SYNTHETIC REPERTORY

DR. CHANDRA HASAN.C.M, MD(Hom),

ASSOCIATED PROFESSOR,
DEPT OF REPERTORY,
SARADA KRISHNA HOMOEPATHIC MEDICAL
COLLEGE,
KULASEKHARAM
 SYNTHETIC REPERTORY (putting together)
Authors : Dr. Med. Horst Barthel (vol :I and II )
Dr. Med. Will Klunker. (vol : III )
Editions : First edition 1973
Second revised and improved edition : 1982
Third edition : 1987 (published in India)
Forth improved reprint edition :1993
History : Many practitioners have found some lacunae
while referring to kent’s repertory, because of that
Dr.Boger and Dr.Vithoulkas made significant additions
to Kent’s repertory and both published their works
under the same title, Additions to Kent’s repertory.
 Dr. Barthel and Dr. Klunker again improved the
Kent’s repertory , collected datas from various
relaiable sources and published them in the form of
synthetic repertory. This new work is basically an
extension of Kent’s repertory
The title ‘Synthetic repertory’ was the result of
three fold synthesis.
a, Supplement from the oldest to the latest
Homoeopathic literature.
b, Register of equalents and related symptoms.
c, Composition of individual subjects, (ex)
complaints due to psychic trauma.
The general symptoms are used for the choice of
 the similimum especially in chronic cases. So the
repertory is limited to only general symptoms
Sources of the repertory :
1, J.T.Kent’s repertory, lectures on Homoeopathic
materia medica, new remedies.
2, Calvin B Knerr, repertory of Hering’s guiding
symptoms.
3, Bonneinghausen’s, Boger Boenninghausen’s
repertories, boger’s additions to Kent’s
repertory,Boger’s synaptic key.
4. Jahr, G.H.G, Systematic alphabetic repertory of
Homoeopathic remedy doctrine.
5,Gallavardin. J.P. The repertory and the materia
medica from psychisme et Homoeopathic.
 6, Stauffer, K., Symptom index.
7, Schmidt.P., The supplements by 35 authors to his
four repertories of Kent have been integrally
included, also Groupment Hahnemannian de lyon
was used.
8, Boericke, O.E, Materia medica and repertory of
W. Boericke.
9, Stephenson. J. drug proving.
10, Mezger. J., The symptoms of 35 reproven new
drugs have been taken from selected homoeopathic
materia medica
11. Allen. T.F.,Encyclopedia of pure materia
medica, a general symptom register of homoeopathic
materia medica.
 12, Clark. J.H., A clinical repertory, repertory to the
dictionary of materia medica.
13, Various journals containing recent durg provings.
14, Julian. O.A., Materia medica de homoeopathic,
dictionaier de matiere medicate de 130. Noveaux
homoeotherapeutique.
15Kunzil. J. Supplements taken from inter national
homoeopathic literature.
16, Hahnemann.S. pure materia medica, chronic
disease.
Philosophical back ground :
The repertory is based on generals, because the
author is providing importance to general symptoms.
The logic behind is didective logic.
Plan and construction :
According to the hierarchy of general symptoms synthic
repertory is divided in to three volumes
Volume I : Mental generals.
Volume :II : Physical generals (except sleep and dreams
and sexual symptoms).
Volume .III : Sleep and dreams male and female sexual
symptoms.
Each volume contain preface at first, in the preface author
mentioned about difficulties in translating this book. Then
gratitude to the persons those who contributed and helped.
Next in each volume introduction is mentioned. Under this
sources of synthetic repertory are mentioned, and structure
of the repertory is mentioned.
 After that bibliography mentioned, then remedies
and their abbreviations alphabetically, next part is
repertory proper, at the end word index is mentioned
( in volume I and II) limited to synonyms and cross
references.
