Minutus

from David Little

I will pull all of this together for you at the end.
Here is some more explanation.
Dear students and colleagues,

The ghost of the mechanism continues to appear in the minds of some
persons. There are still too many persons that teach one can give the LM
potency daily for months in a mechanical fashion to every patient no matter
what the reaction the remedy produces. I have responded to this myth in
another medium so I thought I would share the post here. I bet some of you
are tried of hearing this from me! Nevertheless, there may be some parties
that have not read these details before. The following document is based on
Hahnemann's teachings contained in aphorism 246, 247 and 248 as translated
by W. Beoricke..

Aphorism 246

"Every perceptible progressive and strikingly increasing amelioration
during treatment is a condition which, as long as it lasts, completely
precludes every repetition of the administration of any medicine
whatsoever, because all the good the medicine taken continues to effect is
now hastening towards its completion."

1. Hahnemann clearly says that when there is a "perceptibly progressive
and strikingly increasing amelioration" is a condition that "COMPLETELY
PRECLUDES" any "REPETITION" of the remedy whatsoever. This is because the
good effect of the remedy is now "hastening" towards its completion.
Although single dose and infrequent dose cures are not the majority of
chronic cases but they do take place in a significant minority. This is
more often in very sensitive patients, in functional diseases and in the
early states of pathology. There are occasions, however, where advanced
pathological states of several years duration is cured by single doses or
infrequent repetitions of the LM potency. Under these condition the
repetition of the remedy is counter indicated because the remedy is already
heading for cure very quickly and the repetition of the remedy under these
conditions runs the risk of slowing down the cure and causing aggravations
and antagonistic counter actions of the vital force. When their is a
dramatically increasing amelioration it is always best to leave well enough
alone!

"This is not infrequently the case in acute diseases, but in more
chronic diseases, on the other hand, a single dose of an appropriately
selected Homoeopathic remedy will at times complete even with but slowly
progressive improvement and give the help which such a remedy in such a
case can accomplish naturally within 40, 50, 60, 100 days."

2. Single dose cures are often the case in acute diseases but in chronic
diseases a single dose usually only produces a "slowly progressive
improvement" that will accomplish what it can naturally within 40, 50, 60,
100 days. This is, however, but rarely the case; and besides, it must be a
matter of great importance to the physician as well as to the patient that
were it possible, this period should be diminished to one-half,
one-quarter, and even still less, so that a much more rapid cure might be
obtained."

There is a great difference between a "strikingly increasing
amelioration" and a "slowly progressive improvement". Hahnemann makes it
clear that "anytime" during treatment there is a strikingly increasing
amelioration. the remedy should be stopped as long as this lasts. This case
be caused by a single dose, short series of split-doses or after the remedy
has been repeated for some time. Hahnemann then takes up the discussion of
cases in which a single dose can only cause a "slowly progressive
improvement" that may take up to 100 days to show any significant
improvement. Under these conditions the remedy should be repeated at
suitable intervals to speed the cure to 1/2, 1/4 or less the time it would
take with the exclusive single dose wait and watch method. When using the
4th Organon dry dose method the remedy can not be repeat until the duration
of the remedy ceases and the patient relapses.

4. Now Hahnemann offers five conditions that must be met to speed the
cure of slowly progressing cases.

a. The remedy must be "perfectly homeopathic".
b. It must be highly potentized.
c. It must be dissolved in water.
d. It must be given in a proper small dose.
e. It must be repeated in definite intervals that experience has taught the
most suitable.

If the remedy is NOT perfectly homeopathic one best not repeat it. How
can you tell if the remedy is perfectly homeopathic if you don't carefully
test it at the start of treatment. The Paris casebooks show that it was
Hahnemann practice to give either a single dose (usually by olfaction) or
short series of 3 to 7 doses over a period of a week and had the patient
come back in 7 days. He never sent anyone off for 1 month at the start of a
case with a preconceived remedy schedule. He always checked his remedy very
carefully at the start of treatment to make sure it was not the wrong
remedy or a partial simillimum. Everything that Hahnemann says in aphorism
247 and 248 about speeding the cure is conditioned by his statements in
aphorism 246.

