PQRS to the Rescue
NATIONAL JOURNAL OF HOMOEOPATHY 1997 Nov / Dec VOL 5 NO 6.
Dr Pran Chowdhury
'Castorium

On 10/5/97 a colleague reqested me to take his son's case, who has been having breathlessness since 5 years. Dr X had given many biochemic and Homeopathic medicines like Bacillinum, Bryonia alb, Calc-sulph, Natrum sulph, Rauwalfia serp,Silicea, Spongia and in different potencies. The patient had some relief but the main complaint still remained.

After case taking, I noted some important facts as follows:
1] Difficult respiration, agg at night
2] Tendency to take cold easily
3] Sneezing, frequently in cold air
4] Respiration and other complaints agg. by any change of weather.
5] Headache, more from fasting
6] Falling of hair with dandruff
7] Thirst for cold water
8] Craving for sweets
9] Feton pararitium
10] Anger, irrascibiity and hurried.

For more details see my worked out Repertory chart where I have analysed the symptoms after conversion into rubrics from Kent's repertory.[ Abridged chart ] As per Dr Kent's method, I arranged first mental generals, then physical generals, and last the Particulars. 

Rubrics:

After Repertorization I was very confused whether my first prescription should be on the basis of numerical value marks or from the very group of medicines. In the mean time my patient came on 14/5/97 and said "Doctor, I forgot to tell you one of my symptoms . I do not know whether it is important or not, my breathing complant is relieved when I sleep or lie down on the left side.

I do not feel shy to open my books to consult Materia Medica or Repertory in fornt of my patient. So, immediately I referred to Dr Kent's Repertory and opened the chapter of RESPIRATION for hunting this symtpom, which I found on pg 770 as "DIFFICULT resp, lying while, on the left side, amel" This un-common, peculiar , rare strange symptom covered only single medicine ie Cast [Castorium] in 3rd grade [lowest]. In this case CASTORIUM covered only 2 rubrics nos 7 & 8 out of 12. The total marks of Castorium were 2 [1+1] and of Carb-sulph 6 [3+3] . Even then I chose Castoirum for the first prescription on the basis of un common and peculiar symptom.

Here I quote Dr Allen : "Hahnemann's striking, singular, extraordinary, and peculiar symptoms are basic miasmatic ones, always, hence the wonderful curative effects produced by remedies selected upon such symptoms. They are capable of reaching down deep enough to extinguish or what is a better term to separate their miasmatic bond from the life force."

Further Dr Gibson writes, "When using the 'stiking, singular, extraordinary and peculiar' symptoms as the main guides it is important to bear in mind that they must be equally well marked in the patient and in the remedy." 

Dr Kent also spoint out: "There is an artistic method that omits the mechanical and is better, but all are not prepared to use it. The aritistic method demands that judgment be passed on all the symptoms, after the case is most carefully taken. The symptoms must be judged as to their value as characteristics in relation to the patient; they must be passed in reveiw by the rational mind to determine those hwich are strange, rare and peculiar." 

And lastly we remember Dr Robert's warning:"No single symptom, no matter how strange, rare and peculiar, can stand without the support of the well taken case , and the likeness of the whole patient to the remedy." 

Now coming to my patient's case, I prescribed Castorium 30 8 doses in Saclac to be taken twice daily [morning and evening] and report after a week. Week after week passed but neither the patient nor my colleague reported to me before 25th Nov 97. I anxiously thought whether the medicine did not act or aggravated so the patient has not reported. But I was surprised when the patient reported "Doctor, I am really well, during htis peirod I never suffered breathing complaint except a cold sometime." 

On 25th Nov, I prescribed my first choice Phosphorus to be taken 2 doses in 200th potency in alternate mornings. Treatment is going on. Yet I can say that an uncommon and peculiar symptom could rescue difficult cases."