In memoriam of Constantine Hering,
The more than father, friend, adviser, teacher.
In recognition of his untiring efforts to inspire his fellow men, with a
higher knowledge of Homœopathy and a deeper reverence for the genius of
Hahnemann, this book is affectionately and reverently dedicated.
PREFACE.
The order of
arrangement, or method of classification, followed in the compilation of
this repertory is the one inaugurated by Hahnemann, developed, perfected
and used by Hering throughout his entire Materia Medica work, viz :
the anatomical, or regional division into forty-eight chapters.It is only alphabetic
arrangement possible that will not scatter and separate what should be
collective and contiguous. Each chapter is alphabetically divided into
sections and rubrics sufficient to allow full scope for analysis of the
matter contained therein without destroying consistency as a whole.
Like to a fugue, a musical composition, repetition in which the lesser
parts repeat the motive of the entire composition, repetition is
progress by evolution or development, or, as expressed by Hering in the
introduction to his Analytical Therapeutics, “the comprehension of
general principles, ruling the whole in every part, enables the mind to
find the way through thickets of endless varying symptoms.”The division of the
page into double column is deemed most convenient for the eye and is
most advantageous to economy of space.The section word is
repeated down the columns in preference to the customary, which, like
all marks of abbreviation, ciphers, signs, etc., are apt to become
confusing and are not as space-saving as might be supposed. The words right
and left, better and worse, etc., etc., to avoid
possible error, are printed out in full.The rubric word,
or heading to each paragraph, printed in somewhat bolder and blacker
type and followed by a : (colon), applies to each symptom in the
paragraph, that is, the black-letter word is to be mentally repeated for
every sentence rounded with a semicolon. It will be observed that the
symptoms under each rubric follow in alphabetic order.The four marks of
distinction, /, //, /, //, have the same significance as
set down in guiding symptoms. /[Remedy]
the lowest, a single light line, designating an occasionally confirmed
symptom . //, [Remedy]
a double light line, a symptom more frequently confirmed, or, if but one
confirmed, strictly in character with the genius of the remedy ; /,
[Remedy]
a single heavy line, symptom verified by cures ; //, [REMEDY]
a double heavy line, symptom repeatedly verified. These degree marks
tally in the main with the four styles of type used by Bœnninghausen in
his Repertory. I have only made use of them in giving prominence to the relative
values of remedies occurring in groups, under a general rubric, like
dysmenorrhœa, restlessness, rheumatism, etc.
θ
,
the greek “theta”, standing between the cured symptom and the
pathological condition, or the physiological general state, throughout
the Guiding Symptoms, is dispensed with here, mainly for the purpose of
economizing space, by enclosing the pathological or physiological term
in parentheses ; it is to be remembered that the presence of the
term by no means shuts out the usefulness of the symptom in other forms
of disease. The prescriber has to deal with both objective and
subjective facts, but should always bear in mind that individualization
is the life of therapeutics.
¤
,
marks observations taken from the Old School, such as harmonize with our
law of cure.
[t]
,
toxicological extracts.
#
,
symptoms observed on the sick only.
See
directs in cross-reference to related symptoms, diseases and conditions.
As no rule of classification is without exceptions, and no single term
can be made to cover all shades of related meaning, the synonymic
feature of this work should commend itself to the busy practitioner. In
tracing these synonyms, which like search-lights are intented to throw
light upon the case from all directions, the author has spent much time
and labor, but he thinks it time and labor well spent.The repertory is
supplemented by a complete index of localities and terms.As in Guiding Symptoms,
so in the repertory, original readings, the words of the prover and the
clinician are preserved to the letter, it being thought preferable to
retain the most delicate shades of meaning, occasionally even different
wordings of the same symptom, by taking refuge in an extra rubric or
cross-reference, sooner than amalgamate, fuse or commingle in vague
generalization at the sacrifice of individuality.Although the repertory
is a faithful reproduction of the Guiding Symptoms, its contents
classified and indexed, as a matter of course, in no way can it take the
place of the larger work. In a repertory we have separation by analysis
for the purpose of classification and ready reference ; in Materia
Medica, combination by synthesis to enable us to study drug-effects in
their grand unity and relationship.Grateful acknowledgment
from the author is due to all who in the last four years have helped him
bring the work to completion ; Dr. Joseph C. Guernsey, for valuable
assistance with the proofs ; Dr. W. H. Phillips, Messrs. Douty,
Ziegler and Field, his son Bayard and others of his family, for clerical
assistance ; and last but not least, to his brother-in-law, Walter
E. Hering, under whose experienced and skilful management, aided by his
old and reliable foreman, Wm. Baetzel, the unusually difficult
composition and presswork have taken shape.In a work of this kind
the author can lay but small claim to originality.We have only given the
precious stones their settings. They have come from many mines. They
have received the polish of years of clinical verification at the hands
of our practitioners. Some shine with more brilliancy than others, all
reflect the light of wisdom by which we are guided in healing the sick.
Calvin B. Knerr.
N. E. Cor. Spruce and Twelfth Sts.,
Philadelphia.® 2005
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