Synthetic Repertory - A Critical Appreciation
NATIONAL JOURNAL OF HOMOEOPATHY 1993 Jul / Aug Vol II No 4.
Dr Roy S P.

The Synthetic Repertory is a commendable effort in combining old and new information in a single work. However, there appear to be several inconsistencies which can be corrected in future editions, by making use of feedbacks from homoeopathic doctors.

I am referring to the fourth improved edition (1990) published by Messrs. B. Jain publishers. The Synthetic Repertory is based on various older repertories which are compiled from still older repertories.

The grading of a drug against a rubric is difficult to ascertain if several works are consulted.

Works of 18 authors are synthesized. Therefore, if the experiences of all doctors are included, one day we will have a repertory which will contain all the rubrics and all the drugs which have that particular symptom.

1. An example may be cited from the books under discussion. A drug 'Anhalonium' is entered in Vol. I at 11, 107, 170, 175, 200, 201, 278, 282, 310, 350, 357, 374, 415, 440, 460, 464, 650, 743, 750, 824, 961, 1054 and 1094. It is also present in several other rubrics along with several other drugs. The said drug has very few symptoms in the Materia Medica of Boericke or Clarke. I wonder how Drs. Stephenson and Mezger i ncorporated so many symptoms in their work.
2. I feel that the following rubrics are either obsolete or ambiguous e.g. - Discomfort (SP 401), Pleasure (SP 797), Stereotypes (SP 961), Succeeds never (SP 74) Efficiency increased (SG 170), Knee in (SG 338). Many symptoms (SG 363), Uncleanliness agg. (SG 669) and several others.
3. Many rubrics have been differentiated due to different wordings in the text, though they practically mean the same thing. For example.
   1. Music aversion to and Music sensitive to.
   2. Consolation agg. and Sympathy agg.
   3. Elated and high spirited.
   4. Labour agg. manual and Exertion agg. physical.
   5. Dropsy from suppressed exanthema and Dropsy from suppressed eruptions.
   6. Warm drinks and hot drinks etc.
4. Again the separation of aggravation and ailments from, appears to be misleading though they are not identical; they are practically the same in most cases. The rubric Ailments from is far from complete and may mislead the user. (Table 1). Several other similar numbers have not been included (Table 2).
5. A general rubric contains 2 drugs while a particular under it contains 17 drugs.
6. Perspiration details are not included by Kent under Generalities but they are included in SR Vol. I i.e. Generalities. urine and other bodily secretions should also have been included.
7. 24 columns are devoted to Perspiration but important Generals like Tendency to sweat (KR 1113), Scanty sweat (Kr 1120), Inability to sweat (KR 1110) and Sweat Debilitating (KR 1120) are not included.
8. Trembling occupies 16 columns, but the sub rubric Sensation of trembling (Kr 1128) is not present. Similarly Awkward (Kr 25) is not present.
9. Under the rubric Inflammation (SR II 315) a prefix Chronic is attached to inflammation of the appendix, liver, ovary,prostate, sinus and tonsil. However the prefix is not attached to inflammation of the bones, blood-vessels, bursae cartilages etc. The intention is thus not clear. Anticipation and Foreboding are not same (Kt 4, Kt 48, Kr 20, Kr 47) but they are combined in the work under Ailments from anticipation and Foreboding (SR Vol. I 15).

Abbreviations
SP	Synthetic Repertory. Psychic volume
SG	Synthetic Repertory, General Volume
SS	Synthetic Repertory, Sleep, Dream, Sex volume Figures indicate column numbers
Kt	Kents Repertory Pp 1423
Kr	Knerrs Repertory Pp 1232
BB	Boger-Boenninghausens Characteristics and Repertory Pp 1262
BSK	Bogers Materia Medica with Repertory Pp 1042
HGS	Herings Guiding Symptoms.
Clk	Clarkes Repertory Pp 347
TPB	Boenninghausens Therapeutic Pocket Book Pp 503.
LHT	Nashs Leaders In Homoeopathic Therapeutics
Lil	Lilienthals Homoeopathic therapeutics Pp 1154.
Remedy observations are as per Synthetic Repertory.

Apart from a few inconsistencies, several rubrics like Food and cold drinks, Mucous secretions, Pain, Weather etc. are exhaustive and indispensable. Since it is a reference work, smaller types could be used so that the work could be handy; a few compilation errors are given in Table 3 some of which can be incorporated in future editions. I consider the first two grades of the Synthetic Repertory as the first grade (highest grade) of Kent.

Acknowledgment: is due to Prof. Dr. Niranjan Mohanty and Dr. Nityananda Mishra for their valuable help in the preparation of this paper.

References:

1. Lilienthals Homoeopathic Therapeutics Pg. 356 Jain Publishing, N. Delhi.
2. Clarke JH, Dictionary of Practical Materia Medica I Pg xi Jain Publishers, N. Delhi.

Table 2
Included		Not included
1.	Loquacity, chill during SP 715	Other mental concomitants e.g. Ecstasy, chill during BB. 1037
2.	Blackness of external parts, SG 47	Other discolorations from BSK: e.g. Bluish, BSK. 31
3.	Lightness, sensation of SG 351	Other sensations from BB and Kr: e.g. Floating BB. 898, roughness, Kr.1127
4.	Plethoric constitution SG 515	Other constitutions from Clk: e.g. Hydrogenoid Clk. 173, Scrofulous, Clk.186
5.	Insensibility of vagina SS 466	Other sensations of vagina eg. coldness, BB.659, Kr.683 Rawness, Bb 663, Kr.684.

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