INTRODUCTORY 
TO THE 
REPORT 
OF T H E 
BnrecLU. of JVLateT'ia JvLecLica., 
W 1 T II 
Synopses of the papers presented at the 
36th Annual Session of the 
American Institute of Homoeopathy. 
By J. P. DAKE, A.M., M.D., Chairman, 
Nashvilde, Tenn. 
Reprint from the Transactions. 
PITTSBURGH: 
Press of Stevenson & Foster, 151 Wood Street. 
1883. INTRODUCTORY. 
J. P. Dake, M.D., Chairman, Nashville, Tenn 
Ill presenting the report of this bureau I feel that no ex- 
planation, much less an apology, is due for the subject selec- 
ted for presentation and discussion at this time. If the need 
of a work on materia medica, less voluminous than some and 
more reliable than any now before the profession, has not been 
realized throughout the homoeopathic world, there is little to 
be learned by study and by observation of the signs of the 
times. But, inasmuch as some members of the bureau seem 
to have misapprehended the objects in view, when the circu- 
lar announcing our special subject was prepared, I deem it 
proper to say a few words explanatory. 
It was intended, first of all, to draw out the views of leading 
thinkers and workers on materia medica, as to the feasibility 
of abbreviating or condensing our display of drug effects. 
As to the necessity of the full, original text, so far as known 
to be reliable and useful, there has been no difference of opin- 
ion among the members of the bureau, notwithstanding some 
of the papers coming into my hands would seem to indicate 
otherwise. For reference, for the shelf in the book-case, let 
us have the complete work; and for hourly use, for a manual, 
an abbreviated edition of the same. So far as any member 
may be satisfied with the old note books and records, and, 
therefore, opposed to any sifting or curtailment, any condensa- 
tion and regional arrangement of drug effects in less volu- 
minous form, I am pleased to have his views plainly expressed. 
All shades of opinion on the subject are called for. 
In the next place it was intended to draw out illustrations 
of different methods of culling from our vast displays of drug 4 
AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF HOMCEO PAT II Y. 
symptoms the characteristic and most important; and hence 
the proposition to bring the pathogenesy of each drug, on an 
average, down to five pages in the making of one convenient 
volume. 
The possibility of such a reduction was hardly considered a 
question, although its accomplishment might be attended with 
many difficulties in the present state of our pathogenetic 
records. 
And, lastly, it was intended, by the abbreviated displays of 
Nux vomica and Kali bichromicum, to arrive at the most de- 
sirable method of condensing and arranging useful material 
for a manual of materia medica. 
With such intentions, I had the following circular printed 
for the guidance of members of the bureau, and for the in- 
formation of the profession generally : 
Bureau of Materia Medica and Provings, 
AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF HOMOEOPATHY. 
Our special subject for presentation at Niagara Falls, June, 1883, is 
“A Model for Materia Medica.” 
Each member of the bureau is expected to prepare such an exhibit of the two 
■drugs named below, as in his judgment, the present provings and clinical records 
will allow, and in such form as may best suit the purpose of the homoeopathic 
student and practitioner (the exhibit of each drug not making more than five 
pages octavo, brevier type, leaded). 
It is the purpose of the bureau to arrive at the best method of abbreviating, 
•or condensing into one volume, say, a manual of eight hundred pages, the useful 
knowledge we have of the leading articles of materia medica. 
Each member is to report his work to the chairman, Dr. Dake, at Nashville, 
Tenn., before April, 1883. 
The reports may be written in English, French, German or Italian. 
Drugs to be Considered: 
NtJX VOMICA AND KALI BICHROMICUM. 
I now proceed to submit a brief of each paper sent to me, 
so far as it relates to methods and plans for the work pro- 
posed. The papers in full, together with displays of the two 
drugs named in our circular, will be duly published. INTRODU CT O R Y. 
