A sketch of homoeopathy, or the system of medical treatment, with specific remedies in all cases / [S.C. Davids].

  • Davids, S. C.
Date:
1847
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A sketch of homoeopathy, or the system of medical treatment, with specific remedies in all cases / [S.C. Davids]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    From all tliat has been said, it is evident that a mere superficial knowledge will not make one a competent practitioner, as our opponents imagine. In addition to what is peculiar to Homoeopathy, we ought also to be acquainted with the various branches of general medical science, as anatomy, physiology, pathology, chemistry, botany, &c. Each system has its depths and shallows. As in the ordinary system, so also in Homoeopathy, it has been deemed necessary, for domestic purposes, to fit up small medicine chests, accompanied wdth short works on ordinary complaints, which may be advantageously used in slight affections, or in the absence of a regular prac¬ titioner. But the acute or complicated diseases will always need proper aid, and no conclusion can be fairly drawn from amateur practice, which, in injudicious hands, has sometimes done injury to the science. VI.—Another feature of Homoeopathy to be noticed is, that one medicine only is given at a time. In fact, the effects of each have been ascertained separately ; nor do we as yet know the pure results of combined medicines on the healthy frame. Suppose a disease to be so complicated as to require more than one remedy: in such a case, different medicines are used, but succes¬ sively, allowing each to do its own part. Two or more medicines are not used together, lest they should inter¬ fere with one another’s action. Indeed, probably if they were tried in combination on a healthy person, they might produce different symptoms from the sum total of each when given separately. This simple and rational mode of proceeding in Ho¬ moeopathy is a contrast to that of the ordinary practice, in which many medicines enter into a prescription. No one knows what effect they produce upon one another, either counteracting or unduly strengthening one ano¬ ther’s action. Medicines thus given in large quantities act not only upon the diseased organ (which is alone