Keywords
Symptomatology, Repertorization, Exponent, Therapeutic actions, Rubrics, Sub-rubrics, Clinical rubrics, Cross-references.
Abstract
This article discusses few best clinical repertories like the Pocket Manual of Homoeopathic Repertory by Oscar E. Boericke’s, a Comprehensive Clinical Repertory covering the entirety of symptomatology. Based on clinical findings and verifications, this repertory is a valuable resource for Homoeopathic practitioners, particularly in acute and chronic case management. The article highlights the repertory’s unique structure, its relationship to Boericke’s Materia Medica, and its popularity among practitioners. Additionally, it touches upon Dr. S.R. Phatak’s concise repertory, which builds upon C.M. Boger’s Synoptic Key, incorporating additions from various standard sources.
Dr. J. H. Clarke writes that it will be seen that the clinical repertory is a clinical repertory and much more beside. The practitioner who consults it will not be tied down to a mere list of names of diseases. He will be able to test his choice of a remedy from other points of view, and if further information should be required, the dictionary of Materia Medica, which this repertory is designed to make more accessible.
Introduction
Clinical Repertories are those repertories which contain clinical symptoms/conditions and the corresponding group of medicines. These repertories facilitate the selection of a remedy on the basis of pathological similarity, causation, modalities and concomitants. They are not commonly used for the purpose of repertorization. However, these repertories can be used for repertorization of cases where clinical conditions mask the characteristics of the patient. In such cases, the physician finds the prominent common symptoms with a few modalities and concomitants. These cases need the help of clinical repertories for selecting the simillimum.
CONCEPT OF CLINICAL REPERTORIES
In spite of emphasis on individualization and prescription based on characteristic expressions, the emergence of clinical repertories could not be prevented in homoeopathic practice as early as Hahnemann’s time. The grouping of medicines according to the name of diseases, though discouraged by many stalwarts has given birth to clinical repertories. The greatest modern exponent of this practice is the late Dr J. Crompton Burnett, who has brought once more to light the vast therapeutic treasures which had been allowed to lie forgotten in the works of the great masters. The use of nosological correspondence is one method by means of which a similar, if not the most similar remedy may be discovered.
Always of finding indications are open to practitioners and the clinical avenue is one of them. J.H. Clarke has described it like this, certain diseases come to have certain remedies assigned to them and all the patients who are found to be suffering from any given disease must be closed with one of the remedies credited to it. Master Hahnemann was certainly not happy with such kind of practice; he described it as, “Treating the names of the diseases with names of therapeutic actions.” Such a kind of practice was favoured by Dr J. Crompton Burnett. He expresses it as the fact is, we need any and every way of finding the right remedy; the simple simile, the simple symptomatic simillimum and the furthest reach of all the pathological Simillimum.
Though many clinical repertories are available these days, three of them are well known as General Clinical Repertory. They are: A Clinical Repertory by J.H. Clarke and Materia Medica with Repertory by O.E. Boericke and A Concise Repertory of Homoeopathic Medicine by S.R. Phatak there are many useful regional clinical repertories which help the practitioners to find a similar remedy.
In my 29 years of Clinical Practice, I have used the three Clinical Repertories are to prescribe the similimum to my patients are –
1) BOERICKE’S REPERTORY – Dr. William/Oscar E. Boericke
2) A CLINICAL REPERTORY TO THE DICTIONARY OF MATERIA MEDICA – Dr. John Henry Clarke
3) A CONCISE REPERTORY OF HOMOEOPATHIC MEDICINES – Dr. S. R. Phatak
- BOERICKE’S REPERTORY – POCKET MANUAL OF HOMOEOPATHIC MATERIA MEDICA WITH REPERTORY – Dr. William/Oscar E. Boericke
INTRODUCTION –
Pocket manual of a Repertory appended to Homoeopathic Materia Medica by Oscar E. Boericke is class under the group of general clinical repertory covering whole symptomatology. This repertory is based on clinical finding and clinical verifications, and major source of which is Boericke’s Materia Medica. Boericke & Runyon, 1049 pages, published this repertory, the Materia Medica, by William E. Boericke was issued in 1901. The Repertory was added to the 3rd edition in 1906. The repertory is constructed differently than that of either Kent or Boenninghausen, and takes a bit of work to become familiar with. Current edition of this repertory is very popularly used in acute as well as in chronic cases.
In the Preface to the Repertory Dr. Oscar E Boericke Writes that –
1) In conformity, which established reportorial methods, the division of sections is somewhat the old Hahnemannian method.
