Lesser Writings of Boenninghausen

Details

The Lesser Writings by Clemens von Boenninghausen was published in 1908. T. L. Bradford collected his German writings and L. H. Tafel translated them into English.

Boenninghausen's contribution to Homoeopathic science and literature was made between the years 1828-46. These articles come from the original journals and pamphlets and the terminology has been left intact.

A close colleague of Hahnemann and a consummate practitioner, Boenninghausen's thought is revealed through essays on Thuja and smallpox, the cure of Asiatic cholera, the choice of remedy, and more.

Several articles relate his experience with high potencies, their application with typhoid fever and traumatic ailments, and the advantages of their use.

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Heritage

Compiled from German writings by T.L. Bradford, and translated by L.H. Tafel.

The first English translation of Bonninghausen's other writings. "The whole, with its many clinical cases, forms a good work for all who want to get down to a solid homeopathic foundation, for, in a sense, it is one of our homeopathic foundation stones."

Julian Winston writes:
Bonninghausen died in 1864 and left a large number of writings, all in German. It has been said that Hahnemann was the theoretician, but Bonninghausen was the practitioner.

His writings were always informative and filled with exceptional insights into the practice of homeopathy. Although a few of his writings excaped the net cast by Bradford, the majority are represented in this volume.

From:
The Heritage of Homoeopathic Literature
copyright 2001 by Julian Winston
Reprinted with the permission of the author

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Author

Dr. Clemens Von Boenninghausen, MD

(1785 - 1864)

Dr. Boenninghausen was born to one of the oldest noble families of Westphalia, Germany. His full name was Clemens Maria Franz Baron Von Boenninghausen. He was Baron by inheritance, a lawyer by profession, and an agriculturist by natural inclination. He held respected and responsible posts in Germany and enjoyed a life of position and influence.

As a Doctor of Law, Dr. Boenninghausen practiced as a lawyer for some time and later became a judge. Because of his interest in horticulture, he was made Director of Botanical Gardens at Munster. Here, he came to be known as the "Sage of Munster." It was in 1827 that he developed purulent tuberculosis.

When he did not find any relief from the best orthodox treatment, and the physicians gave no hope of his recovery, he wrote a letter to his friend, Dr. A. Weihe, expressing his hopelessness for life and bidding him his last goodbye. Dr. A. Weihe was a homoeopath and asked Boenninghausen to try homoeopathic treatment. Fortunately for Boenninghausen and for homoeopathy, Dr. Weihe cured him.

Being greatly impressed with his treatment Boenninghausen took deep interest in studying homoeopathy and devoted his remaining years to the cause of homoeopathy. During this time he maintained regular correspondence with Dr. Hahnemann. Most of his systematic works concerning homoeopathy were published between 1828 and 1846. He was a regular contributor of articles on homoeopathic subjects to the journals.

On account of Dr. Boenninghausen's great learning and practice, King Wilhem IV, in July 1843, issued a Cabinet Order bestowing upon him all the rights and immunities of a practicing physician. Boenninghausen died at the ripe age of 79 in 1864.

The outstanding contributions to the advancement of Homoeopathy by Boenninghausen were:

1. Classification of Characteristic Symptoms, and
2. Compilation of the First Repertory of Anti-Psoric Remedies.

Boenninghausen classified the characteristic symptoms into seven categories. They are:

1. Quis (Personality of the Patient)
2. Quid (Peculiarity of Complaints)
3. Ubi (Seat of Disease)
4. Quibus Auxilus (Concomitant Symptoms)
5. Cur (Causations)
6. Quamado (Modalities of Time)
7. Quando (Modalities of Circumstances).

The second task allotted to him by Hahnemann was to prepare a 'Repertory' to make it easier to choose the correct homoeopathic remedy. It was very difficult and time-consuming to select the simillimum from the vast 'Materia Medica', hence the idea of 'Repertory' was the only answer.

