Book Review
NATIONAL JOURNAL OF HOMOEOPATHY 2002 Sep / Oct VOL 4 NO 5.
Both Reviewed by
Dr Rashmi Nagar
TITLE : The Action of One Dose
AUTHOR : William Sharp
TITLE : Trauma : The Unseen Monster
AUTHOR : V Nateisun
This is one of the an essay written by Dr Sharp way back in 1877. There is a great deal of confusion and controversy regarding action of a single dose. The action of one dose of a drug and action of different doses are mixed up by most medical men.
The author is neither with the new school nor old school. He refuses to take Hahnemann’s words as Gospel truth and also disagrees with Royal College of Physicians who maintain official "Non- enclatuse of diseases".
He had a sharp independent mind and ventured the path alone to discover the truth about actions of single dose on healthy persons with a calm and scientific approach and arrived at some logical conclusions.
He chose Opium (one drop of first centesimal dilution - 10 drops and 6 drops) the most loved and hated drug, for its sedative and paralytic effects. He noticed the pulse rate, its effect on the heart and stomach at a specific time and noted it down in a meticulous way.
He observed that:
1. A small dose of Opium quickened the pulse and nothing more.
2. A large
dose of Opium first quickened and then depressed the pulse.
3. A still
larger dose of Opium may have action of only depression of pulse.
4. The action of Opium can excite the heart but depress the stomach indicating two
different directions in 2 different organs and
5. It was not
certain that there were intermediate doses with double action.
Thus he arrived at a conclusion that: all drugs act locally on some part(s) of the body in preference to other parts and each drug may be distinguished from the rest by this local action.
His experiments are compared to a rainbow with a hue of colours but three principle colours - red, yellow and blue with green and orange merging in between to form a bright bow in the dark cloud of therapeutics.
The aim of this essay was to dispel the vagueness of the Homoeopathic thought and reduce it to definite general facts, find the missing link and have the satisfaction of approaching therapeutics and practice in a clear, scientific manner.
This is a must read for people involved in provings of drugs, researchers and those who are confused about the actions of single dose. Though a small booklet, one reading is not enough. It may require reading inbetween the lines with patience, for the thought to sink in.