Aphorism 247

Aphorism 247 explains why one needs to use the medicinal solution that
is succussed prior to administration and given it in split-doses. He gives
the reasons why it is difficult to speed the cure with the unmodified dry
dose or unadjusted liquid dose. Then Hahnemann says:

"But if the succeeding dose is changed slightly every time, namely
potentized somewhat higher (pp. 269-270) then the vital principle may be
altered without difficulty by the same medicine (the sensation of natural
disease diminishing) and thus the cure brought nearer".

Aphorism 248

Aphorism 248 continues the theme that started in aphorism 246 where
Hahnemann taught when the single dose wait and watch method is appropriate
(in perceptively progressive and strikingly increasing ameliorations) and
where one should repeat the remedy at suitable intervals (case where a
single dose can only cause slowly progressive improvement). Aphorism 248
follows on the discussion of the five conditions for speeding the cure and
the need to adjust each dose so that patient never receives the exact same
potency twice in succession.

"For this purpose, we potentize anew the medicinal solution (with
perhaps 8, 10, 12 succussions) from which we give the patient one or
(increasingly) several teaspoonful doses, in long lasting diseases daily or
every second day, in acute diseases every two to six hours and in very
urgent cases every hour or oftener.

The "purpose" Hahnemann is speaking about how to adjust the potency
when repeating the remedy to speed the cure of cases that would only slowly
improve on a single dose or infrequent repetitions. This includes BOTH
acute and chronic diseases. For this purpose we potentize anew the
medicinal solution prior to the administration of each dose so that patient
never receives the exact same potency twice in succession. Then Hahnemann
offers a method for treating for long lasting protracted diseases where a
single dose can only produces a slow progressive improvement over 30 to 100
days at best and even this is rarely the case. it is more common for the
patient to relapse calling for repeated doses. Aphorism 248 teaches how to
speed the cure of resistant cases to 1/2, 1/4 or less the time it takes
with the exclusive single dose wait and watch method.

In protracted cases, the remedy may be repeated daily or on alternated
days if necessary as long as there are no aggravations or new symptoms. It
must also be noted that in sentence 1 of aphorism 246 Hahnemann says every
strikingly increasing amelioration "during treatment" is a state that
"precludes" the repetition of the remedy as long as it lasts. This means
that anytime during a series of split-doses there appears a dramatic
increasing amelioration the remedy should be stopped as long as this state
lasts. If one stops the remedy under these three conditions (aggravation,
new symptoms, dramatic increasing amelioration) over medication can be
avoided while the cure greatly speeded.

Hahnemann noted in aphorism 246 that acute diseases are often cured by
a single dose. When he speaks about giving the acute remedy every 6 hours
or less it means in resistant acute disorders that can not be cured by a
single dose. The same conditions apply. There is no need to repeat the dose
when there is a strikingly increasing amelioration in acute diseases any
more than in a chronic diseases. All the conditions discussed in the
aphorism 246 condition all the statement that follow in aphorism 248. If
one ignores the first sentence of aphorism 246 they leave out 1/2 of
Hahnemann's case management strategies that deals with strikingly
increasing ameliorations.

In the footnote to aphorism 246 Hahnemann says one can give the remedy
daily "WHEN NECESSARY". This same when necessary applies to the statements
on the daily dose in aphorism 248! It is amazing some persons can
completely ignore or change the meaning of everything Hahnemann says in
aphorism 246 and its footnote. Then they say Hahnemann only taught that one
should give everyone the remedy daily or on alternate days in chronic
diseases and every 6 hours or less in acute diseases no matter what. This
type selective amnesia takes a few words out of context with the rest of
the text and ignores hundreds of words that explain Hahnemann's complete
posology and case management strategy in detail. To say Hahnemann said
always give the daily dose for months and forget the "when necessary" a
grand misnomer that puts the patient in danger.

