iOMCGELOPATHY,
THE SCIENCE OP T HE-'dRAPPUT ICS:
ITS N-ATUR'AL LAW~
AND TIM
EISSENFT~I CON (iIONS Of' THAT LAW,


ANNUTLJX


A DI-hEES?


DPEFOE DTHE


16l CL  i X   T ~iZE iLATL           CLiETY
F ETH11E
A' --E OFP-'NSYLVAKWA,
AtIA-Rt1- nPZI SE-3TTIJ3G-,Ii -u iT A 1?  5 1h, 137l'3".
13 T-omAS I 001S9, LiD..
OF GEHO,ANTOVVN, PHILADEPI AA.
G ERMAlAN-KT OWN:
WALTER H. BONS ALL, PB INTEB, l50290 MAIN STREET.
ISM3








HO.Mc11oATHY,
THE SCIENCE OF THEIRAPEUTICS:
ITS NATURAL LAW
AND THE
ESSENTIAL CONDITIONS OF THAT LAW,
ANNUAL ADDRESS
BEFORE THE
6I6PA    HI     -[EDI6AL'SO6IE
OF THE
STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA,
AtA I-IýARRISI3URGý, FITT'I3UAIW-Y 5th, 1,973.
By TriOMAS MOORE, M.ID.,
OF GERIMANTOWAN, PHILADELPHIA.


Etc


'ITY


GER A N TOW N:
WALTER H1. IONSAIL, PRINTER, 5029 MAI~N STRZEET.
1873.








HOM CEOPATHY,


THE SCIENCE OF THERAPEUTICS:
ITS NATURAL LAW
AND THE ESSENTIAL CONDITIONS OF THAT LAW,
Among all the developments of science and practical applications of natural principles and laws to
the many purposes which add to the comfort, convenience and prosperity of man, there is no subject
of greater importance or that can more deeply interest
us, than that which has for its object the relief of
suffering, the restoration of dhealth and the preservation of life; but it is one which has been characterized by mystery, ever since the earliest ages of
the world.
If we refer to the "Mystical Period" of History,
when all medical as well as religious knowledge was
confined to heathen priests, who worshipped in temples dedicated to their gods, among whom was Esculapius the god of Medicine, we find there recorded
one of the ancient laws, which says:--"It is not permitted to reveal sacred things except to the elect, and
strangers must be admitted to this knowledge only
after having submitted to the tests of initiation."




4


These heathen priest-doctors of olden-times, well
understood the influence of mystery over the minds and
bodies of those who sought their advice.
We are told that those afflicted with disease frequently made long pilgrimages to consult the oracle
dwelling within the temple of the god of Medicine; and
after having reached the sacred edifice, they were required to undergo certain purifications by "abstinence,
fasting, prayers and sacrifices," sometimes lying for days
and nights on the floor of the temple waiting to receive
attention. The god was usually unseen and spoke in a
mysterious voice; sometimes his will was made, known
through "dreams which were interpreted by the priest."
From  this ancient period down to more modern
times, mystery, in regard to Medicine, has continued
to exert more or less influence over the minds of the
people. The gold-headed cane and the powdered wig,
relics of this Mystical Age, have not been very long
thrown aside.
Medicine, like Astrology and Alchemy, was compelled to assume this disguise to hide the ignorance of its professors; but, happily in our days the
light of science dispels this veil of mystery, and
Medicine now boldly stands forth and demands open
investigation.
It is true that, like Astrology and Alchemy, Medicine during this early period, was possessed of many
facts gained by observation and experience; and from
this knowledge human suffering was no doubt frequently relieved and actual cures made, by physicians
who never dreamed that disease was amenable to,-lcinouard's History ( fMedicine.




natural law, or who had no more idea of scientific
certainty than was possessed by the Astrologist in
his prognostications of future events, or in his predictions in regard to the movements of the stars and
other celestial bodies.
Astrology and Alchemy, with their deep dark mysteries, their cabalistic signs, their incantations and
other fraudulent devices, have vanished, or are
now believed in, only by the superstitious and the
ignorant.
During the time, however, when Astrology and
Alchemy flourished, philosophers were advancing in
the right direction, and many observers were interrogating Nature and thereby gaining most valuable information. From the many and various facts
thus acquired, natural laws were gradually evolved
and scientific principles firmly established, which gave
the starting point to the development of true Science.
And, although the Alchemist failed to transform the
baser metals into gold, or to discover the " Elixir of
Life" and the " Philosopher's Stone," yet, from these
efforts, with the aid of men of broader thought, the
science of Chemistry was deduced: and, from  the
rude Astrology of ancient days, the grand science of
Astronomy of modern times was developed.
By discussion of and induction from the accumulated
facts at that time known, certain laws were discovered by Copernicus and Kepler which gave Astronomy its present scientific basis. With a knowledge
of these laws and a mass of other observations, Newton
was then enabled to announce to the world the law
of Universal Gravitation, showing that the force which




6


keeps the stars in their places, and carries the heavenly
bodies in their orbits, is identical with that which
caused the apple to fall to the ground.
Based upon this grand law and supported by Mathematics, Astronomy now stands unrivalled as a science
and bids Medicine emulate her in certc'aity.
As an example of the accuracy and precision of
scientific investigations in Astronomy, at the present
day, we briefly refer to the discovery of the planet
Neptune, in the year 1846.
For a long time astronomers had noticed a singular
but systematic aberration in the planet Uranus; and
a suspicion almost amounting to certainty arose, that
an unknown and exterior planet was exerting a disturbing effect upon it. Two astronomers, Addams and
Le Verrier, at different places and with an object
entirely unknown to each other, set about making
scientific calculations, in order to discover the cause
of this unusual disturbance, and to ascertain whether
it was owing to the presence of some unknown planet.
Although adopting different methods of computation,
but governed by the same scientific laws, they both
arrived at precisely the same conclusion.
The telescopes were then directed to the exact position in the heavens which these calculations had pointed
out, and, to their great gratification and to the glory of
science, the planet Neptune was there discovered; thus
achieving that, which is thought to be the grandest
triumph of the human intellect.
It has been a constant reproach to physicians,
that Medicine has not kept pace with the advancement of general science; and there has been some




