Homeopathy Card repertory

Dr Mansoor Ali 

Card repertory is a system of visual sorting which help the physician by eliminating the necessity of writing out the rubrics and remedies against them.

Method of working out a case
In this symptoms are converted in to rubrics. The rubrics are seen in the index book, to look for the particular card number. The rubric were chosen from the index and the indicated slips were taken out and made to lie side by side so that name of each remedy ran in a straight line from left to right, on adding up the exponent of several remedies, one with the highest number is the possible remedy for the case.
The working with the card repertory requires a sound knowledge of :
The concept of totality of symptoms.
The classification and evaluation of symptoms.
Scope and Limitations of the method of repertorisation.

Principles of construction
Important generals are used as rubrics.
Numerical evaluation plays a little role in this method.
Cards are employed to determine the likely group of remedies that closely correspond to the general picture of the case.
It usually suits to a chronic case which presents with a changed but vivid symptoms.

Selection of rubrics
Conversion of the symptoms in to rubrics should be accurate.
Characteristic concomittant must be always included.
Top priority should be given to the cause.
Generalization of a particular symptom on inadequate grounds should be avoided.

Important events 

• 1892. Wlliam jefferson gurnesy,later improved by H.C.Allen
• 1912. Dr. Margeret Tyler.
• 1922. Dr. Field based on Kent’s work.
• 1928. Dr.C.M.Boger.
• 1948. Dr.Marcoz jemenes,based on Boenninghausen’s work.
• 1950. J.G.Weiss card repertory.
• 1950. R.H.Farley’s spindle card repertory.
• 1950. Dr. Sankaran’s card repertory.
• 1959. Dr.Jugal Kishore.
• 1984. Dr. Sashi Mohan Sharma’s card repertory.

Important Card Repertories 

1.Boger’s card repertory 6 Editions.
The preliminary choice of remedies should be limited b the rubric pertaining to locations and the pathological generals has taken an anatomical sphere where the symptoms arise or occur ,modifying this by modalities 1st and then reduce the number of remaining remedies by noting the discrete symptoms as in Kent’s repertory.

2. Field’s card repertory

• Called as Magnum Opus.
• More than 6800 cards.
• Based on Kent’s repertory with few additions.
• Remedies are indicated in the card by code numbers.
• A key to which is available.
• 360 remedies with provision for 40
• Cards are very thick,indicated remedy may block out

3. Sankaran’s card repertory

• An additional attempt of Dr.Sankaran to increase
• The usefulness of Boger’s card repertory by adding more rubrics and remedies.
• Having 2 parts: The pocket repertory & Sankaran’s cards

4.synoptic card repertory

• By Dr.L.D.Dhawle.
• To overcome the difficulties while using the Boger’s cards.
• It has overcome all the shortcomings of Boger’s cards.

5. Farley’s spindle repertory

• Based on philosophy of Dr.Kent.
• Having paucity of general rubrics.
• Omitting of many remedies.
• Not an important work.

6.Kishore’s card repertory

• By Dr.Jugal Kishore.
• 10000 cards.
• Based on Kent’s work.
• 742 medicines.
• Has gradation of medicines in different type of punched cards.

This card has 80 vertical columns from 1 _ 80 from Lt. to Rt. They are numbered at the bottom in small letters.
1st four vertical columns are kept apart and meant for punching the number of the rubrics. They are not divided by vertical lines.
Number of rubrics on Lt. top corner, in this four column numbers punched so that there is no confusion even if the card is mixed / mutilated.
On the top of the card rubric name is printed.
The rest of the vertical columns are meant for the coded remedies which have this particular symptom. The remedies are indicated by the punched holes.
Reading : The Punched number (any number from 0-9) is placed against the small digit placed at the bottom of the column that particular hole. The remedy can be obtained from the list of ” Remedies and their code numbers “.
All the grades can be denoted by the shape of the punched hole.
Double hole . 3 mark
Oval . 2 mark
Round . 1 mark

6. Sharma’s card repertory 
Having 2 parts The book & The cards
400 remedies,3000rubrics

Features needed for the selection of cards 

1. Important generals are used as rubrics, cards are punched for remedies with higher evaluation like 3 & 2.
2. The cards are employed to determine the likely group of remedies the closely corresponds to the general picture of the case.
3. Further differentiation in this group is not possible, for that refer the remedies in the Kent.
4. Particulars are used for finer differentiation only
5. Since numerical evaluation plays a little role, no advantage of indicating the evaluation of remedies on the cards.
6. Cases with weak generals and strong particulars are unsuitable, so this method suit best for chronic cases.

Requisites for a good card repertory 

1. Should be of a standard texture and thinness.
2. Should be strong as well as thin, so that they should not shut of the light completely, when held against light.
3. The punching should follow the usual standards, so that machines are able to punch or sort them automatically.
4. The card system should be elastic, so that new rubrics / remedies introduced or added if required.
5. The card system should be made comprehensive so that maximum demands of reportorial analysis can be met.
6. There should be a provision for cross reference.
7. The rubrics should be arranged, that it takes minimum time to sort them out from the index.
8. The punching on the card should be able to indicate the degree or valuation of drugs if desired in a particular rubric.
9. (Dr.Marcoz was 1st introduced evaluation of drugs on the cards)   

          Card Repertory                                       Book Repertory

1.Principle.– No fixed principle but only a modified concept of totality.
Kent.Based on general to purticular,  Boger based on  particular to general.
2.No gradation
In kent.3,2
In Boger.5,4,3,2,1.
3.Repertorisation is less time consuming.
More time consuming.
4.Analysis and evaluation not  needed.
Evaluated according to their importance.
5.Not economical
Not costly
6.Simple to operate, Lay man can handle.
Tedious to operate & needs a proper knowledge of the principles of repertorisation.
7.Difficult to maintain.
Simple and easy to maintain.
8.The number of cards representing the rubrics is more with the addition of rare remedies.
The number of rubrics & the medicine representing them are less.
9.Not frequently used as other repertory.
Used more frequently
10.Suited to cases with full blown picture.
Suited to all most all type of cases.
11.No role of grand generalization.
It is particularly emphasized  in Boger.
12.Lay out basically given emphasis on generals.
Lay emphasis on both generals & particulars
13.No paper work needed.
Require complete paper work.

Advantages of using card Repertory

• Less time consuming. 
• No need for analysis & evaluation.
• A clear modified concept of totality.- Operation of card repertory demand only a correct totality which can be used for the purpose of repertorisation.
• Simple to operate.
• No paper work.
• Limited generalization. —– Do not lay emphasis in the principles of grand generalization.
• Are elastic in nature ,accommodate more medicines &rubrics

Limitations

• Gradation is difficult . 
• They are difficult to maintain.
• Lay emphasis mainly on generals, no particulars.
• Highly costly.
• Deficient in the quality of cards & quality of punching.
• Cross references are not properly mentioned in the index.
• Not suitable for one sided /cases with particulars only.
• Suited only to cases with full blown picture.
• Lesser rubrics & remedies
• Rare remedies with relevancy are over looked.

References
Dr.Jugal kishore. An index to card Repertory.
Dr.Dhawle.M.L . Principles and practice of Homoeopathy.
Castro Logic of repertories
Ritu Arora Study of repertory