Daily Republican., 1883-05-12
SOme Advantages OF Homeopathy

nome advantages OI homeopathy
For the REPUBLICAN.
In the yet imperfect state of medical
science, and the Obscurity which eX-
lists in regard to the origin and charac-
ter Of many diseases, the choice uf prop
er remedies is often difficult task cau5-
ing much mental toll and anxiety to
the conscientious physician; 10 such
one the assurance that AT least the
remedies he has given can be produc-
tive of no injury or increase Of suffering
to the patient is cause for consolation
and encouragement. IL IS from this
consideration that many Intelligent
and progressive physicians have been
led to diminish the dose ofdrugs which,
from their powerful, often permanently
deeterious effects, have been produc-
tive of much unintentional evil ; in
deed, as with some other things many
have gone to the opposite extreme and
discarded the use of all medical sub
stances, thus depriving themselves OF
many valuable agents in the cure OF
disease, because some, through igno-
rance of their proper use, have caused
more harm than good by their admins
tration.
1t was from observation Of the great
harm done through massive doses Of
powerful drugs, prescribed by the ply
sicians of his day that the keen sighted
Hahnemann was led to adopt the di-
minutive doses of homeopathy which
have excited SO much undcservtd ridi-
cule in the opponents to that system. A
little reflection would have shown thai, !
while the 50 called inhnitesimal doses
were at least harmless to the patient, |
there was abundant evidence, from well
known analogous facts, to show marked |
probability of their acting curativeIy |
Aside from the nOn-injurious effects
from the small doses of homeopathy,
there is another advantage derived from
the new system every physician knows
what difficulty often attends the dag
nosis Of diseases, especially the differ !
ential between those which bear close ,
resem blance to others in their symp. |
toms, and what mistakes and conse
quent modification occur with the most
careful and experienced physicians,
even when supplied with all the i'm
proved means for correct diagnosis. To
those physicians who treat diseases by
name, or sect, to correct supposed de-
rangelnents Of internal organs, the ina
bility to be fully satisfied as to the dis
ease under treatment and the possibility
of being mistaken in the character of
the disease, or the organs effected,
causes much harassing anxiety and un-
certainty OF procedure.
But with the homeopathic practition-
er to whom the totality of the symptoms
is the main Indication for the remedy,
there is far less cause for anxiety, or
after regrets for in the treatment Of a
disease, the administration Of the rem
edy whose symptoms correspond with
those Of the disease is the plainly proper
course to be pursued, and this can be
done if the name Of the disease We're un-
known, or its nature uncertain. 1t is
true that many diseases and their cor
remedies are so similar to
others as often to make Il choice some
" hat difficult, but the action OF 50 mild
IL force even i not exactly homeopathic
to the disease will produce no great
harm, and may, from its near relation
ship to the correct remedy, cause a ia
vorable change, so that the next select
cd and more appropriate medicine may
effect still greater improvement. With
these facts before them, homeopathic
have much to be grateful
for; while at the same time consider
ing the tilllibiity and errors made by
the most learned and experienced Of all
schools they should be- most cautious
and charitable in their Judgment Of
others. T.. W, G..