Book review on A systematic alphabetic repertory of homoeopathic remedies

Book review by Dr Jasmin V BHMS MD(Hom)

Author: Dr. C. Von Boenninghausen

First repertory which honoured Boenninghausen as the Father of Repertory.

Generally known as the Repertory of the Antipsoric Remedies.

Year of publication: First edition -1832,   Second edition- 1833

  • Translated from the second German edition by C. M. Boger
  • Number of chapters: 90
  • Number of remedies: 52
  • Published by B. Jain publishers
  • This is the reprint edition in 2004

GRADATION OF THE REMEDIES: 5

In the first edition

  • 1st grade-  s p a c e d  I t a l i c s
  • 2nd grade- Italics
  • 3rd grade- s p a c e d  R o m a n
  • 4th grade- Roman
  • 5th grade- Roman in paranthesis

In the second edition

  • 1st grade- CAPITAL BOLD
  • 2nd grade- Roman bold
  • 3rd grade-Italics
  • 4th grade- Roman
  • 5th grade- Roman in parenthesis

About the author
Baron Clemens Maria Franz von Boenninghausen was born in Netherlands in 12th march 1785. He graduated from the Dutch University of Groningen with the degree of Doctor of Civil and Criminal Law. He devoted much to developing the state agriculturally and became greatly interested in agriculture and allied sciences, especially botany. Then he published a book on ‘Prodromus Florae Monasteriensis’. Thus he became the director of Botanical gardens of Munster.

In 1827 he suffered from purulent tuberculosis. At this time, he wrote a farewell letter to his close botanical friend, A .Weihe, who was the first homoeopathic physician in the province of Rhineland and Westalphia. Weihe treated Boenninghausen with pulsatilla. This event made him to have great interest in Homoepathy. From 1830 he was in close relation with Hahnemann until the master’s death.

The important works of Boenninghausen are-

  • 1831-The cure of Cholera and its Preventives
  • 1832- Repertory of the Antipsoric medicines, with a preface by Hahnemann.
  • 1833- An Attempt at a Homoeopathic Therapy of Intermittent Fever
  • 1835- Repertory of the Medicines which are not Antipsoric.
  • 1836- Attempt at Showing the Relative Kinship of Homoeopthic Medicines
  • 1846- Therapeutic Manual for Homoeopathic Physicians, for the use at the sickbed and in
  • the study of the Materia Medica.
  • 1849- Brief Instructions for Non- Physicians as to the Prevention and Cure of Cholera
  • 1853- The Two Sides of Human Body and Relationships
  • 1860- The Homoeopathic Treatment of Whooping Cough in its Various Forms
  • 1863- The Aphorisms of Hippocrates, with Notes by a Homoeopath.

CONTENTS

  • Translator’s preface
  • Preface to second edition
  • Preface to first edition
  • Introduction
  • Intercurrent remedies in chronic diseases
  • Review of the Antipsoric remedies
  • Repertory of the Antipsoric Remedies
  • Index

Translator’s preface
“Every repertory is useful. Unfortunately not one is complete. This one offers the best guide for the selection of the most suitable remedy in chronic diseases, hence its translation.”- C.M Boger.

Preface to second edition

In this section Boger mentions about

  • Popularity of Homoeopathy,
  • Mentions the drug added in 2nd edition from Hahnemann’s Chronic  Diseases.
  • Also about the changes that occur after administering a similar remedy.
  1. The state of illness is changed
  2. It remains the same

A-  1st. The condition is ameliorated – wait , give another dose of same remedy if symptoms points it.

2nd. It is aggravated
– homoeopathic aggravation – wait
– if symptom troubles – antidote

3rd . The sickness alters its symptoms complex – remedy wrong & change of remedy according to the case.

  1. It remains the same

Due to want of receptivity
Remove either by repeated small doses or by the medicines recommended for deficient reactions.

Preface to the first edition
Initially this repertory was limited to the remedies mentioned in the first three volumes of Hahnemann’s Chronic Diseases. When the author found his little repertory useful, he added the leading remedies in the forth volume of Chronic Diseases. Dr. Rueckert and others who possessed a copy of it found it so practically useful and urged Boenninghausen repeatedly to put this little work in print. Thus he undertook this laborious work. To attain the object of completeness, brevity and ease in consultation, a strictly alphabetical succession beside the systematic order was necessary.