7


ground for this censure. Medicine being a complex
science is composed of a number of branches. Fortunately, the discoveries and consequent advancement
of these, have constantly and effectively lent their
aid to give Medicine a scientific character and standing.   Had it not been thus supported, it would
long since have shared the fiate of Astrology and
Alchemy.
These several branches of scientific knowledge, such
as Anatomy, Physiology, Pathology, Chemistry, Hygiene and other kindred sciences, converge toward
one common centre, Therapeutics, which     teaches
the application of medicine to the cure of disease;
each in a measure contributing toward this most important object. Excluding, then, these several subsidiary sciences and referring only and especially
to Therapeutics, we must acknowledge that until a
comparatively recent period this reproach has been
most justly merited. It is this central branch alone,
which has not kept pace with the progress of general
science, and which has prevented Medicine from taking
that prominent position among the sciences which its
importance should command.
Before the introduction of Homoeopathy, Therapeutics, as a science, had no existence. We may search
the history of Medicine from the days of Hippocrates
or Galen down to the time of Hahnemann, and we can
nowhere find that Therapeutics was ever based upon
any natural law, or governed by any settled principles
established by the existence of such a law. But, on
the contrary, we will see that system follows system,
method succeeds method, theory overthrows theory,




I


schools, creeds and sects arise and for a time flourish
and then decline, to give place to others equally defective. Learned men announced their hypotheses, medical philosophers advanced their doctrines, which for a
period claimed the attention of their followers. Anatomy, Physiology, Pathology and Chemistry each furnished their learned and plausible contributions to build
up and sustain systems of practice based upon some
theoretical views of the teachers of these sciences.
Need we wonder, then, that Medicine, based upon such
defective reasonings and without a law to govern it,
had been heretofore obscured by mystery and attended
with so little certainty, or that it has advanced so
slowly when compared with other sciences'?
It is to Therapeutics alone, that Homoeopathy has
any direct and practical relation. It gives to this
branch of Medicine a law, which exalts it to the dignity
of a true Science.
This law was discovered by Samuel Hahnemann,
in the year 1790, while engaged in translating the
article on Peruvian bark, in Cullen's Materia Medica.
Hahnemann was not satisfied with the explanation
there given of the curative powers of Peruvian bark;
and he conceived the idea that by testing this drug
upon himself while in a healthy condition, he might,
perhaps, ascertain the true cause of its remedial action.
By thus interrogating Nature, he found that this drug
produced upon him symptoms similar to those cases of
intermittent fbver which had been cured by it; and
the thought flashed upon his mind that the disease-producing power of drugs upon the healthy, would give
the key to their curative action upon the sick.




He at once searched the records of Medicine to learn
whether other drugs had produced in the healthy
symptoms similar to those they were known to have
cured. But unfortunately these records were very
defective, because drugs had never before been systematically proved upon the healthy.
He then instituted careful experiments upon himself and others, with the view of ascertaining the diseaseproducing power of other drugs; and afterwards, from
observing the successful curative action of these upon
the sick, he became convinced that what was true
in regard to Peruvian bark was also true of all other
drugs, and, " that all medicines cure the diseases
whose symptoms approach nearest to their own."'
Thus, by the power of inductive reasoning, based
upon well-ascertained facts obtained by careful experiment and well-verified observation, he discovered the
Law of Nature which governs the power of drugs to cure
disease. A discovery of as great importance to Medicine as was Newton's law of universal gravitation to
Astronomy and general physical science.
After Hahnemann had made this great discovery,
and before he gave it to the world, he was for several
years engaged in testing its truth upon his patients.
What delight he must have felt in these first responses of Nature to his anticipations!
He then announced the law     under the formula,
Similia, similibus curantur.
We are perfectly aware that no other of the older
sciences has a law so concisely expressed.     The
announcement of the great curative principle of nature
I-I almiTemamn's Qrganon,




10


under this formula has therefore given rise to much
objection, discussion and misunderstanding as to its acceptation and definite meaning.
The Latin word similis, meaning like or resembling,
may not seem to come up to that standard ofpositiveness
which is demanded by modern science. By the word
similar we ordinarily understand a degree of likeness
that is not perfect; but in an exact science like Geometry it denotes a resemblance that is perfect and positive. It was in this sense, undoubtedly, that IHahnemann conceived the phrase "Similia similibus curantur"
when expressing the great law which underlies it.
In the sentence just quoted from his Organon hle says:
Sthat all medicines cure the diseases whose symptoms
cpproach nz'earest to their own.'  Again he observes:
t that we select from all others that medicine, whose
manner of acting upon persons is known and which has
the power of producing an artificial malady the nearest
inh resemblance to the natural disease before our eyes."
And he also remarks:-" Of all these medicines, that
one whose symptoms bear the greatest resemblance to
those which characterize any particular natural disease,
ought to be the most appropriate and certain homoeopathic remedy that can be employed."
There can be no doubt as to what Hahnemann considered the degree of similarity essential to the operation of the law:-and the successful experience of all
who have accurately tested its truth, proves that, the
more closely the phenomena produced by a drug upon
the healthy resemble those presented by the given
case of disease, the more certain will be the curative
result of the remedy and the more surely can such a




11


result be predicted. No more definite expression could,
therefore, be used, to show   a the true intent and
meaning of the law."
The study of this similarity and the comparison of
the drug symptoms with those excited by disease, become the work of the scientific physician: and each
special and successful application of the law is not only a
confirmation of its truth, but is as positively a discovery
in science (only differing in degree) as is the Astronomer's, who points you to that position in the firmament
where, by the study of other laws, he is enabled to
show you a new star or to tell you of a heretofore
unknown planet.
Founded upon this Law of Nature, we claim that
H1omoeopathy is a true science-the Science of Therapeutics-and we ask for it that spirit of candid and
unprejudiced examination which its importance to
humanity demands: and as a science we insist upon
that exact and rigorous investigation to which it is
entitled.
Between all the sciences there exists a relation of
perfect harmony; and their fundamental laws are
expressions of the will of the Creator. Through these
laws, His power is manifested in all the works and
operations of Nature.
We believe Homoeopathy-as the Science of Therapeutics-to be in accord with all other sciences, and
especially with those branches related to Medicine;
and we claim for it the position to which it is entitled,
as the keystone of the arch upon which Medicine as a
complex science is based.
In studying the laws of nature, we know that they