Gradations :
Grade one : Small roman letters : ars
Grade two : Small bold letters : ars
Grade three : Bold capital letters : ARS
Grade four : Bold capital letters underlined : ARS
(ex) ;AILMENTS FROM :
Anger,
Indignation, with : ars, aur; COLOC.,
 ip., lyc., merc., mur-ac, nat-mur, nux-v., plat., STAPH.
Total number of medicines in first edition 1573, in
the second edition 1594. Each page of the repertory is
divided in to two using a vertical line.
Arrangement of the rubrics : The main rubrics and sub
rubrics are arranged in alphabetical order in each
volumes under chapters. Main rubrics are in bold capital
letters, sub rubrics are small bold letters, but times of
day, clock times, other headings are in ordinary letters.
The synthetic repertory mentions for the first time
the exact sources of symptoms or drugs added to Kent’s
repertory, and use a numbering system.
Symptoms and drugs from Kent’s original repertory
have not been numbered. Additions made
 by Kent in his own hand are marked 1, supplements
from his ‘lectures’ and ‘new remedies’ by 1., 2 to 16
coincide with the enumeration of the above
mentioned sources. According to Pierre Schmidt, his
and Gallaverdin’s experiences justify classification of
certain drugs of Kent in to higher grades. These durgs
are marked by both figures as 1.5 or 1.7.
The contents of the Kent’s final general repertory
are included in the first edition of synthetic repertory
In some publications where three languages are
used, the rubrics at first written in English, then
French, then German.
The abbreviations ‘agg’ and ‘am’ have been used in
all languages to mean the modalities aggravation and
 amelioration respectively.
In English index is limited to synonyms and cross
references (in volume I and II).
Symptoms with ‘asterics’ means it is one of the
new rubric collected.( volume I and II contains 138
new rubrics).
(ex), AILMENTS from
bad news*
Volume I, consist of mental symptoms arranged in
alphabetical order, pattern of arrangement in each
rubric is, rubric in general, cross references, time,
sub-rubrics pertaining to that rubric in alphabetic
order.
 Volume II, starts with TIME : day time, morning,
forenoon, noon, afternoon, evening and night, with
specific time modalities under each rubric.
Alphabetically arranged GENERAL RUBRICS
pertaining to state of person, in that rubric FOOD and
DRINGS consist of aggravation, ailments from,
amelioration, aversion and desire. PAIN rubrics starts
with – pain ailments from, appearance of pain like
comes suddenly, disappears slowly, etc., then
direction, time, location, type of pain. Clinical rubrics
like, arteriosclerosis, sarcoma, hyper tension, hypo
tension, Hodgkin's disease, multiple sclerosis, T.B.
prophylaxis, etc.
General rubrics pain with different types, pulse
 type. Children affections of – biting nails, putting
finger in the mouth, growing too fast, etc.
Volume III, sleep, dreams, sex-male, and sex-female,
rubrics are arranged under each section with rubric
in general, time, rubric pertaining to that
alphabetically.
The obsolete drugs like, electricitas, galvanism,
magnetis artificialis and ophiotoxicum were not
retained. Double entries, lack of clarity, and wrong
nomenclature, were corrected wherever possible.
Concept of totality :
Concept of totality is based on Kent’s concept of
totality. The main importance is given to generals
only. The concept that generals are the expressions
 of the constitution of a person has been given
significance in constructing totality. The prominent
generals at mental and physical levels form the basis
of totality in whole case.
The repertorisation is done by, using only mental
general symptoms , using only physical general
symptoms and using mental general and physical
general symptoms.
If the case is having characteristic particular
symptoms along with general symptoms, the author
permits the use of Kent’s repertory for the
repertorisation of particular symptoms.
Special features :
1, It consist of only general symptoms much more
and thus help full for repertorisation where lot of
general symptoms are present.
2, Causative mental symptoms are brought
together under one rubric called ’Ailments from’ in
volume I.
3, Desire, aversion, aggravation, and amelioration
from particular food are kept under one heading
called food and drinks, in volume II.
4, It consist of 1594 remedies and many more
rubrics.
5, Sources from where the symptoms and drugs
are taken are properly indicated by numbers.