  • He used different typography for the remedies depending on symptoms that have been verified in practice.
  • Roman in parantheis are doubtful remedies which require critical study and which occur most seldom.
  • Roman indicate symptoms that have been verified in practice .
  • Spaced roman indicates that symptom to which the remedy refers is a repetition of its primary action
  • Italics are used where the result of the actual experience has unquestionably confirmed the already ascribed curative power of the remedy.
  • Spaced italics are used where these results have repeatedly followed its application.

INTRODUCTION
On the Repetition of the Homoeopathic Remedy- by Hahnemann

The homoeopathic physician should generally let the carefully selected remedy to act upon the patient in a single  dose at a time and allow it to exhaust its action. A single dose is sufficient especially in certain mild diseases particularly in children or delicate and susceptible adults. But in chronic and highly developed  cases, often spoiled through previous unsuitable remedies and also in grave acute diseases,  such a single dose is not sufficient.

But  Repeating  frequently may cause the vital force to expel this hostile overdose of medicine by means of vomiting, diarrhea, fever, sweat, etc:

Action of medicine through inhalation is equal to that of the medicine taken orally and at the same time repetition in the sense, more time he can inhale than the dose taken though orally.

Expiry Date Of Medicines
One globule,10 to 20 of which weigh a grain, moistened with 30th potency and then dried retains its full power for at least 18 to 20 years if protected from heat and sunlight even if the vial is opened as many as thousand times.

Intercurrent remedies in chronic diseases

  • Coffee- Too great sensitiveness and painfulness of the affected parts, irritability and sleeplessness
  • Hepar sulph alternated with Nit.ac in excessive irritation from abuse of mercury
  • Magnes. arct. – excessive irritation with trembling , great trembling, great restlessness in limbs causing constant change of position , great distention of the hypogastrium, mental anxiety and apprehensiveness, great nervousness.
  • Mesmerism for nervousness in general.
  • Nux. Vom – the nervous system is deeply affected and irritated, hypersensitiveness of the senses, fearfulness, anxiety etc
  • Opium – want of sensitiveness of nervous system and deficient reaction of the vital force.
  • Pulsatilla alternated with nux for ameliorating too great irritability.

Interruption of the Antipsoric Cure

  • Anger with vexation, with chill and coldness of the body- Bry
  • Anger with indignation- Staph
  • Anger causing internal or concealed vexation, grief or shame- Ignat
  • Anger with wrath, violence and heat- Chamom
  • Hernia descended generally- Nux v
  • Homesickness with red cheeks and sleeplessness at night- Caps
  • Love, unhappy with inward grief- Ignat
  • Love, unhappy with jealousy- Hyos
  • Bruises and wounds- Arn.
  • Fright with vexation- Aco.
  • Weakness caused by loss of fluids, as sweat , pollutions etc:
  • Cold catching in general- Nux.v
  • Followed by diarrhea- dulc
  • Dyspnoea, attacks of – Ipec
  • Followed by fever and heat- Acon
  • Sprains and over lifting in some cases – Arn but better Rhus tox
  • Intoxication after wine- Nux v.

REVIEW OF THE ANTIPSORIC REMEDIES
There are 50 antipsoric remedies, one antisyphilitic remedy and one antisycotic remedy in this section. The remedies are arranged alphabetically. Each remedy is described with their abbreviation, names, common names, source, number of symptoms, duration of action and antidote.

Eg:  Petr. Petroleum, coal oil  (Hahn. Chron ii , 306), 623 symptoms. Acts 40 to 50 days,  Antidote: Nux. Vom

The antipsoric remedies listed are
Agaricus, Alumina, Ammonium carb, Ammonium mur, Anacardium, Ars. Alb, Aur , Baryta , Belladonna, Boric acid, Bovista, Calc carb, Carb animalis, Carb veg, Causticum, Clematis, Colocynth, Conium, Digitalis, Dulcamara, Euphorbia officinarum, Graphites, Guaiacum, Hepar sulph, Iodum, Kali carb, Lycopodium, Magnesia carb, Mag mur, Manganum, Mezereum, Muriatic acid, Natrum carb, Natrum mur, Kali nitricum, nitric acid, Petroleum, Phosphorus, Phosphoric acid, Platina, Rhododendron, Sarasaparilla, Senega, Sepia, Silicea, Stannum, Strontium carb, Sulphur, Sulphuric acid and Zincum met.

