Book Review
NATIONAL JOURNAL OF HOMOEOPATHY 1997 Jul / Aug VOL 5 NO 4.
Reviewed by
Dr Mansoor Mirza
Title : A SELECT HOMOEOPATHIC MATERIA MEDICA PART II
Authors : P Ishwardas Tarkas And Ajit K Kulkarni
Publishers : Soham Prakashan, Satara
Pages : 269
Price : Rs 100/-
In the vast field of Materia Medica, where even a sincere student loses sight of his goal and often gets confused, this book serves as a refresher and helps overcome many hurdles in the path. The authors have researched painstakingly and meticulously, before putting together this book. This is evident from the extensive bibliography at the end of the book. As one goes through this work, one is often reminded of the styles of various Master like Boger [description in the beginning of the drug], Allen's Keynotes and Hering's style which predominates throughout the book. How ever this book is not merely a compilation but has useful additions, especially recent clinical experiences and provings alongwith emphasis on vital characteristics. This lends it a distinct individual style and reinforces the imprint of the drug on the reader which is often long-lasting.
A unique feature is the description of remedy with the concept of doctrine of signature illustrated beautifully under Bryonia and Pulsatilla.
At times the book appears monotonous and boring, especially at a glance, but reading it in detail and comparing it with the standard text is definitely worthwhile. The information is packaged too tightly, resulting in a "technical layout" which requires slow reading over a long period to grasp the meaning of the contents in totality.
However it is a commendable effort and as the small note in the beginning saying: "Homoeopathy is a mission, not a career. It calls for a commitment, not a mere acquaintance. It leads a finger to the forlorn, forsaken, frustrated" suggests, this book surely and definitely guides the eternal student towards the right path.
