§ 263 – Sixth Edition
The desire of the patient affected by an acute disease with regard to food and drink is certainly chiefly for things that give palliative relief: they are, however, not strictly speaking of a medicinal character, and merely supply a sort of want. The slight hindrances that the gratification of this desire, within moderate bounds, could oppose to the radical removal of the disease1 will be amply counteracted and overcome by the power of the homœopathically suited medicine and the vital force set free by it, as also by the refreshment that follows from taking what has been so ardently longed for. In like manner, in acute diseases the temperature of the room and the heat or coolness of the bed-coverings must also be arranged entirely in conformity with the patients’ wish. He must be kept free from all over-exertion of mind and exciting emotions.
1This is, however, rare. Thus, for instance, in pure inflammatory diseases, where aconite is so indispensable, whose action would be destroyed by partaking of vegetable acids, the desire of the patient is almost always for pure cold water only.
What type of foods and drinks the patient desires to have in acute diseases is to be observed. All things liked by him should have the qualities to ameliorate in the sufferings. There is no medicinal substance in such food stuffs but they only serve to supply the required strength. If. All those things desired by the patient are given to him, it may create obstacles in the progress of cure. Not with standly there are more powerful arguments in the system of Homoeopathy.
- The strength of a wholly similar homoeopathic remedy and the vital force impregnated by the strength of the medicine.
- The satisfaction derived by the patient by giving him what he wants and the strength gained by such foods.
Similarly, in patients suffering from acute diseases, regulation of atmosphere relating to heat and cold, by providing or removing a cover or shifting a patient from a warm room to a cold room and any change in the atmospheric conditions needed by the patient would help rectification of the health condition quickly. It is important to take care of any mental strain or exertion or any excitement to the patient.
Explanation
In the treatment of acute diseases, regulations are to be aimed at providing comfort to the patient only and not to the desire of the physician. There are mainly two points that facilitate rectification of health.
- Not to injure the feelings of the patient.
- Not to rouse his emotional disturbances.
Subject to these limitations, any foods or drinks that are desired by the patient may be provided, i.e. except those injurious to the health, all those should be provided according to the desire of the patient. The wants of a patient in his disease state are capable of communicating the required comforts. That means the mind indicates those that create comfort. The degree of warmth allowable in his room should be understood from his mind only. The real service consists in understanding his comfort by his behavior and providing the same. By this, the disease gets cured quickly. If a patient says “I cannot eat anything today” he should not be compelled. The required thirst and appetite suitable to the disease condition is decided by the state of the disease.
The symptoms of an acute disease are mainly produced by the vital force during its attack to drive out the disease but are not part of the disease. The latent disease throws out its primary action. Symptoms are only the results of the counter-action created by the vital force, but these symptoms should not be mistaken as disease. All the likes and dislikes in acute diseases are none other than the symptoms only.
§ 264 – Sixth Edition
The true physician must be provided with genuine medicines of unimpaired strength, so that he may be able to rely upon their therapeutic powers; he must be able, himself, to judge of their genuineness.
The physician should have a source of genuine and unadulterated medicines in a way that he can entirely depend on the curative powers of the medicines. The effectiveness of his decision depends on the genuineness of the medicine.
§ 265 – Sixth Edition
It should be a matter of conscience with him to be thoroughly convinced in every case that the patient always takes the right medicine and therefore he must give the patient the correctly chosen medicine prepared, moreover, by himself.
The physician should ensure that the patient has taken the medicine given by him. So the doctor has to dilute the medicine himself and give it to him. It is still desirable, if it is dropped on his tongue.
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