Aphorism 57

Simple Explanation of Aphorism 57

Different medicines used in antipathy along with their mode of action.

 For centuries to carry out antipathic mode of treatment, physician gave medicines for a single troublesome symptom, a medicine which is known to produce exact opposite symptom without paying heed to other lesser important symptoms, to give instant relief without bothering about consequences. The medicines used are -

 1. For pains of all sorts he gives opium in large doses whose action is to benumb sensibility. 

2. Uses opium for diarrhoea, in which case it reduces peristalsis of intestine making it insensible. 

3. In case of sleeplessness opium is used, as it produces stupefied, comatose sleep. 

4. Uses purgatives in patient who has long been suffering from constipation to increase his peristaltic movement. 

5. Burnt hand is plunged into cold water, which due to low degree of temperature instantly removes its burning pain. 

6. Patient complaining of chilliness and lack of vital heat are told to have warm bath which heats them up at once. 

7. Those suffering from prolonged debility are made to drink wine, which enliven them energetically at once.

Similarly, only a few substances are known to the ordinary medical school, whose direct action on vital force is known to them which he calls 'Primary action'.