Ig


are all subject to certain conditions and limitations.
These are absolute and admit of no variation.
Animal life does not exist unless exact conditions
for its development and continuance ever surround it.
The plant cannot grow without its proper degree and
proportion of sunlight, heat and moisture. And the
phenomenon of the Aurora Borealis, the laws of which
are still unknown, and as yet baffle the endeavors of
the most thorough scientific investigators to discover, is
never seen unless the exact conditions of its causes
are present.
Special conditions belong essentially to every operation of the laws of nature: and no phenomenon,
however important or trivial in its character, and
however evident to our senses as the result of natural
law, can occur, unless these conditions are in all respects
strictly fulfilled.
The first and most imperative of these conditions
as regards the "law of similars" is, that the symptoms resulting from the action of a drug on the healthy
must bear the nearest resemblance to the symptoms
produced by disease: they must thus agree, or no action
of the law can result.
It will be observed, that the symptoms of the drug
and the symptoms of the disease are the actual elements
to be considered, in this first condition of the law; and
not, as has been assumed by some, the pathological
state, or the change of structure existing in the system
as the result of drug action or of disease.
The terms of this condition admit of no conjecture
or assumption on the part of the investigator who
would test the truth of the law. Certainty may be




expected from this as from all other laws of nature,
but can be attained, only, if the essential conditions
upon which its action depends are strictly regarded.
But, if we entertain the mistaken idea that this particular condition calls for a comparison of the morbid
structural changes in the system occurring as the effect
of drug action, with the altered state of the material
tissues existing as the result of disease, or, in other
words, with the pathological anatomy, it will be impossible to fulfil this first condition of the law.
Hahnemann recognized this. And nowhere in his
writings does he say that the structural changes produced by drugs must be similar to the pathological
state of the patient: on the contrary, he constantly
discusses the futility of all attempts to cure disease
on the speculations derived from   the teachings of
pathological anatomy.    He insists upon a coinmarison of the symptoms as the only sure way of finding
the remedy to cure disease "radically, promptly and
permanently."
In his Organon he says: "The ensembnle of the symptoms is the principal and sole object that a physician
ought to have in view, in every case of disease-the
power of his art is to be directed against that alone,
to cure and transform it into health."
He again remarks: " There is no curable malady,
nor any invisible morbid change in the interior of man,
which admits of cure, that is not made known by
morbid indications or symptoms to the physician of
accurate observation-a provision entirely in conformity with the infinite goodness of the All-wise Preserver of men."




14


He also writes: "As the cure which is effected
by the annihilation of all the symptoms of a disease
removes at the same time the internal change upon
which the disease is founded-that is to say destroys
it in its totality--it is accordingly clear, that the
physician has nothing more to do than to destroy the
totality of the symptoms in order to effect a simultaneous removal of the internal change-that is to annihilate the disease itself."
And he then says:     From   this incontrovertible
truth, that beyond the totality of the symptoms, there
is nothing discoverable in diseases by which they could
make known the nature of the medicines they stand in
need of, we ought naturally to conclude that there can
be no other indication whatever than the ensemble of
the symptoms, in each individual case, to guide us in
the choice of a remedy."
In considering the symptoms, in their direct relation
to the treatment of disease, and as the actual elements
of comparison in the selection of the homoeopathic
remedy, we recognize them    as positive, unmistakable facts, and accept them as the only facts required.
But if we ignore these symptoms or regard them    as
unworthy of notice, as trifling or meaningless, instead
of dealing with them  as scientific facts, and, on the
other hand, attempt to compare the pathological effects
of drugs (of which we have no positive and authentic
record) with the pathological state of the patient (so
frequently impossible to ascertain until revealed by a
post-mortem  examination,) we must be constantly
groping in the dark and speculating among uncertainties, hypotheses and conjectures.




15


We must remember that the proving of drugs
upon the healthy has not been carried to such an extent that easily recognized structural changes in the
tissues and organs are established.   Nor can such
changes always be detected with any degree of certainty
during life, and only afterwards by an autopsy, where
death is the result of the toxicological action of medicine.  And we must also recollect, that throughout
the whole course of the purely functional disorders
which so frequently claim the physician's attention,
although pathological alteration may exist, yet it is
seldom discoverable.
In a report on this subject to the American Institute of
Homoeopathy, by Dr. P. P. Wells, he says: "There is in
most cases of acute disease, an initiatory stage in which
they are curable to a far greater extent and with greater
ease than when they have passed beyond it. It is in this
stage that there is the greatest amenability to curative
agencies. There is, as yet, no change wrought in the
material tissues of the organs, and consequently there
is no pathological anatomy, and none of its elements
can therefore be obtained for the comparison required
by the law. If these elemients are necessary to a sure and
successful prescription, then here in this period in the
history of cases, where they are most curable, they
should be found in the greatest numbers; and yet, it is
just here that they are not found at all.  This is perfectly conclusive as to any necessity there may be for
the consideration of the facts of pathological anatomy
in determining the choice of the curative remedy.
There can be no greater absurdity than to suppose
this to be one of the conditions of a divinely appointed




16


law, the object of which is to secute certainty and
success in the cure of the sick."
Pathological alterations are the results of disease,
and consequently the products of a disturbed or modified life-action, requiring time for their development.
It is before these alterations have taken place that
medical treatment is most needed to arrest the further progress of disease. It is in this incipient stageas remarked by Dr. Wells-when disease is most easily
cured, that the "law of similars" can be the most
available; yet, just at this time, pathological anatomy
will evidently fail to guide us in the application of the
law and in the selection of the appropriate remedy.
But. in the more advanced stages of acute, and in
organic or chronic disease, when the pathological state
is fully established, and we have admitted evidence of
the existence of morbid changes in the tissues, of what
therapeutical value can such knowledge be, when we
have, as before noticed, no authentic record of the
pathological effects of drugs from provings, which we
can use in a comparison with the material changes
which have been produced by disease?
With all the modern facilities for studying morbid
anatomy, by the aid of the many inventions and improvements in instruments for this purpose which
mechanical art has lent to medical science, together
with the revelations of the microscope and the advantages derived from  chemical analysis, the physician
may attain proficiency in detecting the exact pathological state of the patient. By these means, he may
undoubtedly gain an enviable reputation as a diagnostician or as an expert. But with all his acquirements,




17


by such investigations he cannot ascertain the true
indications for selecting the homoeopathic remedy by
which this pathological state can be restored to its normal condition, or by which the morbid action producing it can be arrested. While believing in the existence of a natural therapeutical law, he cannot apply
it, and, therefore, cannot expect any greater certainty
or success in the cure of.his patients than they who
have no such law to guide them.
Even if the internal pathological condition could be
actually demonstrated-which is not always the case
during life-such a demonstration could never of itself suggest the medicine by which the disease might
be cured, with any more reliability than the inspection of a crude drug could suggest its use as a therapeutical agent.
Suppose we are perfectly certain that in a case of
typhoid fever the glands of Peyer are in an ulcerated condition, what indication for the selection of
the curative remedy is furnished in this pathological
fact, by which the ulcerative process may be arrested
or a perforation with its fatal consequences prevented?
But, if we are to depend upon morbid anatomy for our
indications in the medical treatment of disease, what
are we to do in those cases where the pathological state
is obscure or entirely unknown? Must we wait until
it is discovered and positively determined, before we
can apply the law of cure?
There may be disease without ascertainable pathological lesions, but disease without objective or subjective symptoms cannot be recognized. The synptoms, beginning with the inception of the disease




