The Organon of the Healing Art

Original: Organon der rationellen Heilkunde -1810- by Samuel Hahnemann
The organon is the base of classical homeopathy.

Organon (lat. organum: Instrument) is a Greek word by its origin and literary means "implement, musical instrument, organ of the body" or "a tool" but in the new English lexis it has the meaning of "an instrument for acquiring knowledge; specifically: a body of principles of scientific or philosophic investigation". In this sense we can simplify the semantics of ORGANON merely to:

1. A method of scientific investigation,
2. An instrument of thoughts,
3. A system of logic,
4. Literary work.

The word Organon was used for the first time by the eminent Greek philosopher Aristotle (384-312 BC). Under the common title of the 'Organon' the work of Aristotle was summed up on the logic treatise. Francis Bacon (1561-1626 AD) wrote a book either on logical subject titled 'Novum Organum' (New Organon), probably referring to Aristotle's Organon; the book was in Latin language.

The Book

Hahnemann when first experienced the effect of Quinine (Cinchona)[5] wrote an article which was published under the title 'Medicine of Experience'.

After a long trial of medicinal experiments, whatever he have gained, he logically wrote his theory and practical experiences in the book form in the year 1810. Thus the first edition of his Homoeopathic science experience came in existence for the first time before the world. The title of the book was "Organon of Rational Art of Healing" and it contains 271 sections or Paragraphs. The second edition title was 'Organon of Healing Art' and it published in the year 1819 and containing 318 para or sections. The third edition published in the year 1824 and having 320 paragraphs or sections, but the title was the same. The fourth edition published with the same title in the year 1829, having 292 paragraphs or sections, but in this edition "Theory of Chronic Disease" introduced by the Hahnemann for the first time, which was a unique innovation.

The 5th edition was having the same title as previous one and was published in the year 1833, having 294 sections or para. In this edition for the first time the doctrine of Vital Force and drug-dynamization were introduced, which was taken a new approach to Homoeopathic science.

The Ground Plan of the Organon

The fifth edition of the Organon of Medicine is having Aphorism 1 to 294. The doctrine of Homoeopathy is discussed in the 1 to 70 Aphorism. This part is known as theoratical part.

The sub-division of the philosophy of Homoeopathy is below:

1.)The mission of Physician and Highest Ideal of cure aphorism 1 & 2
2.)Requisite knowledge of a physician aphorism 3 & 4
3.)Knowledge of disease apho. 5-18
4.)Knowledge of drugs apho. 19-21
5.)application of drug knowledge to disease knowledge apho. 22-27
6.)knowledge of choice of remedy, different modes of treatment, superiority of homoeopathic therapeutics apho. 28 to 70

Practical part begins from aphorism 71 to 294. In which the following sub-division is catagorised.

1.)Three points, which are necessary for curing apho. 71
2.)Classification of disease apho. 72-80
3.)Case Taking: recording of patient data apho. 83-104
4.)Knowledge of medicinal power, curative power and drug prooving apho. 105-145
5.)Most suitable method of employ medicine to a patient apho. 146-261
6.)allied support during treatment diet in acute diseases apho. 262-263
7.)Preparation of medicine apho. 264-271
8.)administration of medicine apho. 271-292
9.)Mesmerism 293-294

Thus is the plane of Organon of medicine 5th edition, which started from the beginning of "Medicine of Experience".

The Sixth edition titled "Organon of Medicine", published in the year 1921, having 291 para or sections. A treatise on Organon of Medicine is more added.

It is presumed that Hahnemann was influenced with the word Organon, because its meaning had some practical relationship with his discovery of Homeopathic medical science.