Antisyphilitic remedy – Mercurius vivus

Antisycotic remedy- Thuja

REPERTORY OF THE ANTIPSORIC REMEDIES
This is the first and foremost repertory published so far. This is an important work by

Dr. Boenninghausen in 1832. As the name suggests the rubrics are arranged in alphabetical order under different chapters.  There are 90 chapters in this repertory

starting from Mind to generalities. Boenninghausen gave locations in general to comparatively fewer parts of anatomy. In section, Head, Abdomen, Upper &Lower extremities has given locations. No where else he has given locations.

Chapter heading given in bold capital large font.
Subheading are given in capital bold small fonts.
for eg-VERTIGO ,  TIME

Rubrics are arranged in each chapter alphabetically.

First word of the rubric is represented in bold roman with a comma followed by roman which is then followed by a semi colon and then antipsoric remedies are given.

Eg-Angriness,fretfulness:Agar

Subrubric given in ordinary roman italics.

Anguish:Fearful,timorous   

Antisycotic & anti syphilitic remedies are given after antipsoric remedies after hyphen

Eg;a b c d  -Merc

The chapters are arranged according to the above order which is expressed in bold capitals. The sub chapters are given in small capitals. The main rubrics are given in bold roman but in few places it is given in bold capitals.

Eg: MIND- ANXIOUSNESS

The sub rubrics are haphazardly given either in roman or in italics.

Eg: Anxiety, worrying

The chapter HEAD – INTERNAL is divided into different areas denoted by certain letters. F indicates forehead and sinciput, T. the temples, S. the sides, V. the vertex or crown, O. the occiput, H. head in general. In the sub chapter LIDS , O indicates the upper lid, U the lower lid,R. the right and L. the left. In the sub chapter CANTHI I indicates the inner and O the outer canthi. In the chapter LIPS, O means upper lip, U. the lower lip and A, angle of jaw. In the chapter TEETH AND GUMS, I indicates incisors, E, eye teeth, J, bicuspids and molars, O, upper and U lower teeth and H, hollow teeth.

Boenninghausen followed Hahnemannian anatomical schema & inside the chapters construction is based on concept of complete symptom:

  • Head internal
  • Location(fore head, temple, vertex)
  • Sensation(alive, ball like)
  • Aggravation(air, cold)
  • Amelioration
  • Time

The sequence of Aggravation, Amelioration, Time, Concomitant is changed from section to section.

INDEX
This is the last part of the book.
Here it is arranged in alphabetical order given with page number & in chapter heading.
Subheadings are also given

Features of this repertory

  • This is the first repertory published.
  • Valuable introduction by the Master is given about the repetition of remedy.
  • Duration of action and expiry date of homoeopathic medicines are given.
  • Progenitor of later repertories.
  • Even if Boenninghausen follow the theory of grand generalization, a well represented mind chapter is given in this book with 167 rubrics.
  • The rubrics are arranged in alphabetical order in the different chapters.
  • In most places, there are five grading of the remedies, but in some places there is a sixth grade which is given as roman with a question mark within the brackets.    Eg: VISION- Rings, (aur?)
  • Each chapter has sub sections in relation to the time, aggravation and amelioration.
  • In some places synonyms are given in brackets after the rubrics.   Eg: EYES- Tears in (watering),                   FACE- Lichen (scaly)

– Nodes (bumps)  that, the antipsoric remedies are arranged alphabetically and the antisycotic (thuja) and the antisyphilitic ( mercurius) after a hyphen.

Eg: VISION-Blindnes: Night: Bell, dig – Merc

  • Desires and aversions are given under the chapter APPETITE. The rubrics for thirst are also given as the sub chapter of MOUTH
  • The rubric for varicose vein is given in the chapter SKIN.
  • The authenticity of medicines is strong since they are from Hahnemann’s Chronic Diseases and Materia Medica Pura.
  • But there is no index for the remedies.

Demerits

  • The number of remedies are very less and mostly antipsorics.
  • Concomitants are given only in few chapters.
  • Time is given as morning, forenoon, afternoon, evening, night & not as alphabetical order
  • Each chapter ends by underline. Most of the times not found leading to confusion
  • No index for the remedies.
  • The arrangement of the chapters is very confusing since there is no definite font for the chapter and the sub chapters.
  • The sequence of Aggravation, Amelioration, Time, Concomitant is changed from section to section.

References

  1. A Systematic Alphabetic Repertory of Homoeopathic Remedies- C. Von Bonninghausen
  2. Therapeutic Pocket Book – C. Von Bonninghausen

1 Comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.


*