18


and continuing throughout its course, only ceasing
with recovery or death, are, after all, the only constant, reliable and true signs which nature gives of
the disturbed life-action going on within.
This morbid life-action is the actual disease. It
is this which calls for immediate cure and not the
pathological formations which, as we have before
remarked, are but the products of disease. A   perfect cure consists in so modifying this morbid life-action that all the symptoms are obliterated, and by
such modification all the abnormal changes produced by disease are removed and the tissues restored
to their original healthy condition.
There can be no possible doubt of the importance of
an accurate knowledge of all that pathological anatomy
can reveal, or of the satisfaction to be constantly derived from the study and cultivation of this science;
not only as a means of understanding the nature of
disease and the reason of symptoms, but more especially, on account of the advantages thereby obtained in
ascertaining its probable causes, tendencies and terminations in their relations to the subjects of diagnosis
and prognosis.
While acknowledging and insisting upon this necessity for thorough pathological inquiry, however, we
must not be misled by its great importance in its direction toward these especial ends just pointed out,
nor by the scientific character and nature of such inquiry, into the belief that the facts of pathological
science must therefore enter as elements of this first
essential condition of our therapeutic law.
Notwithstanding the contrary and generally received




19


opinion of those who do not accept this law, or of
those who, while accepting it, fail to comprehend and
fully appreciate its true conditions, we believe that the
acknowledged facts of pathological anatomy, although
absolutely indispensable for the purposes just mentioned, have no direct or special relation to the Science
of Therapeutics; and if these accepted facts are unavailable for therapeutical use, how much less reliable
must be those assumed indications, formed from   the
hypothetical notions of the physician, regarding the
morbid condition which he may imagine to exist in the
patient?
We have no fear of being supposed to undervalue
the facts of pathological science or the importance of
its study, but whatever may be its advantages for other
purposes, in the absence of pathological provings of
drugs, it must always be a false light if we rely upon
it to guide us in the selection of the homoeopathic
remedy for disease.
The Science of Pathological Anatomy has its own
sphere of usefulness, and it has also its natural and
definite limitation, beyond which it can have no practical application to the Science of Therapeutics.
Believing Homoeopathy to be true, accepting its law
as our guide and aiming at scientific certainty in our
prescriptions, we must also accept-as an imperative
necessity-the essential condition of the law as understood and taught by Hahnemann, that, by a comparison of the symptoms of the patient with the symptoms
excited by drugs upon the healthy, the curative remedy
must be selected; and experience positively assures us,
no matter what may be the pathologicalJ condition,




20


that THE SYMPTOMS ARE ALONE SUFFICIENT to indicate the
remedy, if the case be curable and a proper one for the
application of the homoeopathic law.
The next essential condition of the law similia similibus curantur to be noticed is INDIVIDUALIZATION, by
which we mean that, for each individual case of disease,
there must be a special application of the law.
The practice of Homoeopathy admits of no broad
generalization; for it would be impossible to apply
the law to the treatment of disease, in the general
sense in  which that term    is ordinarily used and
understood. And any attempt to cure individual cases
of disease upon the general principles of any of the
sciences related to medicine, is incompatible with the
true Science of Therapeutics and the natural law upon
which that science is founded.
This law is essentially and solely a law controlling
the power inherent in drugs, in its curative action upon
the diseased organism. To this end it is applicable
and to no other.   But, while it is universal in its
operation, under its required conditions, and so far
as its sphere of applicability extends, it must be
remembered that it is not a law appertaining either to
Physics, Chemistry or any other science. It is true
that the principles of several other sciences are frequently available for the treatment of special cases
depending upon chemical or mechanical causes, and
other derangements of the system irrelative to that
morbid state which may be recognized as disease.
The practitioner of Homoeopathy, without inconsistency or compromise of principle as a follower of
Hahnemann, applies all the necessary remedial means




21


suggested by these auxiliary principles, in the management of those cases which do not come under
the " law  of similars."  But for the treatment of
any diseased condition not depending upon or continued by those causes referred to, he acknowledges no
principle nor system  of cure based upon any law
other than that of similia simililbus curantur.
Nor is the practice of Homoeopathy reconcilable
with the idea or doctrine of specifics for diseases which
are known by certain names. While the homoeopathic
remedy prescribed for an individual case of disease is
a specific for that particular patient, it has no relation,
as a specific, for the class of diseases to which that case
may belong o:r the name by which it may be known.
For instance: It is a popular notion that Belladonna is the specific remedy for scarlet fever, and
when the disease is known to be scarlet fever, this
medicine is supposed to be required in all cases. Now,
the truth is that Belladonna is no more a specific for
scarlet fever, than it is for pneumonia, croup or
measles, and it is never prescribed in scarlet fever,
except when the symptoms of the individual patient are
similar to the symptoms produced by Belladonna upon
the healthy. Under these circumstances, it is just as
much indicated in any other case of sickness, no matter under what name the disease may be known or
classified. Any other remedy, whether it, had ever
before been used in scarlet fever or not, would be
given in preference to Belladonna, if its symptoms
more closely resembled the individual case than did
those of Belladonna.
It might, perhaps, be presumed that Hahnemann




entertained and sanctioned the idea of specifics when
he pointed out the remedies for cholera. It is wellknown   that when    the cholera was approaching
Germany from the east, in the year 1831, Hahnemann predicted the remedies to be used.    This he
did, not from a knowledge of the general symptoms
by which the disease was known as Cholera Asiatica,
but by an individualization of the cases. He received
letters asking his advice, from the physicians who
had seen the disease and were alarmed at the suddenness and severity of its attacks. They wrote him
the particulars and the peculiar symptoms of the individual cases which had come under their notice, and
he at once told them that when the cases presented
such and such symptoms camphor would be the
remedy, for another combination of symptoms veratrum, and for a different set cuprum would be indicated. By studying out the indications, which were
to be obtained only from individual cases, and guided
by an unerring law of nature, he predicted the remedies that would cure the cholera before he had ever seen
a single case of that disease.
Thus was achieved as great a triumph of the human
intellect as that before referred to, when Addams and
Le Verrier, in another branch of science, pointed out
to their fellow astronomers the place of Neptune in
the heavens.
Each individual case of sickness, under whatever
name it may be known or classified, must be analyzed and studied out separately without regard to
any relation existing between it and any other case
of the same disease, or, in fact, to any other diseases,




