Hahnemann's Letter Cases and Doctor Croserio's Letter
Posted: Sun Apr 28, 2002 6:30 pm
Dear Colleagues,
Boenninghausen published an article called Three Precautionary Rules of
Hahnemann in Stapf’s Archiv, Volume 1, No. 1, 1844, several months after
Hahnemann’s death. In this work the Baron presented two LM cases he had
received from Samuel Hahnemann on April 24th, 1843. It appears that
Hahnemann reviewed these cases in his journals and dictated the information
to his secretary. This testimony may be found on page 183 of the Lesser
Writings by Boenninghausen. Stapf added some comments and questions to
Boenninghausen’s original article, seeking clarifications about how the new
remedies were made and administered by Hahnemann.
In order to answer Stapf’s questions, Boenninghausen wrote to Dr.
Croserio in 1844 to supply him with more information. The Baron received a
letter from Dr. Croserio on January 28, 1844. Croserio’s reply was included
in Boenninghausen’s article called Hahnemann’s Doses of Medicines. This
material was published in Stapf’s Archiv, Volume 1, no 2, in 1844. These
two complementary articles shed much light on Hahnemann’s practice in Paris
in his last years. The two letter cases and Croserio's letter are related.
Dr. Croserio's letter includes certain information which is not
emphasized in the 6th Organon and is a very helpful eyewitness account.
First of all, it stresses the fact that Hahnemann would sometimes increase
each dose of teaspoons on each successive administration of the remedy
until he saw a reaction. He would then diminish the dose, slow down the
intervals or give the patient placebos and wait and watch depending on the
circumstances.. In the Organon Hahnemann did not emphasize how much he used
placebo nor how much he waited and watched his cases. This can only be
found out from eyewitness accounts like Croserio's and the Hahnemann's
Paris casebooks. When Hahnemann immediately gave a dose in a teaspoon it
was always placebo. In some prescriptions he wrote down a remedy and
placebos making the exact intervals of the medicine impossible to know. He
rarely wrote the intervals between doses in his casebooks.
Doctor Croserio's letter and Boenninghausen commentary in his Lesser
Writings shows that is was only in "rare cases" in those who were
hyposensitive that Hahnemann used the daily dose of a remedy from the first
dilution glass. If he used the daily dose it was usually diluted in 2, 3,
4, 5 or 6 dilution glasses. In the Paris casebooks Hahnemann marked those
prescriptions where he used a extra dilution glasses with the word
"verre"(glass in French) or a "V" to show how many dilution glasses were
used. If he used two dilution glasses he would write "2V", etc.. Since most
of his doses in the Paris casebooks are from the first dilution glass it
shows that he did not commonly give the daily dose to those who were of
average or high sensitivity. The daily dose of the first solution was
reserved mostly for those cases that lacked reactivity i.e hyposensitive
patients. My early experiences with the LM potency confirmed this. I
aggravated many cases at the start by giving them the daily dose! Some of
these patients were aggravated with the remedy in the 2, or 3rd dilution
glass. For this reason, I changed my posology methods. Since that time
aggravations are rare and when they appear they are easily to manage.
Croserio's letter and the Paris casebooks also record that Hahnemann
continued to use olfaction. Hahnemann gave a single dose (usually in
olfaction) or a series of remedies daily and on alternate days and other
intervals interspersed with or followed by placebo. This is show in the
case of O.T. sent to Boenninghausen. In this case Hahnemann gave the
remedies interpolated with placebo for periods of 2 days, 7 days and 11
days. In this case Hahnemann also used two single doses of olfaction.
Creoserio wrote that Hahnemann rarely repeat olfaction sooner than one
week. The idea that Hahnemann used the daily days dose of the LM potencies
for weeks, months and years without waiting and watching is completely
mistaken.
