Lesser Writings With Therapeutic Hints

Author

Dr. Ernest A. Farrington, M.D.

(1847 - 1885)

E. A. Farrington was born in Williamsburg, NY, on January 1, 1847. Dr. Farrington manifested an aptitude for study from an early age. He had a ready discernment and a retentive memory that placed him first among his schoolmates.

He graduated from the Philadelphia High School at the age of nineteen, attaining the highest marks that anyone had ever achieved.

He began his study of medicine under the preceptorship of his brother, Harvey W. Farrington, MD. In 1866 he graduated from the Homoeopathic Medical College of Pennsylvania. In 1867 he entered the Hahnemann Medical College, graduating in 1868. He entered practice immediately after his graduation, establishing himself on Mount Vernon Street.

His preeminence among his classmates indicated his future calling as a teacher. Within a year after leaving college he was engaged as lecturer on forensic medicine in the same institution, and still later transferred to the chair of pathology and diagnosis.

These positions were stepping stones to that most important and difficult department of homoeopathic medicine, the chair of materia medica, to which he was elected in 1874 upon the resignation of Prof. Guernsey.

Dr. Farrington was a member of the State Society and joined the American Institute of Homoeopathy in 1872. In 1884 the Institute appointed him a member of its Editorial Consulting Committee on the new Cyclopaedia of Drug Pathogenesy. In all these tasks he was an assiduous and conscientious worker. In debate he was an active speaker, logical in argument, choice in expression.

Farrington carried out deep and thorough research and study upon every involved question in the subject of homoeopathy; the law, dosage, and potency questions all were subjects of much interest. Above all, his focus lay in the study of the Materia Medica.

His daily association with Hering quickened this his natural desire, to the point where Hering said, "When I am gone Farrington must finish my Materia Medica."

His labors in Materia Medica were not restricted to simply reviewing old provings. He personally supervised provings of both old and new drugs.

The most prominent feature of his teaching was considered to have been his ability to thoroughly analyze the specific drug action, showing not only the superficial but also the deeper relationship of symptoms. Family and class relationship of drugs was a particular interest. In fact, his Clinical Materia Medica was the first classic in this field.

His writings all bear the mark of a superior mind. Already in 1871, barely three years after his graduation, he was writing about the philosophical elucidation of drug prescribing, in language indicating a great depth of knowledge. His articles were published in the American Journal of Homoeopathic Materia Medica, the Hahnemannian Monthly, the North American Journal of Homoeopathy, and other journals.

In December 1879, when the Hahnemannian Monthly was purchased by the Hahnemann Club of Philadelphia, he was selected by his colleagues of the Club as the sole editor of the journal, but on account of poor health and multiplicity of duties he declined the offer.

Later, at the earnest solicitation of the Club, he accepted the position of Contributing Editor, which position he filled until the time of his death. His last article, a book review, was written but a few weeks prior to his decease.

In December 1884, a neglected cold and subsequent unavoidable exposure resulted in an attack of acute laryngitis. Farrington continued his class lectures and thus a severe bronchitis developed. He then sailed for Europe in the Spring of 1885 with the hope that change of air and scene would cure him.

But the disease steadily progressed and he returned to Philadelphia, working until the end of his days. Some of his lay friends strongly urged him to seek the care of a prominent allopath. This he positively refused, afterwards remarking,

"If I must die, I want to die a Christian."

He died shortly afterwards on December 15, 1885.

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Contents

Homeopathy as a Science -- 9-14
The Elasticity of the Law of Homeopathy -- 15-19
Value of Hahnemann's "Totality" -- 20
Do medicines make functional changes? -- 21
A Syllabus of Materia Medica (Questions and Answers) -- 31-58
Modalities as arranged by Bonninghausen -- 59-63
Use of universal symptoms -- 64-66
Remarks on some of the acids -- 67-73
On several remedies more or less anaesthetic -- 74-81
Remarks on several summer remedies infrequently used -- 82-83
A brief repertory of medicines affecting the posterior nares, with comments and suggestions -- 84-93
Drugs affecting the occipital region -- 94-165
Remedies in neurasthenia affecting the lumbo-sacral region -- 166-177
Antipsories in the atrophy of infants -- 78-228
Prognosis of pancreatic diseases -- 229-233
Manganese for women -- 234-236
Spasmus Glottidis -- 237-246
The mouth symptoms of the mineral acids -- 247-249
Notes on the treatment of Peritonitis -- 250-255
Indications for some of the metals in Neuralgia -- 256-257
Gout -- 258-264
Cuprum in defective reaction -- 265-266
Malarial Cachexia; Remote effects of Malaria; Treatment -- 267-272
Laceration of the Cervix Uteri (Preventive Treatment) -- 273-279
Discussion of the treatment of Intermittent Fever -- 280-295
Discussion on Dr. William Sharp's paper on "The foundations and boundaries of Modern Therapeutics" -- 296-298
Discussion on Dr. Richard Hughes' paper on "The value of Hydrocyanic Acid" in Epilepsy -- 299
Hahnemann and Misapplied Homeopathy -- 300-302
Correspondence -- 303
Confirmation of Symptoms -- 304-307
Dynamization of Drugs (Dr. Dudley's platform) -- 308-313
Is it justifiable? -- 314-315
Detection of Insanity -- 316-317
Suggestion for "A Model Materia Medica" -- 318-337
A Proving of Natrum Phosphoricum -- 338-354
Salicylic Acid: Additional Proving -- 355-359
Lac Caninum: Additional Proving -- 360
Provings of Linaria Vulgaris -- 361
Supposed Poisoning by Toad Stools (Agaricus Muscarius) -- 362
Is Laughing Gas injurious (Nitrous Oxide) -- 363
Rhus Poisoning -- 364
Merc. Iod. and Merc. Biniod (when Doctor's disagree who shall decide?) -- 365-366
A Synopsis of Quillaya Saponaria -- 367-369
Notes on Tarantula -- 370-372
A Case of Puerperal Convulsions -- 373-375
A case with comments -- 376-377
Case: A point in the etiology of Ophthalmia Neonatorum -- 378-379
Case: An interesting post-mortem -- 380
Case: Albuminuria -- 381
Case: Atony of the Uterus -- 382
Case: Bad Cold -- 383
Cases from Practice -- 384-385
Case: Cholera Infantum -- 386
Case: Cramps -- 387
Case: Cure of a Hypopyon -- 387
Case: Dizziness -- 388
Case: Dropsy -- 388
Case: Drowsiness -- 389
Case: Dyspepsia -- 389
Case: Epilepsy -- 390
Case: Fever -- 391
Case: Gelseminum in Albuminuria -- 392
Case: Mental Derangements -- 393
Case: Ovarian Tumour -- 394
Case: Paralysis from Spasms -- 395-396
Case: Pericarditis -- 397-399
Case: Sanguineous Tumor -- 400
Case: Scarlatina -- 401
Case: St. Vitus' Dance -- 401
Case: Supposed Phthisis -- 402
Case: Syphilis -- 402
Case: Ulcer on Chin -- 402
Case: Varicella -- 403
Case: Vermicular Trouble -- 404
Case: Whooping Cough -- 405

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