A Contribution to the Judgement Concerning the Characteristic Value of Symptoms

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A Contribution to the Judgement Concerning

the Characteristic Value of Symptoms
By Clemens Franz Maria von Boenninghausen
Presented by Sylvain Cazalet

It is now over three years since the great Homoeopathic

Congress was held in Brussels, Germany being, I am sorry to say,
but little represented. In the last session of this meeting after several
propositions had been read, my resolution was adopted and a prize-
question was proposed, to answer which a period of two years was
granted. This prize essay, as the Homoeopathic journals have also
made known, was intended to call out a "Treatise concerning the
greater or lesser (characteristic) value of the symptoms occurring in
a disease, to aid as a norm or basis in the therapeutical selection of
the remedy." The answer to this question was not limited to Belgium
or to France, but it was handed over to the competition of the whole
medical world, and it was thus unanimously acknowledged to be a
subject of the greatest importance. Nevertheless, this question, in
spite of the daily increase of the homoeopathic literature, has thus far
remained unsolved. This silence extending far over the time set,
which was computed liberally enough, seems to justify the
assumption that the solution of the question has met with
considerable difficulties, though every homoeopath must every
moment find himself in the position to ask himself this question, and
to have to answer it. It might not appear altogether proper for me, the
author of the question, to also now enter among the competition for
this prize. But the old practitioner will be pardoned for furnishing at
least some contribution to the solution, and thereby again calling
attention to the question.

The teaching of the Organon in this matter really contains the

proper, true kernel of the answer, and this, of course, deserves to be
first premised. It is found in the great Paragraph No. 153 (5th Ed.)
and is as follows:

In seeking for the specific homoeopathic remedy, i.e., in this

juxtaposition of the phenomena of the natural disease and the list of
symptoms of the medicines, in order to discover a morbid potency
corresponding in similitude to the evil to be cured, the more striking,

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A Contribution to the Judgement Concerning the Characteristic Value of Symptoms

particular, unusual and peculiar (characteristic) signs and symptoms

of the case should especially and almost solely be kept in view; for
there must especially be some symptoms in the list of the medicine
sought for corresponding to this, if the remedy should be the one
most suitable to effect the cure. The more general and indefinite
symptoms, such as lack of appetite, headache, weariness, disturbed
sleep, uncomfortableness, etc., in their generalness and
undefinedness deserve but little attention, unless they are more
especially pronounced, as something of such a general nature is seen
in almost every disease and in almost every medicine.

It is seen, however, that it is here left to the physician to judge

what is understood by the "more striking, particular, unusual and
peculiar" symptoms, and it might, indeed, be difficult to furnish a
commentary to this definition, which would not be too diffuse and,
therefore, easily understood, and on the other hand would be
complete enough to be properly applied to all these cases. Whence is
it that we are unable to show any such definition in our literature?
Even what Hahnemann adduces in §86, and those that follow, only
contains some examples which are given without any systematic
order, and are therefore but little suited to impress themselves on the
memory, a requirement which in all such matters must appear to be
of very great importance.

After looking about in the whole of the medical writings,

allopathic as well as homoeopathic, for an aid, I remembered that in
the middle ages they were accustomed to bring all such matters into
the form of verses, in order that the memory might thus be assisted.
The modern learned world knows, e.g., the diet of the Schola
salernitana, dating from the beginning of the twelfth century, drawn
up in leonine verses, as is supposed, by a certain John of Milan, from
which some parts are quoted even to this day. But though I did not
find here anything for the present purpose, I yet found something
which, as it seemed, might prove useful with writers of quite a
different doctrine. There is, namely, a hexameter dating from this
same period but from the theologic scholastics; this is, indeed, of a
somewhat jolting construction, nevertheless it contains briefly and
completely the various momenta according to which a moral disease
is to be judged as to its peculiarity and grievousness. The verse is the
following: "Quis? quid? ubi? quibus auxiliis? cur? quomodo?
quando?"

The seven rubrics designated in this maxim seem to contain all

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A Contribution to the Judgement Concerning the Characteristic Value of Symptoms

the essential momenta which are required in the list of the complete
image of a disease. May I be allowed, therefore, to attach my
remarks to this scheme, with the desire that this hexameter, which
was formerly used only by theologians, may now be also impressed
on the memory of homeopaths and be put to use by them.