Boenninghausen knew about the Scheme of Hahnemann (the sequence in which the proved symptoms of homoeopathic remedies were arranged by Hahnemann). He knew all the proved anti-psoric remedies and their characteristic symptoms. Hence he was best fitted to compile the first 'Repertory'. Dr. Hahnemann used the 'Repertory' and found it very handy and useful.

The Whole Health Now website also includes the full text of Boenninghausen's article, "The Characteristic Value of Symptoms", translated in 1908 by Tafel.

Boenninghausen article

Another related article is this account of translating Boenninghausen's "Therapeutic Pocketbook" for RADAR Software.

Therapeutic Pocketbook

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Contents

Action of Medicines -- 50
-long duration -- 126
-of belladonna -- 312
Affinities of Drugs and Sides of Body -- 321
Alkaloids, the Vegetable -- 90
Aluminium Metallicum -- 73
-in tabes dorsalis -- 82
Anamnesis of Sycosis -- 148
Animals, cure of with high potencies -- 238
Asiatic Cholera, cure of -- 278
-instructions to non-physicans -- 299
-prophylaxis of -- 299
-treatment of -- 299
-prevention -- 301
Attenuations, use of high -- 169
Attopa Belladonna, action of -- 312
Belladonna, action of -- 312
Bibliography -- 342
Body, sides of -- 321
Boenninghausen, last work of -- 308
Borax, something about -- 59
Characteristic Value of Symptoms -- 105
Choice of the Remedy -- 94
Cholera, cure of Asiatic -- 278
-instructions to non-physicians -- 299
-prophylaxis of -- 299
-treatment of -- 299
-prevention of -- 301
Clinical observations -- 181
Croup, treatment of membranous -- 129
Diet, on Homeopathic -- 268
Disease, complete image of the -- 268
-Direction for forming image of -- 285
Dose, Smallness of the -- 186
-Of Hahnemann -- 211
Expectoration, Rare varieties of -- 66
-Characteristic -- 67
Experience and High Potencies -- 244
Food, useful and forbidden -- 268
Ginsing Root, Concerning Genuine -- 54
Hahnemann, Three Precautionary Rules of -- 183
-Doses of Medicines of -- 211
High Potencies, Experience -- 244
-In Typhoid Fever -- 22
-Essay on -- 4
-In Traumatic Ailments -- 37
-Advantages of -- 97
-Jenichen's -- 130
-Value -- 137
-Use of -- 169
-Cure of Animals with -- 238
History of Homeopathy -- 14,19
Homeopathy, Cures by -- 268
-Contributions to History of -- 14,19
Homeopathic Diet -- 268
Image of Disease -- 268,285
Jenichen, High Potencies of -- 130
Letter to Stapf -- 252
-Rummel -- 11
Matters, old and new -- 311
Medicines, Long Duration of action of -- 126
-Smelling of -- 1
-Duration of Action -- 50
-Hahnemann's Doses of -- 211
Motion and Rest -- 159
Nosology, new system of -- 20
Observations, Clinical -- 181
Old and New Matters -- 311
Philiposis, Concerning -- 121
Physician's Record Book -- 217
Prophylaxis of Cholera -- 299
Selection of the Choice of the Remedy -- 194
A Reproof -- 1
Concerning Rest -- 159
Rules, Three Precautionary of Hahnemann -- 183
Sides of the Body and Drug Affinities -- 321
Thuja in Smallpox -- 3
Sycosis, Anamnesis of -- 148
Symptoms, relative value of -- 59
-Characteristic Value of -- 105
Systems Nosologica, New -- 20
Tabes dorsalis, Aluminum met. -- 82
Thuja, Curative in Smallpox -- 3
-Special symptoms -- 150
Toothache, essay on -- 258
Traumatic Ailments and High Potencies -- 37
Typhoid Fever, High Potencies in -- 22
Vegetable Alkaloids -- 90
Veterinary Practice, Notice to Cease From -- 14
Whooping Cough, Concerning -- 71
-Therapeutic Diagnosis -- 72
Last work of Boenninghausen -- 308

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