The ^Principle of Homoeopathy. It is possible that some persons may entertain an idea that the medicines given by the homocopathist would produce in a healthy person precisely the same diseases as those which are given to counteract in any one suffering from disease. This is altogether erroneous for the symptoms produced by any particular drug or medicine in a healthy person are only similar ox like those resulting from the disease itself, and not in any way the same as the symptoms excited by the disease or identical with them. It must be noted that the great principle of homoeopathy is that Likes cure likes, not that Identicals acre identicals, and this must never be lost sight TJic Family Doctor 345 of. "Homoeopathy, " to quote the words of Dr. Richard Epps, "is the practical application of the law, Likes are cured by likes, to the cure of disease. This law, as an axiom, would read, It is impossible for hvo similar diseases to exist in the same individual and at the same time. ' ' The morbific matter, state or condition, call it which you will, which has caused the disease, or generated the sickly state into which the patient has lapsed, is counteracted and neutralized by the action of the drug which, in a healthy person, would pro- duce symptoms similar to, but not identical with, those which are excited by the disease. The Principle Supported. The principle of homoeo- pathy having been enunciated, it is now desirable to see if any results of general experience can be cited in its sup- port. In the case, for example, of a severe burn is it the custom to apply cooling lotions or any substance that happens to be a good conductor of heat to the part affected ? Certainly not, must be the reply; for although cooling ap- plications of any kind may be soothing for a time and a source of comfort to the sufferer, it is well known that they tend to increase inflammation in the long run, and to render the pain of the burn more acutely felt. Then the theory that "Opposites are cured by opposites" does riot hold good in this case. No; but the contrary theory that "Likes are cured by likes" does most assuredly, for such burns are most quickly cured by the application of oil of turpentine or heated spirits of wine, both of which, when applied to the skin, cause a burning or tingling sensation, and by wrapping the part affected with wadding or cotton wool which is a good non-conductor of heat, and maintains warmth in the part burnt, preventing the atmospheric air from obtaining free access to it. Again, in cases of frost-bite the best thing to be done is to rub the part that is frost-bitten with snow, which is frozen water, and not to hold it to the fire or bathe 346 The Family Doctor it with warm water, which would spoil any' chance that might otherwise exist of restoring the injured part to its former condition. Now what are these but direct evidences in favor of the homoeopathic theory, " Likes are cured by likes," and in opposition to the allopathic theory that "Op- posites are cured by opposites. "

AI-modernized reading of the original text

The ^Principle of Homoeopathy. It is possible that some persons may entertain an idea that the medicines given by the homoeopathist would produce in a healthy person precisely the same diseases as those which are given to counteract in any one suffering from disease. This is altogether erroneous for the symptoms produced by any particular drug or medicine in a healthy person are only similar ox like those resulting from the disease itself, and not in any way the same as the symptoms excited by the disease or identical with them. It must be noted that the great principle of homoeopathy is that Likes cure likes, not that Identicals are identicals, and this must never be lost sight TJic Family Doctor 345 of. "Homoeopathy, " to quote the words of Dr. Richard Epps, "is the practical application of the law, Likes are cured by likes, to the cure of disease. This law, as an axiom, would read, It is impossible for hvo similar diseases to exist in the same individual and at the same time. ' ' The morbific matter, state or condition, call it which you will, which has caused the disease, or generated the sickly state into which the patient has lapsed, is counteracted and neutralized by the action of the drug which, in a healthy person, would produce symptoms similar to, but not identical with, those which are excited by the disease. The Principle Supported. The principle of homoeopathy having been enunciated, it is now desirable to see if any results of general experience can be cited in its support. In the case, for example, of a severe burn is it the custom to apply cooling lotions or any substance that happens to be a good conductor of heat to the part affected ? Certainly not, must be the reply; for although cooling applications of any kind may be soothing for a time and a source of comfort to the sufferer, it is well known that they tend to increase inflammation in the long run, and to render the pain of the burn more acutely felt. Then the theory that "Opposites are cured by opposites" does riot hold good in this case. No; but the contrary theory that "Likes are cured by likes" does most assuredly, for such burns are most quickly cured by the application of oil of turpentine or heated spirits of wine, both of which, when applied to the skin, cause a burning or tingling sensation, and by wrapping the part affected with wadding or cotton wool which is a good non-conductor of heat, and maintains warmth in the part burnt, preventing the atmospheric air from obtaining free access to it. Again, in cases of frost-bite the best thing to be done is to rub the part that is frost-bitten with snow, which is frozen water, and not to hold it to the fire or bathe 346 The Family Doctor it with warm water, which would spoil any chance that might otherwise exist of restoring the injured part to its former condition. Now what are these but direct evidences in favor of the homoeopathic theory, " Likes are cured by likes," and in opposition to the allopathic theory that "Opposites are cured by opposites. "

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