OUT OF PRINT: Mental Symptoms in Homoeopathy

Review

This book review is reprinted from The Homoeopath with permission from Nick Churchill of The Society of Homoeopaths.

Reviewed by Christian Taylor DSH

In this book Luis Detinis sets out to produce a guide to translating the patients words into terms used in Kent's Repertory of Materia Medica 6th edition.

The first half of the book lists 194 (under 151 headings) of the 'most characteristic mental symptoms' appearing in Kent's repertory. Detinis gives a concise definition of each rubric as found in the dictionaries of Kent's time and based on his own experience. Below this he gives 'practical examples' of how the patient may express these symptoms in the interview. He also refers the reader to other related rubrics. Each rubric section ends with extracts of materia medica from TF Allen's Encyclopaedia of Pure Materia Medica, to show the provers expressed these symptoms. The second half contains transcriptions of six of Detinis' own cases, and are intended to show how a sound understanding of mental rubrics can be used effectively in finding the simillimum.

The first half of the book is well-researched and provides straight and clear definitions of many of the major rubrics. There are some useful and subtle distinctions between seemingly similar rubrics, for example between 'Impetuous' and 'Impulsive', 'Egotistical' and 'Selfishness', or 'Cursing' and 'Abusive', to name a few. He also tells us which rubrics to combine where, from his readings from the provings, he feels that there is little to differentiate, for example he combines 'Fear of Evil' with 'Fear that something will happen', to be used 'when one is dealing with a patient who has the latter symptom'.

This is all solid stuff though a general lack of imagination shows in the 'Delusion' section, where ten delusions are listed under a heading of 'paranoid structure' and a few other 'common' delusions are given only the briefest discussion. This is rather uninformative when compared with the work Rajan Sankaran has done in illuminating the delusion section of our repertories.

Detinis says of the extracts of materia medica that they could 'form the basis of further research'. This does seem to be the case, for in their present format they are of limited use, although they do serve to highlight the presence of small, lesser-known remedies.

The short introduction to the book is almost entirely taken up with quotes from Hahnemann, Kent and Paschero (Detinis worked with, and studied under the latter). These extracts, though appropriate, leave little room for Detinis to share his own insights and experiences that he has surely gained after some twenty years of homoeopathic practice. This sense of modesty runs through his cases in the second half of the book. He holds back on giving a short, in some cases, any, explanation into his choice of one symptom over another for repertorisation informing us that selection 'should be based on the minimum syndrome of maximum value'. He shares little of his knowledge of remedy 'pictures'. At the end of one case he lists his rubrics and gives Calcarea carbonica explaining that 'this is the only remedy which covers all the symptoms'.

The focus of this book is on translating patients' expressions into rubrics. The book is a useful tool in assisting us in this aim. This process is a fairly mechanical, if skilful process. The artistry in homoeopathy is in perceiving which symptoms to translate in order to best describe the patient's state most accurately. That Detinis chooses not to illuminate his own internal process is a shame considering his experience.

All in all though, this is a useful book, especially for those who, like myself, need to feel very sure of a rubric's meaning before being able to use it with confidence. This book should be included on students' book lists.

The Homoeopath No.53 1994

This book review is reprinted with permission from Homeopathic Links.

Reviewed by Lorraine Taylor

"Symptoms are nothing more than the outward expression of the vital force in a perturbed state.. the symptom produces suffering in a patient who is susceptible to it."

This book is an interesting study of the mental symptoms as used in homoeopathic prescribing. The first part looks at 194 mind rubrics, describing the meaning of the word and how this may express in the remedy. The author gives "practical examples" of what the patient may say to indicate a particular rubric. This, along with the subtle distinctions between rubrics of a similar meaning help in translating the patients expressions into useful rubrics, e.g. Malicious. Kent uses this as a general heading for several other closely-related symptoms: "Resentment", "Revengeful", "Spiteful", and vindictive etc. As with other antisocial symptoms, the patient will not readily admit, even to himself, to being resentful. He may at most say, "I don't bear grudges, but I've got a good memory", or "I never forget". When treating children, bear in mind that their sense of time is different to that of adults. If one asks the parents how long their child's fits of anger last, a reply such as "a few days" will indicate the presence of the symptom, for these few days are to a child what a few years are to an adult.

Manganum. Embittered mood, implacable, and for a long time having a grudge against someone who had offended him.

