wisdom from Dr. Close
Posted: Fri Oct 08, 2004 9:43 am
Hello!
I've been going through some old articles, and I
came across one by Dr. Stuart Close in the IHA
Transactions of 1913 in which he is discussing
the use of homeopathy in terminal cases.
I will, soon, post the whole article (and a few others) to my web-site.
Meanwhile, as encouragement to those who struggle
and think they are never going to "get it" I give
you words from Dr. Close:
"The idea that only experts in materia medica can
succeed in cases of the class we are considering
is a fallacious and demoralizing one, which is
often made the excuse for shirking a plain duty.
It is true that success is usually proportionate
to the skill of the prescriber; that the
simillimum will accomplish more than the merely
similar remedy. But it is also true that the
results obtained by even a moderate degree of
skill, loyally and consistently exercised, are
vastly better than the results of other methods.
It may be that only the master can select the
simillimum, but even the tyro can select a
similar, if he tries, and accomplish some good.
Certainly he will do no harm, as he will if he
resorts to other measures. Let him but do the
best he can, and strive always to do better, and
all will be well. Let him know, also, that to the
one who performs his work in this spirit, "inward
revelations" are sometimes given, by which he is
richly rewarded for his faith and loyalty to
principle. The simillimum has sometimes been
found by the humblest among us, who make no
pretensions to expertness, and marvelous cures
have been thereby effected when they were least
expected. Such rewards come only to those who are
in "The Way", ready and worthy to receive them."
"He must know the method of finding the similar
remedy for every case. This does not mean that he
must have the entire materia medica in his head
as some pretend to think; but that having the
materia medica on his library shelves, (he will
have some library shelves, if he is wise, and
books to fill ´em) he must know how to find what
he needs. He will therefore require at least one
good repertory and the ability to use it. With
this modest technical equipment, and a modicum of
brains, he will be able to do very well."
I've been going through some old articles, and I
came across one by Dr. Stuart Close in the IHA
Transactions of 1913 in which he is discussing
the use of homeopathy in terminal cases.
I will, soon, post the whole article (and a few others) to my web-site.
Meanwhile, as encouragement to those who struggle
and think they are never going to "get it" I give
you words from Dr. Close:
"The idea that only experts in materia medica can
succeed in cases of the class we are considering
is a fallacious and demoralizing one, which is
often made the excuse for shirking a plain duty.
It is true that success is usually proportionate
to the skill of the prescriber; that the
simillimum will accomplish more than the merely
similar remedy. But it is also true that the
results obtained by even a moderate degree of
skill, loyally and consistently exercised, are
vastly better than the results of other methods.
It may be that only the master can select the
simillimum, but even the tyro can select a
similar, if he tries, and accomplish some good.
Certainly he will do no harm, as he will if he
resorts to other measures. Let him but do the
best he can, and strive always to do better, and
all will be well. Let him know, also, that to the
one who performs his work in this spirit, "inward
revelations" are sometimes given, by which he is
richly rewarded for his faith and loyalty to
principle. The simillimum has sometimes been
found by the humblest among us, who make no
pretensions to expertness, and marvelous cures
have been thereby effected when they were least
expected. Such rewards come only to those who are
in "The Way", ready and worthy to receive them."
"He must know the method of finding the similar
remedy for every case. This does not mean that he
must have the entire materia medica in his head
as some pretend to think; but that having the
materia medica on his library shelves, (he will
have some library shelves, if he is wise, and
books to fill ´em) he must know how to find what
he needs. He will therefore require at least one
good repertory and the ability to use it. With
this modest technical equipment, and a modicum of
brains, he will be able to do very well."