23


and the law applied'to it. If this consisted in merely
matching the symptoms of the drug mechanically
with the " totality of the symptoms " of the patient,
the practice of Homoeopathy would      be a simple
matter. But it demands on the part of the physician
the exercise of his greatest powers of observation, the
nicest discrimination and the clearest judgment. With
a thorough knowledge of the several branches of
science related to medicine, it requires, also, a special study of the comparative value of each symptom.
and a careful consideration of its importance in a
physiological, pathological and therapeutical point of
view, together with a constant study of the Materia
Medica.
The requirements of H1omoeopathy, therefore, become much more difficult andl exacting from this necessity for individualization; and, at the same time,
the investigation must be essentially more analytical
and scientific in its nature, in entering into all the particulars and minutice of each case, than it would be if
generalization alone were to be considered. Strict individualization gives a truly scientific character to the
practice of Homoeopathy.
In their general classification, diseases are known
by a marked resemblance in the prominent symptoms
existing between the different cases included in each
class, taken in connection with the pathological state,
as before remarked, when this can be determined. For
example: All cases of intermittent fever present paroxysms, consisting of a chill, a fever and a sweat; followed by a complete apyrexia, or intermission of these
general symptoms, which intermission is succeeded by




24


a recurrence of the same kind of paroxysm. All
cases of variola or small-pox are characterized by a
primary fever, with pustules appearing from the fourth
to the fifth day, and a secondary fever with suppuration of these pustules, from the eighth to the eleventh
day. While scarlatina is recognized by a fever, on the
second day of which a fine rash begins in the fauces,
on the face and neck, gradually extending downward
over the surface of the body and extremities; followed
after several days or weeks, by desquamation of the
cuticle and other troublesome sequele.
In every disease such prominent symptoms show
the genus or kind of disease, and serve to distinguish
it from all others having different general symptoms.
Each disease has its own general, or, as they are
termed, generic symptoms, which are common to all
the cases of the same class and the same name.
These general symptoms are often pathognomonic
(i. e. they indicate the signs by which a disease may
be certainly known,) and in determining the name and
character of the disease we have to treat, they are of
the utmost importance. They not only assist us in
classifying the disease, but by them we learn its usual
course, and are frequently made aware of danger by
any untoward deviation from    this course.  These
general symptoms also, are usually the most wellmarked and easily recognized, and from their frequent
severity often excite the greatest alarm. To them
the physician's attention is more immediately called,
and to them the patient's complaints and entreaties
more directly refer. Such symptoms, however, are
not of themselves sufficiently characteristic to indicate




25


the curative remedy according to the homoeopathic
law. But in each individual case of sickness, these
general symptoms almost always present peculiarities, by which, with symptoms of another kind presently to be noticed, the case must be individualized.
These peculiarities may be remarked by a difference
in the severity of special symptoms, by a variation in
the time of their appearance or disappearance, by the
period of their aggravation or amelioration, and by
other singularities or circumstances which show the
case to be different from all other cases of the same
complaint.
Those general symptoms which are alike in all
cases of the same disease (having no such characteristic differences) are of no value, as therapeutical indications, to the practitioner of Homoeopathy.
But, besides these generic or general symptoms,
there are others existing at the same time in every
case, which are supposed to be merely constitutional
peculiarities or idiosyncracies of the individual patient.
They are apparently accidental, and do not seem to
belong to or have any connection with the actual disease under which the patient is suffering; they are
entirely useless to the physician in forming a diagnosis or prognosis. For this reason they are usually
thought to be too insignificant to notice in considering
the treatment. These accidental symptoms, however,
are of the greatest importance in showing the individuality of the case; and the more singular or peculiar
they are, the more characteristic they become as therapeutical indications of that particular case. Symptoms such as these, which do not necessarily belong to




26


the disease may be either mental or physical, objective or subjective, and their appearance may or may not
be due to some pre-existing indiocyncrasyorhereditary
tendency of the individual.   But, from  whatever
known or unknown cause they may arise, they present themselves as facts in every case; and taken in
connection with the peculiarities often found in the
general symptoms, just mentioned, they become distinguishing facts, by which must be established the
similarity with the facts obtained by the proving of
drugs upon the healthy. That these differences and
peculiarities exist, and are- observable in each individual case of every disease, must be admitted by all.
They are facts which we have no right to annul or
overlook, and which like all other facts of nature have
a meaning, and must be acknowledged and accepted
by all who would understand the true conditions of the
law of cure.
The experience of the most successful practitioners
of Homoeopathy shows, that those symptoms which
give a, special character to each individual case, are far
more significant in a therapeutical point of view, than
the general symptoms which are common to and alike
in all cases of the same disease
These peculiarities of the individual patient, no
matter what may be his disease, are in reality the true
characteristic symptoms; and they are the particular
ones to be considered in relation to the medical treatment, in the application of our law  of therapeutics.
By observing them, the difficulties which might be
otherwise experienced in selecting the proper remedy
by " the totality of' the symptoms," are very much
lessened.




27


In examining the drug-proving, as recorded in the
works on Materia Medica, very many symptoms will
be observed, which in their character greatly resemble
these individual, or as they might be termed, therapeutical symptoms.
It is probable that in drug-provings upon the healthy
by large doses of crude drugs, the more violent and
prominent symptoms are produced as a primary result, through the immediate reaction of the system
against the irritating and poisonous qualities of the
drug material.  Symptoms thus excited, correspond
more to the general symptoms of disease, and are of less
value than provings which are analogous to those
individual symptoms which we believe to be of such importance as therapeutical guides. These latter provings are, no doubt, due to a deeper and later physiological reaction of the organism against the finer or
partially attenuated portions of the drug-matter, and
the more penetrating and persistent operation of its
medicinal properties. For the especial purpose of developing these pure therapeutical and true characteristic symptoms, we would therefore suggest that drugprovings should be always made by attenuated doses.
Those who doubt the action of such doses upon the
healthy, would soon be thoroughly convinced of their
effect by experimental provings upon themselves.
With regard to drug-proving generally, they are
not to be looked upon as symptoms descriptive of diseases, but simply as the record of the natural effects
of drug-action upon the healthy. Nor, as a general
thing, are they the result of any marked pathological
changes, produced by such action of drugs on the




