These physicians experiment occasionally with the 30th, and sometimes higher, and frequently seem to get some remarkable results; but they are as skeptical of it as a regular is of his bread pills. It is thought by many of us that it is practically suggestiv treatment.

The American Institute of Homeopathy, and most of our colleges, anticipate that a homeopathic physician should be taught and know all that a regular is taught; beside, he should know and admit the principle of similia similibus curantur. Whether or not this principle is universal, and we are too finite to make the application, is an open question; and whether we believe it and the high potency theory, is a matter of experience, observation and credulity of the individual.

Hahnemann should have had the same recognition in the medical world that other great discoverers in medicin have. He was a scholar, a student, and an indefatigable worker. The fact that he was ostracized, and his great scientific discovery was not recognized, and given a respectful hearing, has resulted in the outgrowth of sectarian schools. Hahnemann should have had the same recognition in medicin that Harvy Tait, Lister, Koch, and all other great medical discoverers received, and there should have been no "schools" of medicin. They have been the result of bigotry, intolerance and prejudice on the part of physicians, and jealousy, selfishness, and greed of gain on the part of pharmacists, who, by persecution drove Hahnemann and his followers into an organization of their own; and it was given an identity by calling it homeopathy.

WILLIS E. BUCK, M.D.

Kingman, Kan.

[We give space to the above not only

because of the clearness and frankness of

the statement, but also because the writer

is President of the Kansas State Homeopathic Medical Society, and hence we can consider his statement somewhat authoritativ.-ED.]

Editor MEDICAL WORLD:-The law upon which homeopathy is founded is a law of cure, and not a law of posology; nor does it have any connection therewith. Then why discuss a mere appendage to the principal proposition ? Most of the adverse criticism of homeopathy to-day is based on the dosage-not on the law of "like

cure like." Samuel Hahnemann first gave this law publicity in 1796; and during the following 3 years we find him giving at a single dose "a few grains of arnica root, ignatia in doses of 2 or 3 grains to children from 7 to 12 years of age, camphor 30 to 40 grs., opium to gr., and 3 and 3 doses of cinchona,' and it was not till 1799 that he began the practise of infinitesimal doses. Why? He was experimenting, just as doctors did before him and have since, not with the law, or principle, but with doses to get the best results. These facts certainly show us that small doses were the outcome of experience after the law of similars had been advocated some 3 years.

The good Doctor Piper (August WORLD, page 338) may have lost sight of the fact that there are two classes of adherents to the law of similars, either of which, as a whole, are as successful as average practitioners generally, of whatever belief or system. One uses the decimal scale to prepare potencies, the other uses the centesimal. One multiplies by 10, the other by 100. Observe the difference between the dosage of a high-potency man of the centesimal scale and a low potency man of the decimal scale; yet both cure their patients, and prescribe on the same principle, each according to his experience, or his belief in the experience of others. Now, if Dr. Piper will compute on the centesimal scale, instead of the decimal, he will find he can add several more figures to his calculations. As a matter of fact, however, he is not familiar with the method used by homeopathic pharmacists in preparing the 30th potency, or he never would have written that article. A potency is not necessarily an attenuation or dilution. information.-ED.] [Doctor, why not tell us. We always want

If the Doctor were to practise straight homeopathy awhile, he would do like Hahnemann of old; let his experience lead him as to dosage, and recognize in similia a greater certainty than nine-tenths of all the empiricism he ever learned; because what's good to-day in homeopathy is good to-morrow, which does not seem to be the case in regular (?) medicin. His experience would soon teach him that material doses of belladonna and activ delirium do not go well together. I would have us bear in mind that dosage is the result of experience and circumstance, and not of any law.

Give Dr. Chapman's case the following:

Editor MEDICAL WORLD:-As to homeopathy, it is said by one of your correspondents that as surgeons, aurists and electro-therapeutists are specialists in their respectiv lines, so the homeopathist is a specialist in therapeutics; and the implication is that he should be accepted as such by physicians generally. The weakness of this position is easily pointed out. Recognized specialists work in harmony with principles which we accept, while the whole system of homeopathy is founded on what we believe to be error.

The prime object of the science of medicin is, I take it, the cure of disease; and all branches of study pertaining to medicin are no more than means to this end. If this be true, then the understanding of therapeutics is the goal for which we have been striving; it is the flower and crown of all our effort. It is our duty to use and to contend for those means in the cure of disease which we believe to be efficacious.