5 
I. John W. Hayward, M.D., Liverpool, England. 
Dr. Hayward advocates two different displays of drug effects 
—one for the student and the other for the practitioner—the 
former to contain the original reports of “ all known provings, 
experiments and poisonings with each drug,” and the latter 
having the same material “ tabulated under the organs in 
which they have appeared, with all their natural connections 
and their conditions and concomitants.” He would, also, 
have references from each symptom to the line in the original 
proving or record where it is mentioned. And, further, he 
would have an “index” added, under each organ, and a 
“ commentary;” the latter in two parts, one pathogenetic, qsl- 
plaining the special action of the drug on that organ, and the 
other therapeutic, explaining the therapeutic indication of the 
different symptoms; and this latter he would have supple- 
mented by clinical cases confirmatory. And to all this he 
would add a “ general commentary,” also in two parts, patho- 
genetic and clinical. These two works Dr. Hayward con- 
siders essential, and believes that no materia medica with less 
“ should be considered suitable for the physician practicing 
homceopatliically and symptomatically.” 
In general, he would have the natural history and composi- 
tion and pharmacal treatment of the drugs given in a separate 
work. 
He asserts that “ no mere epitome, abridgement or condensa- 
tion can possibly serve the purpose or meet the necessities of 
either student or practitioner,” and, therefore, considers it the 
duty of the bureau to refrain from the production of any such 
work. He argues strenuously against the possibility of any 
abridgement of symptomatic display, and asks what symptoms 
are to be thrown away, concluding with the remark that such 
a materia medica as that proposed in our bureau circular, 
would be as useless as an outline map of the United States to 
a student of geography. 
As the position assumed by Dr. Hayward is directly in 
opposition to the present aim and effort of our bureau, I must 
pause to vindicate briefly the purpose of the circular. 6 
AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF HOMCEOFATHY 
Ill the first place, as I have already intimated in my intro- 
duction, not a member of the bureau, so far as I am informed, 
has any lower estimate of the value of the original and full 
records of drug effects than has Dr. Hayward himself. He 
wants the complete day-books, and so do we. He wants the 
cases of poisoning, and so do we. He wants drug symptoms 
in the order of their occurrence, and so do we. But when he 
claims it to be the duty of this bureau to condemn every con- 
densation, abridgement and epitome of materia medica, we 
must decline to follow his lead ; and I will briefly indicate our 
reasons for it. Having the original records, and then the full, 
systematic arrangement of symptoms, under organs and re- 
gions, for reference whenever in doubt, or called on to trace 
nice distinctions in the choice of a remedy, we consider it not 
only possible but convenient to have an abbreviated edition, 
in the form of a manual. A careful sifting out of chaff and 
study of characteristics, in ways illustrated in this country as 
well as in England, will bring us a condensed materia medica 
more useful to the practitioner than the cumbersome works 
now claiming to be complete. 
1. In the first place, as I took pains to show in my paper for 
the World’s Homoeopathic Convention, at Philadelphia, in 
1876, a large number of drugs have been presented in our 
works on materia medica which have had no proper proving, 
or have shown little or no influence on the human organism, 
certainly not such as to give them rank as useful remedies. 
2. Many symptoms have been recorded by provers whose 
conditions or circumstances were such as to make it very 
doubtful if they were, at all, drug effects. 
3. Many symptoms have been noted, as drug effects, when 
doses were taken in which there could not possibly be any 
drug influence. 
4. Many symptoms have been attributed to medicines that 
were, really, due to the lively imagination or undue ambition 
of self-appointed provers. 
5. A large number of symptoms stand in the materia med- 
ica which have occurred in but one prover and in that prover 
but once. 7 
INTRODUCTORY. 
6. Identical symptoms ha ye, sometimes, been variously loca- 
ted or described by pro vers, thus causing them to appear as so 
many different symptoms. 
7. Many symptoms in the sick, appearing for the first time 
after the administration of a certain remedy, have been re- 
corded as drug effects. 
8. Symptoms noted in cases of poisoning have been attrib- 
uted to the poisonous drug taken, without due consideration 
of the influence exerted by antidotes and other causes at the 
same time operative. 
When all worthless and unproved drugs, and all symptoms 
which are not drug effects, are omitted there will be a wonder- 
ful shrinkage in the dimensions of our materia medica. 
