Review by Dr Smita Deb Krori (Maity)
Name of the repertory: – a repertory of homœopathic nosodes & sarcodes.
Author: Dr Berkeley squire of scotland.
First published in march 12, 1996 from scotland, great britain.
First published in india in 1997 by b. Jain publishers (p) ltd, new delhi.
Introduction: –
The nosodes are unique remedies with a wide range of actions that closely follow the ‘standard’ medicines of the Materia Medica – but the nosodes are multi-dimensional. The Master of Nosodes and author of another repertory of nosodes, Dr. Othon A Julian sometimes recommended isopathic prescribing of nosodes.
But Homœopathy is not Isopathy. Homœopathy takes the totality of signs & symptoms exhibited by the patient in mind & body – and prescribe on that basis. The homœopathic prescription is purely based on the symptomatology and not upon the presence of an infecting organism. It is said that the mind decides to be ill and the body decides the symptoms.
Sources: –
Dr. Berkeley’s work is the compilation of the work of Dr (s) Kent, von Bœnninghausen, James Bell, Carrol Dunham, Guernsey, Constantine Hering, Samuel Hahnemann, G. H. G. Jahr, Lee, Rushmore, Timothy Allen, Othan Julian and from his own observations in clinical practice.
Remedy relationships: –
This repertory contains the relations of 105 medicines; with other nosodes, sarcodes, imponderabilias and also the medicines belongs to vegetable, animal & mineral kingdoms.
Arrangement of rubrics: –
Dr. Squire adopted the ground plan of Bœnninghausen’s Characteristic & Repertory by Dr. Cyrus Maxwell Boger. Dr. Berkeley Squire states, “….., I have kept the English basis, so that instead of talking about ‘etiology’ and ‘concomitants’ I have stated simply, ‘from’ and ‘with’.” The sub-rubrics are arranged as ——
- AGGRAVATION
- AMELIORATION
- FROM
- WHEN
- WITH
Dr. Squire not used the conventional grading of the medicines – because (as clarified by him)
1. Some authors use only two types of distinction while others use three or more. Thus Allen uses only plain type and italics. [e.g. Kent’s repertory & Synthetic – 3 typography; BTPB & BBCR – 5 typography; Bœricke’s repertory – 2 typography; Synthesis – 4 typography].
2. There are fewer nosodes and they are quite distinctive in their individual actions.
3. In the main rubric, there are distinctive rubrics attached to the remedies. Dr. Squire hopes that the detailed descriptions will be just as effective as the grading of remedy importance in a given condition.
4. Dr. Berkeley preferred to examine the ‘spread’ of a remedy rather than rely upon what may be the contentious accentuations; so, he had not found this unaccented work any bar for successful prescribing.
5. Many practitioners may criticize this repertory for not grading the remedies and some may criticize for neglecting so-called ‘small’ remedies.
SPECIALITIES: –
1. It deals with 105 medicines (nosodes, sarcodes & imponderabilia).
2. The bibliography contains 30 source books and the ‘Remedy References’ part of the book contains the bibliography numbers of each medicine – which is the symbol of authenticity.
3. Arrangement of the chapters according to Hahnemannian schema and the arrangement of rubrics according to BBCR. But there are some unique division of chapters & rubrics. E.g. ——
‘Smell’ is not a separate chapter like Kent’s repertory; but mentioned as a rubric under Nose chapter.
There is no sub-chapter. Bladder, Kidney, Prostate, Urethra & Urine (Kentian division) are mentioned in the Urinary chapter.
Male and Female Genitals are separated.
Cardiovascular is a separate chapter after Chest.
Locomotor and Nervous are separated.
4. Some chapters are separated and are very useful clinically. They are Aggravations, Ameliorations, Pains and Sensations, Desires andAversions. They are useful for quick reference.
5. Remedy Relationship chapter deals with all the mentioned 105 medicines used in the repertory.
Drawbacks: –
1.Many new nosodes & sarcodes are included. Materia Medica part is not included and their pathogenicity on healthy human is not available in common Materia Medica. For this, they are less useful in clinical practice.
2.Though Dr. Squire clarified for not grading the drugs – but as majority of us are accustomed with ‘grading of medicines’ in repertorization, it may create confusion; and the practitioners may show lack of interest in using it.
Conclusion: – According to John Paterson, “The motto of the medical profession is still Tolle Causam, find the cause and to-day there are many who consider that germs are the only cause of disease and are working to discover the specific germ or virus for well known clinical entities”.
Earlier to them, Dr. Constantine Hering was the first stalwart to observe the efficiency of the nosodes in his clinical practice. Since then prescribing nosodes has gained its popularity.
In the recent era where mixed miasmatic and complex diseases are spreading their roots for firm hold, nosodes are the aid. Administration of nosode becomes inevitable for CURE, when most well-selected medicine fails.
Dr. Berkeley Squire states, “The Nosodes and Sarcodes are unique remedies with a range of action that follows the ‘standard remedies of the Materia Medica’, yet also add a further important dimension. In fact, there are not too many cases that require and respond to homoeopathic medicine, that do not needs at some point the judicious use of nosodes. Because many are preparations from body substances it stands to reason that they must have a peculiar affinity with the functions of the body.
This is the first detailed repertory of the homoeopathic nosodes and sarcodes and extremely useful for homoeopathic practitioners”.
This repertory deals with nosodes, sarcodes and imponderables, also. So, it is better to be named as “A Repertory of Homœopathic Nosodes, Sarcodes & Imponderables”.
References: –
Squire, Dr. Berkeley – A Repertory of Homœopathic Nosodes & Sarcodes
Tiwari, Dr. Shashi Kant – Essentials of Repertorization.
Dr. Smita Deb Krori (Maity)
B. Sc.(Hons) [NEHU] BHMS (Hons) [Calcutta University] MD (Homœo. Organon) [Pune University]
Associate Professor,Teaching Organon, Psychology & Repertory
Lal Bahadur Shastri Homœopathic Medical College, Bhopal – 26 (MP).
Email: dr.smita01@sify.com
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