1. Quis?

As a matter of course the personality, the individuality of the

patient, must stand at the head of the image of the disease, for the
natural disposition rests on it.

To this belongs first of all the sex and the age; then the bodily
constitution and the temperament; both, if possible, separated,
according to his sick and his well days i.e., in so far as an
appreciable difference has appeared in them. In all these peculiarities
whatever differs little or not at all from the usual natural state needs
little attention; but everything that differs in a striking or rare way
therefrom deserves a proportionate notice. The greatest and most
important variations are here found mostly in the states of the mind
and spirit, which must by scanned all the more carefully, if they are
not only sharply distinct, but also of rare occurrence and, therefore,
correspond to only few remedies. In all such cases we have all the
more cause to fathom these states with all possible exactness, as in
them frequently the bodily ailments recede to the background, and
for this very reason offer but few points for our grasp, so that we
may be able to make a sure selection among the remedies which
compete.

Paragraph 104 of the Organon makes it a duty of the

homoeopath to make a written scheme of the image of the disease,
and whoever has once acquired a certain facility in this will easily
know how to satisfy this requirement and gradually acquire a certain
specializing penetration, which will prove to him of ever increasing
usefulness. For as every man presents an individual nature different
from every other one, and as every medicine must be exactly adapted
to this individuality, in agreement with the symptoms, which it is
able to produce in the total man, so, an once, at this first
investigation as to the Quis? A great number of medicines are thrust
aside, just because they do not correspond to the personality of the

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A Contribution to the Judgement Concerning the Characteristic Value of Symptoms

patient.

The spiritual and dispositional individuality of the patient here

gives the most important, often almost the only deciding points for
the selection of the remedy, where the disease involved is one of the
mind or spirit, and generally the two disturbances present themselves
so conjoined into one that the signs of the one only receive their full
and definite character from the other. Hahnemann, indeed,
recognized the importance of this two momenta from the beginning,
but the necessity of weighting the two in their connection with one
another he only recognized later on it its full measure; and he then
placed the symptoms proper to the two, which in the first provings
had been separated, one making the beginning and the other the end,
in the "Chronic Diseases" immediately one after the other, an
improved arrangement, which we also find in the best works on
Materia Medica Pura of later times.

Many other things belonging to this rubric, but concerning the

bodily individuality and presenting, as it were, the chief features in
the portrait of the patient, are contained in those books under the
heading of "general." It would be desirable and would greatly
facilitate the use if everything not pertaining thereto should be
excluded, and the former be brought under a particular rubric
denominated either "Individual" or "Personal," in such a way that the
corporeal would present a separate picture, as has been done with
respect to the spiritual and mental.

2. Quid?

Of course this question refers to the disease, i.e., to its nature

and peculiarity.

It may be unquestionably received as an axiom that we must

first know an evil accurately before we are able to give any effectual
aid against it. That occasionally relief may be given, without having
first recognized the nature of the evil, as little refutes this axiom as
the fact that an unexpected event occurs frequently which lies
outside of our computation, and which either leads to good or evil,
while neither the good will, nor the knowledge of the physician have
the least to do with it.

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A Contribution to the Judgement Concerning the Characteristic Value of Symptoms

But this axiom must be associated with another, which is no

less true and no less important, namely this: That we must also know
and possess the means which are able to relieve the evil when it is
recognized. Where these are lacking, the former are of course of no
avail.

Since the times of Hippocrates, thus since more than two

thousand years, very much has been done with respect to the first
point, and we have especially enjoyed a great progress and
enlightenment within the last century and up to modern times. The
path of pure observation and experience, which for a time had been
pretty much forsaken, and on which that ancient Father of the
healing art had gathered his valuable material, has again been
entered upon. At the same time our contemporaries possess and use
the great advantage enuring to them from the fact that they stand on
the shoulders of their predecessors, and can thus view a greater circle
of vision and, more especially, that astonishing progress has been
made in all the subsidiary sciences, especially in chemistry and
anatomy; so also they have had the advantage offered them by many
physical instruments, which it must be confessed they have used
with industry and care. By these means the modern physiological
school, and, at the same time, the diagnostics of diseases, have
reached an excellence not attained in earlier times.

