OUT OF PRINT: Classical Homoeopathy

Recensie

This book review is reprinted from the British Homoeopathic Journal Volume 75, Number 3, July 1986, with permission from Peter Fisher, Editor.
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In their preface to the book the editors state that the material in this book is drawn from Dr Margery Blackie's teaching and writing over the whole span of her career. It encapsulates the warmth, enthusiasm, learning, and clinical understanding of a remarkable person ... It is as a brilliant teacher, whose vivid descriptions of the various constitutional types of patients became engraved in the minds of her listeners, that she is remembered by her undergraduate and postgraduate students. It was this deep understanding of the characteristics of the individual remedy that formed the basis of her international reputation.'

The editors summarize the book as follows: 'The first part describes the thinking behind homoeopathy and the principles on which the successful homoeopathic prescription is based . . . The major constitutional remedies are then studied in detail, either individually or differentiated within groups of related remedies. This is followed by the symptomatic treatment of illness or disability, analysing each of the remedies that may be of value, and distinguishing the particular circumstances in which one remedy is likely to be indicated in preference to another.' The final part is a compact materia medica, summarizing one hundred and eleven of the remedies already described.

The editors are to be congratulated on having sifted through this vast amount of material, none of which was dated. The task has taken over three years, but they have faithfully transcribed the many tape recorded lectures, written out in full what were abridged lecture notes, checked over numerous unpublished manuscripts and articles, yet all the while preserving her phraseology and idiom. They have resisted the temptation of polishing up the text, which might have added finesse but would have robbed it of her singular style. Reading the book immediately brings back pleasurable nostalgic memories of her lectures and tutorials.

Examples of her informal descriptions include: 'the patient going off the deep end'; 'she looks a mess'; 'Arsenic patients are definitely "on the spot" people'-, 'the patient feels knocked out' and 'the Calc. carb. patient has very little stuffing'; all are apt and expressive.

The editors have taken pains not to obtrude any of their own views or opinions, so that it is only Dr Blackie that we are learning from.

She used illustrations to good effect: 'Prescribing homoeopathy is rather like birdwatching. To begin with you study the flight, the size, the colour, the markings and all the rest, and then you have to go to some book. But, when you have been at it some time, one glance with scarcely a thought and you can name the bird. That does not come, though, without experience and study.' 'Mr Dombey, in Dombey and Son is a perfect Platina'. (Today we would say the same of Idi Amin and Muhammad Ali, who, as Classius Clay said 'I am the greatest'). Again, discussing the different potencies she says: 'In gardening terms I compare my high potencies to a shower of rain and my low potency to the watering can that I must use occasionally on some corner of the garden in order to weather a critical stage'. Actually, from the many case histories recorded it appears that she regularly used low potencies, although being one of the first and greatest advocates of high potency prescribing. This balanced approach runs all through the book, as the following examples show: The chapter on preventive medicine advises the use of both conventional and homoeopathic protection; in treating acute appendicitis she insists on sending for the surgeon before deciding on any homoeopathic prescription; children with a family history of asthma 'need something in addition to the homoeopathic remedy'; she advocates using appropriate antibiotics when needed; above all she refrained from extravagant claims as to how homoeopathy worked: she interpreted 'the vital force' as being nothing more than 'the balancing mechanism' of the body - (what in modern terminology we call 'the homoeostatic response').

The task of reviewing this book has been a pleasurable one. It is easy to read, like Dr Margaret Tyler's book Drug Pictures, but is not cumbered with long lists of 'black letter symptoms', which are both unnecessary and off-putting. It, too, could make bed-time reading. (She refers to Dr Tyler, who was one of her mentors).

I must confess the task took me far longer than I had anticipated, because of the discovery of numerous tit-bits of information and aphorisms that sent me searching the homoeopathic literature to see whether they had ever been recognized or recorded before; e.g.

'A Nux vomica patient will tell you how very much better their lumbago is for a good hot drink - it is a rather good tip', 'I do not know a bladder or kidney remedy that has not got some kind of skin eruption among it symptoms' - she then describes seven such remedies; 'Lycopodium is the ambitious boys' sleeping remedy'; 'Baptisia, an exaggerated Gelsemium';'Arnica for tired travellers';'Thuja is the cold Pulsatilla'. She suggests that Medusa is half way between Natrum mur and Sepia; 'I always think of Dulcamara as a red-faced Calc. carb.' In discussing infertility, 'the number of cases of sterility in our practice has been quite extraordinary. Just a 10M of Sepia (in a Sepia patient) and they have started a pregnancy'; 'Calc. carb. patients don't burst into tears - the tears just drip silently down'; 'Lycopodium (patients) dislike cold food, and say that Sunday night supper is enough to kill anyone'.

