Materia Medica of Homoeopathic Medicines by Dr. S.R. Phatak
By Dr. S.R. Phatak
Students of Homeopathy who read different Materia Medicas written by various authors, must have observed that some symptoms given under a particular remedy in one materia medica are not given by other. Dr. Boger has selected the most important symptoms from various materia medicas and has included them in his Synoptic Key. But while presenting these symptoms, he has, at times, used such words, that unless the student has the ability to read between the lines, he will miss their hidden meaning. Moreover, Dr. Boger has omitted many important symptoms given by other authors. I will give some examples to illustrate my point. Dr. Boericke has given "Retention of urine after operation" under 'Causticum'. Boger has not given this symptom. Dr. Boger has given "Distension of abdomen after operation" under Carbo animals which is not given by other authors. Dr. Kent has not mentioned above two symptoms in his repertory. But these two symptoms gave me opportunity to remove these distressing conditions successfully. Dr. Boger has given a very curious symptom "Breathes through a metallic tube as if" under Merc. Cor. which is not given by other authors. Moreover he has made it a general symptom - under the heading "Tube metallic - Merc. Cor.". The meaning is obvious. If a person comes and says that while passing stools or urine or even speaking, he is doing these functions as if through a tube, Merc. Cor is apt to be useful. I had an occasion to give this remedy to a person who was speaking through a tube.
If well understood, Dr. Boger's Materia Medica. and repertory are quite sufficient for most of the cases. But we possess neither his intellect, nor his acumen.
In compiling this materia medica, I have given all the symptoms given by Dr. Boger. I have tried to simplify many of his ambiguous words by explaining these meaning. Moreover I have garnered many useful clinical and other symptoms from other materia medicas (which were not given by Dr. Boger) and included them here.
The presentation of Materia Medica is on usual schematic basis. Under generalities the profile picture of the remedy is given along with the regions on which it acts and how it acts, diseases which it is liable to cure and causations. Then general modalities of the remedy are given, after that regional symptoms with their particular modalities follow.
It is my belief that Dr. Boger wished to compile a concise repertory arranged in alphabetic order rather than regional one. In the same way a concise materia medica, in which all relevant symptoms pertaining to each remedy are given ; was desirable. He has given clues in his Synoptic key for compiling such books. With my poor intellect and limited knowledge of homeopathy I have tried to fulfil his wish. How far I am successful in my attempt, only time will show.