The only thing of which every Homoeopath has to complain in

this matter, is that things are conducted in too general a manner for
his doctrine, and that almost universally diseases are described and
treated of under the same name, which differ essentially in their
nature, and require for their cure very different medicines.

An immediate result of this failing is, that Homoeopaths can

make only a very limited use of the great advance made by the
dominant school in diagnostics, since their generality excludes every
special direction as to the suitable remedy.

Now since the modern Materia Medica of allopathy, as well as

the older one, moves in the same generality, the conclusion follows
almost inevitably that even the most cultivated allopath often stands
undecided when he is to make a choice of remedies, so that almost
every one of them will order something different, and that he is
usually compelled to mix many thins together in order to cover the
various indications.

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A Contribution to the Judgement Concerning the Characteristic Value of Symptoms

More about this will be found in the course of this short

treatise in a more suitable place, where the other questions are also
discussed. Here I can only say so much about it.

a. That the most penetrating and most indubitable diagnostic

as offered by the best allopathic manuals is rarely of ever sufficient
for the Homoeopath, so as to enable him to make a sure selection of
the remedy, and that

b. Such a diagnostic at most, and even then not always, may

serve to exclude all those remedies from the competition which do
not correspond with the common genius of the disease, but seem to
act chiefly on other parts of the organism.

3. Ubi?

The seat of the disease really makes a part of the former

question, but it nevertheless deserves to be more particularly
emphasized, as it frequently furnishes a characteristic symptom,
since almost every medicine acts more and also more decidedly on
certain particular parts of the living organism.

These differences not only enter into consideration in certain

so-called local diseases, but also in those diseases which are called
by more general names, as affecting the whole body, e.g., gout and
rheumatism. For it is probably never or very rarely the case that all
parts of the body are affected in the same degree; even if it should be
merely the case that the right side is more affected than the left or the
reverse. But the examination of the parts affected is most necessary
and most required when the whole to which they belong is larger,
and is described merely in that general way which allopaths seem to
delight in. Such names as headache, eyeache, toothache, colic and
the like can in no way contribute to a rational choice of a remedy,
not even when also the kind of pain is indicated.

Of course, the exact individualization of the ubi is most

necessary in local ailments. Every Homoeopath knows from
experience how necessary it is, e.g., in treating toothache, to select a
remedy which in accordance with its provings on healthy persons

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A Contribution to the Judgement Concerning the Characteristic Value of Symptoms

has shown its action on the especial tooth to be treated. Among the
most striking and decisive phenomena in this respect we should
especially number the sores on the upper side of the joints of fingers
and toes, which under allopathic treatment frequently prove very
obstinate, and not infrequently become malignant, and necessitate an
amputation, and, as I had an opportunity of witnessing here in two
cases, may even have a fatal result. Every Homoeopath knows the
efficacy of Sepia in these ulcers of the joints, which have no
otherwise distinguishable features when this remedy is taken
internally; without any external medication it will have a sure effect.
Medicines which correspond to similar ulcers on other parts of the
body in such cases are utterly useless.

If the practice of auscultation and percussion, as well as the

use of the stethoscope, the plessimeter, etc., had been as well known
to Hahnemann and his pupils as to our young physicians, they would
no doubt have made the most extended use of the same for gaining a
more exact knowledge and delimitation of interior ailments. They
would have found out in lung troubles, e.g., definite local signs
pointing to the use of certain remedies, and would have indicated
them more accurately, and would not have limited themselves to
defining them as being on the left or on the right side or at the top or
below. To bring up to date and to specify more closely might be one
of the chief duties for those who make additional provings at the
present time, and might serve to an important and essential
enrichment and completion of our Materia Medica more than a
whole mass of confirmations of older symptoms or the finding out of
new ones, which mostly have a lack of individuality.

