Aphorism 69

Aphorism 69 Explanation 

Antipathy and Homoeopathy are opposite to each other. 

Before winding up theoretical part, Dr. Hahnemann cites dissimilarities between antipathy and homoeopathy- 

1. Although there is clear relation of disease symptom to medicinal symptom in antipathy, but it is reverse of what it ought to be, cure does not occur as annihilation of disease symptom is effected by an opposite medicinal symptom, unlike homoeopathy.

2. In spite of touching the same diseased point in the organism as homeopathically chosen medicine does, antipathic medicine covers opposite symptoms of the disease to make it unobservable to our life principle for a short time. Initially, vital force neither perceives anything from disease side, nor anything from medicinal side, as if both have dynamically neutralized each other; resulting vital force to feel quite well; at instant. 

3. Antagonistic medicinal symptoms cannot occupy the exact place of morbid dynamic derangement and sensation of the life principle as similar stronger artificial disease can - thereby it cannot cure. 

4. In time the medicinal disease fades off, disease being uncured is left behind along with much aggravation in proportion to the intensity of medicinal action, which is very opposite to that of homoeopathic mode of treatment. 

These points are further elaborated by citing example of opium although touching the same diseased part in case of insensibility and stupefaction caused by opium in its primary action to ameliorates acute pain for a time being, but after medicinal action is over it reappears and further same opium is administered. Later a time comes when its doses are ineffective, so large doses are given. In the mean time the disease is not cured, rather it progresses to great extent.

 In first footnote Dr. Hahnemann says that unlike in physical plane permanent neutralization does not occur in dynamic plane as acid and base react to form neutral salt, which possesses different properties than the acid or base. But, in dynamic plane only resemblance of neutralization occurs initially but antagonistic sensation do not remove one another permanently as the tears of mourner can only be dried for a short time by laughable, playful jokes but later his tears flow more abundantly than before.

Logical mind can argue that in antipathically acting medicine, when secondary action is similar to the diseased condition, then it could remove the original disease which is not eradicated, so in second footnote he answers such questions that cure occurs by secondary action curative action, which is the product of action of vital force against medicinal disease, whereas in case of anipathically acting medicine secondary action is due to antagonistically acting vital force of the organism.

 In third footnote Dr. Hahnemann gives an example of a dark dungeon, where prisoner could see with much difficulty. On lightening alcohol for a time being everything could be distinctly visible, but when it is extinguished darkness seems more, rendering it more difficult to see than before - similar is the case on using antipathic medicines.