But it is not alone such omissions that will afford us an 
abbreviation. Genuine drug symptoms are not all of equal 
value; and when, by much scrutiny and comparison, we are 
able to distinguish those o'f the greatest value, to arrive at the 
characteristic and essential, then may we hope for a condensed 
materia medica worthy of the name, and useful alike to the 
student and the practitioner. 
Hahnemann, while he wrote much about the totality of the 
symptoms of a case of disease, on the one hand, and the totality 
of the symptoms or effects of the curative agent, on the other, 
sought continually for the characteristic symptoms, as the 
more striking and ready points of comparison. It is well 
known to every thoughtful student of materia medica, that 
each drug must primarily impress a certain tissue and disturb 
the functions of a certain organ, and that, when not prevented 
by some other morbific or pathogenic agency, the character of 
its impression must be the same in all cases. The inception 
and progress of the drug disease, undisturbed, must be essen- 
tially the same in all persons; and the symptoms indicating its 
point of attack, its line of march, and its results cannot differ 
widely in the members of the human family. Upon this uni- 
formity of drug effect depends the whole fabric of homoeopathy. 
If the symptoms recorded in our materia medica do not 
apply to the generality of mankind, if they are to represent 8 
AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF HOMCEO PAT II Y. 
personal peculiarities and not uniform drug effects, the prac- 
tical application of similia becomes a task more difficult and 
less satisfactory than out and out empiricism. But the 
uniformity of drug effect stands, and all that is necessary to 
make similia universally applicable, in its own wide sphere, is 
to have drug diseases truthfully displayed in a work on materia 
medica. 
I know the difficulties are many, in the making of such a 
display without the day-books of Hahnemann and the early 
provers, and with the material furnished bv desultory and care- 
less drug experimentation; but, whatever the value of existing 
material, it must be worth as much in the formation of a con- 
densed materia medica as it possibly can be in its present un- 
wieldy shape. 
Taking the figure offered by Dr. Hayward, I would say, in 
conclusion on this question, that if a map of the United States 
does not allow an abbreviation, showing State lines and the 
larger lakes, rivers, mountains and cities correctly, and so that 
it shall be useful, without having the county and township lines 
and the private farm boundaries displayed, I would consider 
the map making business a decided failure, as to the United 
States. 
II. E. A. Fakkington, M.D., Philadelphia, 
Dr. Farrington opens with the observation that, “To deserve 
the title ‘model,’ a materia medica must be more than an 
abridgement.” He then states three leading requirements in 
the arrangement of a model materia medica : 
1. The officinal name of each drug, its place in natural 
history and its composition. 
2. A concise statement of such characteristic features as are 
nearly or quite universal in its symptomatology. 
3. A clear, compact, but complete arrangement of its symp- 
toms, objective and subjective. 
He would have these symptoms comprise not only the effects 
of provings, but, also, such developments of provings and such 
merely clinical symptoms as are indisputably characteristics ; INTRODUCTORY. 
9 
and he would have great care exercised in the localization of 
all symptoms. Dilating upon the requirements noted above, 
Dr. Farrington speaks of the importance of showing the origin 
and composition of the several drugs, giving appropriate ex- 
amples. 
In the arrangement of symptoms he would not allow con- 
densation at the sacrifice of valuable matter. He would 
avoid verbosity, unnecessary repetitions and vague and unim- 
portant symptoms. He would embrace symptoms from all 
parts of the body influenced by the drug, especially such as 
are known to be most characteristic. He would, also, embrace 
some symptoms furnished by clinical experience, especially 
when found in accord with the genius of the drug and when 
furnished by well qualified and painstaking practitioners; but 
they should be rejected when found to disagree with the prov- 
ings. In a schema he would, so for as possible, preserve the 
order of the symptoms, not allowing them to be violently 
severed. He would begin with generalities, or the symptoms 
always belonging to the drug, and go on, as already mentioned, 
with objective and subjective symptoms, physiological and 
pathological symptoms, rationally combined. He would have 
the schema made up by persons familiar with anatomy, physi- 
ology, and pathology, and able to make comparisons and note 
concomitants and conditions, as affecting the symptoms em- 
braced. Dr. Farrington submits a very concise and clear dis- 
play of Nux vomica, exceeding somewhat in length the limits 
allowed in our circular. 
