Card Repertories

Repertories became voluminous and more complex with the introduction of new philosophies and different types of constructions. The practitioners found it difficult to put them into day-to-day practice. Few of them found that if the rubrics in the books were written on separate pieces of paper, one could quickly glance through them and find simillimum. They started to prepare their own chits, diaries and different paper cuttings. These efforts finally gave birth to Card Repertories.

· Rubrics were written on separate pieces of paper – to quickly glance through them – to save time and energy.

· People prepared their own chits, diaries and paper cuttings – birth of card repertories.

· Card repertories have several cards with rubrics written on top with a group of medicines below.

Card repertory is a system of visual sorting which helps the physician by eliminating the necessity of writing out the rubrics and remedies against them.

MERITS

· One has to select the cards according to rubrics arranged in repertorial totality and look for common remedies.

· It saves time as compared to manual writing down. It cuts down time needed in calculation of marks and analysis.

· It does not require paper work.

· Purpose – elimination of remedies in reportorial analysis.

DEMERITS

· It is difficult to list all remedies and all medicines.

· Most of the card repertories do not represent the rubrics well, especially sub-rubrics. It is difficult to use finer expressions at general and particular levels in repertorisation.

· Computers have made it obsolete.

METHOD OF WORKING OUT A CASE

In this, symptoms are converted into rubrics. The rubrics are seen in the index book, to look for the particular card number. The rubric were chosen from the index and the indicated slips were taken out and made to lie side by side so that name of each remedy ran in a straight line from left to right, on adding up the exponent of several remedies, one with the highest number is the possible remedy for the case.

PRINCIPLES OF CONSTRUCTION

· Important generals are used as rubrics.

· Numerical evaluation plays a little role in this method.

· Cards are employed to determine the likely group of remedies that closely correspond to the general picture of the case.

· It usually suits to a chronic case, which presents with a changed but vivid symptoms.

SELECTION OF RUBRICS

· Conversion of the symptoms in to rubrics should be accurate.

· Characteristic concomitant must be always included.

· Top priority should be given to the cause.

· Generalization of a particular symptom on inadequate grounds should be avoided.

REQUISITES OF A GOOD CARD REPERTORY

· Most card reps were limited in scope due to improper construction.

· Too small and give only a broad general selection limited to few polychrests.

· Most important use is ELIMINATIVE FUNCTION.

1. Results should be as close as possible to factual texts on repertory.

2. Cards should be of standard texture and thinness.

3. Should be strong as well as thin enough and should not shut off light completely

4. Punching should follow standard methods

5. Card system should be elastic, so that new rubrics can be introduced or new remedies added

6. Punching should indicate degree of drugs.

EVOLUTION

GUERNSEY’S BOENNINGHAUSEN’S SLIPS

· Prepared by William Jefferson Guernsey, nephew of H. N. Guernsey

· Prepared in 1888, released in 1892.

· Chapman called it “Perfection of method for managing MM.”

· Long cards or slips – 1.25 inch X 12.5 inch

· 2500 cards; 126 remedies

· On each card was printed in alphabetical order, names of remedies used in Boenninghausen’s work

· On top was code number of rubric

· A separate index with coded rubrics

· On each card, remedies had number 1 to 4 printed against them, depending upon degree of evaluation of that drug according to TPB.

· Rubrics were chosen from index and the slips made to lie side by side, so that name of each remedy ran in a straight line from left to right.

H C Allen improved the original slips by adding more remedies and were known as Allen’s Boenninghausen’s Slips.

MARGARET TYLER’S PUNCHED CARD REPERTORY

· Made in 1912, but discouraged by Kent.

· Used large cards and hand punched them.

· Based on Kent

· Incomplete work

· 1000 cards

FIELD’S CARDS

· Made in 1922

· Included Kent’s rubrics as well few from others.

· Included Boger’s and Skinner’s corrections and annotations

· 6800 cards + 360 remedies with a provision for 40 more

· Only first and second grade remedies were punched

· Was the first to code names of remedies into numbers

· Cards were thick and blocked the remedy easily

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Sumit Goel

Dr. Sumit Goel M. D. (Hom) Gold Medalist Consultant Homoeopath and Teacher www.homeopathyspace.com