Prescriber

Overview

Ailments are arranged alphabetically to assist prescribers to select the most likely remedy.

Concise information about potency and dosage has made this book a hit for over 80 years.

Details

The Prescriber, by John Henry Clarke, was first published in 1885 (updated in 1925).

This is a practical clinical guide with the names of the diseases given in alphabetical order. If a disease has more than one name each name is given with a reference to the one under which the treatment is described.

If more than one medicine is named differentiating symptoms are listed to help choose one remedy over another. Potency and dosage are given based on Clarke's extensive experience. This work still finds utility over a century after its debut.

Contents

Introduction to the Prescriber -- 11-41

Part 1 - How to Practise Homeopathy -- 11-38
1. Necessary Implements -- 11-14
2. Comparative Value of Symptoms. The Prescriber and Clinical Repertory. Cases in Point. -- 15-22
3. The Dictionary of Practical Materia Medica -- 23
4. Boenninghausen's Pocket Book -- 24-27
5. The Scope of Clinical Repertories -- 28-30
6. Kinds and Degrees of Similarity -- 31
7. Hahnemann's Doctrine of Chronic Diseases -- 31-33
8. The Genius Epidemicus -- 34
9. The Homeopathic Materia Medica --34-35
10. Symptom Repertories -- 36-37
11. Various Materia Medicas -- 38

Part 2 - Case Taking -- 39-60
1. A Suggested Form -- 39-45
2. "Totality of the Symptoms" and the Invisible Nature of Disease -- 46
3. "Treating Symptoms" Hahnemann's Case -- 47-53
4. Indications from Heredity and History -- 54-58
5. The Value of the Names of Diseases -- 59-60

Part 3 - The Plan of the Prescriber and How to Use It -- 61-69
1. The Plan -- 61-62
2. Rules for Prescribing -- 63-66
3. Examples of Prescriptions -- 67-69

Part 4 - List of Remedies, Abbreviations and Signs -- 70-85
The Prescriber -- 86-382

Dr. John Henry Clarke, M.D.

(1853 - 1931)

Dr. Clarke was one of the most eminent homoeopaths of England. He had his famous Clinic at 8 Bolton Street, Piccadilly, located in London.

Anyone who met Clarke even once must have been impressed with the feeling of an exceptional human being, a forceful personality, a man apart. He was so busy in his studies that he had very little time to mix with others. He was a prodigious worker, as his published works testify, to say nothing of the host of private patients from all parts of the world.

He was also a consulting physician to the London Homoeopathic Hospital. He was the editor of the 'Homoeopathic World' for twenty-nine years. His famous publications are as follows:

The Prescriber - A Dictionary of the New Therapeutics
...with an essay on "How to Practice Homoeopathy." This little book has helped thousands of lay practitioners to prescribe successfully and carry the message of homoeopathy to far off lands.

It is one of the 'must-have' books for every new practitioner of Homoeopathy. Its indications of remedies are based on personal experiences of a number of reputed homoeopaths like Burnett, Hughes, Cooper, Ruddock, Neatby, Salser, etc.

The Dictionary of Practical Materia Medica
...consists of 3 volumes. In it he has given the synonyms, the source, the provers' experiences, clinical indications, temperament, keynotes and characteristics, modalities, pathological, sensational, locational and causational indications of each drug. He has also given the provings of the drug. In addition, the relationship of the drug to other remedies.

A Clinical Repertory to the Dictionary of Materia Medica
...was specifically designed by him for the study of his huge Materia Medica. The Repertory is very helpful for individualization of the simillimum from other similar remedies.

Dr. Clarke belongs to the band of provers of Nosodes, the products of disease used as homoeopathic remedies. The chief stalwarts among them were: Swan, Fincke, Clarke, Burnett, Hering, Stearns, Wheeler, Bach, Patterson, Grimmer and others.

He has the credit of introducing the following remedies to the Homoeopathic Materia Medica: Pertussin, Carcinosinum, Epihysterinum, Baccillinum Testicum, Morbillinum, Parotidinum, Scarletinum, and Scirrhinum.

Heritage

A pocket sized clinical repertory that contains dosage suggestions.

"Without a doubt this is the best book published for beginners in homeopathic prescribing...the next time you feel too fagged out to make a thorough study of the remedy for some puzzling case, you will have something you have longed for."

The book was updated by Clarke in 1925- 40 years after its release. Now, 75 years later, it is still in print and in daily use.

Julian Winston writes:
One of the best books concerning therapeutics. Its small size makes it an easier book to consult than Lilienthal's larger work. I have known many prescribers who were lead to the correct remedy by the differentials offered by Clarke.

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