In regard to the use of the term “model,” upon which he 
makes comment, I would remark that it was not intended to 
apply to a materia medica claiming to be complete, but to an 
abridged or condensed materia medica. There may be a model 
of the one as well as of the other. 
III. Lewis Sherman, M.D., Milwaukee. 
I)r. Sherman would present each drug under four successive 
headings*: 
1. The natural history of the article, embracing name and 
botanical and chemical character and relations. 10 
AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF HOMOEOPATHY. 
2. Its pharmacal peculiarities, embracing modes of selection 
and preparation and preservation. 
3. Its pathogeny, embracing first, the effects of large doses, 
and second, the effects of small doses, each in a connected or- 
derly manner. 
Dr. Sherman speaks of the importance of correct information 
in regard to the source and genuineness of drugs and, also, in 
regard to the methods of preparing and keeping them for use, 
in order that we may be sure of their identity and uniformity 
of influence. 
A case of poisoning with Nux vomica is given, which viv- 
idly pictures the inception, progress and fatal termination of 
the disease resulting from a large dose of that drug. The effects 
of smaller doses on healthy persons are displayed, as afforded 
chiefly by the experiments of Hahnemann and those under his 
immediate direction and scrutiny, and from notes collated from 
medical literature. 
Many symptoms gathered by Hahnemann and others with 
less care, from the sick and other questionable sources, are 
omitted; and so, also, all symptoms reported as coming from 
the use of the “ high potencies.” 
Dr. Sherman considers it important that every student of 
materia medica, in order to use an abbreviated edition suc- 
cessfully should carefully read the original record of symptoms 
as made by provers and competent observers of cases of 
poisoning. 
IV. A. W. Woodward, M.D., Chicago. 
Dr. Woodward opens his paper with a case, illustrating the 
need of a connected statement of effects in the display of each 
drug. He advocates a knowledge of what he terms the “nat- 
ural evolution” of symptoms, and would have the law similia 
apply especially to the sufferings of the first organ or organs 
disturbed, and to all sufferings or symptoms in the ordei' of 
their development. 
He enunciates this principle to be observed in the notation 
and use of symptoms. “That the succession of organic dis- 11 
INTRODUCTORY. 
turbances, obtained by provings made by a single dose, presents 
two similarities, viz: That the first few organs disturbed by the 
drug are identical with the associated organs chiefly involved in 
acute diseases for which that drug is especially curative ; and second, 
that the order in which these symptoms are developed, points to the 
conditions governing its successful use in chronic diseases—i. e., 
they must, in their history exhibit the same succession of organic 
ailments, seriatim." 
Dr. Woodward had provings made by students, at the Chicago 
Homoeopathic College, in order to mark the agreement of the 
early symptoms in different persons, and declares that, down to 
the heading “bowels” in the schema, four out of five provers 
of Nux vomica returned day-books in which the same organs 
were disturbed and in the same order; also, that three out of 
five provers of Kali bichromicum reported uniform results down 
to the heading “ fever.” 
The provers were in sound condition, kept unaware of what 
drug they were proving, and the doses were considerably within 
toxical limits. 
He gives the day-books of two provers only, one of Nux 
vomica and one of Kali bichromicum, merely to show the order 
of the symptom development, how the influence of the drug is 
felt by one organ of the body after another. He considers the 
order just as important, just as characteristic, as any other 
quality belonging to the symptoms, perhaps even more im- 
portant than many of the key-notes now highly prized. 
After speaking of the provings on the healthy, Dr. Wood- 
ward presents the therapeutics of Nux vomica and Kali bi- 
chromicum, showing how the curative range corresponds with 
the pathogenetic, how the best results are obtained in affections 
of the organs first, disturbed by pathogenic doses of the drugs. 
V. A. C. Cowperthwaite, M.D., Iowa City. 
Dr. Cowperthwaite would have a materia medica arranged 
upon the following plan: 
1. The order of remedies alphabetical. 12 
AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF HOMOEOPATHY. 
2. Name of remedy, first as used by homoeopathic 
then the Latin name (modern nomenclature) followed by names 
in common use. 
