Keynotes
It is among the peculiar symptoms that we find the so-called keynotes
that are used by so many prescribers who take three, (or many are
content with but one) characteristic outstanding symptoms, ignoring
all others and overlooking the fact that there must be a general
relation between the symptoms of the patient and those of the remedy.
This keynote system of prescribing is highly attractive to many
minds, because it looks so easy and does away with all tedious comparison
of drugs and also from the fact that many brilliant cures were made
by means of keynotes in the hands of Lippe, Allen and other advocates
of the system. But you must remember that these men, as well as
any others who have been successful with keynotes, have had a keen
enough perception into totalities and the pathogenesis of remedies
so that they used the keynote which was not ruled out by contradicting
general symptoms of the patient.
Many of the so-called keynotes are both general and particular
(aggravation from motion of Bryonia and sore, bruised sensations
of Arnica).
The great trouble with the keynotes is that they are so often
misused. Keynotes are often valuable characteristic symptoms, but
if these keynotes are taken as final and the generals do not confirm
then failures will come.
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