One writer attempts to prove the reasonableness of "potencies" by citing the fact that a violent dermatitis may be brought about by the volatil particles blown from poison ivy growing by the roadside. How much of the plant, it is asked, enters the system?

The reply is, that if an appreciable quantity of the volatil poison could be administered to a susceptible individual thru the same channels, we cannot believe that the results would be less markt than those obtained from an infinitesimal amount. But how different with a 66 potency"; for here while a tangible dose may have absolutely no effect (lycopodium and "veg. carb." for example), a quantity as inconceivably small as the theoretic atom brings forth the most profound results!

In nature there is nothing analogous to this. A priori it can have no claim on our reason; and a posteriori it is found wanting. Rocklin, Cal. B. WOODBRIDGE, M.D.

Shall We Peep Over Each Other's Fences? Editor MEDICAL WORLD:-Doubtless many men honestly think that a medical journal should open its columns to any and all schools of medicin, putting itself on the same level as the mongrel Family Physician's Home Doctor Book," which contains all varieties of treatment, from which you may make your wise selection.

66

The result is confusion. In the case of the medical journal, its tendency is to destroy individuality and exhaustiv research and investigation. Without the opposition of the various systems and methods of healing we would not have had the medical advancement of the present day. It is by this "hammering away" and becoming cranks on certain phases of belief and scientific pursuits that all is gotten out of the matter, and, like a squeezed lemon, its contents are appropriated, and the peel thrown away.

I am a homeopath, but I am not one to believe that homeopathy contains all the truth, for it does not. Similia similibus curantur is not a law-it is only a rule-unlike a law, which has no exceptions, but a rule, which often has many. For any one man, or method, or system to have the whole truth is to be infallible. All systems of healing disease have truths in them, even Christian science; and to know the whole truth you must know all systems, not excepting magnetic or spiritual healing, mental and Christian science, etc., etc. To say that one fails in curing a given case homeopathically because of human limitations, and not because of the law's limitation, may be predicated to any system of healing, material, mental, or spiritual. I have made a personal study and practical investigation and application of old school, homeopathic, eclectic, alkaloidal, suggestion (simple and hypnotic), mental science, Christian science, and physical culture or natural healing treatments. Have cured cases with each which resisted all other methods of cure-even that much ridiculed method of absent treatment" has produced actually wonderful results. Gentlemen, let us be honest, and acknowledge. that this wonderful microcosm called man is still very much of a mystery to us. After all our patient investigation into pathology, physiology, etc., we are still a long way from actual knowledge and mathematical precision. When a case of disease which has pursued a course extending over years, and had the best medical treatment

to be had in all schools, clears up and disappears completely under simple suggestion, it weakens our reliance in similia, contrari, or any other so called “law cure.' Tue fact is, that as the years go by, thinking men everywhere resort less and less to drugs and more to hygiene and the vis medicatrix naturæ.

Arguments between members of opposing schools of medicin are just about as unfruitful as between those of different religious beliefs-rarely does any good come out of it. A man must, in order to understand the position taken, admit the premise, else nothing can come of it except hostility. Our belejs practically rule us. He who believes in large doses and polypharmacy scouts the little doses of the homeopath and eclectic, and vice versa; and he who does not believe in drugs, resorts to one of the various drugless methods of healing-and with benefit-we cannot deny it. That millennium we so often read about when all shall be of one mind in all things is a beautiful dream; but like many dreams, impossible of fulfilment. Indeed it is questionable if such a state of felicity would be beneficial-it might precipitate stagnation and decay. It is the obstacles we meet in life which keep us ever activ and alert, and the opposing objects overcome which develops. strength-mental and physical. "Truth is mighty and will prevail." Let none fear that it will not. If each man-each school-will concentrate upon its own work and let the others do the same, evolution will do more rapid work in the line of progress. It is the meddlesome busybodies who interfere with progress and make a mess of things in general. Usually the men of true scientific attainments and larger humanitarian traits who have done the most for the advancement of truth have said the least. The days of theories are passing-we want demonstrations. Those who wish to practise any system of medicin are at liberty to do so, as the literature of all schools is voluminous and open to every earnest student. To mix them promiscuously in the medical journals precipitates controversy, which too often leads to bitterness and more hostil opposition. "A little knowledge is a dangerous thing;" but to "know it all" is disastrous. The proper aspect is one of a student always. Let us assume that there are sermons in stones and good in everything," and this attitude will enable us to

acquire and assimilate truth from every quarter as we desire it.