3. Mention of the alkaloids contained, or chemical formula,, 
for each drug. 
4. An outline of the general action of the drug upon the 
tissues, organs and systems of the body. 
5. In the same connection he would display the character- 
istic symptoms of the drug, aside from those which might belong 
to a number of other drugs as well. 
6. Then he would have a record of the drug symptoms in 
their anatomical order, beginning with those of the mind and 
ending with modalities, the objective before the subjective, and 
the general before the special, or simply local. 
He would have the symptoms grouped according to value,, 
and the groups distinguished by different face-type. In the 
first group he would place those symptoms which have appeared 
most frequently, or in the greatest number of provers, and which 
have been well verified clinically. 
In the second group, those which have occurred less frequently 
in the provings, but which have been verified. 
In the third the same symptoms, not so well verified; and 
in the fourth, symptoms seldom occurring in a healthy prover 
and not yet verified. 
The first group Dr. Cowperthwaite would have printed in 
italics, the second and third in roman, while the fourth he 
would omit in a condensed materia medica. 
Symptoms not observed in provings but often removed from 
the sick by a drug, he would rank with the third group, with 
the same mark of distinction, however. 
7. The modalities he would have stated immediately after 
the symptom or symptoms they are calculated to qualify. 
8. And finally, he would have the relationship of the drug 
to other drugs, including its antidotes, briefly given. 
Dr. Cowperthwaite enters a protest against too much physio- 
logical speculation and pathological generalization, in noting 
the range of drug influence and effect. He would adhere to I N T R O D U C TOR Y. 
13 
a plain statement of well ascertained facts. He furnishes an 
exhibit of Kali bichromicum, made in accordance with the plan 
I have just epitomized. 
VI. Conrad Wesselhoeft, M.D., Boston. 
Dr. Wesselhceft begins his paper by saying: “The steps to 
be taken (to condense the materia medica) would be:— 
1. To state, as nearly as may be, in narrative form the effects 
of each drug, in as exact an order of occurrence of each symptom 
as careful study and analysis can render it, in a condensed form 
of from one to five pages. 
2. An arrangement, in anatomical order of parts, of all 
symptoms in a condensed form, also derived from all original 
sources and arranged so as to state, first, all generalities of sen- 
sations ; secondly, the locality of the general region; thirdly, 
the time of the occurrence of each; and fourthly, the conditions 
under which they occur, embracing particularly conditions of 
aggravation and conditions of improvement.” 
Dr. Wesselhceft carefully portrays the labors of research, 
transcribing and collating, necessary to the narrative form, 
mentioned above, and remarks that they can be performed only 
by persons especially well qualified and in a lengthened period 
of time. He also speaks of the learning, experience and powers 
of discrimination required in those who would undertake 
properly to condense the vast accumulations of symptoms at- 
tributed to the numerous drugs now in use. He favors an ar- 
rangement of the selected matter in four columns, the first to 
have a general description of the morbid state or feeling; the 
second, mention of the locality affected; the third, the condi- 
tions under which the affection or symptom exists ; and the 
fourth, the conditions under which aggravation or amelioration 
occur. 
Dr. Wesselhceft proceeds to explain the advantages of this 
plan and to show that, when followed faithfully, it will lead to 
a successful condensation of our materia medica. He expresses 
the apprehension, however, that the care, and labor, and time 14 
AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF HOMEOPATHY. 
required may throw the consummation far into the future. He 
concludes with a good exemplification of his method in the 
pathogenesy of Nux vomica. 
VII. Tomasso Cigliano, M.D., Naples, Italy. 
Dr. Cigliano, in the formation of a condensed materia medica, 
would have the matter disposed in the following order: 
1. A clear statement of each symptom. 
2. Mention of what went before—precursors. 
3. Symptoms qualifying —qualitatives. 
4. Symptoms comparative —similarities. 
5. Personal peculiarities —modalities. 
6. Things accompanying —concomitants. 
7. Things causative —occasions. 
8. Things aggravating —increments. 
9. Things lessening —diminuents. 
10. When occurring —times. 
11. Symptoms following —successors. 
Dr. Cigliano would have the drugs alphabetically arranged. 