At the same time it will be conceded from the allopathic side

that the closer delimitation of the part affected, even though it may
be of moment in the completion of the diagnosis, will be of no use to
allopathic therapy, because this school is unacquainted with the
peculiarities of the various medicines. No allopathic Materia Medica
gives any information that the one remedy, e.g., corresponds more to
the anterior or the posterior lobe of the liver, more to the upper or the
lower part of the lungs, on the right or the left side, according to
which the choice of the remedy may be made. Even if we
Homoeopaths do not as yet know this as to all remedies, we do know
it with respect to many of them, and for what is lacking we find a
substitute in other signs, since, as is well known, all of these
correspond to the remedy to be selected, at least they must not be
opposed to it. Thence it may be seen that these new inventions, the

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A Contribution to the Judgement Concerning the Characteristic Value of Symptoms

value of which I am not in any way inclined to undervalue, have far

less value in a therapeutic direction than in prognosis, where they
show the extent and the dangerous nature of the malady.

Finally, we must yet consider in this question that neither the

internal changes, which can be determined by these instruments, nor
the material external changes, which manifest themselves openly to
our notice, never present the dynamic disease itself, but are only its
products, and are only developed in the course of the disease. When,
therefore, these first beginnings are checked by the suitable remedy
before those disorganizations take place, then these latter would not
come to be developed, and it would be an inexcusable procedure to
allow these sufferings to advance to a point where these material
changes can be recognized in an artificial manner. It was necessary
to mention this, in passing, in order that it may be shown how
Homoeopathy proceeds, and to deny most decidedly the objection
sometimes made that Homoeopathy is merely an expectative
method, which allows the disease to develop without hindrance until
it is too late to help. On the contrary, Homoeopathy knows and uses
in infections diseases sure prophylactic remedies, which are always
and exclusively such as have the power to heal the disease itself, and
they never omit their use for the protection of those around the
patient.

4. Quibus Auxiliis?

If the hexameter which we are following had been originally

written for our doctrine, probably a more suitable expression would
have been used in this instance, e.g., quibus sociis or quibus
comitibus? Still the name does not matter, and it is manifest that it
must refer to the accompanying symptoms.

Now since in Homoeopathy the chief aim consists in

ascertaining the remedy which most completely corresponds to the
totality of the symptoms, it is evident that this point is of the greatest
importance and deserves the most careful consideration.

For every disease presents in its recognizable phenomena a

more or less numerous group of symptoms, and it is only their
totality which presents its complete image. This image may be

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A Contribution to the Judgement Concerning the Characteristic Value of Symptoms

compared to a portrait, which can only then claim to be a striking

likeness when all the features of the original are faithfully presented
in it. It is not sufficient that mouth, nose, eyes, ears, etc., should be
presented in such a manner as characterizes man, and distinguishes
him from the monkey and other animals but as every human
physiognomy possesses its peculiarities and is distinguished from
every other, so also here the more or less strongly pronounced
abnormalities must most carefully and with the greatest faithfulness
and truthfulness be presented and given their prominence. If
therefore, retaining our former comparison, the nose should have a
most peculiar form, color or size, it would not be sufficient to
present this alone, though it should be most lifelike, and to add all
the rest according to fancy, but also the secondary parts, which, as it
were, form the background, must present a whole, such as it exists in
reality, in order to give a perfect likeness.

It is from this point of view that the concomitant ailments are

to be regarded when we select a remedy according to the motto:
Similia similibus. Thence it is evident that the rare, striking and
peculiar symptoms which present themselves demand a more
prominent place than the common ones, because on them chiefly
though not exclusively the similitude depends.

From this it naturally follows that the value of such

concomitant symptoms for the purpose intended varies widely. But it
would too far transcend the purpose of this contribution if I should
adduce and explain all the many categories of value. I shall therefore
limit myself to the presentation of a few of the most important points
here involved:

First of all, those symptoms which are found in almost all

diseases may be left out of our count, unless they manifest
themselves in a striking manner.

The same obtains as to those ailments which are wont to

appear as constant concomitants or at least as usual in the disease
under consideration, unless they should be distinguished by some
rare peculiarity and in this respect offer something characteristic.

On the other hand, all those attendant symptoms should be

carefully noted which (a) rarely appear in connection with the
leading disease, and are, therefore, also found rarely among the

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A Contribution to the Judgement Concerning the Characteristic Value of Symptoms

provings; (b) those which belong to another sphere of disease than

the chief ailment, and (c) lastly, those which have more or less of the
characteristic signs of one of the medicines, even in case they have
not before been noticed in the present juxtaposition.

