306 T H E B R I T I S H H O M ( ~ O P A T H I C J O U R N A L

H O M ( E O P A T H Y W I T H A SMILE

A Song of Symptoms by Patersimilias

" Sing a song of Symptoms That match the patients ' ills ; Find the drug which corresponds And make it into pills. When the pills are taken In proper potency, Results will prove a t r iumph For Homceopa thy ."

" Patersimilias ", a medical practi t ioner and a member of the Facul ty of Homceopathy, has combined with " Jabe ", a clever artist with a marked sense of humour to produce a delightful volume which will provoke many a smile, whilst at the same time driving home many a lesson.

The anonymous author (as to whose identi ty we are all making con- jectures) says in his In t roduct ion : " The purpose of these verses and their illustrations is to stress some of the more striking key symptoms of each part icular Homceopathic remedy in such a way tha t a basic picture of tha t remedy may be retained easily in the mind round which a more complete picture may be built up ."

On every second page the " pill " is coated with the sweetness of verse and i l lustrat ion; on the opposite page it is uncoated, the more striking key symptoms of the part icular homccopathic remedy being given.

I t is possible tha t students m a y find this a help in enabling them to memorize their drug pictures, al though some of our purists may perhaps feel tha t the dignity of Hom0copathy is being assailed by such means of simpli- fication. To me, however, who have no such inhibitions it is pleasant to take Homceopathy with a smile.

The author has a real flair for doggerel combined with a good knowledge of Homccopathy, and he and the artist are to be congratulated on the result of their endeavours, and the production of a worthwhile book.

A.B.