2) Headings and sub-headings or the specific conditions or symptoms comprise under the later are arranged in alphabetical order and this is more or less adhered throughout the entire work.
E.g. under Mind the headings read.
Awkward – Brainfag – Catalepsy, etc.
3) All the headings when extensive in scope are presented under: – Cause, Type, Location, Character of pain, Concomitants and Modalities.
4) Technical names of the diseases are bracketed for which is in strict accord with Homoeopathic requirements, prescribe for the symptoms of each specific case, not for mere the name of the disease.
5) Remedies are arranged in alphabetical order.
1) Italics: – Indicates the more frequently – 3 marks.
2) Verified clinical remedy – 2 marks.
3) Roman remedies – printed in Roman – 1 mark.
Lastly, he adds, it is only by persistent study of one repertory, its and intricate arrangements gradually crystallize themselves in definite outline in the mind.
CONSTRUCTION OF BOOK-
The first part of the book is Materia Medica and the second part is Repertory – followed by an:
a) Index to the Repertory
b) Therapeutic Index
c) List of remedies with common and Latin names.
SECTIONS OF BOERICKE’S REPERTORY –
The repertory has 25 chapters:
- MIND
- HEAD
- EYES
- NOSE
- EARS
- FACE
- MOUTH
- TONGUE
- TASTE
- GUMS
- TEETH
- THROAT
- STOMACH
- ABDOMEN
- URINARY SYSTEM
- MALE SEXUAL SYSYEM
- FEMALE SEXUAL
- CIRCULATORY SYSTE
- LOCOMOTOR SYSTEM
- RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
- SKIN
- FEVER
- NERVOUS SYSTEM
- GENERALITIES
- MODALITIES
HUNTING OF RUBRICS FROM BOERICKES REPERTORY
1) For hunting of rubrics after case taking one must be sure that one has correctly picked up the Basic and Determinant symptoms and have converted into proper rubrics.
2) Next, he will think of the chapters where these rubrics may have.
3) As regards the position of rubrics in the chapters they are always followed in the alphabetical series.
4) As the physician is previously acquainted with the anomalies in the arrangement of rubrics and sub-rubrics in the vary chapter and thus, he can avoid the diversion.
2) A CLINICAL REPERTORY TO THE DICTIONARY OF MATERIA MEDICA – Dr. John Henry Clarke
INTRODUCTION –
This repertory was published in 1904 & then after reprinted by B. Jain in 1997. It is constructed on the basis of dictionary of Practical Materia Medica and consist with Repertories of causation, Temperament, Clinical Relationship, and Natural and Relationship. Dr. J. H. Clarke writes that it will be seen that the clinical repertory is a clinical repertory and much more beside. The practitioner who consults it will not be tied down to a mere list of names of diseases. He will be able to test his choice of a remedy from other points of view, and if further information should be required, the dictionary of Materia Medica, which this repertory is designed to make more accessible.
CONSTRUCTION – The book starts with: –
1) Preface
2) List of remedies with abbreviations. (List of appro.1063 remedies with few repetitions.)
3) List of abbreviations with remedies arranged alphabetically.
Repertory proper contains five parts: –
Part I – Introduction to the Clinical Repertory.Clinical repertory.
Part II – Prefatory note to repertory of Causation.Repertory of Causation.
Part III – Repertory of Temperaments, disposition, constitutionand state.
Part IV – Prefatory note to clinical relationship.Repertory of clinical relationship.
Part V – Introduction to Repertory of natural relationship.Repertory of Natural relationship.
This part is further divided into five parts: –
1) Elements
a) Alphabetical lists.
b) List according to atomic weight.
c) Mendeleeff’s Group.
2) Vegetable Kingdom-
a) Alphabetical list of natural orders.
b) Systematic arrangement of natural order.
3) Animal Kingdom –
a) Alphabetical list of natural order.
b) Systematic arrangement of natural order.
4) Sarcodes
5) Nosodes
In dictionary of practical Materia Medica every remedy is described from as number of different points of view. The clinical point of view is one of these, and under the heading “Clinical’ Dr Clarke has prefixed to each remedy a list of the affection in which it has been found most frequently indicated in practice. In compiling these clinical lists, he had in view the project of preparing, later on, an index of these heading to enable the reader to find at a glance all the remedies which have been accredited with the cure or alleviation of any given state. In the first section one, he described remedies in the dictionary is headed “causation”. This tells how remedies are related to conditions due to definite cause. Another index deals with temperaments. Acute observers from the time of Hahnemann onwards, have noticed that some remedies act well on some types of persons and not all so well on others. The last of the repertory included in this volume is a repertory of relationships.