Now if besides this among the last mentioned concomitant

symptoms there should be one or another in which the genius of one
of the remedies should be plainly and definitely portrayed, so that it
would be plainly pointed out, this one symptom thereby would
acquire such an importance that it would even outweigh those of the
chief ailment, and many then be at once considered as the most
suitable. Such a symptom would be included among those which
Hahnemann calls "striking, strange, unusual and peculiar
(characteristic) signs," and which are then "almost alone to be
considered" because they preeminently give to the whole disease its
individual character.

One circumstance deserves to be particularly mentioned here

which particularly shows the importance and value of concomitant
symptoms, namely, that several very efficient and in part specific
remedies in certain diseases were discovered almost exclusively
through them, the other symptoms indicating the main disease not
having pointed in that direction, nor indeed could they have given
such an indication, because the noticeable proximate signs could not
sufficiently indicate the real peculiarity of the disease. This same
system of concomitant symptoms also gives to Homoeopathy a much
greater sureness in the treatment of diseases as compared with
Allopathy, which first constructs for itself a frequently deceptive
diagnosis of the disease, which at most only points out the genus of
this disease, and where there are important attendant symptoms it
endeavors to help itself by adding to the leading remedy given for
the genus of the disease one or another remedy to cover the
concomitant ailments.

5. Cur?

Why? The causes of the disease play a prominent part in

pathological books, and justly. But a large part of this amounts only
to guesses and attempts at explanation, which mostly have only a
very subordinate value or none at all in the proper therapy of the

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A Contribution to the Judgement Concerning the Characteristic Value of Symptoms

disease, and which are too remote for our doctrine which is directed
merely to the practical.

The causes of diseases are most generally and, indeed, very

properly divided into external and internal.

The internal causes properly refer only to the general natural

disposition, which in some cases amounts to a peculiar
supersensitiveness (idiosyncrasy). The external causes or occasional
causes embrace everything which, where there is such an internal
disposition to disease, may produce disease.

The general natural disposition which is also called the

proximate cause, really belongs to the first question (Quis?) which
respects the individuality of the patient. It only belongs here in so far
as the consequences of a former disease may have modified the
original natural disposition, and thus it deserves mention.

The occasional cause, however, is the matter with which the

present question occupies itself and which deserves to be more
closely considered. As to the natural disposition notified through
previous diseases, this either depends on the miasmatic-chronic
nature of those diseases as yet unexterminated, among which in
agreement with the teachings of Hahnemann many homoeopaths
even at this day count psora, syphilis and sycosis, or it is derived
from the remains and after-effects of acute diseases, which when
they do not belong to the former, as is frequently the case, constitute
the numerous class of medicinal diseases or poisonings. Not
infrequently, however, we meet with cases where both these
momenta have cooperated to undermine the natural health, thus
producing a monster of a disease which is even more deeply in-
rooted and more difficult to combat.

As to the recognition and treatment of the first mentioned

miasmatic diseases and their complications, Hahnemann himself in
his masterly work on the Chronic Diseases left us the most complete
directions, founded on many years' experience. The much disputed
division of medicines into antipsorics and non-antipsorics need not
be considered here. It is enough to know that the former far excel the
latter in their effectiveness in chronic diseases, and that their
originator has nowhere excluded them from use in acute diseases.
Later experience has also taught us that additional medicines from

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A Contribution to the Judgement Concerning the Characteristic Value of Symptoms

our medical treasury should be numbered in this category which

have not been thus treated of in that excellent work. I am only sorry
that Hahnemann has not been able to fulfill the promise which he
gave me in writing, that he would treat as thoroughly and completely
the images of syphilis and sycosis with his accustomed mastership as
he had done in the above mentioned work (Vol. 1, p. 58 f. of the
Second Ed.) with respect to latent and re-awakened psora. Whether
we may believe in what many somewhat derisively call
Hahnemann's Psora-theory, or reject the same, the attentive
practitioner must frequently have found cases where even the
remedy chosen with perfect correctness, in some acute disease, did
not unfold its proper and decided effect before one of the so much
criticized antipsorics - frequently Sulphur - had first been used, when
psora had been involved, or an antisyphilitic or antisycotic when
syphilis or sycosis had been present before and had remained
uncured. It must, however, be confessed to be one of the most
difficult tasks of the physician to always make the most suitable
choice among the antipsoric remedies, as most of them have almost
the same symptoms and very few truly characteristic symptoms are
found with the different remedies. The more necessary is it for the
homoeopath to study with continuous industry these lists of
symptoms and to compare them with each other in order that he may
pick up the scattered grains of gold for his use.