Dr. Chapman's hypothetical case of pneumonia demands phosphorus.

I like THE WORLD. It is the best in the school for practical uses. Yours for truth and progress. F. W. SOUTH WORTH, M.D. Tacoma, Wash.

[Doctor, you are, yourself, a contradiction of your arguments. You admit having lookt into every method of treatment and found good in all. Do you think that the rest of the WORLD readers are less inquisitiv than you? Do you think that they are less broad, less liberal, less desir ous of helpful knowledge than you? Let a man whose mental life is dammed up on every side utter such sentiments; you are a living contradiction of them. True, the best work is done by each one hammering away at his own anvil, but each worker need not be ignorant of what the others are doing-he should not ridicule the work of the others because he is ignorant of it. Persistent efforts in special directions have given us most of our progress; but the broad man makes the best specialist. He has side lights that his narrow, selfrestricted brother knows not of.—ED.]

The Test Case.

For the convenience of readers we here repeat the test case proposed by Dr. Chapman, of Napa, California, in August WORLD, page 343:

Case. A large, robust man, aged 35 years. Health always good until one week ago, when he sat in a draft while perspiring freely. A sehigh fever, dry cough, pleuritic pains in the vere chill lasting one hour followed, ending in a right hypochondrium. The expectoration became rust-colored and very tenacious, adhering to the vessel like glue.

Status praesens (seventh day). Great dyspnea; must sit well bolstered up in bed. Complains of tightness of the chest. Cough tight, expectoration scanty and difficult, thin and dirty looking, flying to pieces like batter when falling on paper. Respirations 50 per minute; temperature 105°; pulse 130, weak and thready. Physical examination reveals hepatization involving nearly the whole right lung.

Now here is a man who must have help immediately or he will die. We do not need to quibble over the pathology or diagnosis. Every reader recognizes it as pneumonia. I ask the readers of this journal to prescribe for my patient. Does the old school dare stand this test? Will the Editor publish the names of the prescribers and their prescriptions? I believe that he will, for he is an earnest seeker after the truth.

As this case was proposed by a homeopath, and as homeopathic replies have been the most numerous, we will proceed

with them first. This will be an interesting peep into homeopathic practise. It will be seen that nearly all recommend the same remedy, phosphorus. Drs. Solon Abbott, of Franklin, Mass., W. J. Hawkes, of Los Angeles, Cal., and T. G. Roberts, of Chicago, simply say that phosphorus is the remedy, without saying anything about strength, dose or expected results. Dr. F. G. Oehme, of Roseburg, Ore., says "Phosphorus, 6th dil. or higher." Dr. E. T. Balch, of Santa Barbara, Cal., says "Phosphorus-30." The following contributors enter into fuller details:

Editor MEDICAL WORLD:-Dr. Chapman's case needs an infinitesimal dose of

phosphorus. In such a critical case I would give a single dose, and then wait and watch for further indications.

Waco, Texas. S. W. COHEN, M.D.

Editor MEDICAL WORLD: - Give Dr. Chapman's patient phosphorus; because that drug has repeatedly produced similar symptoms in healthy people and clinically has proved wonderfully effectiv. Give in any dose provided it is small enuf not to aggravate. H. A. WATTS, M.D.

Portsmouth, N. H.

soon

Editor MEDICAL WORLD:-In the test case of Dr. Chapman, I would prescribe phosphorus in the thirtieth potency, ten drops in half a glass of water. A teaspoonful to be administered hourly for two hours, and then every two hours. As as an improvement is noted, I would stop all medicin. The result expected would be an improvement in all symptoms, because phosphorus is the similia according to its proving and the homeopathic law of cure. When the symptoms stated in the case change, another remedy is required to meet the new group of symptoms.

LESTER E. WALKER, M.D.

Norwich, Conn. Editor MEDICAL WORLD:-Dr. S. E. Chapman's "test case in August WORLD, needs phosphorus badly. He can give it in 30th, 200th or cm potency with perfect confidence of a cure, provided he does not repeat too often. After this remedy

Editor MEDICAL WORLD:-The symptoms in Dr. Chapman's case of pneumonia call for only one remedy in the materia medica, i. e., phos.; and if your doubting friend, Dr. Piper, should meet with a case exhibiting exactly those symptoms and give phos. in the 200th or 500th, put up by a reliable house, like Boericke & Tafel, he would have his eyes opened in so far as the efficacy of homeopathic medicin is concerned.

