CLARKE JH, Homoeopathy Explained - Classical Homeopathy Online

the great therapeutic powers which lie ready to our hands in these altered disease agents.
Among the first observations made by Hahnemann was the fact that diseases which are
like each other are incompatible in the same patient at the same time, whereas two unlike
diseases can be actively present together in one and the same patient. Like diseases, he
noticed, would cure the effects of each other. The relation of vaccinia to small-pox is a
case in point; and how the advocates of vaccination can get over this glaring piece of
homoeopathy it is difficult to see.
An instance of how one disease may cure an effect of another disease came under my
own notice and may be mentioned here. A girl of about 10 or 11 had scarlatina whilst
away in the country for her holiday. She recovered from the attack of the disease, but it
left her with an affection of the kidneys resulting in passing blood with the urine. This
condition persisted and was present when she returned to London and came under my
care. It took a considerable time to get rid of the trouble, which was always liable to
return from any slight cause. At last she was well enough to go back to school and she
had not been there many days before she caught measles. This she had pretty severely,
and at the height of it a great aggravation of the old haematuria set in. After that it never
occurred again. The measles-poison cured the case homoeopathically, first producing a
severe aggravation. For measles can cause haematuria as well as scarlatina.
This was an instance of a homeopathic cure by one disease of a part of another disease.
The resemblance between the two diseases is not close enough for the one to cure or
prevent the other entirely. But nosodes are like other homeopathic remedies, and can be
used as freely : it is not necessary for a case and a remedy to correspond at all points in
order that therapeutic action may ensue. When some points of similarity exist, curative
action will follow to the extent of the correspondence.
How to practise homoeopathy
There is no need for any one to depend on Hahnemann, or any one else, in the practice of
homoeopathy. If he does not trust Hahnemann’s provings, Hahnemann has taught him
how to make provings for himself. Hahnemann’s crowning virtue is that he has brought
us into immediate contact with Nature’s forces, stripped from all artificial academic veils.
The Law of Similars is ready to serve any one who wishes to make use of it. Hahnemann
could no more take out a patent on his law than Newton could on the Law of Gravity.
This is not the place in which to describe in detail a complete system of homeopathic
practice. Larger works must be consulted by medical students and practitioners, and the
various domestic works by the laity. But I can give my readers one little bit of practice
which most of them will be able to test sooner or later.
In homoeopathy we have, as I have shown over and over again, no specifics for diseases.
At the same time there are some remedies which cover such a large number of cases of a
given disease that they may be regarded as quasi-specifics. Now we most of us know
something of the properties of the common onion. It is the recognised agent for procuring
artificial tears and a artificial cold in the head – sneezing, nose-blowing, and the rest.
Should any of my readers not be content to accept this as a genuine effect of the onion,
let them procure from a homeopathic chemist the tincture of onion (Allium cepa f) and
take a teaspoonful of that in a little water two or three times a day. They will find that this
will produce the same effect, only more marked, and a great many other effects besides.
They will probably also find that the cold produced by Allium cepa has this peculiarity,
that the nose-blowing and cough is better out of doors and worse in a warm room.