e
on cinchona, where it seemed to state that taken continuously in large
doses it would produce all the indications of ague. He tested other
remedies in the same way and finally announced his law "Similia Similibus
Curantur."

Definition given by a Medical Dictionary of Homeopathy.--"A system of
treatment of disease by the use of agents that, administered in health,
would produce symptoms similar to those for the relief of which they are
given." For instance, ipecac given in large doses, will produce certain
kind of vomiting. If the same kind of vomiting, with the other symptoms
agreeing, occurs in disease ipecac would be given for the trouble.

[LEADING SCHOOLS OF MEDICINE 661]

But if the vomiting was produced by ipecac, that same medicine would not
be given to stop it, but treatment given for an over dose of the drug,
ipecac. According to the principles of Homeopathy a medicine is selected
which possesses the power (drug diseases) of extinguishing a natural
disease by means of the similitude of its alterative qualities, (similia
similibus curantur); such a medicine administered in simple form at long
intervals, and in doses so fine as to be just sufficient without causing
pain or debility, to obliterate the natural disease through the reaction
of vital energy.

A great many medicines are used in this way by all schools, but the
"regular" school claims it is not an universal law. Some homeopathic
doctors claim that the antitoxin treatment for diphtheria, etc. is an
application of the homeopathic law. The poison that produces the
diphtheria is taken and from this by a thorough and precise process the
serum is made and injected into the body of a person who has diphtheria.

Hydrophobia is successfully treated in the same way. A homeopathic doctor
has a right to use any sized doses he wishes, but he claims experience has
proven that large doses are not often necessary and that the medicine
usually acts better attenuated.

ECLECTICISM.--An eclectic physician is a member of a school or system that
claims to select "that which is good from all other schools."

This school uses very few mineral remedies, but uses many vegetable
remedies. They have introduced a great many vegetable remedies into
medical practice and very many of them are useful.

The homeopathic school has benefited very much by the experience of the
eclectic system. This school uses remedies in large and small doses. Many
of them use the homeopa