Poisonings and medicinal diseases are in one line and it makes

no difference by whose hand any one has been deprived of his health
by means of a substance injurious to his organism; among these
substances medicines as well as poisons find their place. Of course,
it is always of the greatest importance to know in every case the
medicines or poisons, in order that they may be met by the proper
well-known antidotes. The simple poisons may be pretty easily and
surely recognized by their effects! It would have required but one
case of poisoning occurring before the eyes of a Homoeopath for
him bo have recognized the effects of Arsenic, which yet remained
unknown to all the allopathic physicians, in the case of the thirty
murders of Gessina Timme in Bremen, until the facts were obtained.
In the medicinal diseases this is much more difficult, because seldom
or never is one medicine given by itself, but always mixed with
others; it can not, therefore, yield a clear and definite image. With
these, therefore, it is necessary, as in the other case it is desirable,
and it facilitates the treatment, if we can have a reliable account of
what has preceded, and to be able to look over the prescriptions.
Since this may be of use even later on, as the treatment proceeds, the

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A Contribution to the Judgement Concerning the Characteristic Value of Symptoms

journals of many Homoeopaths have a special rubric reserved for

this subject. We must consider these symptoms, called anamnestic,
as being of special importance in this question. Although the
ordinary consequences of such morbiferous circumstances and
events are mostly already contained in the lists of symptoms of the
medicines proved on healthy people, yet homoeopathic practice has
long ago shortened and made sure the tedious and troublesome path
of such investigations, and indicated for most of these cases the
remedies which are foremost in their usefulness in such cases. This
is e.g., very much simplified in cases of contusions, sprains, burns
and the like. In other cases, e.g., in colds, the matter is already
somewhat more complicated, since the kind of a cold and the part of
the body affected offer differences which again point to different
remedies. Thus there is a great difference in this respect as to
whether the person has been simply exposed to the cold, or whether
this took place while the body was in a perspiration, or if he at the
same time got wet through. So also it is well known that different
remedies are indicated when internal parts (stomach, abdomen,
chest) have been exposed, or merely external parts (head, feet, back),
and this must be carefully weighed in every case. All this, as before
said, is found among the symptoms in the Materia Medica; but when
once it is known that a cold in the head from exposure to cold air,
after previously being in a heated room, or after having the hair cut,
points to Belladonna or Sepia; after taking cold in the feet, to Baryta
or Silicea, and when at the same time there has been a wetting, to
certain other remedies, then the attention will first of all be directed
to these, and only comparison be made with others which are also
occasionally indicated when the first are not sufficiently suitable.

Finally we must yet add a word under this question about

infectious diseases, about which in pathological manuals we read so
much that is contradictory and unreliable; the influence of which
teachings is, however, much more far reaching than is generally
supposed. To meet these diseases, which often spread until they
become a real calamity, Homoeopathy has the most sure and
approved prophylactics, and these, indeed, are the very same which
have the power of healing those diseases when they have developed.
Therefore, when we find in a family a case of infectious typhoid
fever, there the same remedy, which has been given the patient in
accordance with his symptoms, will also be sure to protect those in
the house from infection, as it destroys the natural disposition
thereto, and it will even in the shortest time restore those with whom
there may have already been apparent the beginning of the disease.

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A Contribution to the Judgement Concerning the Characteristic Value of Symptoms

This last fact is the more important, as these first beginnings are
usually so poor in symptoms that no certain choice can be founded
on them; but the known occasional cause fully makes up for what is
lacking. Of course, such a cure is not so brilliant as when the patient
has been at the verge of the grave, but the gain for him and the
consciousness of the physician is his sufficient reward.