28


system; hence, any description of pathological alteration of the tissues is rarely to be found among
them. They are the exact language of nature, by
which the action of drugs on the healthy is recognized
and appreciated, by those alone who can comprehend
their purport.
To the physician who sees no beneficent design of
the Almighty in giving drugs the power to produce
disease as well as to cure it, and who ignores the necessity of studying the natural effect of drugs upon the
healthy, we do not wonder that our drug-provings appear " meaningless," or that they might be considered
by him as " absurd."  But rightly comprehended and
explained by the law similia similibus curantur, with
a proper understanding of its natural conditions, they
are full of meaning, truth and usefulness.
The " last though not the least" important condition of the law similia similibus curantur, to which time
will permit us to refer, is that which necessitates THE
SMALL DOSE.
The two preceding conditions, which we have considered, refer to the way in which the law must be applied, while this points out the means by which its application is to be effected.  These three conditions
are so requisite to the operation of the law, and so intimately connected and mutually dependent on each
other, that, unless united, no result can be obtained.
This last condition, therefore, becomes an essential one,
and must be as rigorously observed as either of the
others.
The outcropping of the principle similia had been
frequently observed by medical writers from the time




29


of Hippocrates, whom medical history informs us was
the first authority to notice it. But it remained undeveloped-because these conditions were     unknown.
-Had not Hahnemann determined by observation and
experiment this necessity for the infinitesimally attenuated dose, as a part of his great discovery, the law
similia similibus cirantur might have remained undiscovered until the present time.
Before Hahnemann positively ascertained this essential condition of the law, he prescribed drugs in
their crude state and in the ordinary large doses then
used. But he found by experience, that disease produces an increased susceptibility in the system  to
drugs that excite similar symptoms in health; and
that a drug capable of thus exciting such symptoms,
would consequently act with too great violence in a
large dose and in its crude condition, and, therefore,
aggravate the case and also produce medicinal symptoms. To avoid this increased medicinal action, his
first intention was simply to diminish the dose by
triturating or diluting the drug with some non-medicinal substance.   But, while thus seeking merely to
lessen the quantity of the medicine, he found that in
proportion as he effected its diminution through subdivision and trituration or dilution, he not only did
away with its poisonous quality, but, at the same time,
HE SET FREE ITS LATENT CURATIVE ENERGY, which was
stored up in the crude drug, and called it into activity.
Even substances such as flint, marble and charcoal,
the curative properties of which are almost entirely
inactive in their crude form, were found to manifest
decided medicinml virtue when thus minutely subdivi



30


ded and attenuated.   The activity of this curative
energy became evident when the medicine was applied
in accordance with " the law of similars."  Hahnemann afterward ascertained by experiment, that a
minute dose, thus infinitesimally attenuated, when administered to a patient in whom existed this increased
susceptibility excited by disease, and under the other
conditions of the law, became decidedly more efficatious in its remedial action and would perfect a cure
with much greater certainty, more promptly and permanently, than the same drug would do in its crude
state and with the ordinary large dose.
The discovery of the law of cure, together with its
natural conditions-through the process of inductive
reasoning and by observation and experiment-were
of sufficient importance to have ranked Hahnemann
as the greatest scientific medical discoverer. But the
discovery that the curative energy of medicine is developed by attenuation of the drug (although, perhaps,
less the result of pure mental effort than were his
other great discoveries,) and the demonstration of the
fact through the action of the infinitesimally attenuated dose, completed the glory of Homoeopathy and
rendered the name of Hahnemann immortal.
As a discovery in science, we acknowledge that it
is not generally appreciated and accepted-simply because it is in advance of the times. We are aware,
also, that the efficacy of the small dose is doubted by
those who consider it beneath their dignity to test its
action, under the required conditions. This they decline to do from a preconceived notion that it would
be impossible for doses so small to have any virtue as




31


curative agents, yet, at the same time, they unhesitatingly believe and accept facts of daily occurrence
which are apparently just as improbable, the causes
of which they may never comprehend.
But the progress of true science is irresistibly onward; and preconceived notions or prejudices founded
upon them, and ideas resulting from unsound teaching
became wonderfully   changed by its advancement.
Even old settled theories concerning the operation of
the natural forces-heat, light, electricity, etc., which
were unreservedly accepted and stood the test of years,
have recently been exploded by the developments of
modern science. Within a very short period the phenomena of heat were taught to be due to the action of
caloric, an imponderable agent separable from matter,
yet supposed to be a distinct entity which had the
faculty of uniting with all other substances; but these
phenomena are now differently explained by an entirely new theory.
If Homoeopathy, as a premature discovery in science,
was inconsistent with the teachings of former days, it
was because those teachings were inconsistent with
TRUTH as since ascertained and at present received.
But examined by the new light of advanced science,
we are assured that Homoeopathy will be found to be
in perfect harmony with its latest teachings and its
most wonderful developments; rand, from the direction
which scientific investigations are now taking, we are
confident that the action of the sMALL DOSE can be
proved to be within " the probabilities " of reason and
of truth.
For to-day, the most profound thinkers of the scien



32


tific world are giving their especial attention to the
study of the many and various properties of the molecules or the infinitesimals of matter. They have found
that all the well-known   great natural forces, heat,
light, electricity, magnetism, etc., are not, as has formerly been believed, imponderable fluids separable
from matter, but are " simple affections of matter," or
" modes of motion of the molecules of matter, precisely
as mechanical motion is a motion of its mass."  They
have also demonstrated the fact, that all these great
physical forces are correlated, or mutually convertible
into each other:-from heat may be produced light,
chemical action, electricity, etc., and from electricity
may be produced heat, chemical action, light, etc.
We are not only told that these physical forces of nature are convertible into each other at pleasure, but
science now tells us that they are also correlated to
the mysterious vital force of animals and plants.
This great principle of life we are told, is also a
force of nature, inseparable from the substance of the
living form-a " mode of motion " of the organic
molecules of which that form is composed.
Like all other natural forces, LIFE is only known to
us by its phenomena. The existence of " a special
vital force as such," is denied by many physiologists
and scientists of the present day; they retaining that
term, " only to express the sum of the phenomena of
living beings. "
We learn, too, from modern science, that each individual molecule of every living organism is endowed
with vital energy-having an independent life.within
itself. It is this peculiar property, impressed by the




