Intermittent Fever with Repertory of Boenninghausen by PP WELLS

Book review by Dr Aswathi K

Authors
DR.P.P.WELLS

Dr. Phineas Parkhurst Wells M.D.

Dr. P.P. Wells was born in Hopkinton, NH, in 1808

Dr.Wells was one of the founders of the American Institute of Homeopathy in 1844. 

A  founder and first president of The International Hahnemannian Association in 1881. 

He was the co-editor of the American Homeopathic Review from 1862-66.

LIFE HISTORY…………………

• He was the son of a doctor who discouraged the study of medicine.
• As a result, Wells took up printing at age 16, but later decided to study medicine with the old school physician, Dr. Mc Gregory. He then entered Dartmouth Medical College, graduating in 1833.
• Due to his failing health, Wells gave up medicine for several years, devoting himself to the drug business. 
• He resumed practice where Dr. A.H. Okie introduced him to homeopathy. Shortly afterward, William Wesselhoeft gave Wells a letter of introduction to Constantine Hering.
• After the meeting with Hering in 1843, Wells moved to Brooklyn, where he practiced strict Hahnemannian homeopathy until his death.
• Dr. Wells’ own cure by Boenninghausen in 1859 further galvanized his belief in Hahnemannian homeopathy. 
• As a result of this experience Wells, next to Adolphe Lippe, became the most stalwart defender and elucidator of Hahnemann’s principles.
• Wells passed away after a rich and productive life in his 83rd year.
• Dr. Wells cured his close friend, Dr. Carroll Dunham, of diphtheria with the remedy Nux. vomica. 
• Dr. Wells is also responsible for our use of the remedy Ailanthus glandulosa. 

WORKS………….

• Wells’ lectures on homeopathic practice at the New York Homeopathic Medical College were highly esteemed, yet he declined their publication by his enthusiastic students.
• papers in the American Homeopathic Review on Scarlet Fever, Pneumonia, Typhoid, Rheumatism, and Diarrhea survive.
• Dr. Wells’ work on intermittent fever and his revision of Joslin’s Cholera were important journal supplements.

ABOUT THE BOOK………..

• Edition 2003
• B Jain Publishers
• Printed in India by J.J.Offset Printers
• Firstly given a foreword by P.N.Jain- reprint edition.
• Given a preface by P.P.Wells in 1891

PREFACE
This includes his own experience of 50 years of practice.about 50 cases has been cured in first prescription using single remedy.

  “I think the reader may be assured that there is no more difficulty in treating intermittent fever than in treating any other disease.By strictly following this principle any one can cure ague.

The Repertory which is added will be recognized as the work of the immortal Boenninghausen.I translate it not knowing that Dr.Augustus Korndoerfer, of Philadelphia had already published a most excellent and accurate translation.

                                                                                          May 1891

INTERMITTENT FEVER
Then given intermittent fever – a disease the nature of which is to appear in paroxysms which  recur at intervals with intervening periods of freedom from the paroxysmal phenomena,these periods being of various duration in different cases.

Paroxysms exactly expressed made of 4 elements-the phenomena of circulation,chill,heat and perspiration.

Totality of symptoms.totality find it in four general divisions

1^st-the circulation

2^nd –chill

3^rd-heat

4^th –sweating

 To  find “Totality” each of these is to be examined as to its especial disturbances and their concomitants,and these each and all,as to time of manifestation,causes of aggravation and relief as well as to all other circumstances and conditions which modify these phenomena.

1. In first place-distension of veins ,throbbing,inflammation of veinsvaricose vein,congestion,heart(palpitation of,heart beat),pulse(accelerated,thread like etc).Time of aggravation, Conditions of aggravation.
2. 2^nd division –first fact is chill predominant?is it external only?……….

then partial coldness.chilliness in general,coldness,partial coldness,sensation of coldness in general,shivering in general,partial shiveringtime of exacerbation,conditions of exacerbation,    circumstances  which relieve,then about concomitant symptoms(disposition,intellect,headache,eyes,ears………………….sleep)

3. 3^rd one heat-dry heat,partial heat,aggravation of heat(time, conditions,conditions and circumstances which alleviate,concomitant symptoms…………….)
4. 4^th one – sweating(wanting,suppressed,odour),partial perspiration, time of perspirationtime of perspiration,circumstances,circumstances which relieve,concomitant symptoms

• Then Given translated rubrics from boenninghausen’s Homoeopathic Therapie du Fieber,omitting the names of the medicines given under each.as to know rubrics related to untermittent fever that can be viewed. 
• Then given list of medicines from Bonneighausen’s Versuch einer Homoepathischen Therapie der Wechel und anderer Fieber in 1864
• Starting from aconitum to zincum
• 110 medicines.
• In each medicines these paroxysms are described.after that some additional points of drugs are discussed.with comparisons.