He illustrates his plan by a display of two symptoms belonging 
to Kali bichromicum. I regret very much that Dr. Cigliano 
was unable to send a more full statement and practical illus- 
tration of his method. 
VIII. William Owens, M.D., Cincinnati. 
Dr. Owens, in his paper, aims at the philosophy of our ma- 
teria medica. He would, first, have facts and then a logical 
treatment of them, so that the results or conclusions should be 
inevitable. He claims that, as yet, there has been no general 
agreement as to what it is that drugs act upon, and consequently 
no rational views as to how and why pathogenetic processes are 
developed. He believes that such processes, in the case of 
each drug, begin, progress and end in obedience to certain laws; 
and that, when such laws are observed our materia medica may 
not only be abbreviated, but very much condensed, so as to suit 15 
INTRODUCTORY. 
the convenience of the busy practitioner. He quotes Hahne- 
mann to the effect that disease consists in “ abnormally modified 
vital force,” or “ some particular morbid derangement of the 
feelings and functions of the organismand goes on to say 
that, “all morbid processes except those of traumatic origin, 
arise from morbid impressions made upon a certain class of 
nerves which are essential to life, and upon the integrity of 
which all functional performance depends.” He advocates the 
view that the human organism has two distinct yet united 
natures, the one common to all organic life, and the other pe- 
culiar to “ men and animals having a brain, or brain and spinal 
cord,” and that disease can only occur when morbid impres- 
sions are made on the former, and that it consists in or results 
from an increase or diminution of functional activity in some 
organ or tissue of the body. Dr. Owens urges that the true 
and constant basis of “morbific impressions” is found in this 
“nervous mechanism of organic life;” and, further, that its 
essential functions are six in number—“nutrition, circulation, 
reproduction, respiration, secretion and excretion;” and that 
in all cases of disease, from whatever cause, there must be an 
increase or diminution of one or more of these functions. He 
then proceeds to display the pathogenesy of Nux vomica in 
accordance with the views expressed. 
IX. H. It. Arndt, M.D., Grand Rapids. 
Dr. Arndt considers that a work on materia medica, crowded 
into so small a space as that proposed in our bureau circular, 
must be for students and very young practitioners. 
The information afforded in such a work, in his view, should 
cover nearly all points of interest connected with the drug pre- 
sented, and one-fifth of the space should be devoted to an intro- 
duction, such as furnished by him in connection with the 
pathogenesy of Nux vomica. He would have the real study of 
the drug based on verified symptoms, taking first, the patho- 
genetic record and then the application of the symptoms in 
therapeutics. By studying these two arrangements, side by 16 
AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF HOMCEO PAT H Y. 
side, he thinks the student would learn to apply intelligently 
the knowledge gained by provings, and likewise, to determine 
why certain remedies act curatively in certain pathological con- 
ditions. The subdivision of symptoms into groups, although 
open to some objections, he considers as necessary; but he de- 
clines to set forth a definite plan for such subdivision, farther 
than represented in the sketch of Nux vomica which he sub- 
mits. 
In his sketch, Dr. Arndt begins with a list of authorities con- 
sulted or drawn upon; and then arranges the matter in six 
columns, the first, containing involuntary provings; the second, 
voluntary provings; the third, comments; the fourth, therapeutic 
application; the fifth, characteristic concomitants; and the sixth, 
clinical illustrations. 
Having now presented, in abstract, the views and plans of 
various members of the bureau, regarding the arrangement of 
our materia rnedica, I desire to add a brief notice of what is 
being elsewhere done in the same direction, especially in Great 
Britain. 
Many years ago a move was made in England, for the re- 
vision of our materia rnedica. An excellent introduction was 
written by Dr. Drysdale, and also, a monograph on Kali bi- 
chromicum; and similar revisions of single drugs were made 
by others—of Aconite by Dr. Dudgeon, of Arsenicum by Dr. 