33


Creator upon the organic molecule, which so essentially and greatly distinguishes it from the molecule of
inorganic matter. And while the idea is now generally abandoned, that the system is under the control
of a distinct principle, which resists the action of the
natural forces during life, and is denominated the vital
force, yet this term may still be used to represent THE
COMBINED ENERGIES OF THE INDIVIDUAL MOLECULES IN A
LIVING ORGANISM.
In studying the phenomena of life, we are therefore
concerned particularly with the attributes of organic
matter-with its vital energy or force, its properties or
affections. Without these, all such matter is subject
then only to physical laws.
Health consists not only in perfect harmony of the
physiological functions of the organism, but, also, in
the harmonious relation existing between the formative
and  the destructive processes constantly  going on
through the influence of vitality in its mode of motion
of the organic molecules. While disease, on the contrary, is a disturbance in this harmony of life-action,
or, in other words, an interference or change in the
mode of motion of the molecules in the parts affected,
whereby modification of so-called function, or eventually pathological formations, are produced.  And
death is the cessation in the individual organism of all
molecular motion and the phenomena caused by it.
Believing disease to be purely vital in its essence,
we can, hence, readily understand that all pathological formations are the consequence of interference or
change in the "mode of motion " in the arrangement
of the organic molecules, especially as such mor bid re



34


sults take place without the control of those physiological laws which regulate the formation of healthy
organized tissue. Not acknowledging this change in
molecular motion as the ultimate cause of such formations, pathological products are looked upon by many
as the actual disease, and these unnatural material
alterations are erroneously accepted by them as furnishing the proper indications for medical treatment,
requiring, in their opinion, material doses for the
cure.
Now, if we could believe that disease was entirely
of' a material nature, requiring a process of elimination
or expulsion by mechanical means for its cure, we might
understand the necessity for the exhibition of drugmatter in its crude form and as a material mass.
But, if all pathological formations or products are developed by a primary morbific life-action, and if disease is predicable only of vitality or imponderable force,
what inconsistency or incongruity is there in the employment of a curative or remedial agent which is
also AN IMPONDERABLE FORCE, such as the exceedingly
minute and greatly attenuated dose which we administer?  It is in reality the response of one natural
force to the restorative influence of another. For,
from close observation and careful study of the evidences which show the analogous mode of action of
drug-power, or the curative energy of medicine, to the
forces of electricity, magnetism, chemical action, heat
etc., upon the living organism, we are convinced that,
like them, this curative energy is also " a simple affection of matter" and "an actual force of nature."
And like all the well-known natural forces it has, too,




35


its own " mode of motion," which it manifests through
each individual drug by a " special rate of vibration."
This " rate of vibration" or "length of wave motion " of drug-power is affected by the minuteness of
the subdivision of the drug-material, and the limit of
the infinitesimal exhibits its highest effect as "a mode
of motion " untrammeled by the transmission of appreciable matter. While we are aware that this curative
energy is still unrecognized by the scientific world as
a force of nature, yet, we believe there is no possible
doubt that before long we shall be able to understand
that medicinal force is not only correlated to all the
great physical forces, but, also, to the mysterious vital
force of living beings.
Experience proves to us that this agent manifests
its curative action (under the law of similars and its
essential conditions) even when the drug is so greatly
attenuated that the most delicate and searching tests
fail to detect the slightest trace of the drug-material;
and we feel no compromise of dignity, nor do we see
any absurdity in the application of this curative agent
through the infinitesimally attenuated dose because
the drug-matter in such a dose is not appreciable by the
senses.
We do not deny the fact that curative effects are
produced by material doses of crude drugs, even when
combined with all their poisonous and injurious qualities; but we do not believe that such curative effects
are proportionate to the quantity of drug-matter contained in the dose. On the contrary, we are convinced that the curative energy of drugs is developed
in proportion to the decrease of drug-matter by the




86


process of regular and gradual attenuation, as discovered and taught by Hahnemann. While we know
that this curative force does act in material doses, yet
we believe that the less it is encumbered by the material substance, with its injurious properties, the more
analogous is its action to that of other natural forces;
and, from this analogy, we are convinced that it is
not essential to the operation of this curative agent
that there should be any transmission of appreciable
matter.
If we examine the phenomena of the great physical
forces in nature, we find that they are all manifested
without the intermediate action of matter appreciable
by the senses, and without the transmission of such
matter in any form. This is the accepted dictum
of the highest scientific authorities.
In the phenomena of heat, light, chemical action,
electricity, magnetism, etc., existing at the sun, and
measured upon our earth at a distance of ninety-one
and a half millions of miles from their source, we
know of no appreciable matter emitted therefrom.
In fact the undulatory theory of light has been demonstrated, in opposition to the emission theory of Newton,
who supposed that actual though infinitesimal particles
of matter were transmitted from the sun to the earth to
produce on our senses the phenomena of light. We
know that when a magnet imparts magnetism     to a
bar of steel by approach or actual contact, there has
been no transmission whatever of appreciable matter,
although actual power or force has been imparted equal
to that of the original, without lessening or impairing
the power of the original. Through two thousand




miles of telegraph cable, with the whole earth as the
return medium, the scientist has transmitted intelligible messages with the electricity generated by a
gun cap,-a "mode of motion" certainly without the
transmission of appreciable matter. Hlie has announced
that heat is merely a "mode of motion "- and not
the transmission of ponderable heated matter. We
know that sound, also, whether transmitted through
the air, water, or a bar of the densest steel, is simply
a "mode of wave motion."   And who supposes for a
moment that matter is transmitted for miles in every
direction, when the sound from a cannon impinges upon
the nerves of hearing? If so, what is the measure of
the length and breadth of its particles? When the eloquence of the orator or the notes of a Nillson have
thrilled our hearts with the keenest pleasure, can we
suppose that appreciable matter has been transmitted
from them to a thousand nervous systems?  The great
oceanic tides are "modes of wave motion " only,
and not a great translatory movement of water around
the globe.
All the great natural forces exhibit, by their peculiar
phenomena, their "modes of motion " upon the nerves
of sight, hearing, smelling, taste and feeling. They
do not, in any case, act by the actual transmission of
appreciable matter. The nerve centre of each special
sense is afbfected through its nerves, only and solely by
that certain and invariable "mode of motion" which
is naturally related to it. The vibrations of light affect only the nerves of sight, the vibrations of sound
affect only the nerves of hearing; but the vibrations
related to the nerves of the eye cannot affect the




