A repertory of desires and aversions by William Jefferson Guernsey

Book review by Dr MANSOORA. K

Published by B.Jain publishers (P) Ltd
Price :Rs.20
Number of pages : 48, Repertory section:30.
Year :1883
Current edition :2006

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
WILLIAM JEFFERSON GUERNSEY, , Frankford, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was born in that city in 1854, son of William Fuller Guernsey, M. D., and Adilene R. Eastman.In 1875 he graduated M. D. from Hahnemann Medical College, Philadelphia, and is a conscientious practitioner of homœopathy, adhering strictly to the principles as enunciated by Hahnemann.

CONTRIBUTIONS:

In 1876 the little “Traveler’s Medical Repertory,” intended for the laity 

In 1877, a “Repertory on Menstruation ;”

In 1882, a repertory under the title of “The Homœo-Therapeutics of Hæmorrhoids”

In 1883, “Repertory of  Desires and Aversions ;”

In 1889, “Guernsey’s Bœnninghausen,” a reproduction of the famous “Bœnninghausen Repertory,” in the form of adjustable slips, which was sold only on subscription, the entire edition being ordered before publication.

In 1890, “Repertory on Location and Direction of Pains in the Head ;”

In 1892, “Repertory on Diphtheria ;”

In 1892, “The Homœopathic Therapeutics of Hæmorrhoids” (repertory) revised and enlarged, second edition.

For fifteen years he has been at work at intervals upon a repertory on skin diseases, to which he has given particular study, but which is not yet ready for publication.

In 1897 he conceived the idea of combining predigested meat with concentrated malt as a food for invalids and infants, and placed upon the market, in a small way, a preparation containing both the best peptones and malt then obtainable.

In 1900 a very much better malt was prepared especially for his food and the designation of “Stronger” was added to the name of “Perfection Liquid Food,” which is now in demand all over the country and is endorsed by hundreds of leading physicians.

Dr. Guernsey married, in 1878, Marion M. Morgan, by whom he has two daughters, Grace K. and Helen R. Guernsey.

INTRODUCTION
About the role of desires and aversions in prescribing Homoeopathic remedy he writes, General symptoms are common to every disease and almost every drug, the uncommon sensations and pains, likes and dislikes are simply the ‘guiding symptoms’ to the choice of the remedy that will often be found to cover the ‘totality of symptoms’ in the case.

This book has 3 main subdivisions:

  1. List of remedies

Repertory part is divided into 2:

  1. Desire for
  2. Aversion to

LIST OF REMEDIES:

It gives the abbreviated names and full names of the drugs given in the repertory.

It has 231 drugs.

DESIRE FOR:

This section has 141 rubrics. The serial number is given , followed by the rubrics.

Rubrics are given in bold capitals, followed by the drugs. The rubrics are given in alphabetic order from acids to wine.

Eg: 9.APPLES: Aloe,Ant-t.

Sub rubric is given below the main rubric, with indentation and followed by a “-“

Eg:52.EGGS: Hydras.,Nat-p.

                 -FRIED: Nat-p.

                -SOFT BOILED: Calc., Oleum.

Cross reference is given in 2 ways:

Eg:

1. With remedies :

77.LEMONADE (Compare ACID DRINKS, 3):

2. Without remedies

119.SMOKE =131

AVERSION TO:

It has 61 rubrics. The serial number is continuous with that of desires.

Eg: 145.BANANA: Elaps.

GRADATION:

  1. CAPITALS
  2. CAPITAL BOLD
  3. Bold
  4. Italics
  5. Italic bold
  6. Roman
  7. ( Roman)

FEW SINGLE REMEDY RUBRICS:

DESIRE FOR

15. BITTER DRINKS :Nat-m

25.CAKES: Plb

36.CLOVES:Alum

41.COOKED FOOD: Nit- ac

53.EVERYTHING: Santon.

64.HONEY:Sabad

67.ICE-CREAM:Eup-per

91.ONIONS:Cub

AVERSION TO

173.GARLIC: Sabad.

181.PICKLES:Abies-c

184.POTATOES:Thuj.

MERITS:
In this 2005 Edition of “A Repertory of Desires and Aversions” a good  attempt has been made:

1.To make it more user friendly.
2.Abbreviations and names of drugs have been standardized according to Synthesis in the whole text.

3. Improved and more readable font has been introduced with increased font size.

REFERENCE:
1.A repertory of desires and aversions- WM.J.Guernsey ,M.D.
2.Reperire – Dr.Vidyadhar R.Khanaj.

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