IMPORTANCE OF PATHOLOGICAL GENERALS IN BOGER BOENNINGHAUSEN’S CHARACTERISTICS AND REPERTORY (BBCR)

ABSTRACT –

Boger Boenninghausen’s Characteristics and Repertory (BBCR) which is enrich in pathological generals and constructed on philosophical background of it. In Boger’s concept of totality those pathological generals kept in high importance as constitutional cause diathesis or tendency or as objective aspect.

In this article an attempt has been made to understand the study of pathological generals in Boger Boenninghausen’s Characteristics & Repertory (BBCR).

INTRODUCTION –

Dr Cyrus Maxwell Boger was a pioneer in handling cases with complex pathologies. He laid down a formal approach to manage cases with this dimension. Repertory has always been a bridge to help in treating different variety of cases. Out of all the repertories Boger Boenninghausen’s Characteristics and Repertory (BBCR) is considered as a pioneering repertory in terms of its content, philosophy and structure. Dr. Boger in this repertory has tried to bridge the gap between Boenninghausen’s repertory and Kent’s repertory^1,2,3.

Boger’s concept of totality:

Dr Boger subscribed to the totality of the principle of totality of symptoms, which was originally given by Hahnemann. He was totally agreed with the idea of what constitutes a complete symptom i.e. location, sensation, modalities and concomitant³.

BBCR is based on the following fundamental concepts³ :

1. Doctrine of complete symptoms and concomitants.
2. Doctrine of pathological generals.
3. Doctrine of causation and time. 
4. Clinical rubrics.
5. Evaluation of remedies.
6. Fever totality.
7. Concordance.

Boenninghausen treats the Concomitants in a highly systematized manner while Kent scatters them all over. Boger adds his Pathological Generals to Boenninghausen and, finally, develops his highly selective approach that proves devastating to the novice. Dr Boger in general, accepts Boenninghausen’s approach but, adds to it the data from the clinical field – the Pathological Generals⁴.

Importance of Pathological Generals according to Dr Boger³ :

Besides the concept of complete symptom Dr. Boger emphasized certain general tendencies of the tissues and propensity to certain types of abnormal changes as an important feature aiding in the selection of the similimum. He writes there are certain general tissue changes called pathological generals tells the state of the whole body and its change in relation to the constitution.

Pathological Generals are the expressions of the person, which are known by a study of the changes at tissue level.

Dr. Boger says that certain types of constitutions are prone to certain pathological changes to different levels of systems and organs. This common change at different tissues shows a behavior of whole constitution, which is important to understand the individual. This requires knowledge of pathology, keen observation and careful study of the symptoms on the part of physician to detect the pathological generals inpatients and use it for finding out similimum.

Pathological generals also assist in:

• Assessing constitutional susceptibility of the patient
• Understanding chronicity and prognosis of the case
• Correlating miasmatic background with tissue response
• Selecting deep-acting constitutional remedies
• Reducing the number of rubrics during repertorization by emphasizing characteristic objective findings

Thus, when rightly interpreted, pathological generals become powerful tools in arriving at the similimum, particularly in cases where subjective symptoms are scanty, suppressed, or overshadowed by advanced pathology.

Examples –

1. If a person shows degenerative changes at many locations and or signs of early senility the rubric would be Senility.
2. Discharges, which are common to various parts.
3. Similar pathological changes in different parts.
4. Involvement of general locations, glands, orifices etc.
5. Certain tendencies— i.e. suppurative, Haemorrhaegic, or uric acid diathesis etc.
6. Constitution type and miasmatic expressions.

The chapter in the book (BBCR) ‘Sensations and Complaints in General’ is full of examples of pathogical generals.

A Few Pathological Generals in BBCR^3,5 –

• Atrophy/Emaciation – Sensations and Complaints in General
• Chlorosis – Sensations and Complaints in General
• Constitution – Sensations and Complaints in General
• Consumption – Sensations and Complaints in General
• Convulsions, spasms – Sensations and Complaints in General
• Discharges- Sensations and Complaints in General
• Dropsy- Sensations and Complaints in General
• Haemorrhage, tendency to – Sensations and Complaints in General
• Hypochondriasis Indurations – Sensations and Complaints in General
• Inflammations – Sensations and Complaints in General
• Mucous membranes affected- Sensations and Complaints in General
• Muscles in general – Sensations and Complaints in General
• Obesity, corpulency – Sensations and Complaints in General
• Offensiveness – Sensations and Complaints in General
• Paralysis agitans – Sensations and Complaints in General
• Scorbutic symptoms – Sensations and Complaints in General
• Serous membranes – Sensations and Complaints in General
• Suppuration – Sensations and Complaints in General
• Swelling – Sensations and Complaints in General
• Sycosis – Sensations and Complaints in General
• Syphilis – Sensations and Complaints in General
• Torpidity – Sensations and Complaints in General
• Uraemia – Sensations and Complaints in General
• Ulcers – Sensations and Complaints in General
• Uric acid diathesis -Aggravation and Amelioration
• Senility -Aggravation and Amelioration

Different kinds of sensations or pains if noticed in many parts can be taken as ‘general.’ All the rubrics mentioned in ‘sensations and complaints in general’ are not pathological generals. Rubrics become pathological generals only if the case expresses likewise.

Caution while choosing pathological generals³ –

• Symptoms should be clearly interpreted from the standpoint of pathology and expression. A forced pathological general would fail to produce any result.
• The grouping of remedies against these rubrics is largely based on clinical observations and confirmation, thus contain imperfect list. Some rubrics contain very few medicines. Thus their use in repertorization should be cautiously made.
• Physician must use his discrimination in the application of these rubrics in practice. The medicine should not be used just because it covers two pathologies at two or more than two parts, but it should agree with the whole picture.

Conclusion –

While discussing the pathological generals in BBCR, we had indicated that Dr Boger made good use of them in cutting down the work involved in repertorization. If the case shows a pathological general, it can be repertorized by following Boger’s method. Thus, finding out the simillimum would be easier.

 References–

1. Khanaj Vidhadhar R., Reperire, 4th revised and added edition 2007, Indian Books and Periodicals Publishers, New Delhi. 
2. Mohanty Niranjan, Text book of Homoeopathic Repertory, Indian Books and Periodicals Publishers, New Delhi. 
3. Tiwari S.K., Essential of repertorisation, 4th edition B.Jain Publisher, New Delhi. 
4. Dhawale M.L., Principles & Practice of Homoeopathy,4^th edition: 2014 B. JAIN PUBLISHERs.
5. Boger C.M., Boenninghaunsen’s characteristics and repertory, B.Jain Publiser, New Delhi. 

Authors:

Dr. Anmol Sharma

PG scholar, Department of Repertory, Sri Ganganagar Homoeopathic, Medical College Hospital and Research Institute, Sri Ganganagar, Rajasthan

Dr. Nidhi Arora

B.H.M.S, M.D (Hom.) H.O.D., Department of Repertory, Sri Ganganagar Homoeopathic, Medical College Hospital and Research Institute, Sri Ganganagar, Rajasthan