Black, and of Belladonna by Dr. Hughes. These were issued 
by the Hahnemann Publishing Society, in quarto form. But 
the work progressed so slowly, and critical inquiry was discover- 
ing so many sources of impurity for our drug pathogenesy, a 
desire was expressed in the British Homoeopathic Society to go 
back and revise the text, before proceeding farther with sche- 
matic arrangement of symptoms. 
On the 2d of March, 1882, that society, by unanimous vote, 
elected an able Committee, having Dr. Pope as its chairman 
and Dr. Hughes as its secretary, to take the matter of revision 
in hand. The work of the committee was declared to he to 
“expunge all untrustworthy and irrelevant matter and to present INTRODUCTORY. 
17 
what remains in the most accurate, concise and intelligible form— 
all repetitions being avoided, and all provings being given, where 
possible, in consecutive order as related by the experimenters.” 
The Committee, going promptly to work, drew up and sub- 
mitted to the society, as a specimen, the pathogenesy of the 
drug Aloe; which met with decided disfavor on account of the 
dubious material embraced. Having carefully looked over the 
exhibit of Aloe, I am not surprised that it was promptly reject- 
ed, the sources of the symptoms attributed to that drug being 
plainly defective. The Committee then presented Aconitum, 
as published in the British Journal, for October last, but with- 
out satisfying the society. Something of a schema, a cutting 
up and arrangement of symptoms according to regions and 
organs, after the old plan, was generally desired; and the Com- 
mittee was asked to submit a group of drugs by way of a better 
example. 
The acids, used in our practice, were chosen and a display 
of their pathogeneses made, as published in the ‘ Annals of the 
Society/ for Febuary last. Having carefully looked over that 
display, I must remark that the symptoms attributed to them, 
especially to Acetic, Benzoic, Carbolic, Fluoric, Muriatic and 
Oxalic acids, were not such as to render the work reliable. 
The sifting was altogether too timidly and inadequately per- 
formed. 
In the April number of The Monthly Homoeopathic Review is 
presented an abbreviation of the provings of Carbolic acid, 
prepared by a member of the special committee, referred to 
above. After looking it over carefully and comparing it with 
the full display in the ‘Annals/ I must pronounce it an im- 
provement, in one particular at least, that it furnishes much 
less of what strikes me as a miserable proving of a drug of 
very great power and promise. The omission of the poisonings 
I consider a serious defect. I must cite the displays made of 
Carbolic acid, both as in the ‘Annals’ and in the Review, as 
proof of the necessity of new and more thorough provings. 
They show even less carefulness and precision than exercised 
by Hahnemann and his little group of followers in the infancy 18 
AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF HO M CEO PATH Y. 
of the healthy vital test. When a Committee, having such a 
chairman as Dr. Pope, and such a secretary as Dr. Hughes, can 
find nothing more exact and reliable, as the effects of Carbolic 
acid, than given us in their reports, thus far made, we may be 
excused for calling loudly for a college of drug provers. 
Before proceeding to my conclusion, I must notice briefly a 
late publication, a monograph by the Hughes Medical Club, of 
Massachusetts, presenting the pathogenesy of Gelsemium sem- 
pervirens. Coming into my hands at the moment of my 
present writing, too late to allow a careful examination and 
comparison, the little book must pass with the remark that its 
plan, copied after that of the Hahnemann Publishing Society, 
of England, arranged more especially after the method of Dr. 
Hughes, in the presentation of Belladonna, is very clear and 
convenient. 
It opens with a botanical description and follows with chemical 
constituents, pharmacy, experiments on animals, experiments on man, 
pathological appearances, bibliography and sources, and then the 
pathogenesy and commentary; the symptoms being placed under 
thirteen general heads. 
The omission of all provings made with doses, in which there 
might be no medicinal matter, was highly proper; but the idea 
that that precaution alone would keep out all “ imaginary ” 
symptoms, I cannot concede. Counter provings, after the 
method of Dr. Wesselhoeft with Carbo veg., would sift out a 
great quantity of that kind of symptoms left untouched by the 
method of the club. 
Nor can I agree with the club in endorsing the sentiment of 
Dr. T. F. Allen, when he says: “An individual proving is not 
to be discredited because of its failure to present symptoms 
similar to those of another proving of the same drug.” It can- 
not be credited and placed in materia medica pura. It must 
be discredited, insofar as it is not sustained by concurrent proof. 
