Organopathy, or, Medical progress : an essay / by William Sharp, M.D.

  • Sharp, William, 1805-1896.
Date:
1867
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Organopathy, or, Medical progress : an essay / by William Sharp, M.D. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Glasgow Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Glasgow Library.

    27/72 (page 21)
    ei tKat homoeopathy is not an infinitesimal dose, hut a general fact or principle which is to guide our therapeutics. The infinitesimal dose has received attention during the course of the Essays, but it has always been treated as a separate and subordinate enquiry. It is remarked, in the first Essay, that homoeopathy as a principle was dis- covered by experiments made with ordinary doses, and a physician may be a true homoeopathist though he never prescribe any other. This is a point of much importance, and deserves fur- ther illustration; but instead of giving additional cases of my own, I will record some which have been treated by another hand. I may remark that, from time to time, medical men write to me to ask information and guidance on their commencing a practical trial of the new method, and the following cases, which will be read with great interest, have been sent to me in this manner. The writer, in his first letter, says, I have been a medical practitioner for sixteen years, and, like most others, I fear, who have been for such a length of time acquainted with and much employed in the practice of medicine, have been often, very often, much disappointed at its uncertainties, not to use a stronger term. ... I am anxious to go into the subject thoroughly, being quite satisfied by a recent re-perusal of your ' Investigation' that I have left, and am leaving a great duty unfulfilled, so long as I do not give homoeopathy a patient practical trial. In June and Sept., 1866,1 received from this physician reports of cases, from which I extract as follows:— Arsmic.-—^ have frequently used arsenic in skin affections, both before and since reading your 'Investigation,' but never before perusing your book should I have thought of using this medicine in the treatment of stomach and bowel complaints. Since then I have used it frequently in what may be called chronic gastritis, or congestion of the stomach, with very marked good results ; and of one case, which made a great impression on my mind, I cannot forbear giving you a short history.