There are many giving the daily dose from the first dilution glass to
every patient in a mechanical fashion for long periods of time. Some tell
there patient to take a daily dose and come back in a one month! It was
very rare for Hahnemann to give the daily dose or alternate day dose for
one month straight! Anytime there was a strikingly progressive improvement,
a confusion about the symptoms, or an aggravation Hahnemann would stop the
medicinal dose, give placebos, and wait and watch.
In order to clarify the posology of the LM potency I will share how I
approach my cases.
1. At first I give a single test dose of the chosen remedy, potency (0/1,
0/3, 0/3 etc..), and dose adjustments (succussions, teaspoons, number of
dilution glasses). Under certain rarer circumstances I might give a short
series three test doses at the intervals I think are most appropriate
(daily, alternate day, every three days, every four days, etc.)
2. If there is a *strikingly progressive amelioration* reaction to the
first single test dose or short series of three doses I do not repeat the
remedy (first sentence of aphorism 246). This is because the case is
already proceeding toward cure at the fastest possible rate and there is no
need to speed the cure. I and my colleagues have had several single dose
cures of chronic diseases!
A. If the strikingly progressive amelioration last for 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6
days, I repeat the remedy every 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6 days. If the
progressive improvement last for 1, 2, 3, or 4 weeks, I give the remedy
every 1, 2 , 3, or 4 weeks. If the progressive improvement last for 1, 2,
3, 4 months, I give the remedy every 1, 2, 3, or 4 months, etc. I once gave
Ferr-m to a patient who dramatically improved day to day for months and
did not have any relapse of even one symptoms for 4 years! I repeated the
dose one more time and I am still waiting. That was 5 years ago.
3. In those cases where there is only a "slow" improvement that would take
up to 50, 60 or 100 days to show any real relief I repeat the dose at
suitable intervals to speed the cure. (second part of aphorism 246). The
interval I choose at this time is, as Hahnemann said, that which
"experience has show to be the most suitably appropriate for the best
possible acceleration of the cure".
A. When there is no, little or only a slow amelioration to the single test
dose or short series of test doses, I repeat the remedy at suitable
intervals. I judge these suitable intervals by the sensitivity of patient,
the nature of the disease state, the age of the patient, and the state of
their vitality. Those who seem truly hyposensitive I may give the remedy
daily. Those who seem a little more sensitive I may give the remedy on
alternate days or every three or four days. Now I give a test series of
seven doses to see If I have judged the sensitivity and conditions
correctly. I tell the patient to STOP the remedy immediately if there is
any aggravation or strikingly progressive amelioration and speak to me.
B. If the chosen intervals causes a satisfactory improvement I continue the
remedy at what I now know are suitable intervals to speed the cure. As the
patient improves I slow down the remedy because they no longer need as much
medicinal stimulation. In this way I avoid aggravations in the middle of
the treatment. If they become completely well, I stop the medicine and wait
and watch for the return of symptoms. If no symptoms come back they are
cure. If a few symptoms come back I again give the remedy at suitable
intervals again.
C. If there is an aggravation at the end of treatment I stop the medicine
and wait and watch. If the symptoms pass off and the patient does not
relapse the cure is complete. If they have a few new symptoms I repeat the
remedy at slightly loner intervals to finished the cure. Then I test them
again and do likewise.
There are many more adjustments of the remedy and potency that may be
needed during the process of cure but this offers my basic method. For the
above reasons I only use the daily dose on those hyposensitive patients
when it is necessary to speed the cure (Organon, fn 246). Even here I find
that I don't need to repeat the daily dose all that long in most cases
before I slow down the intervals. If one is administering a good simillimum
the patients respond quickly. In this method every case is individualized.
I hope this makes my method and sources more clear. Good luck with you
practice of homoeopathy.
Sincerely, David Little.