6. Quomodo?

From his etymology, this preposition excellently describes the

essence and the scope of the question before us. For the word Modus
in the old classics not only refers to the manner and mode in general,
but also to all the modifications which can take place in anything,
thus the measure, the rule, the aim, the relations, changes, etc.; thus
whatever, with the exception of time, which is included in our last
question (Quando), possesses the ability to produce a modification,
aggravation or improvement with the patient, naturally belongs,
according to the usage of the language, to this rubric. This question
has a double importance to Homoeopathy, first, because it was first
discovered and developed by Homoeopaths, and is, therefore, their
indisputable and exclusive property, and secondly, because all the
results of provings and experience, without exception, belong to the
more or less characteristic signs, of which no one is a matter of
indifference, not even those of a negative kind.

Allopathy has never given any general attention, which might

have been of use to therapy, to this momenta. At least its manuals on
Pathology, Therapy and Materia Medica contain nothing of
importance on this subject. Homoeopathy, on the other hand, soon
after its discovery, recognized its great therapeutic value, and we
find the first but already clear traces of it in Hahnemann's
"Fragmenta de viribus medicamentorum positivis," which appeared
in the year 1805. But during the progressive development of our
science its importance appeared more manifest, and it was soon
declared to be indispensable, so that in the later provings the
attention was more and more directed upon it. On this account the
latter provings are the more complete, with the exception of those
made by Hahnemann in the Materia Medica Pura, which were
elaborated with especial industry and on account of their constant
use accompanied with copious notes.

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A Contribution to the Judgement Concerning the Characteristic Value of Symptoms

If we compare the lists of symptoms of the medicines which

have been proved somewhat fully, even a superficial survey will
show that we find in almost every one of them the general
indications of almost every disease; headache, colic, pain in the
chest, diarrhoea, constipation, as well as dyspnoea, pains in the
limbs, fever and cutaneous ailments, etc., are in no case quite absent.
But if we study these indications somewhat more closely, with
respect to the special parts of the body and the different sensations,
then, indeed, differences will appear, and we frequently discover
symptoms which appear more or less frequently in one remedy and
are totally lacking in another. But the number continues too large to
bring the decision to a sure and indubitable point, and we soon feel
the need of securing additional points in order that we may find the
true and suitable simile among the competing medicines. But the
Quomodo with the Quando generally solves the riddle in the most
satisfactory manner, and not only removes every doubt, but also
furnishes the proof for the solution which we may have before
supposed to be the right one. That in such investigations and
comparisons we must also, as in what precedes, occupy the especial
standpoint, is a matter of course. It is not sufficient, e.g., to merely
consider motion in general in contrast with rest in the body, or in the
part affected, we must also consider incipient and continuous
motion, as well as the different kinds and degrees of motion. The
same applies to lying down, we must not only consider the kind of
position (on the back, on the side, doubled up, horizontal, etc.), but
also aggravation or improvement in the parts affected by lying on the
painful part, or the part not painful; all this is to be found out
accurately and adapted to the remedy.

Quite a prominent part in this rubric is occupied by the

partaking of food and drink, and this not only in diseases of the
digestive organs, but also in fevers and other internal and external
affections. Here it is not so much the amount of appetite, or thirst, to
which also allopathy in some cases gives a proper importance, but
especially the dislike or the desire for particular kinds of food and
drink, and more especially also the change of condition after
partaking of one or another article of food that often gives the most
important hints as to the medicine to be selected. All experienced
Homoeopaths have therefore always given the greatest attention to
this subject, and it is very much to be desired that whatever different
persons have discovered in this direction should be collected and
published.

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A Contribution to the Judgement Concerning the Characteristic Value of Symptoms

It was mentioned above, in passing, that even negative signs,

so far as they belong to this rubric, should not be neglected. An
example will show best what is meant by this: when a patient, for
whose condition Pulsatilla seems suitable according to the five
preceding questions, feels best while at rest in a warm room, while
he feels uncomfortable in the open cool air, and also is fond of fat
foods and bears them well, or offers other peculiarities which are in
conflict with the characteristics of Pulsatilla, this would give an
urgent cause to doubt the applicability of it to his case and to look
for another remedy which also in these points corresponds with the
symptoms.

I am sorry that the space for these contributions, which

anyways may seem to have been already greatly exceeded, does not
permit me to enter more in detail on one and another matter
belonging to this division, as I may openly confess that I consider the
indications obtained from this and the following question as the most
important, indubitable, and therefore the decisive ones for
therapeutical purposes. Even the numerous class of reflex actions,
almost all of which fall into these two rubrics, do not by their
internal contradictions diminish this importance, as soon as we know
their mutual value, and are, therefore, enabled to estimate properly
the worth of each.