It is very difficult to learn how to use the LM potency properly just
by reading the 6th Organon. There was supposed to be a living lineage of
teachers that could clarify the points and add oral teachings that are not
contained in the 6th edition. Hahnemann was teaching Boenninghausen about
the LM method when he died. Melaine Hahnemann asked Boenninghausen not to
speak about the new methods in pubic until after she published the 6th
Organon. Unfortunately, this task was not accomplished before the Baron and
Melaine passed away. By the time the 6th edition was published in 1920 all
those with personal knowledge of the LM potency had died. This makes it
extremely difficult to put the entire LM method into perspective without
studying the Paris casebooks, the testimony of those with inside
information, and the eyewitness accounts of those who witnessed Hahnemann's
practice between1838 to 1843.

Hahnemann shared LM cases with Beonninghausen as he hoped the Baron
would someday pass on his teachings on the new method. These cases showed
how Hahnemann actually gave the LM potency in the clinic. This information
was complemented by the eyewitness account of Dr. Croserio, who worked
closely with Hahnemann in his last years. Dr. Croserio's letter to
Beonninghausen IHahnemann's Doses of Medicine, Lesser Writing,
Boenninghausen) shows that the Founder often gave single doses (usually by
olfaction) followed by at least one week of placebos while he waited and
watched. The Paris casebooks confirm that Hahnemann used this method quite
often in the 1840s. This proves that Hahnemann did NOT always give the
daily and alternate day dose to every patient. He often used single doses
usually by olfaction but not always.

Dr. Croserio's letter clearly points out that; "Even in acute diseases
it was a rare case to see him [Hahnemann] allow the patient to take more
than one spoonful in 24 hours". Dr.Croserio's eyewitness account proves
that Hahnemann did not always use the daily or alternate day dose or give
acute remedies every 6 hours or less. The rapid repetition of the remedy
was specific for the treatment of resistant acute and chronic disorders. In
aphorism 246 Hahnemann clearly states that acute diseases often are cured
by single doses in a striking manner! If one gives the remedy every 6 hours
in a mechanical fashion i n these cases the outcome would be aggravations,
accessory symptoms and antagonistic counter actions of the vital force.

Dr. Croserio also noted that anytime during treatment Hahnemann
observed strong medicinal actions he would reduce the dose or stop the
doses and give placebos while he waited and watched. This method has also
been confirmed by a study of the Paris casebooks. Hahnemann did not speak
about how much placebo he was using in the 1840s in the 6th Organon. That
would have alerted the general public to the fact that he was using almost
as much milk sugar in water as active medicine. The Founder rarely gave the
daily or alternate days dose for very long without placing the patient on
placebos for one or more weeks. I have not see one case in the entire Paris
casebooks where Hahnemann gave the daily or alternated day dose from months
on end without stopping the medicine and given 1, 2 even 3 weeks of
placebo. Hahnemann constantly used this "On again - off again" method
throughout his treatment. The idea that Hahnemann always gave the daily
dose or alternate day dose for months is a complete complete myth.

I have not written this discourse with the idea of proving a point to a
single party. I have written this post for the benefit of the Homoeopathic
community at large and for the good of their patients. The first
Hippocratic maxim is "Do no harm". Homeopathy is a very safe system when
one follows the basic checks and balances introduced by Samuel Hahnemann.
The biggest danger inherent in homeopathy is from over medication with
potentized remedies. This can cause remedy induced symptoms, medical
diseases, and antagonistic counter actions of the vital force. These
conditions can become very serious if the over medication is excessive.
None of this has to happen if one follows all the principles elucidated in
aphorism 246, 247 and 248 in a careful manner. If one just takes one or two
words out of context and ignores the rest they take the law in to their own
hands and are personally responsible for any suffering they cause.

Simila Minimus
Sincerely, David Little
---------------
"It is the life-force which cures diseases because a dead man needs no more
medicines."

