Volume 79, Number 1, January 1990 6 9

References 1 Hering C. The Guiding Symptoms of Our Materia Medica

vol. 5 p. 78. New Delhi: B. Jain 1988.) 2 Hering C. loc. cit. p. 79.

Zschr klass HomOop 1989; 33:204

Treatment of warts R. R O E M E R The warts referred to in this paper are infectious or acuminate warts (condyloma acuminatum). Every drug listed in the homoeopathic materia medica is capable of removing warts, and the author quotes a case reported by Voegeli where Pulsatilla had proved effective. Drugs that tend to be most frequently indicated are Acid nit., Antimoniurn crud., Barium carb., Calcarea carb. Hahnemanni, Causticum, Dulcamara, Fer- rum pic., Medorrhinum, Natrum sulph, and Thuja.

Zschr klass HomOop 1989; 33:124-9

Materia medico in the light of the miasms--- Lycopodium ULRICH D. FISCHER Ortega and others have started to take a new look at the materia medica in the light of miasma theory, according to which psora represents defi- ciency, sycosis excess and syphilis degeneration. An overall picture is created that clearly shows in how far a drug is predominantly psoric, sycotic or syphilitic, or perhaps combines all three aspects equally. The author presents a study of Lycopodium as a 'trimiasmatic drug' and shows how this approach not only deepens knowledge of the drug but also provides for more accurate prescribing.

Allg Hom6op Ztg 1989; 234:181-90

The science of hom~eopathy C. JUST Two things that happened in the world of science during 1988 boost the confidence of those who take the scientific approach to hom0eopathy. One is the fact that J. Benveniste actually carried out experiments to demonstrate the efficacy of high potencies; the charade that followed has less relevance. The second thing is the way in which the physicist Stephen Hawking is looking for the final answers to the nature of the universe (rather than the fact that he is close to finding those answers).

Two main obstacles to hom0eopathic issues being open to assessment by scientific standards are the inability to relate theory to practice and the absence of historical analysis and evaluation of the literature. The methods used by Hawking

and Benveniste can demonstrate the nature and potential usefulness of scientific theory.

A study of Hawking's approach shows that a theory is always hypothetical and cannot be proved (i.e. it cannot become dogma). Essen- tially theories establish models and rules for scientific observation. High potencies and the law of similars are rules that satisfy scientific requirements and can provide a basis for further work.

The Benveniste experiments and opposition to them are briefly outlined and then considered in the light of the above definition of theory.

Hom0eopathy will achieve more at the uni- versities and within national health services if the theoretical assumptions are clarified and brought in line with scientific standards. At pres- ent the homoeopathic literature is chaotic and not exactly user-friendly. We need a critical edi- tion of Hahnemann's works. Hahnemann's let- ters and medical records are at last being published in Germany and it can be predicted that they will change our views as to the history of hom0eopathy. We need a fully annotated edi- tion of the Organon and a synopsis of the six edi- tions of this work. The library of the Robert Bosch Foundation in Stuttgart is full of unknown treasures; work is now beginning to make better use of these. A new bibliography of Hahne- mann's works has been published 1 that serves to correct errors in the work of Stapf, Haehl and others. The two works that provide more source material than others, Haehl and Tischner, are out of print; new editions cannot be recom- mended, however, as many points of detail are inaccurate and the labour needed to correct them would be immense. A new biography, or a total review, based on careful historical criticism is urgently needed.

Reference 1 Schmidt JM. Die Publikationen Hahnemanns. Sudhoffs

Archiv. Zeitschrifi far Wissenschaftsgeschichte 1988; 7214-36.

Allg HomOop Ztg 1989; 234:191-6

Membership of German hom~eopathic medical association reflecting history of medicine A. B R A U N Deutscher Zentralverein hom6opathischer Arzte, one of the homoeopathic medical associ- ations in Germany, was founded in 1829. The graph shows how the original membership of 22 grew steadily until 1874, after which there was a decline that coincided with repeated attacks on and indeed persecution of homceopathic phys-