Title : Analytical Repertory of Symptoms of the Mind Authors: Dr. Constantine Hering Publisher: B. Jain Publishers Pvt. Ltd. Reviewed by: Dr. A.K.Srivastava. Contribution: Rs. 60.00/

Analytical Repertory of Mind is one of the most valuable yet neglected works of Dr. Constantine Hering. This work is chiefly about the mental concomitants. It is a repertory enlisting all mental symptoms associated with physical complaints.

The Aetiological peculiarities have no doubt a high rank rank in our repertorial analysis and evaluation. This work by the author belongs to the year 1881 and is one of the pioneering works regarding Mentals.

The Book is divided into:

Initial Introduction where the author explains the purpose of his Repertory. In this section itself he explains his reasons for opposing Boenninghausen’s Grand Generalisation. Followed by Guidelines on how to use the book.

Next, the chapters are arranged according to Hahnemannian schema (the author is strictly against alphabetical arrangement of chapters). The Repertory includes 48 chapters. Arrangement is based on the rules:

I.                    Inner symptoms and functions first, outer and organic changes afterwards.

II.                 First increased functional activity, then altered, then decreased.

III.               First the parts, then the whole body.

IV.                First the upper parts, then the lower.

V.                  All modalities placed to the related function.

The book ends with Appendix and Index.

Gradings of Remedies:

I           Observed on the healthy.

II          Observed often and repeatedly.

I          Applied successfully with the sick.

II         Applied very often and repeatedly.

Sometimes intermediate or higher degrees are signified by II, III. Under each section medicines are arranged alphabetically in left margin with markings which is easy to remember.

Salient Features of The Repertory include:

·         Rich section of Ailments from Emotions and exertions of mind i.e. the physical complaints arising from mental exertions and emotions. This includes Ailments from Laughing, Love pangs, Jealousy etc.

·         Elaborate work on Psychosomatic complaints i.e. mental complaints associated with physical ailments.

·         A detailed description of Differential remedies, how each medicine differs from the rest of the list in each complaint. This can be readily understood by the following example: In the section on Cough we get,

- Emotions increase coughing: Lachesis.

- Thinking of his cough increases it: Baryta, Nux-v.

- Thinking of his cough brings it: Baryta, Oxalic-ac.

- Mental agitation increases the cough: Cistus-can.

- Cough increased by every excitement: Spong.

·         A brilliant work on “Relationship With Other Drugs”. He intricately explained

Drugs disagreeing: Inimical.

Drugs following well: Complementary.

·         A List of Model Cures follows each section. This gives the reader a better understanding of the case and how to proceed.

·         The famous quote of Dr. Hering about The Direction of Homeopathic Cure is given in this book. “Only such patients remain well and are really cured, who have been rid of their symptoms in the reverse order of their development.”

I regard this repertory as an indispensable work for the fervent student, who wishes to specialize in analysis of mind & psychosomatic diseases

- DR. A.K. Srivastava