– BENERJEE.P,
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| The mystery of homœopathic selection |
The selection of the remedy is a most difficult work. Let us try to understand and assimilate the mystery underlying it.
We have learnt by now, that it is the record of the case that furnishes the basis for prescription. And the record of the case is a statement of symptoms. But, all the symptoms recorded are not of the same degree of usefulness for the purpose of prescription. And while proceeding to make a prescription, it is necessary to arrange the symptoms in order of their importance. The order of the importance of symptoms has already been explained. The mental symptoms come first in respect of importance. Then come the physical symptoms i.e. , those relating to the whole of the patient’s body, and last of all, the local symptoms i.e. , those relating to particular localities of the patient’s body. Now, for the purpose of prescription, all the symptoms should be classified and arranged as above. But before I actually explain to you the method of this classification, I should like to make it clear, as to where the personality of the person lies. It lies in his mind; it is the mind that makes the man. And as such, the symptoms of the mind must necessarily be of the greatest importance and value. Now, these symptoms of the mind may again be divided into three classes, according as there are three distinct functions of the mind-(1) Affection, (2) Intelligence and (3) Memory. The symptoms relating to the whole of the patient’s body (Physical generals) may be classified as under:-
(1) The whole patient’s relation to heat and cold.
(2) His desire for motion or rest.
(3) How he is affected by the open air.
(4) How she is affected before, during and after menstruation.
(5) How the patient is affected before or after eating.
(6) How the patient is affected before or after evacuation.
These physical generals are second in respect of importance, that is to say, they stand next to the mental symptoms.
Then, the symptoms relating to particular localities in the patient’s body are the third in importance. And these symptoms are generally, the so called diseases for the treatment of which the patient comes to the physician. Suppose; a patient comes to you for the treatment of colic. Now, this colic does not relate to the whole of his body (physical general), but to a particular locality in his body, say the stomach. Thus, this symptom is confined to the stomach only. Let me classify and arrange the three kinds of symptoms referred to above, according to their importance and usefulness for the purpose of prescription:-
I. Mental Symptoms
(a) Affections, as morbidly deranged.
(b) Intelligence, as morbidly deranged.
(c) Memory, as morbidly deranged.
II. Physical Generals
Physical symptoms relating to the whole of the patient’s body:-
(a) The whole patient, as he is affected by heat and cold.
(b) His desire for motion or rest.
(c) As he is affected by the open air.
(d) As she is affected before, during or after menstruation.
(e) As he is affected before or after eating.
(f) As he is affected before or after evacuation.
III. Physical Locals
Symptoms confined to particular localities in the patient’s body. These are the symptoms for which the patient has come to be treated.
Now, the symptoms falling under I are the most important for the purpose of prescription, the symptoms falling under II are next in importance, and those falling under III are the least in importance. While proceeding to make a prescription in a given case you have to arrange the symptoms according to the above Schema. And if the symptoms under I and II lead you to one remedy straight, there is no need of considering the symptoms under III, because the remedy arrived at on the basis of the symptoms under I and II is the right remedy, and it will cure the case even if the symptoms under III do not agree with it. If, however, these too agree, so much the better. Then again if the symptoms under I and II suggest more than one remedy, then you have to consider the symptoms under III, and the remedy to which you will be led by a combined study of the symptoms under I, II and III, will be the right remedy. Let me elucidate the above still further by an example. Suppose here is a patient:-
I Gets angry for the slightest cause;
Mental is very sensitive; cannot bear the
Symptoms. slightest noise.
Is affected by the slightest exposure
to heat and cold; cannot stay in one
II place; has a desire to go here and
Physical Generals. there; better from eating, and prefers
cold.
III
Physical Locals. Colic-better from movement.
Now, from I and II above, you can at once arrive at Phosphorus, and if the colic (the physical local) from which the patient is suffering is not like the colic of Phosphorus, it does not matter, because, Phosphorus will still be the remedy for the case. If however, the colic is also like that found under Phosphorus, so much the better. The above also shows, of what little importance the local symptoms are, that is to say, the symptoms for which the patient comes to be treated. It is not unoften that they are of no use at all for the purpose of prescription, and for a Homœopath it is not very difficult to under stand how it is that local symptoms are of such poor value. It is however to be admitted, that it is really very difficult to get complete records, but such records are indispensable for correct prescribing, as only local symptoms of the body for which the patient comes to the physician are unable to point to the remedy. Patients that have clear symptoms of the classes I and II can be quite easily prescribed for and cured, while patients that have a lot of local symptoms (symptoms under class III), without any under classes I and II, are hard to cure. This explains why cancer, phthisis, tumour etc. are so very difficult to cure, The fact is that in these cases symptoms under I and II are almost totally absent. It is only certain effects of the disease process that are available in these cases, and these fall under class III, and these cannot point to the remedy. There is nothing surprising in it. If there are no symptoms to point to the remedy, the mere disease-product, as expressed in certain localities of the patient’s body, cannot enable anybody to cure him.