7. Quando?

This last question concerns the time of the appearance, of the

aggravation or the improvement of the ailments, and follows in
natural order after the preceding, and is hardly of less importance in
therapy than the last one.

From the time of Hippocrates and his commentators up to our

times great attention has been bestowed on the periods of time in the
various phases and stadia of the disease. The endeavor has been
made to fix the period and continuance of the beginning, of the
increase, the acme, the decrease and of the end of the disease. This
would, indeed, make a useful contribution to the recognition and the
characterization of the disease. But only in case it should be left
altogether to itself and not be modified by medical interference. But
on the other hand it can not be denied that this cannot give the least

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A Contribution to the Judgement Concerning the Characteristic Value of Symptoms

aid in the selection of the remedy, if only owing to the fact that the
medicines cause disturbances in the natural course of the disease,
which frequently lie altogether outside of all computation. Least of
all can they be of any advantage to allopathic therapy, because it
lacks all criteria from which to indicate the one or the other. I hope
that I may not here hear the objection that, e.g., the periodical return
of a fever points to an actual or a disguised intermittent fever and
therefore indicates Quinine in its various preparations; for we are not
likely to find a homoeopath who has not in his practice had to treat
numerous victims of this error.

Homoeopathy intends something quite different in this

question, having nothing in common with what precedes. But it is
concerned with two momenta which have an immediate effect on the
choice of the remedies, namely (a), the periodical return of morbid
symptoms after a longer or shorter cessation, and (b), the
aggravations and alleviations depending on the time of the day.
These two will require but a few words.

The periodical return of morbid phenomena often coincides

with periods of time which carry with them particular occasional
causes. Among these are to be numbered the menstrual ailments, as
well as those which are conditioned by the seasons, the weather, etc.
Where such definite secondary causes cannot be discovered, and
where as is mostly the case, the attacks are not closely bound to any
sharply defined periods, they have no therapeutic value for
homoeopaths as they lack the quality of a useful indication.

But of the greater importance are the aggravations and

alleviations at particular times of the day, and this with respect to
those which refer to single symptoms as well as those that refer to
the general health. In this respect Homoeopathy possesses a great
and valuable treasury of well proven experiences which are being
more and more enlarged by careful observations. For there is hardly
any disease, from the malignant internal fevers down to local
ailments, in which during the different times of the day there does
not manifest itself a more or less decided and distinct aggravation or
alleviation. Now since homoeopaths have learned these peculiarities
also in the various medicines during their provings on healthy
persons, they are enabled to make extensive and blessed use of this
peculiarity in their therapeutics, and they are obliged to do this in
order that they may satisfy the rule Similia similibus also in this
respect.

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A Contribution to the Judgement Concerning the Characteristic Value of Symptoms

To demonstrate the preceding with some special facts, I will

only adduce here the importance which the time of the day has on
coughs with respect to the expectoration, as well with respect to the
greater ease with which it is discharged, as also the consistence and
the taste. Something similar we know about the stools, and although
most of the remedies have diarrhoea among their indications, we so
far know only of two (Conium and Kali carb.) where this takes place
only by day and not by night.

With respect to the ailments which have a typical return,

independent of other causes, we have a considerable series of
remedies corresponding to this, without on that account excluding
others, when they are indubitably indicated by their symptoms. Only
in cases where this return is sharply and definitely pronounced, as
for example in the evening from 4 to 8 o'clock (Helleborus and
Lycopodium), or exactly at the same hour (Antimon. crud., Ignatia
and Sabadilla), we should give it a special importance and only be
careful that there may be no contraindications.

I conclude these contributions, which I have only hastily

sketched down, with the hope that I may have succeeded in putting
into the true light the difference between Allopathy and
Homoeopathy and to incite my colleagues on their part to treat these
important themes more at length, even if this be done only with
respect to some one of the questions indicated at a time.

Clemens Franz Maria von Boenninghausen

Allgemeine Homoeopathische Zeitung, Vol. 60, p. 73

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 A Contribution to the Judgement Concerning the Characteristic Value of Symptoms

Translation by L.H. Tafel, 1908

Copyright © Sylvain Cazalet 1999

Main

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