Hans wrote 8 Feb:

>Dear Members
>Just to answer the other question from DL.
>I have the following copy of which the below chapter is:
>
>Die Chronischen Krankheiten, ihre eigentümliche Natur und Homöopathische
>Heilung
>Von Dr. Samuel Hahnemann
>Erster Teil
>Zweite, viel vermehrte Auflage.
>Dresden und Leipzig, in der Arnoldschen Buchhandlung 1835
>Republished as facsimile copy: Haug Ulm/ Donau 1956
>
>You will notice, that the date of the publication was 1835 for the second
>edition.
>As far as I am aware, the English version from Dr. Louis Tafel is based on
>this second edition.
>In my copy, which comes from the B.J. publishers the above quoted chapter
>starts on page 51 and is identical. So could you check whether the year of
>1829 as a publishing date is accurate.
>
>Here is the relating counterpart from the Original:
>
>--verschieden je nach der verschiedenen KÖRPER - KONSTITUTIONEN des
>Menschen, seiner ERB-ANLAGEN, den verschiedenen Fehlern in seiner Erziehung
>und seiner Angewohnheiten, seiner Lebensweise und Diät, seiner
>Beschäftigungen, seiner Geistesrichtungen, seiner Moralität usw. ---
>
>Körper -konstitutionen: bodily constitutions
>Erb-anlagen: inherited tendencies
>
>It seems, that for Hahnemann the two above terms do not seem to be the same.


Dear Mr. Weitbrecht and members of the list,

No one is saying that the above two terms are the same???? Hans has
missed the point of the inquiry. The quote in question says the following:

"The awakening of the internal Psora which has hitherto slumbered and
been latent, and as it were, kept bound by a good bodily constitution and
favorable external circumstances, as well as it breaking out into more
serious ailments and maladies, is announced by the increase of the symptoms
given above as indicating the slumbering Psora, and also by a numberless
multitude of various other signs and complaints. ****These are varied
according to the difference in the bodily constitution of a man, his
*hereditary disposition*, the various errors in his education and habits,
his manner of living and diet, his employment, his turn of mind, his
morality, etc."****

We are studying this passage to see what terms Hahnemann used for the
*bodily constitution and inherited tendencies* in German. I was curious
about the root words Hahnemann used for constitution in the Chronic
Diseases and to see the root derivations of the term, hereditary
disposition, in German so we could understand Hahnemann's medical terminology.

(1). First of all, Hahnemann used the term "Koeper-Konsititutionen",
which includes the Latin root, constituto, which is the same root as the
English word, constitution. This definitely shows that Hahnemann used the
term *physical constitution* in the Chronic Diseases and considered it as a
major conditioning factor along with the *hereditary disposition*, mental
character, habits, diet, etc., in the way the symptoms of psora and the
other miasms developed. This quote coincides perfectly with the
instructions on case taking in aphorism 5 of the Organon and once again
shows how important it is to investigate these matters when taking a case
history. The constitution, character, heredity and environmental factors
condition the development of all the signs, befallments and symptoms of the
miasms. That is another reason why it is important to understand
constitution, temperament, hereditary dispositions and environmental
factors in homoeopathy. Drs. Hahnemann, Boenninghausen, Jahr and Hering
understood this very well.

Secondly, Hahnemann used the term *Erb-anlgen* in the Chronic Diseases
to stand for *hereditary disposition*. It has also been proven that
Hahnemann used the word Erbschaft for heredity in the footnote to aphorism
78 in the 6th Organon where he taught that psora can be imparted by
INFECTION OR HEREDITY In his text critical version of the Organon Schmidt
wrote:"In § 78, footnote 1, Hahnemann writes, that "chronic diseases" "can
be imprinted through infection or heredity." (refer Constitution and
Temperament by David Little 6, Hahnemann on Infection and Heredity). Both
these words begin with and share the root *Erb* in German, which refers to
inheritance. In Hahnemann's usage words that begin with Erb like Erbschaft
and Erb-anlgen do NOT only refer to "hand me down goods" as wrongly
claimed. They refer to inheritance in the biological sense!

