Two sides to a question : a few observations on Mr. Braithwaite's "Temperate examination on homœopathy" / by William Bayes.

  • Bayes, William.
Date:
1860
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Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Two sides to a question : a few observations on Mr. Braithwaite's "Temperate examination on homœopathy" / by William Bayes. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    result of my investigation has been that I have adopted Homoeopathy into my practice. Observe, I object to the title of Homoeopath'' Its assumption savours of sectarianism. I object to any other title than that of '‘physician.” If I pre¬ scribe for a patient in accordance with Homoeopathic principles, it is becausCj after a theoretical and practical examination of the subject, I have come to the conclusion, that the Homoeo¬ pathic method is most applicable to his case. I deem it my duty, as a catholic member of the medical profession, to pre¬ scribe in every case on its own merits^ to the best of my judgment, whether that judgment forces me to prescribe specifically, i. e. Homoeopathically, or (as is needful in some exceptional cases) palliatively, i. e. Allopathically. Again, do not misunderstand me, in those few cases where I believe the Homoeopathic treatment needs the aid of Allo¬ pathy, it is not because the disease is acute^ for in all acute diseases my experience leads me to trust entirely to Homoeo¬ pathy. The few exceptional cases to which I refer, are: Istly. The recourse to an aperient, where there is a manifest accumulation in the bowels causing discomfort or disorder, and where the medicine homoeopathic to the disease fails within a reasonable time to effect a removal of the obstruction. There is a very general misapprehension, both in the profes¬ sional and public mind, that those who practise Homoeopathy are pledged never to use aperients or purgatives under any circumstances. This is an error, arising from the fact that aperients are rarely necessary to those who have been for any length of time under Homoeopathic treatment. Homoeopathy does not attempt to cure disease by purgatives, nor does it attempt to cure constipation by purgatives, having much more certain means at hand, in the possession of medicines which act specifically in correcting those morbid conditions which give rise to constipation; but where there is an evident accu¬ mulation of foecal matter causing constitutional disturbance.