Samuel Hahnemann

Visit our website on Hahnemannian Homoeopathy and Cyberspace Homoeopathic
Academy at
http://www.simillimum.com
David Little © 2000

from David Little

I will pull all of this together for you at the end.
Here is some more explanation.
Dear students and colleagues,

The ghost of the mechanism continues to appear in the minds of some
persons. There are still too many persons that teach one can give the LM
potency daily for months in a mechanical fashion to every patient no matter
what the reaction the remedy produces. I have responded to this myth in
another medium so I thought I would share the post here. I bet some of you
are tried of hearing this from me! Nevertheless, there may be some parties
that have not read these details before. The following document is based on
Hahnemann's teachings contained in aphorism 246, 247 and 248 as translated
by W. Beoricke..

Aphorism 246

"Every perceptible progressive and strikingly increasing amelioration
during treatment is a condition which, as long as it lasts, completely
precludes every repetition of the administration of any medicine
whatsoever, because all the good the medicine taken continues to effect is
now hastening towards its completion."

1. Hahnemann clearly says that when there is a "perceptibly progressive
and strikingly increasing amelioration" is a condition that "COMPLETELY
PRECLUDES" any "REPETITION" of the remedy whatsoever. This is because the
good effect of the remedy is now "hastening" towards its completion.
Although single dose and infrequent dose cures are not the majority of
chronic cases but they do take place in a significant minority. This is
more often in very sensitive patients, in functional diseases and in the
early states of pathology. There are occasions, however, where advanced
pathological states of several years duration is cured by single doses or
infrequent repetitions of the LM potency. Under these condition the
repetition of the remedy is counter indicated because the remedy is already
heading for cure very quickly and the repetition of the remedy under these
conditions runs the risk of slowing down the cure and causing aggravations
and antagonistic counter actions of the vital force. When their is a
dramatically increasing amelioration it is always best to leave well enough
alone!

"This is not infrequently the case in acute diseases, but in more
chronic diseases, on the other hand, a single dose of an appropriately
selected Homoeopathic remedy will at times complete even with but slowly
progressive improvement and give the help which such a remedy in such a
case can accomplish naturally within 40, 50, 60, 100 days."

2. Single dose cures are often the case in acute diseases but in chronic
diseases a single dose usually only produces a "slowly progressive
improvement" that will accomplish what it can naturally within 40, 50, 60,
100 days. This is, however, but rarely the case; and besides, it must be a
matter of great importance to the physician as well as to the patient that
were it possible, this period should be diminished to one-half,
one-quarter, and even still less, so that a much more rapid cure might be
obtained."

There is a great difference between a "strikingly increasing
amelioration" and a "slowly progressive improvement". Hahnemann makes it
clear that "anytime" during treatment there is a strikingly increasing
amelioration. the remedy should be stopped as long as this lasts. This case
be caused by a single dose, short series of split-doses or after the remedy
has been repeated for some time. Hahnemann then takes up the discussion of
cases in which a single dose can only cause a "slowly progressive
improvement" that may take up to 100 days to show any significant
improvement. Under these conditions the remedy should be repeated at
suitable intervals to speed the cure to 1/2, 1/4 or less the time it would
take with the exclusive single dose wait and watch method. When using the
4th Organon dry dose method the remedy can not be repeat until the duration
of the remedy ceases and the patient relapses.

4. Now Hahnemann offers five conditions that must be met to speed the
cure of slowly progressing cases.

a. The remedy must be "perfectly homeopathic".
b. It must be highly potentized.
c. It must be dissolved in water.
d. It must be given in a proper small dose.
e. It must be repeated in definite intervals that experience has taught the
most suitable.

If the remedy is NOT perfectly homeopathic one best not repeat it. How
can you tell if the remedy is perfectly homeopathic if you don't carefully
test it at the start of treatment. The Paris casebooks show that it was
Hahnemann practice to give either a single dose (usually by olfaction) or
short series of 3 to 7 doses over a period of a week and had the patient
come back in 7 days. He never sent anyone off for 1 month at the start of a
case with a preconceived remedy schedule. He always checked his remedy very
carefully at the start of treatment to make sure it was not the wrong
remedy or a partial simillimum. Everything that Hahnemann says in aphorism
247 and 248 about speeding the cure is conditioned by his statements in
aphorism 246.

