Chronic Diseases vol 1 and 2

From the Book

Author's Preface to the
First Edition - 1828

If I did not know for what purpose I was put here on earth - to become better myself as far as possible and to make better everything around me, that is within my power to improve - I should have to consider myself as lacking very much in worldly prudence to make known for the common good, even before my death, an art which I alone possess, and which it is within my power to make as profitable as possible by simply keeping it secret.

But in communicating to the world this great discovery, I am sorry that I must doubt whether my contemporaries will comprehend the logical sequence of these teachings of mine, and will follow them carefully and gain thereby the infinite benefits for suffering humanity which must inevitably spring from a faithful and accurate observance of the same; or whether, frightened away by the unheard of nature of many of these disclosures, they will not rather leave them untried and uninitiated and, therefore useless.

At least I cannot hope that these important communications will fare any better than the general Homoeopathy which I have published hitherto.

-- o --

From unbelief in the efficacy of the small and attenuated doses of medicine which I made known to the medical world after a thousand warning trials, as being the most efficient, (distrusting my faithful asseverations and reasons), men prefer to endanger their patients for years longer with large and larger doses.

Owing to this, they generally do not live to see the curative effects, even as was the case with myself before I attained this diminution of dose. The cause of this was, that it was overlooked that these doses by their attenuation were all the more suitable for their Homoeopathic use, owing to the development of their dynamic power of operation.

-- o --

What would men have risked if they had at once followed my directions in the beginning, and had made use of just these small doses from the first? Could anything worse have happened than that these doses might have proved inefficient? They surely could do no harm!

But in their injudicious, self-willed application of large doses for homoeopathic use they only, in fact only once again, went over that roundabout road so dangerous to their patients, in order to reach the truth which I myself had already successfully passed over, and indeed with trembling, so as to save them this trouble; and if they really desired to heal, they were nevertheless at last compelled to arrive at the only true goal, after having inflicted many an injury and wasted a good part of their life.

-- o --

All this I had already laid before them faithfully and frankly, and had long before given them the reasons. May they do better with the great discovery herewith presented to them!

And if they should not treat this discovery any better - well, then a more conscientious and intelligent posterity will alone have the advantage to be obtained by a faithful, punctual observance of the teachings here laid down, of being able to deliver mankind from the numberless torments which have rested upon the poor sick, owing to the numberless, tedious diseases, even as far back as history extends.

This great boon had not been put within their reach by what Homoeopathy had taught hitherto.

Samuel Hahnemann, MD

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Details

The Chronic Diseases; Their Peculiar Nature and Their Homoeopathic Cure (2 volumes), by Samuel Hahnemann, was originally published in four volumes from 1828-1830.

In Volume 1 (Theoretical Part) of this work Hahnemann defines miasms and describes psora, sycosis, and syphilis. In Volume 2 he present the materia medica of 48 anti-psoric remedies.

This is the best way to understand the miasms as they were first discussed. Hahnemann's prescient prose foreshadows modern thinking concerning the origin of disease.

His miasmatic theory lays the groundwork for the homeopathic treatment of chronic disease. With his review of 48 homeopathic medicines Hahnemann shows how this theory is utilized in practice.

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Author

Dr. Samuel Christian Frederic Hahnemann, M.D.

(1755 - 1843)

Samuel Hahnemann was the founder of Homoeopathy. He established the fundamental principles of the science and art of Homoeopathy.

He is called the Father of Experimental Pharmacology because he was the first physician to prepare medicines in a specialized way; proving them on healthy human beings, to determine how the medicines acted to cure diseases. Before Hahnemann, medicines were given on speculative indications, mainly on the basis of authority without experimental verification.

Hahnemann discovered the remedial powers of drugs and inert substances such as gold, platinum, silica, vegetable charcoal, lycopodium, etc. By preparing the medicines through potentization, these inert and insoluble substances became soluble in alcohol or water and were charged with medicinal force.