3) A CONCISE REPERTORY OF HOMOEOPATHIC MEDICINES – Dr. S. R. Phatak
Introduction.
Dr. S. R. Phatak’s concise alphabetical repertory is based on the Repertory part of synoptic key to Materia Medica by C. M. Boger, however it contains innumerable additions both in rubrics and remedies, so that it is like a much enlarged and improved version of the ‘Synoptic Key’. The additions made by Dr. S. R. Phatak are from other standard books and repertories like Boericke, Kent, Therapeutic pocket book etc. and also from his own case taking and accurate clinical observation.
The 1st edition of repertory was published in 1963 and afterwards in 1977- 2nd edition was published with the help of Dr. P. Sankaran. B. Jain publisher New Delhi published this repertory and was reprinted in 1994 with 410 pages.
Historical Background-
Idea of handy concise alphabetically arranged repertory seems to be of Dr. Phatak’s own, but because of ill health he was unable to contribute much. His friend Mr. S. L. Kapadi who knew about the idea, unexpectedly came to his help. One day he came to author, with a skeleton copy of this work and asked the author to fill up the gaps. Check and recheck it. This skeleton work was prepared from the authors rough draft notes of marathi repertory.
Thus, after the initiative pain taken by Mr. Kapadi, Dr. Phatak arranged the work properly rewrote it and made many additions. Then Dr. Miss. Homai merchant his student, typed up the copy for repertory, after words with his son’s help, 1st edition was published. Few years latter Dr. P. Sankaran added few new rubrics, remedies and published 2nd edition of book.
Construction of Repertory –
The Repertory has –
1) Preface to the repertory by Dr. S.R. Phatak.
2) Preface to the 2nd edition by Dr. P. Sankaran.
3) List of abbreviations of 114 remedies.
4) Lastly repertory proper.
PREFACE PART.
1) Arrangement of rubric is strictly from alphabetical Abdomen to Zygoma.
2) In preface Dr. Phatak says, prescribing in Homoeopathy is both science and art. Three pre-requisites are required for this – good case taking, sound knowledge of Materia Medica and skilful use of reference book.
3) This repertory is a concise one and not exhaustive as repertories like by Kent, Boenninghausen and others. But it is aimed at reducing the Burden of prescribing by serving as a handy and useful reference book.
4) There are no definite sections. The plan is in alphabetical order and covers headings like mental generals, modalities, organs and their subparts. So, finding appropriate rubric is easy.
5) All the physiological and pathological conditions such as appetite, aversions, desires, nausea, thirst, fever, pulse etc. In alphabetical order.
6) Cross-references given wherever necessary. In each main rubric all important symptoms their concomitants and modalities are given.
7) Causations are given under aggravation. both general and particular. For general modalities the words AGG and AMEOL, while under particular rubrics written ordinary Agg & Amel.
8) Generals and particulars – Many general symptoms have been coined from particular symptoms. This knack is the secret of the Bogers method.
E.g. Black denotes those discharges, menses, skin etc. are black calculus represents a tendency to from calculi and includes urinary and pancreatic, calculi etc. Many characteristic particular symptoms have been included and this represents Kent’s influence on Boger’s approach.
9) Pathology- Repertory contains many pathological entities like Addison’ s disease. Fatty degeneration, leukaemia etc, one understands that these rubrics are to be used in the absence of guiding symptoms.
10) No drug is given unless the author has cured in his own practice or unless there is strong justification, provided for it by authors like Boger, Kent, Clarke.
11) The concise repertory contains many rubrics not found in Kent’s repertory. Though it is much smaller it gives more remedies for some rubrics, than are given in Kent’s repertory.
E.g. under spices aggravation Kent gives only Phos. Whereas under condiments aggravation, Nux v. Phos. and Sele. are given.
