case it would be
necessary to find a symptom somewhat like it accredited to some remedy. In my search,
by the aid of repertories, I found this; “Sensation as if a cold cloth were wrapped round
the brain”.” This was produced by the salt of the American spring named Sanicula. I gave
it to my patient in the 1000th potency, and it rapidly removed the entire train of
symptoms, which also corresponded to other effects of the remedy. In this case the
sensation of there being something wrapped round the brain was the peculiar feature in
which drug and disease were “like”. And although the sensation of the wrapping material
was different, the likeness was close enough to effect a cure.
In other cases the point of correspondence that it is essential to match lies in the
conditions under which the symptoms appear, or are either better or worse. An
octogenarian patient of mine, of very fine physique, a devotee of the morning cold bath,
was troubled with a rheumatic pain in the right arm and elbow, which annoyed him very
much, as it interfered with a favourite occupation, namely, driving a spirited pair of
horses. Now the drugs which produce pains in the arms are legion. It was necessary,