Natrum muriaticum. Hatred of people who had insulted him. Nitricum acid. Long-continued rancour, insensible to apologies and excuses.

Opium. Very vindictive at night.<<

The section on delusions is overly concise, but in light of Sankaran's work this rubric would probably need a book to itself! In the second part of the book Detinis presents 6 cases showing how a thorough understanding of the Mind rubrics are effective in finding the remedy. Although there is some explanation lacking here, especially explaining the choice of rubrics, on the whole this is a useful reference book with a good layout and index. It is useful to compare with the similar work done by Kokelenberg and Dockx in "Kent's Comarative Repertory of the Homoeopathic Materia Medica".

Detinis studied with Paschero and the book is translated from Spanish by J. N. Chruchill.

Homoeopathic Links - Summer 1994

This book review is reprinted from the British Homoeopathic Journal Vol 83, No 4, October 1994, with permission from Peter Fisher, Editor.

Although homoeopathy flourishes in Argentina, translated publications thence are regrettably rare, so Beaconsfield Publishers are to be congratulated on producing this most welcome volume. Let us hope it is the first of many.

After asserting, with Organon support, the prime importance of mental symptoms, and their relative difficulty in case-taking, Dr Detinis seeks to explain and interpret some of the entries in Kent's or the Synthetic Repertory, which he annotates. He used contemporary dictionaries where difficulties in understanding Kent's language arose. Usually, half a page introduces each rubric's entry. We may be told its meaning, when it is important, or be advised caution in accepting it. This is followed by headings such as ,related symptoms', 'practical examples' or medica'. The first of these are suggestions for cross-references which might be used when repertorizing that particular symptom. The second are illustrations of the sort of remarks patients presenting that symptom might make. (They say much the same in Argentina as they do here!) The materia medica is quoted from T. F. Allen's Encyclopedia (of Materia Medica, which we are told was Kent's main source-book.

The second half comprises 6 verbatim case studies, with which Dr Detinis seeks to illustrate his clinical method. These come from his teaching clinic, and include students' questions to patients, and short commentaries culminating in the author's choice of rubrics. He uses the 'fewest symptoms of maximum value' approach, so in each case about 6 rubrics are chosen, 5 of which are mentals. The chosen drug is given, and in 3 cases a follow-up (2 months to 2 years) indicates the outcome.

How useful is this volume? We all have trouble at times hunting for rubrics which express patients' histories. I looked forward to clarification of some of the difficult issues, and to the dictionary references. These, unfortunately, are omitted, and too often the rubric terms are not clearly defined, although they may be made somewhat clearer by the examples quoted. The choice of rubrics included and omitted surprised me. For example, 'Censorious' is there, but not 'Reproach'. 'Faultfinding' is given as a cross-reference, which isn't useful, as Kent simply refers one to: 'censorious' ! 'Reproach' is not given as a cross-reference or discussed at all, and no reference to selfcriticism is included. But the quotations are vivid and helpful: can't stand people's faults and I don't suffer fools gladly. When I don't like something I feel as though I have to speak my mind.' Another oddity is the selection of homoeopathic medicines included in the 'Materia Medica' section. Admittedly, the example includes 4 lines on Arsenicum, 1 on Kent's 2 high-type entries, and Sulphur has the unhelpful: 'Ill-humoured and fault-finding'. The remainder of the list comprises Carlsbad, Kati cyanatum, Myrica, Rhus toxicodendron, Saponinu , Sepia, Silicea, Tussilago fragrans and Veratrum album. This list is typical of the odd selections Dr Detinis makes. 3 of them do not appear in Kent's rubric at all, and although only Saponinum fails to make the Synthetic Repertory, several of these entries are at the expense of others that are given in italics. I wonder why? Cubeba has 7 references and Hura braziliensis 8, to pursue the point, while Sulphur leads with 23. Is Dr Detinis telling us that these are important and useful beyond their description in standard textbooks, (which make scant reference to some of these drugs)? If so, he doesn't say so; neither does he use them in his cases, where polychrests were prescribed.

The cases? It is always interesting to observe an expert's history-taking and analysis. Certainly there is much to learn from careful study of these cases, above all in the discussion which leads to the choice of rubric, rather than from that choice itself. Dr Detinis' choices were not always clear to me, and I was sorry that this type of discussion was not included in the book. I wonder what the author and his students said about each of these cases? I suppose you cannot have everything, and for all its surprises there is much for the student to learn here. Nevertheless, I think this is a book more for the advanced learner than the beginner.