38


nerves of the ear or the tongue; hence, a diseased condition of the nerves of sight, although acutely susceptible to the undulations of light, cannot be aggravated
by the loudest vibrations of sound; nor can a diseased
condition of the nerves of hearing be made in the
slightest degree worse by the brightest rays of light.
Even if the mathematics of mechanics did not negate the transmission of matter, in these and analogous
laws, there would be no harshness of assumption in
asserting, that all exhibition of natural force, whether
of universal gravitation, electricity, magnetism, chemical action, crystallization or the "mysterious " vital
force of animals and vegetables, is merely " a mode
of wave motion."
But among the most marvellous developments in
science of recent days, those exhibited by the SPECTROSCOPE have revealed the most brilliant and unexpected
wonders. And they have been so fully examined and
verified, that the law announced by Kirchhoff is unreservedly accepted; the law of probabilities assuring us
that there are millions of chances to one that it is true,
as it is equally true of gravitation, heat, electricity,
etc. The revelations of this instrument exhibit to the
senses the combustion of well-known substances, in
stars that are millions of millions of miles distant from
us, whose phenomena required thousands of years to
traverse space before reaching the eye; and yet no appreciable matter was actually transmitted to us.
It is well-known that Newton by means of a prism
of glass, resolved white light into the seven prismatic
colors-the colors of the rainbow. Later experimenters have examined the invisible spectrum, beyond the




39


limits of the visible colors, and find heat rays on one
extreme and chemical rays on the other. In fact,
the visible part of the spectrum is the weakest part
thereof. About seventy years ago it was discovered
that these prismatic colors from the light of the sun
were intersected by a number of dark lines; and notwithstanding the researches of the most able investigators, these dark lines remained a hidden mystery to
the scientific world, until Kirchhoff, only a few years
since, discovered their wonderful meaning. It was
besides ascertained that the light coming directly from
the fixed stars, when transmitted through the prism,
also presented dark lines, differing, however, in their
number and position from those exhibited in the solar
spectrum.
By means of what is termed "Spectrum Analysis,"
Kirchhoff has shown     us what these    mysterious
dark lines are.   He has made "provings " with
the spectroscope of well-known substances such as
iron, silver, sodium, and demonstrated that the light
emitted from these substances and others, when burning in a gaseous state, produces spectra of narrow
bright colored lines of invariable breadths, spaces and
position peculiar to each substance, and those of any
one substance holding an invariable relation to the
spectra of all the others. For instance:-The spectrum produced by silver burning in a gaseous state is
composed of green lines, of sodium  yellow lines, etc.
In the spectra of the sun and the stars, the dark lines
are not produced by the source of light, but they tell
us of vapors through which the light has passed,
which have robbed the light of certain definite colors,




40


by changing or interfering with their rates of vibration. By comparing the bright lines in the spectra of
the light of terrestrial substances, when burning in a
state of gas, with the dark lines in the solar spectrum,
we are shown how to interpret their meaning. When
a group of such bright lines coincides in number,
breadth and position with a group of dark lines, we
know   that the terrestrial substance producing the
bright lines is present in the sun.
With this law before him, the modern scientific experimenter has learned to measure, in millionths of an
inch, the wave-length of the vibrations of light emitted
by each line in the spectrum. But he has done this
at the cost of repudiating all previous teaching and belief IN THE TRANSMISSION OF APPRECIABLE MATTER.
We have been thus particular in the explanation of
these phenomena, because' we shall establish a close
analogy between them and the operation of THE SMALL
DOSE.
In attempting to give a " reason " for the action of
our remedies when administered in infinitesimally attenuated doses, we too frequently weaken our cause
by mere hypotheses or so-called theories. Yet why
should the logic of our accumulated facts be rejected,
when the scientific world to-day is unable to offer the
vaguest reason for the great law of universal gravitation, known to us solely by its results. We know
that gravitation governs the movements of the planets
around the sun, of satellites around the planets, of the
rock or the feather falling to the earth, but of the
cause, nothing more is known to-day than Newton
knew. Not only are we ignorant of the cause, but




41


ignorant of any intermediate material which is appreciable by our senses.
The mere statement of the phenomena of the laws
of nature, so far as we know them, is no explanation
of the " why " of their existence or action. And
Humboldt has not hesitated to affirm, that when we
know the absolute " why " or the " reason " of' such
laws we become OMNISCIENT.
By the time the " reason" for the phenomena of
LIGHT, as exhibited by the spectroscope, is announced,
we will be able to state the " reason" of the action
of our remedies in infinitesimally attenuated doses.
We are convinced we are working according to a
great natural law, from the fact of its analogy to the
laws we have so briefly adverted to. And if appreciable matter is emitted in the operation of any of
these natural forces and impinges upon our nerves,
what is the amount of matter which tells us that sodium, iron, magnesium, or hydrogen are burning in
Sirius, tes of    lins of millons of miles distant from  us?
What is the quantity of miatter, ifany, emitted by the
central sun of ail the systems of the universe, to keep
them in their undieviating courses through myriads of
centuries?
In the phenomena of heat, sound, electricity, etc.,
we have clear and beautiful analogies of their action
on the healthy nervous system (as shown by our detection of the phenomena) with the drug-power upon
the "' mode of motion" in the system of the patient;
but we shall restrict ourselves to a single analogy from
te ph henomena of liglht.
As the spectroscopist determines, by long and per



42


sistent experiments, the number, size, position land relation of the bright lines which each nmetal or substance exhibits, under natural conditions, so have wAe,
under the leadership of Hahnemann, experimented and
C proved " the definite action of drugs upon the normal wave-length of vital energy in healnthy subjects.
As the spectroscopist has experimnented with from one
to twenty prisms of various densities and nmaterials,
under various conditions, as becomes an     earnest
searcher after truth, so have w e  provAed " the definite
action of drugs upon subjects of every shade of constitution and temperament, and have recorded the resuits for future reference and guidance.  The dark
lines in the solar spectrum  tell us that intermediate
vapors have robbed the light of certain ldefinite colors,
by changing or interferinog with their 11modes of motion;"- and the symptoms of our patient tell us just
as certainly, that definite and normal " rates of vibration " of his orgallnism have been disturbel or modified.
In the solar spectrum the definite colors are reproduced,
not by the exhibition of crude matter, but by the LIGTcr
of specified substances burning as gas:-so in our p(atient, we reproduce the normal and healthy " rates of
vibration " in his system, not by the administration
of crude matlter, but of nnuc,-rowR, or the CURATIVE
ENERGY of medicine exhibite(d by specifiedr substances
TIN INFINITESIMALLY ATTENUATED DOSES.