Remedies are graded in to: –
- CAPITAL BOLD
- Italics
- Roman
This book is easy to refer because of alphabetical arrangement. Cross-references are given wherever necessary. There are 42 clinical rubrics which are not present in Kent’s repertory are included in this book
Rubrics that are not present in Kent’s Repertory –
Barometer, Aeroplane flying in aggravation, Bead like swelling, Blood pressure, Foetus lying, financial loss aggravation. Air passages, Adenoids, Bregma, Bile duct, Fallopian tubes, Cerebro-spinal axis, Loin, Gall bladder, Orbits, Medulla, Sensorium, Pudendum
Clinical rubrics those are not present in Kent’s Repertory: –
Actinomycosis, Acidosis, Acromegaly, Acrophobia, Acuminate, Air hunger, Anasarca, Anorexia, Antisocial, Arthralgia, Beri-Beri, Bilharzias, Black water fever, Blood sepsis, Claustrophobia, Co-ordination disturbed, Cretinism, Dementia, Eclampsia, Ectropion, Embolism, Haemophilia, Hydroarthrities, Leukoderma, Menier’s disease, Myxoedema, Osteomalacia, Paraplegia, Raynaud’s disease, Pellagra, Salpingitis, Scleroderma, Osteomyelitis, Stomatitis, Spondylitis
NON-PHILOSOPHICAL GROUP-
1) CLINICAL REPERTORIES –
These repertories have many clinical rubrics under different systems and medicines are grouped against the name of disease. These repertories are based on clinical conditions and verification of symptoms. They are subdivided as follows.
1) Covering the whole.
Examples; Clinical Repertory appended to Boericke’s Materia Medica.
Clinical Repertory by Dr. J. H. Clarke.
2) Covering the parts or system.
Which deals with disease condition and various part of body.
Examples –
- Diarrhoea – By Dr. Bell.
- Cough and Expectoration – By Lee and Clark.
- Neuralgia – By Lutze.
- Intermittent Fever – By Allen, W. A.
- Rheumatism – By Robert.
- Repertory of Urinary Organs – By Morgan, A. R.
- Times of Remedies – By Boger, C. M.
- Repertory of Haemorrhoids – By Guernsey.
- Sensation as if – By Holcomb.
- Repertory of Headache – By Knerr, C.B.
- Repertory of Appendicitis – By Yingling.
- Repertory of Respiratory Disease – By Nash.
- Repertory of Sensation as if – By Robert’s.
- Repertory of the Eyes – By Berridge.
- Desire’s and Aversion’s – By Guernsey.
- Repertory of Modalities – By Worcester.
- Repertory of Foot Sweat – By Drake, O. M.
- Special Pathology – By Raue.
- Clinical Repertory – By Shedd.
- Repertory of Poliomyelitis – By Bhatia, V. R.
- Short Repertory of Indian Drugs – By Ahmad, S.
- Repertory of Cough – By Pierce, W.
- Repertory of Likes and Dislikes – By Sethi, B.
- Repertory of Convulsions – By Santee, E. M.
CONCLUSION
Though clinical repertories have not been put to their fullest utility, these can be very useful too if their scope and limitations are properly understood and implemented in practice.
1. Clinical repertories can be used in the study of Homoeopathic therapeutics as well as Materia Medica.
2. They help to repertorize the following types of cases:
a. Cases lacking in mental generals and physical generals, but rich in common symptoms.
b. Cases with clinical diagnosis.
c. short cases with a few symptoms.
3. They are used as quick reference books at the bedside.
4. Clinical repertories contain some rubrics, which are not found in other general repertories; therefore, they can become a good companion in the study of such rubrics.
5. Clinical repertories help us to find the most appropriate palliative medicine in incurable cases.
6. Regional repertories help in finding out the simillimum in a specific clinical condition.
7. Clinical repertories are based on nosological terms and clinical symptoms, which are the result of clinical observations hence, their use is limited to particular type of cases. they are mainly used for reference work.
WHICH IS THE BEST REPERTORY?
A very fact that a number of repertories are in use should convince us that, none of them is suited to all cases. To this Kent gives a reply “the best is that which one makes oneself” this means many of the bigger and more complete, General Repertories will serve the ordinary purpose of any practitioner provided that, he is sufficiently familiar with its contents and their use. For this purpose, what is essential is first to give a number of thorough readings of the preface and introduction of the repertory.
REFERENCES
- Boericke, William, Materia Medica with Repertory.
- Phatak, S.R, Concise Repertory of Homoeopathic Medicines, 2nd Edition.
- Phatak, S.R, Materia Medica of Homoeopathic Medicines.
- Kent, J.T, Repertory of the Homoeopathic Materia Medica.
- Shashi Kant Tiwari, Essentials of Repertorization, 5th Edition, B Jain Publishers(P) Ltd, New Delhi, India.
- Vidyadhar R. Khanaj, Reperire, Repertory Simplified, 2nd Edition Reprint Edition, Indian Books & Periodicals Publishers, New Delhi, India.
Co-Author –
Mr. Padmraj Jineshwar Yaligouda, B.H.M.S. Final Year
Bharatesh Homoeopathic Medical College & Hospital, Belagavi, Karnataka State.