No homeopath has answered his peculiar query for the simple reason that no homeopath thinks it worth while; nor is it of much consequence whether he believes in the 30th potency, or in the Xrays either, so far as I can see. I read those old calculations in Holmes' lectures forty years ago. H. H. READ, M.D. Halifax, N. S.

Editor MEDICAL WORLD:-Give that man in Dr. Chapman's test case phosphorus-any place from 3x to cm potency; but the higher you give it the quicker and better will be the results. He will improve on this, and when it becomes necessary to change the remedy, base your next

prescription on the totality of the symptoms. What the indicated remedy will be I can not tell you until the Doctor favors us with a report of the case.

Lafayette, La. R. B. RANEY, M.D. Editor MEDICAL WORLD:-The remedy for Dr. Chapman's test case, page 343, August WORLD, is phosphorus. Any potency above the 12x will do; preferably the 200th, one dose dry on the tongue, remedy not to be repeated while improve. ment continues in the patient.

Incidentally, Dr. Chapman may be gratified to learn that an article of his appearing in the Medical Advance about 1889, a test lycopodium case, first directed my attention to a serious study of the law of similars. He has, perhaps, labored better than he knew.

Austin, Texas.

JULIA H. BASS, M.D.

Editor MEDICAL WORLD:-In answer to Dr. S. E. Chapman's request in your August issue, permit me to state that to me as a homeopath, the treatment would be very simple and easily applied. No local applica tions should be allowed. Give the man plenty of fresh air and all the water he desires, with milk for food. The milk must be given little and often. The medicin indicated in this case does not require any study because the symptoms point to it in a clear and unerring way. More than this, the symptoms contain one grand characteristic or guiding symptom viz.: the expectoration flying to pieces like batter when it strikes the paper. Of all the 400,000 symptoms recorded in the homeopathic materia medica, obtained from nearly 2,000 remedies, there is but one remedy that has this symptom, and that is phosphorus. I would prescribe it in the 200th potency, a small powder dissolved in six teaspoonfuls of cold water and one teaspoonful every two hours until better, then discontinue as long as the improvement lasts, when a single dose may be given and wait until that has exhausted its curativ power. In this way the remedy can be given until the patient recovers, or the symptoms change and therefore indicate some other remedy. In order not to mislead those who do not understand homeopathy, it becomes necessary for me to further state that I did not select phosphorus because it had the one leading symptom, but because it has all the other symptoms as well; but this one is the peculiar or guiding; some call it a key note

or key symptom because it unlocks the case to the prescriber.

Brockton, Mass. D. H. SWOPE, M.D.

Editor MEDICAL WORLD:-Allow me to prescribe for case of Dr. Chapman in August WORLD. He wants phosphorus. Give him the 30th or 200x, and yet if you must have the material dose use 2x. The better results will come quicker from 200th. Doctor, do not ridicule the potencies till you have tried them. I began with tinctures, and now use 30th. Usually use it at least in nine-tenths of cases, and results are better. Reason for this Ṛ: The symptoms are found under phosphorus so distinctly that to give another remedy would be (to a homeopath) criminal. The drug has produced these symptoms in provings, as vouched for before my day and generation, and I have relied on the drug in similar conditions never to have it fail, and in potency, for the last six years. The system will respond because the remedy is tuned to right key, and strikes the proper chord; and disease symptoms will

be eliminated. Hence the result. For

first symptoms following checking of perspiration, had patient been given aconite 30th or 200x, there would have been no Reason: Aconite would cure the sympoccasion for subsequent R of phosphorus.

toms and thus the disease would be cured. Failure to get aconite necessitates phosA. C. SHUTE. phorus later.

Pottstown, Pa.

Editor MEDICAL WORLD:-In the test case outlined by Dr. S. E. Chapman in the August WORLD, my prescription is phosphorus 3x, 10 to 20 drops in 4 oz. of water, one teaspoonful every one, two or three hours until relieved. Later treatment determined by condition of patient and symptoms present.

Reasons: Phosphorus in its provings on a person in health produces symptoms similar to those present in this case. It is therefore the homeopathic remedy. The dose and the frequency of repetition are matters to be determined by judgment and experience. One prescriber might give the crude drug, another the 200th dilution; and both are curativ, for both are homeopathic to the morbid condition present in this case. The size of the dose has nothing-absolutely nothing-to do with the law of similia; but years of clinical experience has demonstrated that the successful application of