Organon – The Art of Healing
§ 228
In mental and emotional diseases resulting from corporeal maladies, which can only be cured by homœopathic antipsoric medicine conjoined with carefully regulated mode of life, an appropriate psychical behavior towards the patient on the part of those about him and of the physician must be scrupulously observed, by way of an auxiliary mental regimen. To furious mania we must oppose clam intrepidity and cool, firm resolution – to doleful, querulous lamentation, a mute display of commiseration in looks and gestures – to senseless chattering, a silence not wholly inattentive – to disgusting and abominable conduct and to conversation of a similar character, total inattention. We must merely endeavor to prevent the destruction and injury of surrounding objects, without reproaching the patient for his acts, and everything must be arranged in such a way that the necessity for any corporeal punishments and tortures1 whatever may be avoided. This is so much the more easily effected, because in the administration of the medicine – the only circumstance in which the employment of coercion could be justified – in the homœopathic system the small doses of the appropriate medicine never offend the taste, and may consequently be given to the patient without his knowledge in his drink, so that all compulsion is unnecessary.
Samuel Hahnemann, M.D.
1 It is impossible to marvel at the hard-heartedness and indiscretion of the medical men in many establishments for patients of this kind, who, without attempting to discover the true and only efficacious mode of curing such disease, which is by homœopathic medicinal (antipsoric) means, content themselves with torturing these most pitiable of all human beings with the most violent blows and other painful torments. By this unconscientious and revolting procedure they debase themselves beneath the level of the turnkeys in a house of correction, for the latter inflict such chastisement as the duty devolving on their office, and on criminals only, whilst the former appear, from a humiliating consciousness of their uselessness as physicians, only to vent their spite at the supposed incurability of mental diseases in harshness towards the pitiable, innocent sufferers, for they are too ignorant to be of any use and too indolent to adopt a judicious mode of treatment.
Mental sufferings in Psoric diseases with spoiled bodily health are not curable by theories but by anti-Psoric treatment coupled with regulated living habits. The behavior of the doctor and the family members of the patient should also be regulated. The required mental strength suitable for effecting a cure should be created. Calmness and quietness should be shown in cases of raving madness. Firm silence, love and affection are to be exhibited before a dejected mental patient weeping piteously. In case of patients, who talk without meaning, silence indication no negligence is to be exhibited. In case of patients with hateful behavior using filthy language, utter negligence should be shown. We have only to stop him from spoiling the things and beating persons. Even then pointing out the misdeeds should not be done. There is no necessity to subject them to physical suffering or punishment. Force may be necessary only for administering the medicine. Even the medicine being small in quantity and sweet in taste, that also can be administered through water or milk without the notice of the patient and thus avoid forcible application.
§ 229
On the other hand, contradiction, eager explanations, rude corrections and invectives, as also weak, timorous yielding, are quite out of place with such patients; they are equally pernicious modes of treating mental and emotional maladies. But such patients are most of all exasperated and their complaint aggravated by contumely, fraud, and deceptions that they can detect. The physician and keeper must always pretend to believe them to be possessed of reason.
All kinds of external disturbing influences on their senses and disposition should be if possible removed; there are no amusements for their clouded spirit, no salutary distractions, no means of instruction, no soothing effects from conversation, books or other things for the soul that pines or frets in the chains of the diseased body, no in vigoration for it, but the care; it is only when the bodily health is changed for the better that tranquillity and comfort again beam upon their mind.1
1 Foot-note in Sixth Edition only: The treatment of the violent insane manic and melancholic can take place only in an institution specially arranged for their treatment but not within the family circle of the patient.
Samuel Hahnemann, M.D.
On the other hand, contradicting argument or eager and loud explanations, pointing out mistakes or narrating sermons should not be done. Fright, submission, timidity, yielding disposition should not at all be exhibited. Such behavior annoys the patient and causes aggravation. Mental patients will have excessive awareness. They can easily grasp any little thought of deception or hurting ideas. It is only desirable to gain their confidence by behaving ourselves in a believable manner. The Doctor as also the attendant should follow these principles.
As far as possible care should be taken to see that the surroundings are free from provocative causes to the senses and mind of the patient, after all, these are the suffering human beings as if chained by disease and arrested in a jail called the diseased body and are crying piteously. They do not have any means to spend time like us. Their clouded souls do not have any device for pleasure. They do not also have good entertainments.
There is no possibility to them for getting good teachings. They cannot relax in good discussions. Reading books is not possible. Unless their health is restored, the rays of peace and tranquility do not settle in their minds.
§ 230
If the antipsoric remedies selected for each particular case of mental or emotional disease (there are incredibly numerous varieties of them) be quite homœopathically suited for the faithfully traced picture of the morbid state, which, if there be a sufficient number of this kind of medicines known in respect of their pure effects, is ascertained by an indefatigable search for the most appropriate homœopathic remedy all the more easily, as the emotional and mental state, constituting the principal symptom of such a patient, is so unmistakably perceptible, – then the most striking improvement in no very long time, which could not be brought about by physicking the patient to death with the largest oft – repeated doses of all other unsuitable (allopathic) medicines. Indeed, I can confidently assert, from great experience, that the vast superiority of the homœopathic system over all other conceivable methods of the treatment is nowhere displayed in a more triumphant light than in mental and emotional diseases of long standing, which originally sprang from corporeal maladies or were developed simultaneously with them.
Samuel Hahnemann, M.D.
Drugs that are capable of overcoming Psora and useful to such mental patients are innumerable in Nature. They should be honored with purity. Their influences should be understood with diligence. Unstinted and tireless effort is required to find suitable medicines. It is easier since there are mental symptoms. The main symptom of the patient should be first noticed. If treatment is done in this manner, restoration of health would result in much less time. It is not necessary to make him swallow unsuitable drug in higher doses and see his end. There is not other method that works so easily in prolonged mental diseases than the excellent homoeopathic treatment. This pronounced with unflinching confidence based on manifold experience.
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