Book Review
NATIONAL JOURNAL OF HOMOEOPATHY 1999 Nov / Dec VOL VIII NO 6.
Reviewed By:
Dr U K Srivastava
Title: Organon Of The Medical Art
Based on a new translation by Steven Decker.
Published By: Bird Cage Books P. O. Box 2289 Redmond, WA 98073 USA
Email: organon@igc.org
ISBN: 1-889613-01-0
Second Printing: 1997 Pages 407 HB
Price: $ 55 + P & P
Foreword: by Jeremy Sherr
Steven Decker is an independent researcher with expertise in the German language of Hahnemann's time and with a particular interest in the dynamic system of thought. In addition to the writings of Hahnemann, he has made an extensive study of the works of other contributors of this system and has studied the Organon in the original German for a number of years.
Editor Dr Wenda Brewster O'Reilly Ph D holds a master's degree from Harvard University and a doctorate in Psychological studies from Stanford. She studied Homoeopathy in Devon, England then through the dyamis school for Homoeopathy in London. In United States she writes and lectures in topics related to Homoeopathy. Hahnemann created the sixth edition of the Organon by making hand written changes in his copy of the printed fifth edition. About 85% of the sixth edition consist of unchanged fifth edition text. Dudgeon translated the fifth edition into English before the sixth edition was available. When Boericke obtained Hahnemann's sixth edition, he simply translated the changes using Dudgeon's translation for all the text that remained unchanged.
Kunzli, Naude and Pendleton provide a complete translation of § 1 - 291. However, they did not translate the introduction which, although it is long and mainly addresses the medical scene of 150 years ago, has some real jewels. Also helps the reader to understand better what Hahnemann is trying to say in the main part of the text. The Boericke translation on the other hand contains numerous errors and omissions. He neglected to translate changes to a number of footnote to § including ones to § 205, 206, 253, 269 and 289. Also in the sixth edition Hahnemann added footnote § 220, 256 and 265 that Boericke completely omitted.
The two new main reasons for this translation were to present as literal a translation as possible and to provide a complete translation.
Steven Decker's translation (which will become available in computer format) includes two parts : an inter linear translation, in which an English word appears below each word of the original text; and a rendering of each of Hahnemann's sentences into an English sentence which follows as much as possible Hahnemann's original periodic sentence structure. Dr O'Reilley adapted each sentence by placing Hahnemann's translated words into a modern English grammatical structure, often expending his very condensed style of writing.
In addition she has delineated the structure of the Organon by dividing it into chapters and sections and interpreted the text in side headings and editorial footnotes indicated with an asterisk*). She has also added a glossary which provide the context necessary for a true understanding. Finally the inclusion of an index vastly increases the volume's effectiveness as a reference tool.
Aphorisms are grouped under the following headings.
- Principles of Cure 1 - 71
- Understanding Diseases 72 - 81
- Taking the Case 82 - 104
- Acquiring a knowledge of medicines 105 - 145
- Homoeopathic treatment of Diseases 146 - 203
- The Chronic Miasms 204 - 209
- Mental and Emotional Diseases 210 -230
- Intermittent Diseases 231 - 244
- Case Management 245 - 263
- Preparation of Medicines 264 - 271
- Administration of Medicines 272 - 285
- Other Therapeutic Approaches 286 -291
