AN INTRODUCTION TO THE CONCORDANCE REPERTORIES

By Dr. Mohit Mathur (Reader)Dept. of Practice of Medicine

NHMC&H

Concordance; definitionThe word concordance means

harmony, synchronization; arrangement in alphabetical order of important words etc.

The word concordance was first of all used by Boenninghausen in homoeopathic literature.

It was replaced by Allen to “Relationship of remedies”.

Concordance repertory

Concordance repertory is a repertory based on alphabetic arrangement of symptoms of materia medica in their original form.

These repertories belongs to the Puritan group of repertories.

The concordance repertories available to the homoeopathic profession are:

1. Gentry concordance repertory2. Knerr’s repertory

Gentry concordance repertoryAuthor: William D. GentryWhile searching for a complex

symptom “constant dull frontal headache, worse in the temples, with aching in the umbilicus” he came up with idea of compiling a concordance repertory.

The repertory is divided in six volumes. The author had used the phraseology of materia medica without much change.

Gentry concordance repertoryThe repertory covers around 420

remedies.On symptom can be referred to

at many places.This repertory is an excellent tool

for reference work but is not useful for systematic repertorization.

Repertory of Hering’s Guiding Symptoms of our Materia MedicaAuthor: K. B. KnerrIt was published in 1896.The repertory contains 408 medicines.The main source of repertory is Hering’s

Materia Medica.The order of arrangement followed in

the compilation of this repertory is the one inaugurated by Hahnemann, developed, perfected and used by Hering in his Materia Medica, viz. the anatomical division into 48 chapters.

Repertory of Hering’s Guiding Symptoms of our Materia MedicaThere are four marks of distinction:(II): indicates symptoms repeatedly

verified (carries highest mark)(I): indicates symptoms verified by cures(II): indicates symptoms more frequently

confirmed, or if but once confirmed, strictly in character with the Genius of the remedy

Perpendicular (…): indicates observation taken from old school

T: indicates toxicological extracts

Repertory of Hering’s Guiding Symptoms of our Materia MedicaThe symptoms are arranged in

the original form and in alphabetical order.

The repertory begins with the chapter on “mind and disposition” and ends with chapter on “drug relationship”.

The organ-wise classification follows Hahnemannian schema till 34thchapter and the remaining chapters represent the reaction of the whole body.

Repertory of Hering’s Guiding Symptoms of our Materia Medica The repertory is meant for reference work and not for

systematic repertorization. The hierarchy of the repertory benefits the practitioners

if the totality of the case fits into the following order:1. Temperament and stages of life and constituition. 2. Mind and dispositions with described symptoms/

concomitants. 3. Physical generals (appetite, aversions, desires,

perspiration, etc..)4. Complaints with special features (modalities,

concomitants, directions, etc) 5. Tissue affinities –sensations and modalities 6. Single symptoms can also be referred with the details,

which would help one to prescribe in an acute case or so called short case.

Salient features of some chapters in Knerr’s Repertory Each chapter is alphabetically

divided into sections and rubrics sufficient to allow full scope for analysis.

Mind and Disposition: Starts from the rubric abandoned and ends in zoo magnetic. This chapter has 200 rubrics.

SensoriumEg;Vertigo,Intoxication-p86

Taste and Tongue: Disorders of speech-p334, Disorders of taste -p335 Disorders of tongue-p340 are given as main rubrics.

Scorbiculum and Stomach: Condition related to epigastrium-p448, and stomach-p455 are given.

Limbs in General: Deals with the joints -p988. limbs-p992

Rest, Position and Motion: General aggravations and ameliorations-p1002.

Time: Afternoon, evening, forenoon, morning, night, before midnight, after midnight are given as main rubrics-p1071.

Temperature and Weather: Air, cold dark, light, seasons, temperature, warmth, water and weather are given as main rubrics-p1072.

Attacks and Periodicity: It contains rubrics on nature of attack, season and periodicity-p1122.

Locality and Direction-p1124

Tissues: Adipose p1129, bones p1129, cancer p1131, cartilages, decomposition, degeneration, emaciation, excretion p1134, fibrous, fluids, gangrene, glands, granulation p1135, hypertrophy, induration, inflammation, ligaments, metamorphosis, mucous membranes, stenosis p1138, suppuration, swelling, tubercles, tumors p1142 and ulcers are the main rubrics.

Touch, Passive, Motion, Injuries: It contains rubrics, on types of injuries, reactions to touch and passive motions-p1147.

Stages of Life & Constitution: Age1184; (boys; children; girls; men; old people; women; youth;) Complexion1189 (dark, fair, eyes, hair, freckles);

Constitutions p1189( life anemic, asthmatic, carbo-nitrogenous, gouty, hemorrhodial;) Habits (like drunkards, high living, drugged subjects); Occupations (like actors, bookworms, businessmen and immigrants, miners); Size (like dwarf, large, tall, thin;) Temperaments ( like bilious, choleric, mild, melancholic, phlegmatic, sanguine) are given as main rubrics.

Drug Relationship1195: Antidotes, collateral, compatible, complementary, inimical and similar relationship of medicine are discussed

Merits of Knerr’s repertoryRepertory with prover’s languageVast informationSection for stages of lifeUnder constitution rubric 26 types are

mentionedUnder temperments 7 types are

mentionedDrug relationship chapterCross reference

Demerits of Knerr’s repertoryDouble column arrangement-

difficult to find out sub rubric, sub sub rubric.

Single remedy against each rubric- not ideal for repertorization.

Thank you !