Time of day of the appearance of paroxysm is of great importance among the group of elements to which we are to find similmum.often act as decisive.

• Morning-4 am -9 am
• Forenoon- 9am-12pm
• Afternoon-12pm-4 pm
• Evening -4pm-9pm
• Night-9pm-4am
• Before midnight -9 to 12
• After midnight -12 to 4

Given a small repertory portion after this with time,single grade is observed

PART II -REPERTORY
TRANSLATED FROM BOENNIGHAUSEN .REPERTORY OF THE COMBINATIONS OF THE ELEMENTS OF PAROXYSMS

• Beginning with chill –written in italics,but no medicine included

Chill then heat…..first rubric

“_” sign is used for sub rubrics

“_ _”is used for sub sub rubrics,but this is not followed strictly.

8 rubrics are there under this heading.

 rubrics are in italics.

• BEGINNING WITH HEAT

Four main rubrics are there.

• BEGINNING WITH SHUDDERING

One main rubric

• BEGINNING WITH SWEAT

One main rubric

PART III – REPERTORY

TRANSLATED FROM BOENNIGHAUSEN

REPERTORY OF SYMPTOMS OF MEDICINES BY WHICH THEY ARE RELATED TO TREATMENT OF FEVERS.

1.Circulation

II.CHILLS

HEAT

IV.SWEAT

Rubrics contains two set of medicines underneath separated by “or”.

1.Circulation 

main rubrics included

• Veins distension of
• Veins burning
• Congestion in general
• Anemia
• Sense of obstructed circulation
• Ebullition of blood
• Palpitation
• Heart beat
• Pulse

TIME OF AGGRAVATION OF SYMPTOMS OF THE CIRCULATION

CIRCUMSTANCES OF AGGGRAVATION OF SYMPTOMS OF CIRCULATION(from relaxation of mind to from warm weather)

II.CHILL

Chill in general predominant

• PARTIAL CHILL
• COLDNESS
• PARTIAL COLDNESS
• GENERAL SENSATION OF COLDNESS
• PARTIAL SENSATION OF COLDNESS
• SHUDDERING
• PARTIAL SHUDDERING
• AGGRAVATION –TIME
• CIRCUMSTANCES(NO alphabetical arrangement)
• AMELIORATING CIRCUMSTANCES
• CONCOMITANT SYMPTOMS

These can be considered as subchapter

HEAT

Heat generally

• PARTIAL HEAT
• CIRCUMSTANCES WHICH AGGRAVATES
• CONDITIONS OF AGGRAVATION
• CIRCUMSTANCES WHICH AMELIORATES
• CONCOMITANT SYMPTOMS

These can be considered as  sub chapters

IV.SWEAT

Sweat  generally

• PARTIAL SWEAT
• AGGRAVATION-TIME
• CIRCUMSTANCES
• CONDITIONS OF AMELIORATION
• CONCOMITANT SYMPTOMS OF THE SWEATING

These can be considered as subchapters.

All these subchapters contains detailed corresponding rubrics and subrubrics.

ADVANTAGES

1. Detailed rubrics are represented regarding intermittent fever
2. Covering concomitant symptoms in each stage
3. Also given differentiating points of drugs along with their indications in each stage.
4. Author assures from a well take case covering  totality of symptoms ague (malaria or another illness involving fever and shivering.)can be cured.

DRAWBACKS

1. Index is not given
2. Regarding grade of remedies is not mentioned
3. Arrangement is not uniform
4. Practical utility is not mentioned.

REFERENCE
www.wholehealthnow.com/bios/phineas-parkhurst-wells
Intermittent Fever With Repertory Of Boenninghausen-P.P.Wells