 6, Huge reference : old, new, rare and specific
references are possible.
7,Helps in studying materia medica.
8, Some publications are published in three
languages.
9, Common errors like double entries, lack of
clarity, and wrong nomenclatures are corrected.
10, Obsolete drugs like , electricitas, galvanism,
magnetis artificialis, complex snake drug ophitoxicum
are not retained.
11, Many clinical rubrics are mentioned in this
repertory.
12, Time modalities are well arranged and
represented.
Criticism or demerits :
1, Mental causative ailments are separated, but
physical causative ailments are scattered in Volume II
2, Appetite rubric is not their in this repertory.
3, This repertory is not use full for the cases which
have particular symptoms.
4, The author advocates caution regarding :
Verification of drugs, possible mistakes in sources,
mistakes over looked by authors.
5, Number of rubrics in sleep, female sex and male
sexual chapters are very less
6, Though it is enlarged version of Kent’s
repertory, in mind chapter 18 rubrics are missing.
 7, The repertory contain three volumes and the
authors instructing physicians to use Kent’s repertory
for particular symptoms, so it is not easy for a quick
bed side reference.
8, Some of the medicines used in this repertory
are not available in common materia medica books.
Hence knowledge about these medicines remain
incomplete.
New rubrics in synthetic repertory, are not in Kent’s :
mind rubrics :
Adulterous.
Alert
Affability
Agility mental
Ailments from
Anorexia mentalis
Bargaining Bilious disposition Buoyancy
Corrupt Country desire for Finance aptitude for
Pessimist Postponing Selflessness
Yielding disposition Unreliable Undignified
Tearing Susceptibility
Rubrics not in synthetic repertory but in Kent’s :
ATTITUDES, assumes BELLOWING
FRIGHT, complaints from GROWLING like a dog
KNEELING and praying MANIA A POTU
MIRTH, hilarity, liveliness, catch NEW, objects seems
PIETY, nocturnal POWER, love of
REPULSIVE MOOD
SEXUAL EXCESS, mental symptoms from
SURPRISES, pleasant, affections after
UNFRIENDLY, humor UNOBSERVING
UNREAL UNTRUTHFUL
WICKED, disposition WILD feeling
New rubrics added related to food :
Alcohol agg Apple agg Ale agg
Aromatic drinks agg Butter milk agg Ice
agg
Ice cream agg Lemonade amel Meat
amel
New rubrics added in sleep chapter.
Affected sleep before menses Anxious
Coma vigil Confused Dreamless
Dull Exhausting Light Pains sleep during
New dreams related rubrics added :
Adventurous Air attacks Amputation of arm
Ball Base ball Bees Beggars Blood
Blood shed Building Desert
New main and sub rubrics added in male genitalia :
Ejaculation : insensible Ejaculation : short
Ejaculation : increased Erection : exhausted
Handles genitalia when coughing Sexual aversion
Sexual desire diminished with erection
Desire increased sleep during Sterility
Voluptuous sensations
Few main and sub rubrics added in female genitalia :
Abortion 1st month Abortion with anaemia
Abortion from syphilis Leucorrhoea in children
Leucorrhoea syphilitic Menses injury after
Sexual aversion Placenta previa Sepsispuerperai
Sexual desire increased during parturition.
Clinical rubrics : volume I
Anorexia Catalepsy Catatonia Cretinism
Delirium Delirium tremens Mania-a-potu/Dementia
Hysteria Idiocy Imbecility Mania
Schizophrenia – catatonic – hebephrenic – paranoid.
Volume II
Agranulocytosis Anaemia – pernicious Apoplexy
Aviator’s disease Basedow’s disease
Cancerous affections – epithelioma – lupus,
carcinomatous – melanoma Catalepsy
Chlorosis Convulsions Death, apparent :
asphyxia neonatorum, in asphexia of.