Aphorism 247

Aphorism 247 explains why one needs to use the medicinal solution that
is succussed prior to administration and given it in split-doses. He gives
the reasons why it is difficult to speed the cure with the unmodified dry
dose or unadjusted liquid dose. Then Hahnemann says:

"But if the succeeding dose is changed slightly every time, namely
potentized somewhat higher (pp. 269-270) then the vital principle may be
altered without difficulty by the same medicine (the sensation of natural
disease diminishing) and thus the cure brought nearer".

Aphorism 248

Aphorism 248 continues the theme that started in aphorism 246 where
Hahnemann taught when the single dose wait and watch method is appropriate
(in perceptively progressive and strikingly increasing ameliorations) and
where one should repeat the remedy at suitable intervals (case where a
single dose can only cause slowly progressive improvement). Aphorism 248
follows on the discussion of the five conditions for speeding the cure and
the need to adjust each dose so that patient never receives the exact same
potency twice in succession.

"For this purpose, we potentize anew the medicinal solution (with
perhaps 8, 10, 12 succussions) from which we give the patient one or
(increasingly) several teaspoonful doses, in long lasting diseases daily or
every second day, in acute diseases every two to six hours and in very
urgent cases every hour or oftener.

The "purpose" Hahnemann is speaking about how to adjust the potency
when repeating the remedy to speed the cure of cases that would only slowly
improve on a single dose or infrequent repetitions. This includes BOTH
acute and chronic diseases. For this purpose we potentize anew the
medicinal solution prior to the administration of each dose so that patient
never receives the exact same potency twice in succession. Then Hahnemann
offers a method for treating for long lasting protracted diseases where a
single dose can only produces a slow progressive improvement over 30 to 100
days at best and even this is rarely the case. it is more common for the
patient to relapse calling for repeated doses. Aphorism 248 teaches how to
speed the cure of resistant cases to 1/2, 1/4 or less the time it takes
with the exclusive single dose wait and watch method.

In protracted cases, the remedy may be repeated daily or on alternated
days if necessary as long as there are no aggravations or new symptoms. It
must also be noted that in sentence 1 of aphorism 246 Hahnemann says every
strikingly increasing amelioration "during treatment" is a state that
"precludes" the repetition of the remedy as long as it lasts. This means
that anytime during a series of split-doses there appears a dramatic
increasing amelioration the remedy should be stopped as long as this state
lasts. If one stops the remedy under these three conditions (aggravation,
new symptoms, dramatic increasing amelioration) over medication can be
avoided while the cure greatly speeded.

Hahnemann noted in aphorism 246 that acute diseases are often cured by
a single dose. When he speaks about giving the acute remedy every 6 hours
or less it means in resistant acute disorders that can not be cured by a
single dose. The same conditions apply. There is no need to repeat the dose
when there is a strikingly increasing amelioration in acute diseases any
more than in a chronic diseases. All the conditions discussed in the
aphorism 246 condition all the statement that follow in aphorism 248. If
one ignores the first sentence of aphorism 246 they leave out 1/2 of
Hahnemann's case management strategies that deals with strikingly
increasing ameliorations.

In the footnote to aphorism 246 Hahnemann says one can give the remedy
daily "WHEN NECESSARY". This same when necessary applies to the statements
on the daily dose in aphorism 248! It is amazing some persons can
completely ignore or change the meaning of everything Hahnemann says in
aphorism 246 and its footnote. Then they say Hahnemann only taught that one
should give everyone the remedy daily or on alternate days in chronic
diseases and every 6 hours or less in acute diseases no matter what. This
type selective amnesia takes a few words out of context with the rest of
the text and ignores hundreds of words that explain Hahnemann's complete
posology and case management strategy in detail. To say Hahnemann said
always give the daily dose for months and forget the "when necessary" a
grand misnomer that puts the patient in danger.

