H.C. ALLEN

PHILOSOPHY: H.C. ALLEN
PREFACE: FIRST EDITION
The life-work of the student of the homoeopathic Materia Medica is one of constant comparison and differentiation. He must compare the pathogenesis of a remedy with the recorded anamnesis of the patient; he must differentiate the apparently similar symptoms of two or more medicinal agents in order to select the similimum. To enable the student or practitioner to do this correctly and rapidly he must have as a basis for comparison some knowledge of the individuality of the remedy; something that is peculiar, uncommon, or sufficiently characteristic in the confirmed pathogenesis of a polychrest remedy that may be used as a pivotal point of comparison. It may be a so-called “keynote,” a “characteristic,” the “red strand of the rope,” and central modality or principle├óÔé¼ÔÇØas the aggravation from motion of Bryonia, the amelioration from motion of Rhus, the furious, vicious delirium of Belladonna or the apathetic indifference of Phosphoric acid├óÔé¼ÔÇØsome familiar landmark around which the symptoms may be arranged in the mind for comparison.
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