J. M. ENGLISH

British Homoeopathic Journal
Volume 83, Number 4, October 1994

is book review is reprinted from the British Homoeopathic Journal Vol 83, No 4, October 1994, with permission from Peter Fisher, Editor.
For Editorial communications, Advertising and Subscriptions contact:
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Mental Symptoms in Homoeopathy.
Luis Detinis, MD, Clinical Professor at the Argentine School of Homoeopathic Medicine.
Translated by J. N. Churchill. Beaconsfield: Beaconsfield.
ISBN 0-90658434-5.
Price not stated. [Editor's note:As of July 1996 Minimum Price Books' price is $21.50].

Although homoeopathy flourishes in Argentina, translated publications thence are regrettably rare, so Beaconsfield Publishers are to be congratulated on producing this most welcome volume. Let us hope it is the first of many.

After asserting, with Organon support, the prime importance of mental symptoms, and their relative difficulty in case-taking, Dr Detinis seeks to explain and interpret some of the entries in Kent's or the Synthetic Repertory, which he annotates. He used contemporary dictionaries where difficulties in understanding Kent's language arose. Usually, half a page introduces each rubric's entry. We may be told its meaning, when it is important, or be advised caution in accepting it. This is followed by headings such as ,related symptoms', 'practical examples' or medica'. The first of these are suggestions for cross-references which might be used when repertorizing that particular symptom. The second are illustrations of the sort of remarks patients presenting that symptom might make. (They say much the same in Argentina as they do here!) The materia medica is quoted from T. F. Allen's Encyclopedia (of Materia Medica, which we are told was Kent's main source-book.

The second half comprises 6 verbatim case studies, with which Dr Detinis seeks to illustrate his clinical method. These come from his teaching clinic, and include students' questions to patients, and short commentaries culminating in the author's choice of rubrics. He uses the 'fewest symptoms of maximum value' approach, so in each case about 6 rubrics are chosen, 5 of which are mentals. The chosen drug is given, and in 3 cases a follow-up (2 months to 2 years) indicates the outcome.

How useful is this volume? We all have trouble at times hunting for rubrics which express patients' histories. I looked forward to clarification of some of the difficult issues, and to the dictionary references. These, unfortunately, are omitted, and too often the rubric terms are not clearly defined, although they may be made somewhat clearer by the examples quoted. The choice of rubrics included and omitted surprised me. For example, 'Censorious' is there, but not 'Reproach'. 'Faultfinding' is given as a cross-reference, which isn't useful, as Kent simply refers one to: 'censorious' ! 'Reproach' is not given as a cross-reference or discussed at all, and no reference to selfcriticism is included. But the quotations are vivid and helpful: can't stand people's faults and I don't suffer fools gladly. When I don't like something I feel as though I have to speak my mind.' Another oddity is the selection of homoeopathic medicines included in the 'Materia Medica' section. Admittedly, the example includes 4 lines on Arsenicum, 1 on Kent's 2 high-type entries, and Sulphur has the unhelpful: 'Ill-humoured and fault-finding'. The remainder of the list comprises Carlsbad, Kati cyanatum, Myrica, Rhus toxicodendron, Saponinu , Sepia, Silicea, Tussilago fragrans and Veratrum album. This list is typical of the odd selections Dr Detinis makes. 3 of them do not appear in Kent's rubric at all, and although only Saponinum fails to make the Synthetic Repertory, several of these entries are at the expense of others that are given in italics. I wonder why? Cubeba has 7 references and Hura braziliensis 8, to pursue the point, while Sulphur leads with 23. Is Dr Detinis telling us that these are important and useful beyond their description in standard textbooks, (which make scant reference to some of these drugs)? If so, he doesn't say so; neither does he use them in his cases, where polychrests were prescribed.

The cases? It is always interesting to observe an expert's history-taking and analysis. Certainly there is much to learn from careful study of these cases, above all in the discussion which leads to the choice of rubric, rather than from that choice itself. Dr Detinis' choices were not always clear to me, and I was sorry that this type of discussion was not included in the book. I wonder what the author and his students said about each of these cases? I suppose you cannot have everything, and for all its surprises there is much for the student to learn here. Nevertheless, I think this is a book more for the advanced learner than the beginner.

J. M. ENGLISH

British Homoeopathic Journal
Volume 83, Number 4, October 1994