How to Take the Case

Details

How To Take A Case, by Eugene B. Nash, was published in 1907.

This booklet presents Nash's method of case taking. Coming from an experienced prescriber this is a practical application of the homeopathic technique.

In particular he emphasized etiology and constitution with particular attention to peculiar or characteristic symptoms, as well as location, sensation, and modalities.

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Heritage

"I have been questioned as to my method of selecting the remedy. This little book is the answer."

Julian Winston writes:
Excellent advice from a master prescriber.

From:
The Heritage of Homoeopathic Literature
copyright 2001 by Julian Winston
Reprinted with the permission of the author

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Author

Eugene Beauharis Nash

1838  -  1917

E. B. Nash was born in Hillsdale, Columbia County, N. Y., on March 8th, 1838.

At the age of seven he moved to Binghamton, N. Y. and graduated from the local Academy. He began his study of medicine with Dr. T. L. Brown of Binghamton, and graduated from Cleveland Homoeopathic Medical College in 1874.

Dr. Nash began homeopathic practice in Triangle, N. Y., and also practiced a short time in Harpersville, N. Y. He later moved to Cortland, N. Y., where he practiced until his death.

When Nash was beginning his medical career he was stricken with paralysis. He took Lachesis, but it only helped a little. Discouraged, he put himself under the care of the great master, Dr. Lippe.

The venerable doctor gave him a remedy. "When you are cured, come back and then I'll tell you what I gave." Dr. Nash later returned to Philadelphia. "Here I am, entirely well now. What was it?"

"Lachesis, Lachesis!"

"Yes, but I took Lachesis!"

The old doctor jumped up and down in his delight, and laughing, said:
"You did not take it high enough."

Dr. Nash was a member of the American Institute of Homoeopathy, of the New York State Homoeopathic Medical Society and an honorary member of the Pennsylvania State Homoeopathic Society.

He was, for seven years, Professor of Materia Medica in the New York Homoeopathic Medical College. In 1903 he became president of the International Hahnemannian Association (IHA). In 1905 he gave, by invitation, a course of lectures in the Homoeopathic Hospital of London.

Dr. Nash was considered one of the great teachers of medicine. His book, "Leaders of Homoeopathy," was thought to have been the means of converting many allopathic doctors to homeopathy.

Many homoeopathic physicians in different parts of the world attributed their success in healing the sick to his writings.

Doctor Nash was spoken of as a public-spirited citizen and as a warm and faithful friend, a genial host, and a devoted Sunday school worker.

Dr. Nash:

"Before I left home a physician said to me ‘I don't enjoy very much going to the IHA because you are all in accord so that it makes a dull meeting. At the American Institute there is apt to be a lively time.’

"That is true and the reason is because we subscribe to the same principles and act in harmony, if any man was to get on the wrong side of the law of cure, I thing we would give him a moderately lively time.

"We do not differ very much, and then only on details. Perhaps in my paper I did not make my main point prominent enough; it was that the symptoms are scientific, they fulfill all the requirements of strict science.

"There is misapprehension abroad that any method that takes cognizance of bacilli is scientific and anything that does not is unscientific. It is the method and the truth that make true science and that we have.

"Dr. Boger says that the keynotes are misleading; that may be sometimes, but they are also far oftener wonderful helpers or leaders to the understanding of a remedy in toto.

"If you were to attempt to teach materia medica without the use of keynotes our students would give it up. They are the road to the understanding of the materia medica.

"Dr. Waring spoke of the different values of particular symptoms and those of the general constitution. As a rule they correspond, but where they disagree his rule is right. It is a rule, however for exceptional cases, for if the patient is sensitive everywhere, then an injured or diseased part will be also sensitive as we find in the proving of Hepar sulphur.”

Dr. Nash died on November 6, 1917. Shortly after his death, Dr. E. Jones wrote the following in The Homeopathic Recorder:

"I was very sorry to hear of the death of Dr. E.B. Nash: he was one of the great teachers of medicine. His book, Leaders of Homoeopathy, has been the means of bringing very many old school doctors out of darkness into light!

"He will live in his books and in the hearts of the many doctors he has helped to be better physicians. There are a host of homoeopathic physicians in different parts of the world to-day that owe their success in healing the sick to the writings of Dr. Eugene B. Nash.

""After lifes fitful dream he sleeps well".

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Contents

Preface -- 3
Simillimum -- 7-12
Location -- 13-18
Sensation -- 18
Modality -- 19-25
Causes -- 26-30
Constitution And Temperament -- 31-33
Generals -- 34-37
Particulars -- 38-44
Summary -- 45-54
Index -- 55

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