Elephantiasis Emaciation – children in
Marasmus Glanders Gonorrhoea, suppressed
Haemorrhage – blood- non coagulable, haemophilia
Hodgkin’s disease Hypertension Hypotension
Inflammations – blood vessels of – arteritis -
phlebitis, milk leg – bones of osteitis – osteomylitis –
periosteum of – periosteitis – bursae of, bursitis –
cartilage of, chondritis – cellulitis – chronic
appendicitis – hepatitis – ovaries of - prostatitis
sinusitis – tonsilitis – glands of, adenitis – joints of,
arthritis – arthritis deformance – lymphangitis –
muscles of, myositis – nerves of, neuritis
Lymphogranulomatosis – serous membranes of –
synovitis – tendons, tendinitis Injuries – concussion
–dislocation, luxation – sprains, dislocations – bones
of, fractures – compound fractures – stump neuralgia
Leukaemia Measles,after – exanthema repelled
Myotrophy, progressive – spinal Myxoedema
Paralysis agitans – Landry's ascending paralysis –
poliomyelitis – post-diphtheriticus – spastic – spinal
paralysis, Rickets, Sarcoma, Scarlet fever, after –
exanthema repelled, Sclerosis, multiple, Septicemia,
blood poisoning, Tuberculosis, lupus vulgaris,
 Tumour- angioma, fungus, haematode, haemangioma, -
atheroma, straetoma – encephaloma – enchondroma
– erectile – fibroid – ganglion – keloid, cheloid –
lipoma – nervus – noma – osteoma – papilloma,
Varicose vein, ulceration, Whooping cough, ailments
after,
Volume III
Abortion, Atonia (inertia) uteri, Infantilismus genitalis,
Leucorrhoea, Metrorrhagia, Placenta praevia.
Important rubrics mentioned in synthetic repertory :
Volume I (main rubrics are in capital letters)
Abrupt, Absent – minded, Absorbed, Abstraction of
mind, Abusive, Activity, Affectation, Affectionate,
 Ailments from, Amativeness, Ambition, Amorous,
Anger, Anguish, Anorexia mentalis, Answers,
Anticipation, Antics-plays, Anxiety, Audasity, Avarice,
Aversion, Brooding, Business, Busy, Capriciousness,
Cares, Carried, Cautious, Censorious, Chaotic,
Cheerfull, Clairvoyance, Company aversion, Company
desire, Concentration, Confidence, Confusion,
Conscientious, Consolation, Contemptuous,
Contradiction, Conversation, Courageous, Cowardice,
Cretinism, Cruelty, Cursing, Dancing, Death-agony,
Delirium, Delirium tremens, Delusions, Dementia,
Despair, Destructiveness, Dipsomania, Discomfort,
Discouraged, Disgust, Dream, Dullness, Eccentricity,
Egotism, Envy, Excitement, Exertion, Exhilaration,
 Fancies, Fear, Foolish, Forgetful, Forsaken,
Frightened, Gestures, Grief, Homesickness, Hopeful,
Hurry, Hydrophobia, Hypochondriasis, Hysteria,
Ideas, Imbecility, Impatience, Indifference, Indolence,
Industrious, Insanity, Introspection, Irresolute,
Irritability, Jealous, Jesting, Kill, Kleptomania,
Lamenting, Lascivious, Laughing, Libertinism,
Loathing, Loquacity, Malicious, Mania, Memory,
Memory weakness of, Mildness, Misanthropy,
Mischievous, Moaning, Mocking, Monomania, Mood,
Moral, Music, Nymphomania, Obstinate, Optimistic,
Pessimist, Prostration, Quarrelsome, Rage, Remorse,
Restlessness, Sadness, Schizophrenia
Sensitive, Shamelessness, Sighing, Singing, Slowness,
Somnambulism, Spoken to, Staring, Stupefaction,
Suicidal, Sympathy, Talking, Thoughts, Timidity,
Tranquility, Travel, Trifles, Unconsciousness, Violent,
Vivacious, Weary of life, Weeping, Wildness, Witty,
Work, Yielding.