It is very difficult to learn how to use the LM potency properly just
by reading the 6th Organon. There was supposed to be a living lineage of
teachers that could clarify the points and add oral teachings that are not
contained in the 6th edition. Hahnemann was teaching Boenninghausen about
the LM method when he died. Melaine Hahnemann asked Boenninghausen not to
speak about the new methods in pubic until after she published the 6th
Organon. Unfortunately, this task was not accomplished before the Baron and
Melaine passed away. By the time the 6th edition was published in 1920 all
those with personal knowledge of the LM potency had died. This makes it
extremely difficult to put the entire LM method into perspective without
studying the Paris casebooks, the testimony of those with inside
information, and the eyewitness accounts of those who witnessed Hahnemann's
practice between1838 to 1843.

Hahnemann shared LM cases with Beonninghausen as he hoped the Baron
would someday pass on his teachings on the new method. These cases showed
how Hahnemann actually gave the LM potency in the clinic. This information
was complemented by the eyewitness account of Dr. Croserio, who worked
closely with Hahnemann in his last years. Dr. Croserio's letter to
Beonninghausen IHahnemann's Doses of Medicine, Lesser Writing,
Boenninghausen) shows that the Founder often gave single doses (usually by
olfaction) followed by at least one week of placebos while he waited and
watched. The Paris casebooks confirm that Hahnemann used this method quite
often in the 1840s. This proves that Hahnemann did NOT always give the
daily and alternate day dose to every patient. He often used single doses
usually by olfaction but not always.

Dr. Croserio's letter clearly points out that; "Even in acute diseases
it was a rare case to see him [Hahnemann] allow the patient to take more
than one spoonful in 24 hours". Dr.Croserio's eyewitness account proves
that Hahnemann did not always use the daily or alternate day dose or give
acute remedies every 6 hours or less. The rapid repetition of the remedy
was specific for the treatment of resistant acute and chronic disorders. In
aphorism 246 Hahnemann clearly states that acute diseases often are cured
by single doses in a striking manner! If one gives the remedy every 6 hours
in a mechanical fashion i n these cases the outcome would be aggravations,
accessory symptoms and antagonistic counter actions of the vital force.

Dr. Croserio also noted that anytime during treatment Hahnemann
observed strong medicinal actions he would reduce the dose or stop the
doses and give placebos while he waited and watched. This method has also
been confirmed by a study of the Paris casebooks. Hahnemann did not speak
about how much placebo he was using in the 1840s in the 6th Organon. That
would have alerted the general public to the fact that he was using almost
as much milk sugar in water as active medicine. The Founder rarely gave the
daily or alternate days dose for very long without placing the patient on
placebos for one or more weeks. I have not see one case in the entire Paris
casebooks where Hahnemann gave the daily or alternated day dose from months
on end without stopping the medicine and given 1, 2 even 3 weeks of
placebo. Hahnemann constantly used this "On again - off again" method
throughout his treatment. The idea that Hahnemann always gave the daily
dose or alternate day dose for months is a complete complete myth.

I have not written this discourse with the idea of proving a point to a
single party. I have written this post for the benefit of the Homoeopathic
community at large and for the good of their patients. The first
Hippocratic maxim is "Do no harm". Homeopathy is a very safe system when
one follows the basic checks and balances introduced by Samuel Hahnemann.
The biggest danger inherent in homeopathy is from over medication with
potentized remedies. This can cause remedy induced symptoms, medical
diseases, and antagonistic counter actions of the vital force. These
conditions can become very serious if the over medication is excessive.
None of this has to happen if one follows all the principles elucidated in
aphorism 246, 247 and 248 in a careful manner. If one just takes one or two
words out of context and ignores the rest they take the law in to their own
hands and are personally responsible for any suffering they cause.

Simila Minimus
Sincerely, David Little
---------------
"It is the life-force which cures diseases because a dead man needs no more
medicines."

Samuel Hahnemann

Visit our website on Hahnemannian Homoeopathy and Cyberspace Homoeopathic
Academy at
http://www.simillimum.com
David Little © 2000