Inheritance, heritage and heredity are similar words that share a
common root. Hahnemann used the root *Erb* in Erbschaft and Erb-anlgen
refer to *inheritance* in a medical sense to stand for hereditary factors.
All these words share the ER in English and German. The Tuner Dictionary
printed in Leipzig in the 1830s shows that Erbschaft means inheritance, as
in inherited tendencies, and confirms that Hahnemann used this word as
medical term for heredity. Hahnemann did NOT use the word, Vererbung in the
Organon or Chronic Disease because in 1830 the German word, Vererben, only
meant to "to leave or transfer" and had nothing to do with inheritance.
Lamarck's work on heredity was completed in 1822 during Hahnemann's
lifetime and they did not yet know about transferring of the genetic code.
From the above original sources it becomes obvious that Hahnemann knew
about the inheritance (Gr. Erbschaft) of psora and hereditary dispositions
(Gr. Erb-anlgen) and used these words as medical terms in a biological
sense in his writings.

>David Little made this point which I don't want to leave uncommented:
>
> >>It is my clinical point of view, based on ample case histories of
>myself and other homoeopaths, that the inherited affects of infectious
>miasms can produce predispositions to chronic diseases states in the
>following generations. We are not saying the infectious agent is passed. We
>are saying that an infection in an ancestor can produce predispositions to
>disease states with symptoms in the offspring family line. What we are
>discussing now is whether or not Hahnemann thought that miasms could cause
>predispositions to disease by inheritance and heredity.<<
>
>Coming from a large clinical background, I can say, that the above
>relationships are statistically insignificant. In the majority of the cases
>the remedies necessary for the parental problems have not co-insided with
>the remedies necessary for the successful treatment of the offsprings.

Over the last 30 years I have noted in a good number of cases (much more
than what is statistically insignificant.) that inherited predispositions
caused by miasms in the preceding generations produces disease signs and
symptoms to appear in the succeeding generations. We are not speaking about
the same "parental remedies" coinciding with the remedies prescribed in the
"successful treatment in the offspring". Just because a psoric father
needed Lycopodium and does not mean the son with predisposition to
psora-like symptoms needs Lycopodium. Such simplistic notations do not
apply to such a sophisticated clinic system!

The physical constitution, mental character, hereditary disposition,
environment, diet, habits, and lifestyle of the grandparents, parents and
children are the *primary conditioning factors that produce the various
signs, befallments and symptoms in each individual case*. For this reason,
the remedy of the grandparent or parent is almost always different than the
offspring. The psoric, sycotic or syphilitic tendency will be passed on in
the form of unique signs, befallments and symptoms conditioned by the
individual's constitution, temperament, hereditary disposition, habits,
lifestyles, diet, morals, etc. It is the signs, befallments and symptoms of
the individual patient (the offspring) that is analyzed and is the basis
for the selection of the proper anti-miasmatic remedy. Once one understands
the system it works very logically and effectively in resolving many
chronic cases.

>Furthermore, it should be born in mind, that Psora is an infectious disease,
>and can be contracted by everyone at every stage of live.

All the acute, half acute and chronic miasms originate in infectious
diseases. In the footnote to aphorism 78 (which is not contested as to its
authenticity by Schmidt or O'Reilly), Hahnemann stated that psora can be
imparted by "infection or heredity". Therefore, there are three kinds of
diseases caused by miasms, the acquired and congenital infection during
one's lifetime and the inherited miasms that causes hereditary
predisposition toward certain signs, befallments and symptoms. Infections
in the preceding generations produce inherited dispositions with
recognizable patterns of signs, befallments and symptoms in the succeeding
generations. This has been confirmed by generations of homoeopaths.

Those skilled in the method follow such patterns through the history of the
family lineage and investigate how the inherited tendencies produce certain
active signs, befallments and symptoms as modified by the constitution and
temperament of the individuals we are treating. The system is so well
developed that I have been able to predicted the diseases in ancestors from
the signs and symptoms of the patient. I have confirmed this several times
through investigating family medical records.