The book is full of interesting anecdotes. To emphasize the benefits of Arnica she narrates the time when, in a hurry, she tripped over her visiting case, somersaulted down the 8 front steps and broke her right arm. 'Within two minutes I had taken Arnica 1OM, and was bound up very tightly by a friend. I did not have time to be X-rayed until the following afternoon. I can only say that half-an-hour after the break, which was excruciatingly painful, I had no pain at all. How characteristic of her, to put her patients first, and not insist on an X-ray until the next day!

Writing with the authority of her life-times experience in homoeopathy, she is not afraid to challenge great authorities like Kent, and unashamedly debunk long cherished, but inaccurate teachings of the past. 'It is repeated in all the textbooks that Kali carb. is dangerous, Kent warns . . .' She then challenges this from her experience, and strictly qualifies the caution. Again, 'in the books they describe the (depressed) Calc. carb. patient as "just sitting and bending pins" . . . I have never seen a patient sitting and doing it.' Hopefully this approach may help subsequent teachers and authors to follow suit.

She is refreshingly honest about her limitations of knowledge or experience in homoeopathy.

'I tried to work out this case but it did not come through to anything definite. I muddled along until I gave Kati sulph. 10M...';'I do not use Ignatia much - I have never been able to diagnose an Ignatia patient correctly . . .'

It is interesting to discover that she was, as she claimed, a GP and did urgent night cases, some of which she records. Also that she had a wide knowledge of little known remedies which she used, and describes: Laurocerasus and Lycopus in cardiac emergencies; Calc. hypophos. for arthritis of the small joints of the hand; Senega for pneumonia; Cadmium for rheumatism, and Guaiacum and China ars. for sore throats, etc.

In conclusion, the book is well worth reading and using for reference, both by homoeopathic doctors and the public. It has the great attraction of being easily readable, and the constant repetition of the salient features of each remedy, used in the descriptions of her many case histories, impresses the information on the memory without the tedium of learning it in the harder more formal way.

R.A.F. JACK

The British Homoeopathic Journal
Volume 75, Number 3, July 1986

This book review is reprinted with the permission of the International Foundation for Homeopathy

Reviewed by Wm. Mark Immel, ND, DHANP

Dr. Blackie has given us a valuable contribution to our homeopathic legacy. The niece of Dr. James Compton Burnett and an enthusiastic student of J.H. Clarke, Charles Wheeler, and Douglas Borland (a student of Dr. Kent), she was a fine homeopath. She shares her experience in this enjoyable and informative book.

She begins with several chapters on the life and teachings of Samuel Hahnemann, with the greatest respect and admiration for his genius and industry, as I am sure her uncle instilled in her from a young age. She says on the fide page, "Homoeopathy, as formulated by Hahnemann, is the most scientific and the most successful system Of medical treatment yet devised. Our responsibility for its pure and truthful presentation is great." The author presents a great deal of information, and does so in an entertaining and charming style. Her use of language had me wishing the book were on audio tape, so I could listen to her telling the story. For example, in an article about Calcarea carbonica, she quotes Dr. Tyler, saying "with their weak stomachs they got very rudderless at times." What a great choice of words!

The cases presented reflected her extensive experience of life situations, including the treatment of many emergency and acute patients during World War II. Many cases are brief and anecdotal, but quite clear. She makes some specific suggestions for certain illnesses which could be interpreted as "routine prescribing," but I would hesitate in making this judgment. We must bear in mind the extent of her experience and take into account the fact that she states clearly the need for study of each individual case.

The author gives us chapters on first aid, acute, and constitutional prescribing. There are many chapters on materia medica, and some very interesting ones on comparative materia medica regarding different salts of the Calcarea, Natrum, and Kali families. There is another interesting chapter on sea remedies. For those experienced homeopaths looking for pearls, you will delight in the fact that she devotes more space to Medusa than she does to Pulsatilla. Another chapter compares Natrum muriaticum, Sepia, and Lilium tigrinum. The author brings to light a great deal of information, unusual uses for familiar remedies, and practical tips on the way different patients present in the office.

In summary, I would say that Classical Homoeopathy is good reading for a wide range of people interested in homeopathy. The bulk of the material would be of most use for the experienced prescriber, while the introductory material is clear and inspiring for the beginning student or other interested person.

RESONANCE JANUARY-FEBRUARY 1993