The Art of Healing
§ 255 – Sixth Edition
But even with such individuals we may convince ourselves on this point by going with them through all the symptoms enumerated in our notes of the disease one by one, and finding that they complain of no new unusual symptoms in addition to these, and that none of the old symptoms are worse. If this be the case, and if an improvement in the disposition and mind have already been observed, the medicine must have effected positive diminution of the disease, or, if sufficient time have not yet elapsed for this, it will soon effect it. Now, supposing the remedy is perfectly appropriate, if the improvement delay too long in making its appearance, this depends either on some error of conduct on the part of the patient, or on other interfering circumstances.
Even in people of this type, the truth can be ascertained and managed successfully. There is only one way. If they are questioned separately about the relief of each symptom recorded in the case sheet, the truth can be elicited. If there are no new symptoms, no aggravation of old symptoms and some symptoms are relieved, it can be understood that the disease is retreating. Added to the above, if there is improvement in the patient’s state of mind, disposition and facial expressions etc., it would be clear that the disease is declining and change in the medicine potency or dosage is not onecessaly. It also indicates in course of time, the disease gets cured. If there is delay in further progress, it means there is some deficiency in surrounding factors of the patient or his habits and behavior.
Explanation
In chronic diseases, a dose of high potency may bring out good improvement for some time and thereafter remains static. Further improvement gets delayed. The patient is to be viewed with suspicion. Such a static condition appears in many of the persons a few days after festivals. That means during the festival days, the patient might have indulged in indiscriminate eating or seeing movies two or three in a day or playing cards day and night or spending wakeful nights in clubs etc.
§ 256
On the other hand, if the patient mentions the occurrence of some fresh accidents and symptoms of importance – signs that the medicine chosen has not been strictly homœopathic – even though he should good-naturedly assure us that he feels better, as is not infrequently the case in phthisical patients with lung abscess, we must not believe this assurance, but regard his state as aggravated as it will soon be perfectly apparent it is.
During the course of treatment, if new symptoms cropped up or some unusual events happened, the patient may express with mild temperament that there is some improvement and that there is relief in the sufferings comparatively. The doctor should not believe such a statement. It is more so in case of patients suffering from TB of the lungs, tumors etc. A short time amelioration may appear to the patient but thereafter serious situation develops.
Explanation
Supposing a patient took long time treatment for TB of lungs and after gaining health, had started homoeopathic medicine for ulcer in the lungs, fever, dyspnoea, cough, burning in the chest and whenever he coughs spitting of blood. For that person based on the present condition and similarity, a drug like Ars. Alb. Phosophorous etc. in a suitable potency may bring good relief. All the sufferings gradually decrease and disappear. In the meantime unexpected severe pain in chest may come and go. Then while the doctor is examining the condition of the patient, the patient would say “I do not know why this pain has come? The rest of my health condition, is good and to my mind, I am hopeful, the disease is getting cured.” The doctor should not believe such statements. Unless the drug is changed immediately based on the totality of all the symptoms recast to bring about the required atonement, the condition of the patient may become dangerous in a few hours or in a few days.
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