As I have already mentioned, in the beginning of this report, 
we are not after the exceptional, the rare effects of a drug, but 
the regular and the uniform, such as we might reasonably ex- 
pect to follow the impression of the drug upon the generality 19 
INTRODUCT ORY. 
of mankind. Our materia medica is, to-day, burdened and 
cursed with the fruits of the sentiment expressed by Dr. Allen, 
and followed by Dr. Hering and others, in gathering up symp- 
toms for a materia medica. 
I must, however, commend the industry and care exercised 
by the Hughes Medical Club, and express the hope that more 
of such clubs may be organized, and more of such work be 
done, in our great American field. 
Conclusion. 
In concluding our report I would remark that, as chairman, 
I am unable to present such a close comparison of views upon 
the best method for the condensation of our materia medica, 
as I had intended, because the members of the bureau, evi- 
dently, have not all been looking or aiming at the same points. 
Some have proposed measures, called for only in making a 
complete materia medica; some have embraced the re-proving 
of the drugs; and some have brought forward pharmacy as 
well as pathogenesy. Under the circumstances I shall submit 
the several papers for publication, as placed in my hands, 
satisfied that, when the time favorable for the desired con- 
densation comes, there will be found no great diversity of 
views as to how it shall be effected. In view of what is being 
done in Great Britain toward the production of a revised text, 
a genuine and intelligible display of drug effects in the healthy 
human organism, and in view of the necessity of such a text 
before any abbreviation can be safely and profitably made, I 
would urge upon the Institute the immediate duty of co- 
operating with our able and earnest brethren across the sea. 
For myself I must briefly explain, that I have been so dis- 
satisfied with drug experimentation as conducted by most of 
the disciples of Hahnemann, I have had little heart to deal 
much with its fruits. Since, nearly thirty years ago, I was 
called as a teacher of materia medica, to stand before a class 
of earnest students in our old college at Philadelphia, I have 20 
AMERICAN INSTI T U T E () E H O M (E O PAT 11 Y. 
been painfully sensible of the faulty methods and spurious re- 
sults characterizing our drug experimentation, and have ear- 
nestly advocated the re-proving of our medicines as affording 
the only chance for a materia medica pura. But, as 1 could 
not, by myself, organize and maintain a college of pro vers, 
and as the profession, blind to the advantages to be gained or 
careless of the evils to be shunned, would not second my 
effort, the years have come and gone with little or no improve- 
ment, till it now looks as if our traditional enemies may take 
up the healthy, vital test, and reap its time rewards, while we 
are striving to pick out grains of wheat from piles of chaff, 
growing yearly higher and higher. Since the work of re- 
proving, under proper safeguards and with necessary means, 
is not taken up, I am ready to urge the handling and sifting, 
as best we may, of what time and chance and misguided 
efforts have heaped up before us. 
I would recommend the adoption of the following resolu- 
tions : 
1. Resolved, That our Bureau of Materia Medica and Provings he instructed 
to co-operate with the Special Committee on Materia Medica Revision, in the 
British Homoeopathic Medical Society, on the basis of resolution number live, 
adopted by that society, March 2d, 1882, reading as follows: “That the aim of 
the committee shall be to expunge all untrustworthy and irrelevant matter, and 
to present what remains in the most accurate, concise and intelligible form—all 
repetitions being avoided, and all provings being given, where possible, in con- 
secutive order, as related by the experimenter.” 
2. Resolved, That in pursuance of this purpose, we would urge the following 
preliminary steps: 
a. Agreement as to the remedies to be embraced in the revised work. 
b. Agreement as to the sources of pathogenesy to be drawn upon for symp- 
toms. 
c. Agreement as to the order or manner for the display of drug effects. 
d. Agreement as to the manner and ways and means of publication and sale. 
3. Resolved, That the officers of our bureau be instructed to open correspond- 
ence, at once with the officers of the Committee of the British Homeopathic 
Society; and that all our efforts toward a condensed materia medica be deferred, 
till we have the fruits of the proposed revision and purification.