>C.M. Boger took up this idea in his article: Finding the similimum
>[homeopasthic Recorder 45th/ 51st 1924} and encouraged the experimentation
>with it.
>
>Over and all, the answer to the above question is irrelevant for the
>successful treatment of Chronic Miasmatic Disease, as the selection of the
>curative remedy remains [after the discovery of the CMD's] on the now
>presented signs and symptoms, expressed by the out of tune dynamis.

It is the active signs, befallments and symptoms in the patient who is
suffering from the affects of the inherited miasm that are used to select
the appropriate remedy. One is not treating the symptoms of the dead
ancestors or the living grandparents or parents who are not the patient.
The symptoms produced by the inherited miasm in the offspring are
personalized by the nature of their physical constitution, mental
character, inherited predisposition, habits, lifestyle, diet, and other
environmental factors. It is the active characteristic signs, befallments
and symptoms found in the patient who is being treated that are used to
select an anti-miasmatic remedy that suits the case.

This methodology is based on the teachings of Samuel Hahnemann on the
heredity of chronic miasms (fn-78, 6th Organon) and hereditary dispositions
(Chronic Diseases). In this way, the homeopath can root out inherited
miasms so that they are no longer passed on through the family line. I have
seen this more than once by following families for decades. If one who has
no understanding of Hahnemann's teachings on the inheritance of the miasms
and hereditary dispositions this subject is only "irrelevant" to them. To
those who know how to apply the complete system in the clinic, this
methodology is very valuable, especially to patients.

In the beginning in 1810 homeopathy was the simple matching of symptoms of
disease with the symptoms found in the materia medica. This method,
however, proved to be insufficient for treating acute, half acute, and
chronic miasms as well as the full range of degenerative chronic diseases
found in every clinical practice. For this reason, Samuel Hahnemann was not
satisfied with what he taught in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Organon. It was his
failures (not his successes) that drove him to study Nature and Life even
deeper than he already had. By the publication of the Chronic
Diseases (1828) and the 5th Organon (1833) homeopathy became a complete
medical system with a deep understanding of exciting and fundamental
causes, the acute and chronic miasms, individual and group disorders,
innate constitution and character, hereditary predispositions, and the
affects of lifestyle, habits, personal and social relationships, sexuality,
diet and other environmental factors (Organon, aphorism 5 and the Chronic
Diseases).

On this basis, the homeopath collects all the objective signs, coincidental
befallments, and subjective symptoms of the mistuned vital force and
studies how diseases affects the body and soul (Organon aphorism 6). From
this collection of this data, the most characteristic symptoms are used to
find the most appropriate simillimum to retune the vital force to the state
of health (Organon, aphorism 153). This is the foundation of the
homoeopathic philosophy and vitalist pathology. This solid basis is what
supplies the healing artist with full knowledge of the disease state,
knowledge of similar remedies, and complete knowledge how to apply the
former to the later. This is what makes one a full homoeopathician rather
than a lay prescriber. Reducing homeopathy to a simplistic matching of
symptoms without full knowledge of the causation and the diseases state
does not express the full teachings of the Organon or the Chronic Diseases
and does not supply the necessary case management techniques to safely
treat degenerative chronic patients. It is my recommendation that students
and homeopaths study the complete homoeopathic medical system rather than
just one part or another of Hahnemann's system. This advice comes from the
heart.

My writings are for the silent majority on the WWW. I am not trying to
convert any one person as you can lead a horse to water but you can not
make them drink. I have taken the time to review the subject of
constitution, temperament, inherited miasm and hereditary disposition in
detail and provided proper sources from the German originals and historical
dictionaries for the sake of discovering the truth. I will leave it up to
the reading public to study the relevant homoeopathic texts, test the
expediency of working with inherited miasms and their symptoms in the
clinic, and then make up their own minds by the results of their clinical
studies. This is my last post on this subject as there is no need to
continue to say the same things.

Sincerely, David Little


>--------------------
>Hans Weitbrecht
>Rational Practitioner
>www.Boger-Boenninghausen.com
>
>----------------------------------------------------------------------------
>----

---------------
"It is the life-force which cures diseases because a dead man needs no more
medicines."

Samuel Hahnemann

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