PS. I recommend that everyone reads Three Precautionary Rules of Hahnemann
and Hahnemann’s Doses of Medicines found in the Lesser Writings by
Boenninghausen as a complement to the 6th Organon of the Healing Art by
Samuel Hahnemann. These two works shed much light on the methods Hahnemann
used and help fill in some of the blanks in the 6th Organon
---------------
"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
Boenninghausen published an article called Three Precautionary Rules of
Hahnemann in Stapf’s Archiv, Volume 1, No. 1, 1844, several months after
Hahnemann’s death. In this work the Baron presented two LM cases he had
received from Samuel Hahnemann on April 24th, 1843. It appears that
Hahnemann reviewed these cases in his journals and dictated the information
to his secretary. This testimony may be found on page 183 of the Lesser
Writings by Boenninghausen. Stapf added some comments and questions to
Boenninghausen’s original article, seeking clarifications about how the new
remedies were made and administered by Hahnemann.
In order to answer Stapf’s questions, Boenninghausen wrote to Dr.
Croserio in 1844 to supply him with more information. The Baron received a
letter from Dr. Croserio on January 28, 1844. Croserio’s reply was included
in Boenninghausen’s article called Hahnemann’s Doses of Medicines. This
material was published in Stapf’s Archiv, Volume 1, no 2, in 1844. These
two complementary articles shed much light on Hahnemann’s practice in Paris
in his last years. The two letter cases and Croserio's letter are related.
Dr. Croserio's letter includes certain information which is not
emphasized in the 6th Organon and is a very helpful eyewitness account.
First of all, it stresses the fact that Hahnemann would sometimes increase
each dose of teaspoons on each successive administration of the remedy
until he saw a reaction. He would then diminish the dose, slow down the
intervals or give the patient placebos and wait and watch depending on the
circumstances.. In the Organon Hahnemann did not emphasize how much he used
placebo nor how much he waited and watched his cases. This can only be
found out from eyewitness accounts like Croserio's and the Hahnemann's
Paris casebooks. When Hahnemann immediately gave a dose in a teaspoon it
was always placebo. In some prescriptions he wrote down a remedy and
placebos making the exact intervals of the medicine impossible to know. He
rarely wrote the intervals between doses in his casebooks.
Doctor Croserio's letter and Boenninghausen commentary in his Lesser
Writings shows that is was only in "rare cases" in those who were
hyposensitive that Hahnemann used the daily dose of a remedy from the first
dilution glass. If he used the daily dose it was usually diluted in 2, 3,
4, 5 or 6 dilution glasses. In the Paris casebooks Hahnemann marked those
prescriptions where he used a extra dilution glasses with the word
"verre"(glass in French) or a "V" to show how many dilution glasses were
used. If he used two dilution glasses he would write "2V", etc.. Since most
of his doses in the Paris casebooks are from the first dilution glass it
shows that he did not commonly give the daily dose to those who were of
average or high sensitivity. The daily dose of the first solution was
reserved mostly for those cases that lacked reactivity i.e hyposensitive
patients. My early experiences with the LM potency confirmed this. I
aggravated many cases at the start by giving them the daily dose! Some of
these patients were aggravated with the remedy in the 2, or 3rd dilution
glass. For this reason, I changed my posology methods. Since that time
aggravations are rare and when they appear they are easily to manage.
Croserio's letter and the Paris casebooks also record that Hahnemann
continued to use olfaction. Hahnemann gave a single dose (usually in
olfaction) or a series of remedies daily and on alternate days and other
intervals interspersed with or followed by placebo. This is show in the
case of O.T. sent to Boenninghausen. In this case Hahnemann gave the
remedies interpolated with placebo for periods of 2 days, 7 days and 11
days. In this case Hahnemann also used two single doses of olfaction.
Creoserio wrote that Hahnemann rarely repeat olfaction sooner than one
week. The idea that Hahnemann used the daily days dose of the LM potencies
for weeks, months and years without waiting and watching is completely
mistaken.
There are many giving the daily dose from the first dilution glass to
every patient in a mechanical fashion for long periods of time. Some tell
there patient to take a daily dose and come back in a one month! It was
very rare for Hahnemann to give the daily dose or alternate day dose for
one month straight! Anytime there was a strikingly progressive improvement,
a confusion about the symptoms, or an aggravation Hahnemann would stop the
medicinal dose, give placebos, and wait and watch.