Dr. Hahnemann espoused the law of cure known as "Similia Similibus Curentur", or "Like Cures Like". This means that a remedy that produces symptoms in a healthy person will cure those same symptoms when manifested by a person in a diseased state. This law of cure has been verified by millions of homoeopaths all over the world since the time of Hahnemann.

Hahnemann discovered the primary and secondary actions of remedies. The primary action results from the first encounter between the vital force and the external agent, and the secondary action is a result of the vital force's reaction to the symptoms of that primary encounter. This discovery led him to the curative powers of poisonous substances.

Dr. Hahnemann described the different aspects of 'acute' and 'chronic' diseases. Acute diseases are transitory; they have a beginning and an end, whereas the chronic diseases are co-existent with life. Either they are present in a manifest or a latent state. From this work came the chronic miasms of Psora, Syphilis, and Sycosis.

Dr. Hahnemann was the progenitor of several modern medical approaches. Deeming the treatment of insane patients to be cruel and harmful, he advised a humane treatment for the insane. He cured many insane patients with homeopathy, and became famous for this success.

Dr. Hahnemann was quick to recognize poor hygiene as a contributory cause to the spread of disease. His success with cholera and typhoid fever was in part due to this recognition.

Hahnemann also emphasized the importance of nursing, diet, bed rest, and isolation of patients during epidemic diseases. Hahnemann described 'Noxious' principles as the precursors of certain disease states.

Hahnemann's three major publications illumine the development of homeopathy. In the 'Organon of Medicine' (revised six times), we see the fundamentals laid out.

'Materia Medica Pura' records the exact symptoms of the remedy provings. In his book, 'The Chronic Diseases, Their Peculiar Nature and Their Homoeopathic Cure', he showed us how the natural diseases become chronic in nature when suppressed by improper treatment.

Dr. Hahnemann treated thousands of difficult and chronic cases that defied the best care from allopaths all over Europe. Thus, he became so famous that physicians from Europe and America came to him for coaching in the new science and art of healing, called Homoeopathy.

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Contents

Nature of Chronic Diseases -- 1-160
Sycosis -- 83-86
Syphilis -- 87-96
Psora -- 97-160
Agaricus Muscarius -- 161-185
Alumina -- 186-230
Ammonium Carbonicum -- 231-258
Ammonium Muriaticum -- 259-276
Anacardium Orientale -- 277-301
Antimonium Crudum -- 302-319
Arsenicum Album -- 320-370
Aurum -- 371-390
Aurum Muriaticum -- 391
Baryta Carbonica -- 392-420
Borax Veneta -- 421-439
Calcarea Carbonica -- 440-494
Carbo Animalis -- 495-518
Carbo Vegetabilis -- 519-557
Causticum -- 558-607
Clematis Erecta -- 608-614
Colocynthis -- 615-625
Conium Maculatum -- 626-656
Cuprum -- 657-670
Digitalis Purpurea -- 671-692
Dulcamara -- 693-707
Euphorbium -- 708-717
Graphites -- 718-754
Guajacum -- 755-761
Hepar Sulphuris Calcareum -- 762-782
Iodium -- 783-804
Kali Carbonicum -- 805-858
Lycopodii Pollen -- 859-909
Magnesia Carbonica -- 910-942
Magnesia Muriatica -- 943-969
Manganum -- 970-988
Mezereum -- 989-1011
Muriaticum Acidum -- 1012-1032
Natrum Carbonicum -- 1033-1070
Natrum Muriaticum -- 1071-1115
Nitri Acidum -- 1116-1158
Nitrum -- 1159-1186
Petroleum -- 1187-1209
Phosphorus -- 1210-1272
Phosphoricum Acidum -- 1273-1300
Platina -- 1301-1321
Sarsaparilla -- 1322-1341
Sepia -- 1342-1396
Silicea Terra -- 1397-1436
Stannum -- 1437-1459
Sulphur -- 1460-1524
Sulphuricum Acidum -- 1525-1541
Zincum -- 1542-1590
Index -- 1591-1600

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