In order to clarify the posology of the LM potency I will share how I
approach my cases.
1. At first I give a single test dose of the chosen remedy, potency (0/1,
0/3, 0/3 etc..), and dose adjustments (succussions, teaspoons, number of
dilution glasses). Under certain rarer circumstances I might give a short
series three test doses at the intervals I think are most appropriate
(daily, alternate day, every three days, every four days, etc.)
2. If there is a *strikingly progressive amelioration* reaction to the
first single test dose or short series of three doses I do not repeat the
remedy (first sentence of aphorism 246). This is because the case is
already proceeding toward cure at the fastest possible rate and there is no
need to speed the cure. I and my colleagues have had several single dose
cures of chronic diseases!
A. If the strikingly progressive amelioration last for 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6
days, I repeat the remedy every 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6 days. If the
progressive improvement last for 1, 2, 3, or 4 weeks, I give the remedy
every 1, 2 , 3, or 4 weeks. If the progressive improvement last for 1, 2,
3, 4 months, I give the remedy every 1, 2, 3, or 4 months, etc. I once gave
Ferr-m to a patient who dramatically improved day to day for months and
did not have any relapse of even one symptoms for 4 years! I repeated the
dose one more time and I am still waiting. That was 5 years ago.
3. In those cases where there is only a "slow" improvement that would take
up to 50, 60 or 100 days to show any real relief I repeat the dose at
suitable intervals to speed the cure. (second part of aphorism 246). The
interval I choose at this time is, as Hahnemann said, that which
"experience has show to be the most suitably appropriate for the best
possible acceleration of the cure".
A. When there is no, little or only a slow amelioration to the single test
dose or short series of test doses, I repeat the remedy at suitable
intervals. I judge these suitable intervals by the sensitivity of patient,
the nature of the disease state, the age of the patient, and the state of
their vitality. Those who seem truly hyposensitive I may give the remedy
daily. Those who seem a little more sensitive I may give the remedy on
alternate days or every three or four days. Now I give a test series of
seven doses to see If I have judged the sensitivity and conditions
correctly. I tell the patient to STOP the remedy immediately if there is
any aggravation or strikingly progressive amelioration and speak to me.
B. If the chosen intervals causes a satisfactory improvement I continue the
remedy at what I now know are suitable intervals to speed the cure. As the
patient improves I slow down the remedy because they no longer need as much
medicinal stimulation. In this way I avoid aggravations in the middle of
the treatment. If they become completely well, I stop the medicine and wait
and watch for the return of symptoms. If no symptoms come back they are
cure. If a few symptoms come back I again give the remedy at suitable
intervals again.
C. If there is an aggravation at the end of treatment I stop the medicine
and wait and watch. If the symptoms pass off and the patient does not
relapse the cure is complete. If they have a few new symptoms I repeat the
remedy at slightly loner intervals to finished the cure. Then I test them
again and do likewise.
There are many more adjustments of the remedy and potency that may be
needed during the process of cure but this offers my basic method. For the
above reasons I only use the daily dose on those hyposensitive patients
when it is necessary to speed the cure (Organon, fn 246). Even here I find
that I don't need to repeat the daily dose all that long in most cases
before I slow down the intervals. If one is administering a good simillimum
the patients respond quickly. In this method every case is individualized.
I hope this makes my method and sources more clear. Good luck with you
practice of homoeopathy.
Sincerely, David Little.
PS. I recommend that everyone reads Three Precautionary Rules of Hahnemann
and Hahnemann’s Doses of Medicines found in the Lesser Writings by
Boenninghausen as a complement to the 6th Organon of the Healing Art by
Samuel Hahnemann. These two works shed much light on the methods Hahnemann
used and help fill in some of the blanks in the 6th Organon
---------------
"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